Category Archives: Odds & Ends

In the Presence of My Enemies

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Most of us are familiar with this verse from Psalm 23. It’s part of the description of what God does for us as our Shepherd. Specifically, it speaks to how He brings abundance into our lives—even to the point of preparing a feastContinue reading “In the Presence of My Enemies”

Sheila’s Great Escape

Say “hello” or maybe “g’day” to Sheila.  If you think you had a tough day Tuesday, think about Sheila’s day. Sheila is the personal pet of a family who operates a 500-acre animal ranch and pumpkin patch in Auburn, Alabama, called Choctafaula. It is billed as “Auburn’s Natural Escape.” Apparently, Sheila took the escape part toContinue reading “Sheila’s Great Escape”

Embracing Your Interruptions

A young man and woman were in love and wanted to get married. The young man asked her father for his blessing. The man told him, “Before I can give you my blessing, you have to pass the test.” The young man asked, “What is the test?” The man replied, “Come to our farm onContinue reading “Embracing Your Interruptions”

Subversive Joy

What kind of man is it, who knowing He is just hours away from being subjected to one of the cruelest, most painful, and shameful deaths imaginable —speaks of His joy? How could He possibly talk to His disciples about His joy being complete in them (John 15:11)?  What are we to make of this?  A person unfamiliar withContinue reading “Subversive Joy”

Clean, Bright & New

I hope the past year has gone well for you and that the new one will be even better. I think New Year’s Day is a great holiday. It tends to get the short end of the attention stick because it comes right after Christmas and is, in many ways, overshadowed by it. (After all,Continue reading “Clean, Bright & New”

A Faith Full Of Questions

The longer I live, the more I appreciate a good question (even though I may not have a clue regarding its answer).  Jesus consistently employed questions when He taught.  There’s a text in Luke that mentions a visit to the temple when He was twelve years old.  This was the occasion when His parents temporarilyContinue reading “A Faith Full Of Questions”

Was Jesus a White, Male, Patriarch?

In some circles today, that represents the trifecta of much/most of what is wrong with the world. For some in those circles, this animus is passed on to Jesus because He is viewed by them as belonging to these categories.  Was Jesus a white, male, patriarch? While we don’t exactly what color Jesus’ skin was,Continue reading “Was Jesus a White, Male, Patriarch?”

Our Kind of Song

The time was the 1920’s. During those hardscrabble years leading up to the Depression, there was a husband, his wife, and her sister who were trying to make a go of it by singing the songs of the mountain people of rural southwest Virginia. They released a song that has been found in a hymnalContinue reading “Our Kind of Song”

God At Work In Our Worship

Worship is coming together at special times, with special people, to do special things that remind us that all of life is worship.  Everything you need is in that definition. It has ambiguity, paradox, and borders on being circular—what more could you ask for? Here’s something unambiguous—worship is God’s idea!  The sacrifices, rituals, and feasts ofContinue reading “God At Work In Our Worship”