Category Archives: Scripture

When we read the story of Exodus, we are supposed to be on the side of Moses and Aaron, of God and the Israelites who cried out to Him, but what about the Egyptians? Not Pharaoh and his household, but the Egyptian people? Many of the plagues did not impact the Israelites, some did, but some, like the plague on the livestock didn’t touch the livestock of the Israelites (Exodus 9:4).

I was a band kid. Although band kids love to play, there often becomes a time during rehearsal where they just want to quit. Going over the same few bars over and over becomes tedious. When my assistant band director in college would rehearse the band, and we grew tired and the music became tedious, he would say, “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, we’ll be done after one more run through.” And we would laugh which gave us just enough to play it again.

James had a similar phrase, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15).

Where is your hope? What or who is your hope in?

Time and time again the Israelites placed their hope in false gods, idols, foreign military, and political powers. But when Israel was called to be, there was one place they were called to put their hope in: God.

When I was approximately three weeks old, my parents stood in front of their congregation with me in my dad’s christening gown, promising to raise me to the Church and teaching me about Jesus’ love. Like Timothy, Paul could write to me and say, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

The prophets not only spoke God’s message, they lived God’s message. Many of the prophets were tasked with being living parables to demonstrate God’s message to the people. Hosea may have had to be a living parable more than any other when he was tasked with marrying a woman named Gomer who was also a temple prostitute. Then they had three children, two of which received awful, almost abusive names: not loved (Lo-Ruhamah) and not my people (Lo-Ammi).

When you ate cereal as a kid, did your mom or dad make you drink the milk that was left over?

This was the rule in our family. I think the major reason for it was so my brother and I did not pour too much milk into our cereal that was not ate with the cereal, leaving large amounts to pour out. My parents concept was to pour a little milk and if we got to a point where there was more cereal than milk, we could pour a little more. We were always supposed to drink was left over.

Did you grow up watching Star Trek? The original Star Trek came out in 1966, when my parents were both seven years old. They watched it in their younger years and while they weren’t “Trekkies,” they definitely loved the future aspect of Star Trek and dreamed of what the world would be in 2000.

I am a people pleaser. I want people to like me. And because of this, I often don’t like myself. I strive to win people’s affections and because of this, when reproach comes upon me, when I earn someone’s dissatisfaction, I am devastated.

I have something to confess to you all. I am not very good at praying.

It is common to feel far and distant from God. Particularly in times of isolation, struggle, and hardship. But we can also feel far and distant from God in the midst of people, excitement, and activities.