Go, Jesus said.  Go into all the world and make disciples baptizing them in my name…  Go.  And be prepared to give up everything.  Leave behind everything.

Did I think he was exaggerating?  Or that he didn’t mean me? Read more »

A friend asked my opinion today. As my husband is wont to say “Opinions are like belly buttons, everybody’s got one.” I am no exception. I have one belly button, but myriad opinions.

So I listened readily to his question. I was eager to give away one of my fabulous opinions. Read more »

Life is a contest. And we are all in it. We dream and desire and we work very hard to be the “est”.

The prettiest, fastest, smartest, wittiest, kindest.

We want to be the best. At something. At something we like to do. Something that we admire or enjoy. We want to be the best at something that others will admire. Read more »

The Kingdom of Heaven is like an army engaged in a far reaching battle. One day the commander in chief of the army sent orders to the captain of one of his companies:

“Have your lieutenant ready a platoon to be deployed to an additional front.”

The lieutenant assembled a small group of volunteers for the platoon. Under the direction of the commander in chief he scouted surrounding territory and selected an appropriate area. Read more »

In the summer of 1976, my family took a vacation out to Cape Cod. On our way home we stopped to see Plymouth Rock.

It was my dad’s idea. He had the perspective of history and a sense of wonder. The appreciation for gazing at a rock that people we study in history stood by. Feeling a connectedness with the past. It’s tough to achieve in the U.S. where there isn’t much history. Read more »

Hebrews 11 Moses is commended for turning his back on the passing pleasures of sin- he was raised in wealth and privilege, a lot like me. But he chose to be identified with the Hebrews, the slaves- which reminds me of Mother Teresa, not me.

Moses. His parents defied the law and did not allow their newborn son to be killed. Then they place him in a basket in a river and he floats down to Pharaoh’s daughter and is adopted, nursed by his own birth mother. Saved. Grows up in Pharaoh’s house. A place of significant power. Read more »

So, a tree falls in the woods and there is no one around. No one to hear it. No one to see it.

Maybe it is a woods so thick and so large that the flowers growing on the forest floor are not seen by anyone. They are beautiful, but no one knows.

So what is the point? What is the point of a beautiful flower that no one will see. What is the point of a falling tree that no one will hear? Read more »

The woman who hosts an NPR advice feature called “Ask Amy” was herself seeking advice. She is scheduled to speak at a high school commencement. What should she say? Read more »

Elizabeth has been reigning for decades as the Queen of England.

She is shown great respect.

Her portrait even appears on the money of Canada.

She doesn’t actually run Canada or even England. She is what we call a figurehead: a person who holds an important title or office yet executes little actual power

Jesus has been reigning as King of kings for centuries.

He is shown mild respect.

His portrait appears on billboards and even in homes. Family bookstores sell many items for decorating our homes in his honor.

Does he run your life?

Or is he a figurehead?

Can you tell the difference?

I’m in a hurry to get things done
I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I’ve really got to do is live and die
But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.

Alabama

I’m in a hurry. I keep searching for the finish line. I am eager to prod myself and everyone else to completion. I’m in a hurry. Read more »