Making Room

“I would love to be a part of this,” I was told, numerous times. “I used to garden and always loved it. But I can’t do it anymore. I can’t bend over like I used to. I’m not as strong as I used to be. My knees and my back won’t allow it.” I can’t […]

What Have You Been Reading?: The Shepherd’s Life

I picked up this book in order to learn about sheep. The Bible has a good amount of references to sheep, and I am thoroughly convinced by the amount of questionable sermons I have heard that pastors and preachers don’t really know much about sheep. I don’t want to be one of these ignorant pastors […]

A Filthy Place for Kids

On Palm Sunday of this year, my wife left me, and took the kids. Honestly, I’m the one who drove her away… all the way to Charlotte-Douglas airport, where they boarded a plane and flew to San Diego to spend Easter with her family, giving me that most rare and precious gift: solitude. My […]

Recipe: Hamburger Casserole

Jessica, my wife, regularly returns to San Diego to see her family, leaving me behind, alone. I like it that way. I am a very introverted person, and with two small children in the house, alone time is at an all time premium. If I did not have church services and meetings while Jessica and […]

I’m a Bee-liever!

When I told my oldest daughter, Cas, that we were getting bees last year, she was thrilled. I was worried that the girls would be scared of the bees, or would treat them in a way that would lead to stinging, so I talked about them with Cas. I told her about the bees, shared […]

At Jesus’ Table: Holy Saturday, Eggs

So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Matthew 27:59-60 Tomorrow is Easter. Tonight the Easter Bunny visits, dropping […]

At Jesus’ Table: Good Friday, Wine

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.Matthew 26:27-28 Wine is used to bless things. Part of that is the mysteriousness of its […]

At Jesus’ Table: Maundy Thursday, Bread

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Matthew 26:26 What does it mean to eat Jesus? The consumption of bread that is the body of Jesus Christ is probably the most […]

At Jesus’ Table: Wednesday, Lamb

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb […]

At Jesus’ Table: Tuesday, Bitter Herbs

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelites, saying: Anyone of you or your descendants who is unclean through touching a corpse, or is away on a journey, shall still keep the passover to the Lord. In the second month on the fourteenth day, at twilight, they shall keep it; they shall eat it […]