Though we tend to think of God creating the world in six days and then resting on the seventh, the Hebrew of Genesis 2:2 makes it clear that God finished his work by resting.
Throughout the creation story in Genesis 1, God sees his creation and judges it to be good. Now, as his work is completed, he sees that it is "very good." The religious world...
Why are we here on earth? For centuries, philosophers and theologians have debated this question. No doubt the debate will continue for centuries to come. The first answer we find in Scripture...
For centuries, theologians have debated the precise nuances of our being in God's image. Does it suggest our intellect? Our will? Our spiritual capacity? Our life in community? We may never know...
Several years ago, I was sitting on an oceanfront cliff in Southern California, preparing a sermon. All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye I saw something peculiar, a black...
In the Thanksgiving Eve services at Irvine Presbyterian Church, we had an open mic time when people in the congregation could publicly express their gratitude. We heard much of what you would...
From the beginning, God saw with moral vision. He saw the light, and saw its goodness. God discerns the true nature of everything. He sees clearly the difference between right and wrong. He cannot...
As the head of a small Episcopal grade school, I often give the chapel talk. To grab the attention of 40 squirming preschoolers—no easy task—I search for simple stories and parables. One morning,...
When I accepted a job in the camping industry, I never expected to find myself dangling from a cliff 50 feet above the Frio River. That's how I learned about vertical shepherding.One Wednesday...
I have a long memory when it comes to work grievances. I can replay the slightest slight in vivid Technicolor, no matter how long ago it occurred.I still remember the day when, new...
We have more forms of communication available to us today than we've ever even imagined. The cost of connecting with one another over great distances is steadily going down as technology advances....
Compassion May Require Scuba Gear© 1997 Ginger Henry Geyerglazed porcelain with acrylic wash, 4" x 15 1/2" x 21" In making art, I have learned that excellence is doing the very best I can and...
"Dad, I want to take the training wheels off my bike," my daughter said with a bit of hopeful fear.I wasn't sure what to think. Was she ready? I didn't want her to...
If there is anything I loathe more than moving, it's the list of installations and service calls required to rewire my busy...
What counts as success is clear: the stock market goes up, the kids get on the honor role, and we get credit for the fine work we are doing. There is no excuse...
Our two border collies often remind me of the connection between satisfying work and energizing joy. Although our pets are past their prime, they behave like pups when the opportunity arises to do...
A Pittsburgh business executive wakes up one Monday morning with a problem. He needs God’s help, but it isn’t Sunday. As a faithful church member, he suddenly realizes that he’s relegated God to.....
I have a cynical twist in my heart. A student accidentally revealed it to me a few years ago, just as Christmas...
Sometimes you hear pastors and church leaders saying that leadership in the Church is harder than in the business world. You deal with volunteers, they say, and you can't hire anyone you want. You...
We live in such a "hurry-up" society. Many of us have a hard time waiting for the microwave oven to finish our food. We get angry waiting in lines, furious when the mail...
