Grazie, Papa 23 April 2025 A loving papa makes a world of difference. In Pope—or Papa—Francis, the world was blessed with a churchman, culture- shaper, and papa who truly infused Christ-like love into the human family. Like many of you, I appreciated his humility, his advocacy for the poor and marginalized, his emphasizing human need over institutional flow, his stand …
The Grand Slam of Holy Week 16 April 2025 Is the man in the photo weeping with joy or despair? My wife LuAnne is not a golf fan. But she was glued to the Masters Tournament this past Sunday afternoon when Rory McIlroy became only the sixth golfer ever to win the sport’s prestigious Grand Slam title. So much was …
Peter & Discipleship Colorful Characters Lenten Journey, 2025 Discussion Guide #5 9 April 2025 Dear Faith Friend, God’s blessings on the first full week of our Lenten journey. Please use the following as a personal devotional or a small group discussion guide. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20 “Rejoice …
Paul & Sacrifice Colorful Characters Lenten Journey, 2025 Discussion Guide #4 2 April 2025 Dear Faith Friend, God’s blessings on the first full week of our Lenten journey. Please use the following as a personal devotional or a small group discussion guide. If you are searching for a Color Crew discussion group, feel free to join those led by Pastor …
Judas & Misguided and Forgiven Colorful Characters Lenten Journey, 2025 Discussion Guide #3 26 March 2025 Dear Faith Friend, God’s blessings on the first full week of our Lenten journey. Please use the following as a personal devotional or a small group discussion guide. If you are searching for a Color Crew discussion group, feel free to join those led …
Jonah & Stubbornness Colorful Characters Lenten Journey, 2025 Discussion Guide #2 19 March 2025 Dear Faith Friend, God’s blessings on the first full week of our Lenten journey. Please use the following as a personal devotional or a small group discussion guide. If you are searching for a Color Crew discussion group, feel free to join those led by Pastor …
Thomas & Doubt (or Honesty?) Colorful Characters Lenten Journey, 2025 Discussion Guide #1 12 March 2025 Dear Faith Friend, God’s blessings on the first full week of our Lenten journey. Please use the following as a personal devotional or a small group discussion guide. If you are searching for a Color Crew discussion group, feel free to join those led …
Black & Colors 5 March 2025 Today is black. Today, Ash Wednesday, we’ll wear black in worship. We’ll make black crosses of ash on each other’s foreheads. Black is appropriate because we’re called to start Lent, “Remembering, you are dust, and to dust you will return.” Black makes sense because just as skin turns black without oxygen, our lives turn …
Gilligan’s Island 26 February 2025 In between two Sundays of worship services, I hit the road with LuAnne to enjoy a few days away on her winter break. On a snorkel trip (which always turns out to be a worship experience, with God’s awe-inspiring under-water majesty of reef-life), our boat passed by Sandy Cay, the little, palm-tree peppered island featured …
A Fourth Love 19 February 2025 Is there a fourth kind of love? First, let me say I hope you enjoyed a fun Valentine’s Day last Friday. Did you enjoy chocolate or flowers, a romantic date, or a funny card between friends? Whatever transpired, I hope you stayed out of trouble and good times were experienced. Secondly, Valentine’s reminds us …
