As we approach Mother’s Day weekend, I hope you are able to celebrate motherhood and that you can identify and celebrate the mothers who have been a blessing in your lives. Not everyone has had good experiences with their mothers, and it is important to be sensitive to this reality. Moreover, many women lament that they are not able to become mothers,…

Happy Cinco De Mayo! I love this time of year because the summer heat is not quite here yet and Merritt Island is especially beautiful. Recently, I attended my 40th high school reunion. It was interesting to see folks I remember growing up with, some of whom I had not seen in 40 years. The comments I heard most frequently related to…

The Easter season is a great time to think about what it means to say, “The Word became flesh.” The presence of God, in the person of Jesus, is the cornerstone of our faith. Because Jesus lives as the risen Lord of the universe, his followers are able to communicate with and love people as Christ loves us. One author expressed it…

We have all heard the phrase “curiosity killed the cat.” Personally, I am not a fan of this phrase. In fact, curiosity, investigation, and exploration make life more full, interesting and exciting. I think the teachings of Jesus encourage curiosity. Jesus was often moving and encountering new people, new situations, and new challenges. Of course, fear of the unknown was never a…

Here we are on Good Friday, a day that calls for somber reflection. Recently, I read an article about the nature of evil in our world. What would cause a group of people to demand the crucifixion of an innocent man? The author explained that “evil uses people’s anxieties, fears, and prejudices to twist good intentions into cruel deeds.” The leaders who facilitated…

I recently read about a pastor who collects wooden donkeys. This pastor attaches great meaning to the donkeys because early in her career, someone told her, “If God could use a donkey (on Palm Sunday) to carry Jesus into the city, God can use us, too.” This served as a reminder that God can take us all, with our insecurities and flaws, and…

Recently, in my daily Bible reading, I read Eugene’s Peterson’s comments on Titus 2: 1-6. Peterson explained that in order to build Christian community, “we need a few souls in whom love is gently at work, covering a multitude of sins.” I see that in so many of you, and for that I am grateful. To me, love being “gently at work”…

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Recently, a set of circumstances required me to reflect upon the last 33 years of my life. Initially, I was not eager to complete this exercise, as I viewed it as unnecessary busywork. However, as I remembered events and people from the past, a deep sense of gratitude welled up within me. I realized, after looking back at…

Recently, a Grace member shared with me a writing about the purpose of Lent. The word Lent comes from the same root word as “length.” We are being “lengthened”, or stretched, into the full stature of Christ through our disciplines. The writer states, “What Lent is really about is opening ourselves to someone else, about stretching ourselves, so that we can receive…

When you hear the phrase “Amazing Grace”, what comes to mind? Is it the lyrics of the hymn, or is it a personal experience from your life? When in your life do you specifically remember experiencing God’s Grace, and how did you feel as a result? I ask this question because the answer may inspire us to live into God’s calling in…