In the end of all things is their beginning, and only from the perspective of the end can one know what they are, why they have been made, and who the God is who has called them from nothingness. From the perspective of eternity, the end comes first and the… Continue reading
(9 minutes) In Part One of this two-part series, we saw that the great Jewish philosopher Abraham Joshua Heschel observed that our later years can be regarded as “formative years, rich in possibilities to unlearn the follies of a lifetime.” In that article, we saw how those autumn and winter… Continue reading
(10 minutes) I have never met anyone who would like to live his or her live over again with the same repetition of experiences—a perpetual “Groundhog Life” repeated ad infinitum ad nauseum. At times, I’ve wished I could live my life over again knowing what I know now. I would… Continue reading
Often in Scripture we detect a sense that a propitious time is upon us: a time to decide, to re-evaluate, to change, to turn around, to see differently, and to assess our lives, priorities, and commitments. Phrases such as “Now is the time of salvation/fulfillment is at hand/the moment is… Continue reading
(I have included at the end of this sermon the pastoral prayer, communion meditation, and commission that were given during the service when the sermon was delivered.) There are times I think I should go back to school and earn a Ph. D. in patience. But then I realize one… Continue reading
In contemporary society our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in “muchness” and “manyness,” he will rest satisfied. Psychiatrist Carl Jung once remarked, “Hurry is not OF the Devil; it IS the Devil.” (Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline) As… Continue reading
