Pixabay.com Today, the day of our publication for this blog, is St. Valentine’s Day, the love-laden, optimistic day that reminds many to acknowledge the love or loves of their lives and to express it with small gifts of - well, you guessed it: flowers, candy, cards, dinner and maybe a concert or a movie all... Continue Reading →

Photo credit: Dr. Jill Biden/Twitter (Commander, the Biden family dog has just settled into the White House when along comes Willow, the new First Cat. He is appealing for heavenly help from Champ, the Biden dog who passed away a few months ago. This conversation was picked up through White House surveillance technology.) Commander: Yo! Champ!... Continue Reading →

Pixabay.com American individualism is rooted in the DNA of ordinary Americans since the Puritans set foot on the promising shores of the eastern coast of our country in the early seventeenth century.  They were fleeing oppression for their religious beliefs.  Soon there emerged the colonists who saw this land as an opportunity to create a community free... Continue Reading →

Pixabay.com Recently we have heard a lot about the ‘beloved community.’ This is a term which the late Rep. John Lewis referred to often in his speeches advocating civil rights for Black and underserved Americans. Lewis was educated for the ministry and took seriously the threads of justice he perceived in the Gospels and other... Continue Reading →

Pixabay.com This past week I had the privilege of speaking to a wonderfully interactive group at a residential campus for senior Jewish residents in Northeast Ohio. As I set about thinking of my theme for this presentation, I was confronted with two very challenging realities which dampened the beauty of a sparkling new year for... Continue Reading →

Pixabay.com You know the story of the Epiphany which we celebrated this past week.  Three ‘kings,’ three gifts, mysterious dream and exceptional star. It’s really the romantic, adventuresome part of the birth narrative of Jesus told beautifully in Matthew who begins his Gospel with the story of the Magi, visitors from the East who were Gentiles.... Continue Reading →

Pixabay.com (In the past we have had some columns written by Major, the Biden family dog, and conversations with Major’s late brother, Champ.  Today’s blog is advice from Major to Commander, the newest resident of the White House.  According to recent press releases, Major had difficulties being pleasant to visitors and to the Secret Service who, according... Continue Reading →

Pixabay.com I would like to address two recent losses and how their reality has fueled hope for the new year.  Perhaps you will get an idea or two for your own spiritual ‘take’ as one year winds down and a new one begins. I first met Fr. Don Cozzens late in the early1980’s at a conference where I... Continue Reading →

Please look at the picture copied here very carefully.  It was taken many years ago by a photographer –whose name I cannot recall—but who caught the scene in our yard and then brought me the picture later.  I have kept it to remind me of the peace and tranquility promised in Isaiah’s famous chapter 11:6-9 in which... Continue Reading →

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com For centuries we have been asking this question so beautifully sung in the Christmas hymn we all know.  Who really is Jesus, the Christ?  At this time of year, we imagine him as a helpless baby.  We think that if Jesus suddenly came into our lives as he did in that little stable, we would... Continue Reading →