Today’s reading left me considering the verse, “Little children, make sure no one deceives you” (ceb). As I thought about the beginning of this passage and the truth that God loves...

Several years ago, I experienced a time of disorientation. After thirteen years in a place I loved, I relocated for a new ministry role. I had grown up in my call...

I’m intrigued by art forms that take brokenness and make something whole. One such form is the Japanese practice of kintsugi, repairing broken pottery with lacquer that’s dusted or mixed with...

Most of the time, I’m a rule follower. I’m the one who will walk the extra steps to go in the actual “in” door, even though the “out” door opens and...

Sometimes it’s easy for me to relate to the disciples and those we read about in scripture. At first glance, Peter seems to be admonishing the Israelites in these verses, reminding...

And then there was Thomas. For whatever reason, he wasn’t there when his friends huddled behind closed doors, fearing for their lives, trying to keep their little community together. And then,...

Our story today goes back to the very beginning of the community that would become the church. Only ten followers of Jesus are present: Judas has betrayed Jesus to the authorities...

We’ve already been reintroduced to the Pentecost community in Acts as an intentional community sharing economic resources. And we’ve learned from the ancient kinship communities in Psalms (and Genesis) about conflict...

A colleague and I taught a workshop about caring communities in the summer of 2021 with ten men at the Cook County Jail in Chicago, sponsored by McCormick Theological Seminary. We...

When we read this ancient psalm, we are distracted, maybe even amused, by the precious oil running down Aaron’s beard, and then we may wonder why it is paired with the...