My mother was never afraid to ask difficult questions. While she didn’t graduate from high school, she was inquisitive and had a very sharp mind. It should have been no surprise to me when she began to ask heavy-hitting questions about theology. I remember when she first asked about the… Read More »Re-Examining Christian Salvation
“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” That’s what philosopher Fredrick Nietzsche wrote about 150 years ago. This sentiment is echoed in Kelley Clarkson’s hit song, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).” I recently spent time with a young woman. While she’s bright, professionally engaged, and living what many… Read More »If It Doesn’t Kill You It Makes You Stronger?
It happens all too often. Young children are sexually abused, molested by family members or friends of the family. More often than not, the abuser is someone trusted not only by the child, but also by the family. Like many other children, one girl experienced molestation at a young age.… Read More »Doing the Best You Can
As twilight falls, I sit in a favorite chair in my study. The glow of the candles casts shadows in the room from their placement near an icon in a corner. In the stillness, I begin to sing a familiar hymn: O come, O come Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel….… Read More »The Coming of God-With-Us
It’s not uncommon for people to associate spirituality with positive feelings and an optimistic outlook on life. Words often connected with spirituality include peace, healing, wholeness, happiness, contentment, and fulfillment. Through spiritual practice, we hope to experience peace, healing, wholeness, happiness, contentment, and fulfillment. However, it doesn’t always work that… Read More »Spirituality and Difficult Times in Life
If you’ve ever spoken to someone who is part of a 12-step program, one of the things you’ve most likely been told is that it’s a spiritual program. The founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W. and his companions, came from rather traditional Christian backgrounds but wanted to move beyond the… Read More »They Say It’s a Spiritual Program