'love' Tagged Posts

Hidden Crosses

For a couple of years on and off I have been swimming and trying my best to repeat simple mantras as I do so. I’ve done lap after lap focusing on that ancient line Lord Jesus Christ Have Mercy on Me or some other short easy to repeat prayer or verse. Despite my best intentions, I spend most the time counting 1-2-3 breathe-1-2-3-breathe, and getting lost in the pure blissful cadence of breathing made intentional. Sometimes, however, I manage to…

Love Worth Giving. Living in the Overflow of God’s Love – Max Lucado 2002

A Love Worth Giving. Living in the overflow of God’s Love. Max Lucado. 2002. Here is another book that was left behind by my predecessor here at St. Andrew’s (can you tell I’ve about used up my book allowance for the year?). This book again just proves how far behind I am on my reading. Other than very short pieces I have never even read Max Lucado, call me busy I guess. This book is still available and for that…

God Wanted Me to Punch Him…

This week I saw my four year old punch my two year old. “hey, what are you doing?” I said, trying not to flip out. “Papa, the bible says to treat others as you want them to treat you. Thomas punched me so he must want me to punch him” 4Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD: 5and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all…

The Hallmark Card (red shorts) vs The Preacher (black shorts, with a white band)

Perhaps it’s my age. Perhaps it’s the age I grew up in, or the households and locations of my youth, but I have been thinking lately that Hallmark cards (and maybe the most clever bumper sticker people) have made my life as a minister much more difficult than it otherwise needs to be. Hallmark, you see, has made a business of turning profoundly meaningful statements into something akin to kitsch. Like I said, it might only be me, but I…