Religion

Deep in the faith of most Americans is the belief that there is a “Just God,” regardless of which religious faith one follows.  Even those who approach this universe primarily from a scientific view, note that “how things work” points to an order that must...

Most of us have seen a caricature artist at a fair or amusement park. In just a few minutes, they can draw a face that looks familiar but exaggerated. The nose is bigger, the smile wider, the eyes brighter. It’s recognizable, but not quite...

Are we making it all up? My three-year-old has an imaginary friend. They play, laugh and explore together. But that’s not what’s supposed to happen in our faith traditions—right? Too often, my childhood picture of Jesus behaved more like an imaginary friend than the risen...

The Gospel writers often describe Jesus as rich in compassion. In a world often marked by division, busyness and indifference, his example reminds us that compassion is not just an emotion—it’s a way of life.  Jesus modeled compassion in three powerful ways, and those who...

Do you have a song that takes you back in your memory to a different time, a different place? Sometimes the melodies are so deeply entwined in our emotional psyches that we recapture the feelings, as if the event is happening right now.   Liturgy, the...

While on vacation this summer, one morning my husband and I awoke to a loud alarm. Within seconds we realized the sound was coming from outside and was a fire alarm. We quickly left our room and went to the hotel front desk. We...

Words are powerful. They have the ability to shape our lives and the lives of the people around us. A simple phrase can encourage us to be brave, remind us of our worth or even change the direction of our future.  Think about the times...

There comes a time, perhaps many times in life, when our faith is challenged and the religious path that we have chosen is questioned by unbelievers. Sometimes this line of questioning leads to social pressures that can lead a once faithful person to question...

I believe in you. You picked out a great outfit this morning. You have what it takes to accomplish the tasks in front of you. You are going to make someone smile today. Did any of that lift you up? Make you smile? There’s no...

It happens every year. Right around the time kids have mastered the art of sleeping until noon, playing video games all night, and consuming every last snack within a five-mile radius, summer quietly packs up and leaves. Along with the beach trips, popsicles, relaxed...