All In A Days Grace

  I grew up in Long Island New York. The western portion of Long Island consists of urban areas more densely populated with people and buildings. As you move eastward it transforms to the suburbs as you start to see more grass and open areas. I lived in the center of the Island which was very much the suburbs at the time. When I visit there now I see how the urban tone has spread over the years. Open space has been filled up with apartments or retail space. Roads have been expanded and population density has increased.   One of the greatest things about Long Island is their railroad system. You can take a train from the suburbs to New York City in about 45 minutes. When I was a teenager a few of my friends and I would get together and take the train into the city to walk around. It was always an exciting plan as we jumped on the train for our day of adventure. If you’ve ever been to New York City you know that all of your senses are engaged as soon as you step off th...

  This past Sunday my sermon was about the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus offers the woman "Living Water”, water that would quench her thirst like no other.   Through a dialogue with Jesus she becomes so excited that she drops her water jug and runs to tell her people about her experience. She says “Come and see!” I love preaching that story. There’s so much honesty in it. There’s so much hope and grace in it too. Jesus spoke of “Living Water” on another occasion as well. Jesus said on the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles (Sukkot) “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”-John 7:37-39 We see a future promise of the Holy Spirit come to light here in John 7. This time of Sukkot celebrated the time that the Jewish people had wandered in the wilderness and lived this kind of nomadic life. Nothing was permanent. They moved and set up these temporary shelters as...

  I saw a quote the other day that poked at me. I read it over and over and each time I was unnerved by it.  It was one of those moments you want to sit with the author and say, “You’ve got it all wrong” .  I actually felt sorry that this was their perspective and as I pondered this, my mind wandered to wonder how many other people had this perspective too. Well, I won’t be speaking with the author anytime soon because her name was Helen Keller. She was an incredible woman who lived her life without sight or sound.   It actually surprised me that she, of all people, would have this perspective based on her life experience. Before I get too far, let me share the quote with you. “I do not want the peace which passeth understand.   I want the understanding which bringeth peace.”-Helen Keller Now at first glance this quote seems true. In the very least it’s honest. I think we all want to understand the things of the world so that we might have peace in them...

  As I sit here and write this blog, my roof is being replaced. If you’ve ever had that done before, you know that the noise can be disturbing to say the least. I am trying to channel my youth ministry days when I would have to block out the chaos around me in order to think/work at times. I’ve turned on music and steadied my thoughts on the work I have to do today. Some moments are more challenging than others, and I may need to reach for Tylenol at some point; but otherwise, it’s manageable. I’m having an easier time with this than my dog. He’s still convinced the sky is falling and we must evacuate. He has followed me around all morning letting out concerned barks along the way. He goes back and forth from sitting as close as he can to me, to curled up under my desk; all the while observing me to measure my level of concern. The calmer and more unreactive I am to the chaos, the calmer he is. It’s been interesting to observe. I took note of this as I was reading my devoti...