Pastoral Message, January 2017
The noted African American theologian and pastor Howard Thurman published a short devotional book called Meditations of the Heart. In it he shared this brief anecdote: Years ago, walking along …
The noted African American theologian and pastor Howard Thurman published a short devotional book called Meditations of the Heart. In it he shared this brief anecdote: Years ago, walking along …
I’m not sure if nativity scenes on Christmas cards actually catch the moment we should be remembering as this crazy year winds to a close. Don’t get me wrong—remembering the …
When I think about Thanksgiving, there are two images that come to mind. The first is the “greeting card” image of a Thanksgiving meal—turkey, potatoes, vegetables, rolls—arrayed on a large …
Our dog Elphie has a significant limp at the moment. She’s an 11-year old black Labrador, and midway through a romp through Frick Park she suddenly stopped, elevated her back …
I stumbled onto a short article in which an 80-year old, Klezmer music-playing clarinetist was asked about the importance of breathing. She said, “Relax. Inhale deeply. Sit up straight. Appreciate …
In January 1945, my father, Richard Bush, enlisted in the Navy halfway through his senior year in high school. He was 17, so his parents had to sign for him …
It is important to speak a word about the recent grand jury decision in Ferguson, MO. First, it is sad to think how few congregations are likely commenting in worship …
How do we remember painful things? That question seems backwards, because we typically try not to think about painful things. We work hard at forgetting bad memories and tell ourselves …
Several years ago, Ellen DeGeneres had a great conversation with an older woman in Austin, Texas named Gladys. You can watch the YouTube video here now, if you wish. The …
Our church’s front yard is different now. The rain garden project is basically finished. After the hard winter we had last year, we are making sure that the newly planted …