Kenny Chesney followed me on Twitter this week. I have no idea why. But Kenny, if you’re reading this, would you mind promoting my books at your concerts? But seriously . . . I continue to be amazed by how we are connected. I met my friend Vijaya when we both were new teachers...
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And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (Luke 2:6 KJV) understatement I first learned the story the same way Linus told it: in language so old that some of the words were forgotten or meanings had changed “the days were accomplished” who says...
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We talked about Mary in church today, as I am sure many did. Growing up as a Baptist boy, I was not taught to hail Mary. In a theology that did not have much regard for women in general, Mary was little more than a holy container for the Christ-child. But if one of...
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You’ve put up with a lot of poetry this week. Tonight I offer the words—and music—of others that moves me. The list is not exhaustive, but these are the ones that pulled me tonight. I noticed, as I got to the end of my selections, that they are all male voices this time around....
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resounding there is no such thing as silence in the calm of any quiet you can hear hearts breaking dreams dying thanks giving sadness sounding hope harbinging losses mounting faith enduring love outlasting grief weighing grace pervading hands holding listen closely listen . . . for your name your name mine, too Peace, Milton
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thank you note the certainty of cynicism has no room for gratitude power never says thank you we are a culture short on courage and long on loud to choose to be thankful requires the tenacity of a heart broken open and willing to sit silently on a starlight night or in the shadow of...
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two-lane life is a road but not the interstate think two-lane blacktop that hits all the lights intentional inconvenience that makes you stop in soul food cafés filling stations of the heart hurry is not on the menu the details of our days are not detours traveling together takes time . . . whatever...
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missing a meal we have several mangers on our mantle nativities from around the world as though everyone showed up at once the Magi made the effort to bring incense and offerings; the shepherds came crashing in with stories of angels, but no one brought anything to eat (and that’s what manger means in...
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I was born two weeks before Jesus. Since I had a December birthday, my mother worked hard to make sure it didn’t get lost in our Christmas celebration. She didn’t put up any decorations until December 13, the day after I was born. My father had some unexplained need for all of the decorations...
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When I was a boy living in Lusaka, Zambia, one of our neighbors was an American woman who had a large German Shepherd named Tammy. The dog was trained to sit in the middle of the front yard and look and sound menacing, since the woman was frightened of people who didn’t look like...
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I preached at my church yesterday. The sermon is short because it was a New Member Sunday and we had twenty-two people join. Here’s what I said. _______________________________ There is a tradition in poetry of the “found poem,” which is a type of poetry created by taking words, phrases, and sometimes whole passages from...
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I want to say something before the votes are counted. I want to say out loud that my hope is not defined by those who make the most noise or create the most confusion. I want to share the words of those who are speaking to my despair, who feed my hope, who remind...
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