In 2016, ABC News ran a story about a woman named Tiffany Otterbeck. Tiffany and her husband had had a baby, she’d gone on parental leave, and now, she had returned to work. One night, even though she was exhausted from working all day and then caring for her young daughter, she decided that she was … More No Place Too Far
“A man and a woman were walking along a crowded sidewalk in New York City. Suddenly, the woman, who was a zoologist, said, ‘Listen to the lovely sound of that cricket,’ but the man could not hear the sound. He asked: “How can you possibly hear a cricket, in the middle of all of this noise, and … More What We Listen For
My first car was a 1978 AMC Concord DL (DL for DeeLuxe!) For those unfamiliar with the AMC Concord, it was a small car, a compact, but it was a bit of a beast. I think the bodies were made out of cast iron. But the thing that my particular AMC Concord DL was known for, besides … More The Moment That Changed Everything
In the spring of 1995, major and minor league baseball players were on strike over the salary cap and collective bargaining. But team owners were determined…they were going to have a baseball season, strike or no strike! So, they threw open the gates, and invited pretty much anybody who knew how to scoop up a grounder … More The Love We Don’t Deserve
I think that one of the most profound phrases in all the scriptures can be found in our Gospel reading today. It is six, simple words: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” It is a humble, respectful request, made to the disciples by a group of travelers, people of Greek origin, who have apparently come a … More We Want to See Jesus
Lori and I love going to the movies. There is something fun about heading to the theater, and getting a bag of popcorn, and settling in to a really, really good story. And I’ve got to tell you, once the theaters put those recliners in, you know, the ones with the heated seats…I’m pretty sure I could … More Don’t Skip the Previews
In the late 1800’s, the Union Pacific Railroad was being built. Rail tracks were being laid across the whole country to connect passengers and goods from coast to coast. It was a massive construction project. As a section of track in the western United States was being laid, the construction team came to a large canyon. It … More 40 Days
Grace and peace to you from God our Creator, and from Jesus, our Savior, who calls us into deep waters. Amen. Our Gospel story from the book of Luke is the calling of the first disciples. These are fisherman. These are just ordinary guys who are going about their work, minding their own business, cleaning, and repairing their … More Going Deep
Two summers ago, I took a trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with our youngest son, Sam. On our last day, we were paddling back to the outfitter’s when we took the portage from Alpine Lake into Seagull Lake. Seagull is what Boundary Waters veterans call “big water.” It’s a really big lake to paddle … More When God Whispers in Your Ear
When I think of Christmas, I often think of car trips. I think of packing up suitcases and sleeping bags. I think of laundry baskets full of Christmas presents for the cousins, that go into the station wagon. I think of my brothers and I, loading into the back, rear-facing seat of the Ford Country Squire (complete with … More Where Heaven Meets Earth
Test Driving Theology 