When Christ was crucified, we are told in Matthew 27 that the curtain was torn from top to bottom, revealing the Holy of Holies to all those present. What does this mean? It means that the barrier between us and God had been eliminated, as we now had clear and unobstructed access to God through …
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The Valley of the Shadow of Death
The Valley of the Shadow of Death – doesn’t sound too appealing. Any savvy real estate developer would change that name in a heartbeat. Perhaps Shady Valley – no, shady suggests dishonesty… Cool Valley – no, cool has too many alternative meanings… Green Valley – no, sounds too eco-progressive and restrictive… Peaceful Valley – that’s …
Stillborn
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – We’ve all heard this gem of ancient Chinese philosophy, but have we taken a moment to consider its meaning? As Christians, we identify with Jesus Christ who told us that He was the Way. The early church, which significantly identified themselves as Followers …
Judgment Day
In the book of John, Chapter 8, we are told the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery who is brought before Jesus: 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman …
Happy Father’s Day!
I suspect that Father’s Day was ultimately a creation of greeting card companies who, having had such great success with Mother’s Day, saw a further opportunity to cash in. Cynicism aside, though, it has always afforded me the opportunity to reflect on the fathers in my life and their contribution, for good or ill, in …
Heads They Win, Tails We Lose
I should be good, I try to be, but then I know I fail For all my efforts, good or bad, the mirror tells the tale My skin is black, no matter what, and so it is I’m fated To be reviled, subservient, and if I disagree I’m hated. But Martin’s dream, that one fine …
I’ll Tell You Later…
When I worked in the California courts we had a much beloved Spanish language interpreter. Her job was to assist Spanish speaking defendants and witnesses in court proceedings so that they could understand what was happening and make an informed response. It was important that this occur in real time, otherwise they were left confused …
Embracing the Uncertainty of Outcomes
Mistakes. We all make them. Truth be told, we tend to excuse our own while condemning others. But, trying to look at mistakes objectively, what should be our reaction? Let’s look at an example of two similar mistakes: Emergency Dispatcher One: Phone call received regarding prowler outside citizen’s house. They dispatch police, but have accidentally …
Grace Junkies
Feeling down about yourself? Questioning past choices and actions? Do you seek out people or books that affirm you? Do you cut yourself off from people who don’t embrace you? Are you a grace junkie? I define the term as someone who wants grace, feels that they desperately need grace from others, and will do …
A Crash Course in Life
Failure is not an option. Certainly a principle to embrace when striving toward a goal. But, after the strife, what if failure is the result? When facing the reality of changes that have occurred in life, when you feel shattered and disconsolate, it is important to step back and assess. After my divorce, all my …
In a dry and thirsty land 