Forgiven, Freed to Forgive

February 25, 2015 9:16 am  \   Posted in: Prayerbook \ 4 Comments
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” — Luke 14:4 and Matthew 6:12

One evening when I was serving as a chaplain on a cruise ship, I sat down to dinner with a party of eight. During the table conversation, one woman announced in bold but hurt tones that she had recently disinherited all of her children. She looked around at us and said, “That will certainly teach them a lesson don’t you … Continue Reading →

The Day Everything Changed

January 26, 2015 3:47 pm  \   Posted in: Prayerbook \ 4 Comments
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’ As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. — Mark 1:14-20

  Have you ever had a day when everything just changed for you and nothing after that was ever the same again? I think of some I’ve had: the day I stood as a nineteen year-old on the deck of the Queen Elizabeth I and sailed away to a year in France that changed my life completely. And I’ll never … Continue Reading →

Learning Things by Heart

December 16, 2014 6:33 am  \   Posted in: Prayerbook \ 1 Comment
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)

I’m not very good at memorizing things. I don’t have the photographic memory some of my friends have that has helped them do so well in life. I’m not great at memorizing scripture, for example, and I have to work hard at remembering people’s names — two talents that are pretty much essential components of a successful pastor’s skill-set.  There … Continue Reading →