I started college as a philosophy major. If I was to be ordained, it was recommended that I have a background in philosophy before studying theology. It did help me to learn to think more critically. However, one of the first courses I took in college was in theater arts. … Read More »A Life of Meaning
Was there a time when a friend or loved one said something to you that led you to a new insight or a moment of growth? In my college years, I would venture with a group of fellow students for weekend retreats at a remote farmhouse in the mountains of… Read More »No Pain, No Gain! Are You Sure?
About a week ago, one of my Facebook (FB) friends posted this comment as a status up-date: “Everybody sins & God loves everybody. No exceptions. How come people like to separate the clauses?” I may not have given the comment much notice, but this FB friend is known to be… Read More »Sin: Can We Talk About It?
I often hear it said, “People never change.” This adage is generally repeated in a moment of frustration and at that time, it seems to be true. Is it that people don’t ever change or that people don’t change in the ways we want and when we want? Is personal… Read More »A Lesson in Personal Change: The Life of Oscar Romero
It’s often said that religion and spirituality are fundamentally different. The arguments for this position go something like this. Religion is about dogma, fixed beliefs, and rituals to which people must adhere. Spirituality is individualized, focused on experience, and free flowing. At face value, there’s something to be said for… Read More »Religion and Spirituality: How Different Are They?
As I watched a New Year’s Eve countdown TV show broadcast from New York’s Time Square, a question the hosts frequently asked guests was a familiar one: What’s your New Year’s resolution? It’s now a few days into the New Year and I suspect that many well-intentioned resolutions made on… Read More »Changes for the New Year
It was my freshman year of high school. Among my every day courses in biology, algebra, composition, biology, and history, there was one course that only met one time each week. I looked forward to it. There wasn’t a text book nor was there home work. It was more informal… Read More »Self-Knowledge
What good are spiritual practices? Why take time to pray, meditate, journal, or spend time to intentionally develop the spiritual dimension of life? There are some critics who claim that a focus on spirituality is nothing more than self-indulgence. I’ve heard this criticism many times. Some of those who make… Read More »Spiritual Practices: What Good Are They?
