It’s a miracle that repeats itself Sunday after Sunday. Maybe it happens in your church too, in your church choir. We are a mixed group. Yes, indeed, we’ve got some splendidly talented musicians, but most of us do this on … Continue reading →
It’s almost Labor Day weekend, and along with barbecues, corn on the cob, homemade ice cream and juicy tomatoes, I’m also thinking about those folks who are out of work and hunting, sometimes desperately, for a job. Despite recent dips … Continue reading →
We pray for them before they’re even born. I was thinking about all those prayers we say for our kids and then our grandkids—no, I don’t have any grandchildren, but oddly enough, I’ve already dreamed about maybe having them someday. … Continue reading →
What is the greatest fear for most people? We talked in the office about this the other day. “Public speaking” is the answer. People are terrified of speaking before a crowd; their minds go blank, their mouths go dry, their … Continue reading →
Four generations of the family gathered at a beach rental for a summer vacation. Not everyone is here at once. Some are coming for the day, some arrive for a few days and then have to go back for work. … Continue reading →
When you love someone, you come to know them well. You anticipate their wants, understand their worries, remember their stories. You pray for them in the natural, unforced way you pray for yourself, sharing their hopes, mirroring their concerns, dreaming … Continue reading →
Sometimes the news media can be a little late to the party when it comes to prayer, but like the father welcoming home the prodigal son, I’m hardly disgruntled when they arrive. And they did the other day when on … Continue reading →
As I heard myself say it, I wished I could explain it better. I was giving a talk on prayer this past Sunday. “There is an inherent mystery in prayer,” I said to the group gathered. “God knows the secrets … Continue reading →
There’s an old 16th-century prayer that ran through my head on Saturday as I was headed up to Connecticut to see the father of a dear friend who is in hospice care: God be in my head, and in my … Continue reading →
The question inevitably comes up during any probing discussion of prayer: What happens to prayers that go unanswered? What if the answer is No? What if you’ve prayed and prayed about something, storming the heavens, and things don’t turn out … Continue reading →
