Every Halloween, as I reflect on childhood memories, a particular longing surfaces. I yearned to don a cowboy hat, holster a toy pistol, and gallop through the neighborhood. But my father, like many of their generation, held a strict stance against such toys. Dad, a staunch conservative, had a surprising aversion to firearms, toy pistols,…
Month: October 2024
Blessings
Luke 11:28 reminds us, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” This verse illuminates the true meaning of being blessed. It’s not just about receiving gifts or good fortune, but about actively living a life aligned with God’s will. The Southern expression “bless your heart” can be a double-edged…
Exclusion
Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentile who are turning to God. — Acts 15:19. The passage in Acts 15:19 underscores a fundamental principle of Christianity: inclusivity. It’s a call to welcome all, regardless of their background, into the fold of faith. The early church faced a dilemma, grappling with the…
Houseless
“The Son of Man had nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58b). Today’s reading reminded me of my daughter, Kelley, and countless others who have lost their homes due to recent hurricanes. Kelley’s Asheville home, damaged by Hurricane Helena, is undergoing repairs, and she hopes to return this week. She considers herself fortunate, recognizing that…
The Unanswerable
If the universe is expanding what is it expanding into? If the universe started with a Big Bang, what was there before the explosion? What exactly is infinity and does it have an end? We could go on and on with such questions, and when physicists discover the answer to any of them, three more…