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As dusk turns to night, I find myself alone with my thoughts. The only audience I have are two pensive felines either waiting for food, or some greater truth all together. These are prime moments - the hours between toddler slumber and my own. As night falls, the words of my favorite theologian whispers between … Continue reading Cutting Onions of Humiliation →

Today my little guy turns 2. This week I went through the extreme emotions of a doting dad with a growing shadow. Reflecting on year 1 to 2 has led me to notice a few differences from year 0 to 1. For example, I don't remember ever uttering the phrase "please stop trying to ride … Continue reading Turning 2, a Patient Tabby, and a Doting Father →

17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him/her it is sin. - James 4:17 ESV This is an indicting verse. Not so many passages are as easy to translate as this. Yet, in our application, we must tread carefully. When I read Scripture, or truly anything that inspires, … Continue reading We Are Capable of More →

There is no greater change of role in this big world than that from consumer to producer. From our first breath, to our last, the natural condition of life is to consume. Call it sin or call it the human condition. Either way, we are consumers through and through. All religions, at their core, work against this instinct. They push practitioners to contemplate … Continue reading Produce > Consume →

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, … Continue reading Women, Church, and What Could Be →

If there is one complaint I hear the most when I am in a school talking to teens, or with an adult, talking about their school experience it is this: "I hated history . . . so boring . . . too many facts and dates . . ." As a college student I studied … Continue reading “History is Boring” and Other Lies →

3 But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. -                2 Thessalonians 3:3 *This short passage is deep and rich in comfort. My words will always fail in describing the depth of Scripture. I urge you to meditate on these … Continue reading Faithful →

Part of my newfound career is teaching students what is defined as "risk avoidance". While a surprising 88% of teens do not partake in such behavior (alcohol, smoking, etc.), many of the students we work with are themselves in danger of such risks. The truth is, all students need tools to help them to choose … Continue reading Don’ t Waste the Pain (or Healthy Risk) →

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place … Continue reading Ships Without Captains →

*The following essay was previously posted in October as a response to the Squirrel Hill Synagogue shootings. Unfortunately, these tragedies keep happening and my thoughts on gun violence are still grievingly relevant. While a member of a church, I remember being chastised and ultimately dispelled for not being a "fit" over raising such questions. There … Continue reading On Deaf Ears →