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A Family Like Mine: Biblical Stories of Love, Loss, and Longing
https://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/1921/a-family-like-mine.aspxWhom Shall I Fear: Urgent Questions for Christians in an Age of Violence
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Category Archives: story
Advent obligations and indulgences
It is almost impossible to calculate or to know what the smallest notice, the most minor kindness, done deliberately and without ceremony, can do to lift the spirits of one who might need it more than we imagine. Continue reading
Posted in advent meditations, story
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Olive branches over ordnance
The olive trees, ancient and observant, hearing the blood that cries out from the land, whisper that the answer to Cain’s crime cannot be to take the hoe from his hand and hand him an AR-15. Continue reading
Posted in current events, gun violence, story
Tagged Cain and Abel, Holy Land, mass shooting, olive branch, orange stole
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Why I take pictures of cats
Above the Monastery in Petra, signs direct visitors to some of the very Best Views.
We scrambled towards the Best View in the World.
It was a very good view. There was also, of course, a small cat. Continue reading
Trust
A man whose last name we didn’t know, whom we had met last night, pointed out a narrowing canyon and said, “Walk that way. I’ll meet you on the other side.” Continue reading
Posted in spiritual autobiography, story
Tagged Holy Land, Jordan, sabbatical, Wadi Rum
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Morning prayer
A rabbit, startled by the
gas-powered scythe scuttered,
white tail exposed,
exiting garden right. Continue reading
Conjuring Esther
Esther has become difficult to read. Her story makes me angry and afraid. We read it like a fairytale. But like so many fairytales, it teems with themes of horror dressed up in satin and silk. Continue reading
Posted in current events, lectionary reflection, sermon preparation, story
Tagged #ChurchToo, #metoo, Esther, sex trafficking
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Fear of God
I am a professional at proclaiming the promises of God. I make excuses not to put God to the test. Continue reading
Posted in spiritual autobiography, story
Tagged Holy Land, Jerusalem, pilgrimage, sabbatical
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Bread of life
I knew, in my body and in my soul and in the core of my being that what was offered at that altar was something I needed, something I wanted, something I could not live without. I still can’t quite explain it; I still know that it is true. Continue reading
Posted in homily, lectionary reflection, sermon, story
Tagged Bread of Life, Eucharist, Holy Communion, Incarnation, John 6:51-58
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By halves
My mother’s mantra haunts me: Never do things by halves; Continue reading
Posted in poetry, story
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Be angry, but do not sin
Righteous anger can be used to the advantage of the kingdom of God; championing the abolition of slavery; fighting the Nazi holocaust; marching to make sure that everyone has heard and understood that Black Lives Matter; defending the defenceless and the endangered. But anger is only useful as a tool in the hands of one who has control of it, and who is not controlled by it. Continue reading
Posted in story
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over the water 