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 […]

Still Love in Hard Times

There is idea that is attributed to the German bishop Nicholas of Cusa that goes like this: “The first thought that goes through your mind is what you have been conditioned to think. What you think next defines who you are.” It’s also basically the dual process theory of cognition, where we first make quick judgements […]

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 […]

Wonder and Awe

Easter Sunday was this past Sunday. I have often marveled that the five themes of Advent; hope, peace, joy, love and light, are also in the story of the Resurrection. There is hope that there is more to the story than just death. It mixes with the despair of the crucifixion. There is peace in […]

Holy Week and Random Thoughts

I’ve been a bit unmotivated to sit at my computer and write this week. Well, I should say I’m unmotivated to write when the weather is nice outside and the sun is shining through the office windows that are still grimy and in desperate need of cleaning. But here I sit regardless, watching two of […]

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 […]