Leadership. Just that simple word in America in 2025 summons a host of daily news stories about our own struggles with what that word means right now—and what it could mean. I felt that anxiety in a group of 15 men from the suburbs of Washington D.C., many of them active or retired government workers, Read more about Embracing David’s Legacy in Days of Chaos[…]
Watching the Democratic National Convention on TV this week, I was struck by the outpouring of love and admiration for President Joe Biden. His withdrawal from the Presidential race in July brought about a radical change in the prospect of who will lead our country for the next four years. His decision has been called Read more about The Legacy of Surrender[…]
I watch my granddaughter vibrating, and I remember when I used to do the same thing. Rose is six years old, and she’s finally entered December, the month of Christmas. Though she’s still weeks away, her eagerness for Christmas morning is nearly all-consuming; excitement pulses and throbs in every molecule of her little cells. This Read more about Being Patient is Hard Work[…]
(This piece began with the simple exercise of writing what came to mind when hearing the word “tree.” It went from an initial image to something like a eulogy, as you will see.) In the shadows of the side yard of my house stood a single tall pine. From it hung, for some mysterious reason, Read more about A Mysterious Presence[…]
A Sermonic Reflection. The last big story about King David helps us understand … why some people see a different God than we do. … and how the future of the church may depend on our making one important choice.
He said in broken English, “The Bastille station is fermez. How do you say… it is closed.” My stomach dropped. Our carefully-made plans to thread our way through the streets of Paris, navigate the Metro, and arrive safely at our hotel, crumpled. And drawing on memories of high school French from decades ago, I managed Read more about Travel Is a Spiritual Journey[…]
Not long ago I was privileged to join a Food and Wine Tour in France with my wife and two good friends. We spent time in the Burgundy and Bordeaux regions, tasting, learning about and appreciating the delicious wine of the area. One thing we learned is that the best wine comes from grapes grown Read more about What Great Wine Teaches Us[…]
A wise friend commented on my last “Leading With Spirit” posting, about the woman who served me a mocha in the hospital coffee shop. Wayne said, “When we view our work, whatever it is, as a ministry, we are at our best.” I hired a U-Haul once from a dealer who was unfailingly cheerful and Read more about Your Mundane Ministry[…]
