Strengthening Faith, Love, and Hope
Recently at Grace, I talked about a spiritual practice called the Examen, a reflective prayer built around two polar sensations: consolations and desolations. St. Ignatius of Loyola developed the prayer in the 1500s, and it has become a staple practice for people who love connecting with God through some of the more contemplative streams of […]
Read MoreDo you remember asking the question, often with an accompanying small, awkwardly sized card and a box of tasteless, sugar hearts? “Will you be my Valentine?” It’s a pretty vulnerable question to ask when you are in grade school and your heart is on your sleeve (I still remember the 4th grade when Dalene Whitney […]
Read More“Read the red and pray for the power.” These were the instructions that Dr. Fuchsia Pickett gave to our class when Jessica and I were in Bible school in the early 90s, and I think they are the perfect marching orders for each of us as we start a New Year together. Yesterday, Grace Church […]
Read MoreIn response to challenges that answers to prayer are nothing more than coincidence, Bishop William Temple said, “When I pray coincidences happen, when I don’t they don’t.” I certainly agree with the first half of Temple’s response—coincidences definitely happen more frequently when I pray. But sometimes they also happen when I don’t pray. Do you […]
Read More“Hold your nose and hold your nose tighter.” That’s how some sociologists describe the game of American politics today. Even when people fervently support a particular nominee or political party they usually do so in spite of certain inconsistencies, flawed voting records, or general character issues or deficiencies. They support their candidate…mostly. This has probably […]
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