The psalmist’s joy is so unconstrained that the universe is invited to join in. The psalmist moves from soloist to conductor of a symphony, inviting all to participate. As they sing,...

The juxtaposition of the songs of praise and the songs of lament can sometimes be jarring. On first reading, the psalms do not seem to offer unified voice, but rather a...

Do you remember the camp song “I Just Wanna Be a Sheep (Baa Baa Baa Baa)”? This song was my introduction to Pharisees and Sadducees, and Sadducees were “sad, you see.”...

I will again shake the heavens and earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to...

Years ago, I pulled into my driveway behind a police car. A member of our church was a police officer and nothing looked amiss, so I was unconcerned. Then my husband,...

My middle school years were spent on a basketball court. I loved being on a team, and when I read this passage from Second Thessalonians it reminded me of a coach...

Over the course of a twenty-five-year marriage, I can’t count the number of times I have started sharing details with my husband only to pause and say, “Wait, I have already...

Lately, I have been learning about the incredible power of repair. When we lose our temper with others, our relationships can suffer. But if we can return to challenging conversations once...

Jack sang his faith, teaching me that Jesus leads us like a shepherd. Alice prayed for me every day. Mildred made me root beer floats and encouraged me to use my...

Many years ago, I worked in a church that had a large statue of Jesus. One day, as young children were gathering for a time of worship, a little girl came...