A father knocks on his son’s door. “Jaime,” he says, “Wake up!” Jaime answers, “I don’t want to get up, Papa.” The father shouts, “Get up, you have to go to school.” Jaime says, “I don’t want to go to school.” “Why not?” asks the father. “Three reasons,” says Jaime. “First, because it’s so dull;…

When you hear the word philanthropist, who comes to mind? What names do you associate with philanthropy? In other words, who are your philanthropy role models? Perhaps you think of Ted Turner and his huge gift to the United Nations. Or perhaps names of wealthy families spring to mind, the names we read over the entry…

There are times when it all just gets to be too much. As least, for many of us it does. In our Christian walk, we often become “Godded out.” Christianity becomes so confusing to us, that we have to take a break to let my our mind sort things out without any new input. I…

The lectionary passages today continue with the magnificent words of Isaiah, the stern words in Hebrews, and the simply told stories of the Gospel according to Mark. Isaiah, the poet-prophet paints a vivid picture of a depraved society that has turned away from God, a whole community that is contaminated by sin and injustice. There…

The gospel today is a powerful reminder that all the ambitions that confront us in the office, on the job, in the community, all the pettiness that poisons our days, and all the jealousies that we feel are not something unique to us nor to our age. Even the disciples knew these emotions. Let us…

He was young, well-mannered, well-educated, and well-off. He was sincere, honest, and seemingly above reproach. Maybe he also had an engaging personality and a winsome smile. Certainly Jesus found him likable, for Jesus, who was about to set out on a trip, took the time to engage with him. Jesus even tried to recruit him…