These are wrenching times. From our limited human perspective, it may seem sometimes like an unraveling around us, a spiraling of division and decay. Many evidence of people being, apparently, their worst selves. Perhaps there’s some greater unveiling or humbling at work. Perhaps not. Perhaps that depends on us. These are beautiful times. Graduations, reunions,…
For the last couple years we have opened the “Offerings” moment in worship with an affirmation that sounds like this: “YOU are a gift. Your presence is a gift, your time is a gift. Your friendship and counsel and prayer are gifts. Your financial offerings are a gift…” These are indeed all true as we seek…
In 1989, Carla and I made a first drive to Chicago to visit a group of strangers who would become a new family for us. That church – Grace Baptist Church – would become our home for 18 years, the last seven of which I served as pastor. This special place of “sanctuary” was founded…
The phrase “Forward in Faith” is all over our Eden Past. The phrase is on our anniversary booklets of past big gatherings, fundraising visions from the 1950s on and a good number of annual anniversary services like tomorrow’s. We’re celebrating 109! It’s a very good, sound biblical theme and its simplicity is appealing. Perhaps, though, in…
I’ve been carrying with me this week the tender beauty of the music and Word we shared Wednesday night, and the opportunity to meditate freshly on the grace underneath the call to “walk with Jesus.” In the 40 days of Lent, we are invited to go deeper in a renewing way that will bless and…
This was on my heart and mind as I prepared to meet the folks of Eden NINE YEARS AGO this Sunday as a guest consultant at Steve and Hope’s invitation. Wow, the time flies. As I greeted you in announcements that day I said these things: I love the small church (still do). l love…
Blessings, all. The Spirit is holding me and many dear friends – and YOU – on this day, no matter what you face in your Now. I join many beloved colleagues and friends in grieving the loss of a fellow minister who took his life this week. We have a collective broken heart. I am…
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on…
Across the globe Christians have been gathering this week for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. As we prepare to gather tomorrow and open up a new week together I invite you to join us in these intentional prayers. Finn and Beth and Daryl and others have invoked prayer for peace between Russia and…
Are you afraid of the dark? Many of us are. We are scared of the dark and all that we associate with it, the danger, confusion, anxiety, sadness and so many other negative things. In our northern hemisphere the season of Advent is full of shorter days and longer nights. We often spend this season…
