A Triumph of Love
My last essay, A Birthday (and Holiday) Lamentation, was a very personal exploration of some serious challenges in my life currently. It is a hard and sad post. Yet, there is hope. My wife, Pamela, …
Christianity
10 Christmas Quotes
For Christmas this year, I decided to gather ten Christmas quotes from some of my favorite ministers and theologians. As I was putting them together, I realized that they were all from different denominations and …
Why everyone’s gifts matter
The Christmas classic The Little Drummer Boy, while a catchy tune, doesn’t have its origins in the biblical narrative, but in the mind of composer Katherine Kennicott Davis, who penned the song in 1941. And …
Stories about Trump’s Son Being Close to Salvation are Gross
Over the last few days, I have seen story after story about how a pastor and TikToker has claimed that Barron Trump is close to salvation. I hope it is true that Barron is close …
Why do we sing? Hymns and contemporary Christian music in the church
There are a number of articles that have been written on hymns and contemporary Christian music in the church. I have read several of them over the years, and it is a topic I have …
When the Holy Spirit Convicts Believers of Sin: A Journey Back to Hackensack
Early Success and Hidden Struggles I grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City. I graduated from Hackensack High in 1971, got my B.A. from Cornell University in 1975, a master’s …
What not to say when someone has God beaten out of them
“If being hurt by church causes you to lose faith in God,” so the saying on a popular image macro goes, “then your faith was in people, not in God.” I’ve been seeing this sentiment …
Gun Violence: Perfect love drives out fear
We are all weary of the gun control discussions. This essay was first published after a school shooting that was the 40th school shooting of that year and the 26th mass shooting of that year. …
The Holiday Season: The Story That Still Speaks
The holiday season is here, and with it comes that familiar mix of nostalgia and noise. The lights appear in windows, the temperature drops, and suddenly the world feels both tender and frantic. People hold …
Thanksgiving when you aren’t feeling thankful
Yesterday, our Pastor preached a Thanksgiving message that relied heavily on the nostalgia of family holidays. I can certainly relate to that. As a child, holidays were a wonderful time. I remember Thanksgiving as a …