Noise drowns out love?

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” ~1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV version) The world today is a noisy place. Everywhere we look, there are words of hate and rhetoric being thrown about. People are being marginalized and […]

You belong

Today marks a year since my first serial novel, The Magician, debuted in paperback format. But more importantly, today marks a year since the tiny church that my other half and I attend in my little swath of the Midwest voted almost unanimously to become the first open and affirming church in the city. Those […]

If I am too much, go find less

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” ~ Matthew 22:36-39 (NIV) It was all over the news […]

Karmic Justice?

In the movie Ella Enchanted, the title character rescues an elf named Slannen, who eventually takes her back to his home village. Due to cruel laws passed by the King Regent Edgar, the elves can only act as performers and must sing and dance for any human, even if their hearts aren’t into it. Ella […]

The human world… it’s a mess

The other day, I decided to try a new trail that’s near my tiny abode here in my little swath of the Midwest. It’s called Denmans Woods. And the most important thing I want to point out is that Denmans Woods trails were designed for mountain bikers. While anyone can use the trails, they are […]

Be a part of the story

This past Sunday, less than twenty people were gathered to worship at the usual time at the tiny church I attend in my little swath of the Midwest. Instead of gathering in the sanctuary, most of us instead sat in Fellowship Hall, congregating around tables as we snacked on treats and watched a livestream of […]

Be unwritten yet inspired

I think my most favorite song in the world is Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. Part of the chorus goes like this: This week is the week of Pentecost, the birthday of the Christian church according to the story in the second chapter of the book of Acts in the Bible. It was the day that […]

We are but dust

There is so much of our lives that we cannot control, even as we try to do so. We can make all sorts of plans. We can dream huge dreams and work to try to achieve them. We can take steps to do what we want to do, but still life throws us curveballs. Like […]

villains in someone else’s story

Let’s talk about Judas Iscariot for a moment. Oh, have I got your attention? Good. I always think about the musical Jesus Christ Superstar when I think about Judas Iscariot. The song Heaven on Their Minds is the first sung song in the musical and Judas sings it, creating a conflicted character that believes he […]

Agitators

Agitate (verb): to excite and often trouble the mind or feelings of; to disturb; to discuss excitedly and earnestly; to stir up public discussion of; to give motion to; to attempt to arouse public feeling The wildfires in the Los Angeles area have been on my mind the past few weeks, as they have been […]