On my last trip to the Chicago area, I attended worship at Parkview Christian with my youngest daughter’s family,   Their pastors are doing a sermon series called “God of the Underdog” featuring David, Rahab, the Samaritan Woman at the Well, and Ehud, the second judge of Israel.  Now I am familiar with all of them except for Ehud.  The theme of the sermon series is...

In 1979 Peter Allen wrote this song “Everything Old Is New Again.”   The chorus resonates with me today.

Don't throw the past away
You might need it some rainy day
Dreams can come true again
When everything old is new again

Have you seen the movie “Wonka”? I was skeptical as I really liked the first two, but this prequel was actually pretty good. There were two quotes from the movie that actually stuck with me. One was found in a piece of chocolate Wonka received from his mom before she died. The other is a teaser. . .

When my sister died a few years ago, I wrote a poem titled “What Is A Life”. That question comes again today after yesterday. Yesterday was the day where Bob and I had driven over 1200 miles in three days from Indianapolis to Kerrville, Texas. It was the day his daughter and son-in-law flew. . .

Where does that phrase come from? “Stop on a Dime?” I don’t really know. My best guess is it dates from the days when a phone call cost just ten cents: a dime. Most information back then, long before text messaging, the internet, or even voice mail, was disseminated by phone calls.

That call from my niece came at 2:08 pm on January 28th, the one that stopped my life on a dime. . .

Have you taken your Sabbath time this week? If not, then how about right now. Take a few moments. Put your feet up. Take several deep breaths and read along. Sabbath is an important time in your week.

Hello. My name is Hope Moran, and I am a diabetic. My diabetic coach suggested that after every meal I take a 10-minute walk. She said new research has shown that this small act will reduce blood glucose levels.

Every St. Patrick’s Day I cringe a bit.  This dear saint who:  “…..was a Briton and a former slave in Ireland, was born in 389 and lived until 461.  He became the ‘Apostle to Ireland’

Growing up right in the city of Detroit, I never saw a chicken or knew the difference between the various types of chickens, hens, and roosters.  Of course, we ate chicken (not very often though, mostly beef) and eggs (more so in recipes), but I never, ever thought of where they originated.

My Little Grandma was from the Ukraine, a largely Polish part near its border with Poland.  She immigrated here for a better life, coming through Ellis Island in 1910.  She was a very austere woman and     married Anthony, who had come over from Poland in 1908.  They had twelve children.  My father was near the tail end.  

As a Lutheran, and a member of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), and as many other denominations do, today we observe Ash Wednesday.  The worship service we use has an “INVITATION TO LENT.”  I find this interesting every time I read it.  Growing up we never gave up anything for Lent.  As an adult, I thought I should, although I never did.  I’ve let go of that should and followed the “Invitation” more.  You may read it for yourself below; and, as is said in the church often, “inwardly digest it.”  

Homesick for? What are you homesick for? Or, possibly, who are you homesick for? Some I know at Messiah are homesick for the way things used to be before the Pandemic. They speak of how it used to be, how many people they miss, how they long for it to be that way it was. This shows us that homesickness doesn’t have to be only for a place. It can be for relationships.

Advent and anticipation come hand in hand. There is something to be said for anticipation, whether in the Carly Simon song “Anticipation,” or in a church sanctuary. The serenity of the sanctuary when winter is near, when all is silent, and when anticipation hangs in the candle-lit air awaiting Christmas Eve. When “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” will soon change to “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

My friend Bob Skinner has an extremely knowledgeable eight-year-old grandson, Liam.  He is fascinated with tall buildings, and seems to know everything about the tallest buildings, not only in this country, but the whole world.

In each of the readings for this Sunday, November 7, 2021, (Isaiah 25: 6-9, Revelation 21: 1 - 6a, and John 11: 32 – 44),  tears are mentioned.  When I think of crying, I think of my grandmother who always had a hanky she had embroidered tucked into her sleeve.

When life gets tough, sometimes it is all we have to cling to: the kindness of others.  That kindness is exemplified in the kindness Jesus showed to others, even when he did not have to be kind–like when he called to Zacchaeus.  He could have simply walked on by; but Jesus took the time to notice him, greet him, and say he would have dinner at his house.