Week 31 – Face Flat on the Racetrack of Life Job 21-25 Have you ever been to a track meet? I went to one today for our youngest son. They began this meet at 3:00 in the afternoon. That’s 15:00 hours if you’re a military man. I am not. But the gentlemen in front of… Read More »

Week 30 – Embers of Hope in the Ash Heap of Suffering Job 16-20 Our family loves movies. All kinds. For years we had a tradition on Friday night where we would pop a giant bowl of popcorn and slice apples and cut cheese into little kid-sized cubes so little fingers could grab them and… Read More »

Week 29 – The Shadowlands of Suffering Job 11-15 Today is Maundy Thursday. If you have been around me for any length of time you have heard me utter the phrase, “In Guatemala,” followed by a sometimes relevant, always rambling story about something that happened during our beautiful decade of life there. Semana Santa in… Read More »

Week 28 – Ghiordes knots and the Gossamer Bridge Job 6-10 A short ride from the ancient city of Ephesus lies a weaving cooperative in Selçuk, Turkey. Low unassuming red brick buildings welcome you into a space where the ancient art of rug weaving is revealed from silkworm to showroom. Thick wool rugs hang displayed,… Read More »

Week 27 – Sitting on the Event Horizon of Despair Job 1-5 I wonder how many things have been written in coffee shops. Papers and blogs and texts and Dear John letters and business plans and doctrinal statements and obituaries. I’m sitting on one right now just north of the church watching a guy across… Read More »

Week 26 – Judgmental Giraffes and the Kingdom of Hope Ezekiel Chapters 43-48 We have a wooden giraffe with a missing ear who lives on the mantle above our fireplace. I think the ear is in a tub of Christmas decorations in the attic above our garage. If you ever come to visit and sit… Read More »

Week 25 – Cornbread, Buttermilk and the Volcanicane of Glory Ezekiel Chapters 38-42 Cornbread and buttermilk are culinary wonders that feed something deep in my soul. I grew up eating cornbread weekly. Monday was beans and cornbread. I don’t know why Monday was beans and cornbread, but it was, and I loved it. I’ve often… Read More »

Ezekiel Chapters 33-37 I love being human. It’s messy, of course. It often doesn’t make sense. I have more questions than answers. Humans get tired and grumpy and stinky. We make mistakes. Lots of them. So many that I often think of mistakes as dark pigment for a painter. They provide contrast, shading, shadows, darkness… Read More »

Ezekiel 28-32 I normally try to write something here to engage you, dear reader, instead of boring you to tears right off the bat. Something witty or captivating. But as I was sitting here thinking about how I would tie something into five chapters in Ezekiel dealing with God’s judgement over nations and the shifting… Read More »

Ezekiel 24 I treasure a good night sleep now more than ever. Uninterrupted slumber feels like small gift tucked at the back the Christmas tree, until you spot it shining in a cascade of green ribbon curls, your name on the tag. Someone cared enough to wrap this just for you and it makes everything… Read More »