Why do your disciples break the tradition of the Elders? –– Matthew 15:2a. Today’s verse reminds me of the musical/movie Fiddler on the Roof. It is one of my all time favorites, and it is certainly all about “tradition.” The father struggles with tradition and his faith as circumstances force him and his daughters to…
A Memory Worth Preserving
As a little boy, I used to love the sensory depth of the world, like the sharp, sweet smell of burning leaves at this time of year. I expect that my grandchildren and yours will never know that smell, and if they do, it will be right before the Fire Department shows up. We read…
Little Faith or Too Much Doubt
The question, “You of little faith, why do you doubt?” from Matthew 14:31b, pierces the stillness of this morning’s spiritual struggle. Why, I ask myself, do I harbor this doubt? Is it a sign of too little faith, or perhaps an excess of skepticism? I begin to resolve this internal debate by reframing doubt not…
Reclaiming Sabbath Day
“What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?” — Nehemiah 13:17 Forgive me as I climb up on my soap box. I am all for separation of church and state, but even as short as my lifespan, I have seen a steady erosion of the Sabbath. Nobody thinks a thing…
Wasting Your Life
My high school guidance counselor told one of my teammates, “Dennis, don’t waste your life like Webb Hubbell did, by going to the University of Arkansas to play football.” I’ve laughed about her prediction for over sixty years. Then comes Maria Popova this week who writes in her weekly column about wasting our life. She…