Pick Up Your Mat

Pick Up Your Mat

Having faith in God — and in ourselves — can be a continual challenge.  Travelling faithfully requires that we flow with life, guided by our inner vision even as we heed activity in the outer world. No matter what may occur in our lives, faith in God and God’s power...
From the Inside Out

From the Inside Out

Autumn has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere.  A welcome change for some; for others, not so much.  A seasonal change, even when welcome, is still change. Few of us enjoy change.  Yet, as we mature spiritually (no matter what our calendar age), we realize that change...
From the Inside Out

Surrender — And Succeed

Sometimes, on our journeys of faith, we reach a juncture with jagged cliffs or steep drops.  If our goal is to reach the other side, whichever side that is, we need to dive or leap.  Either way, we need to let go and fully surrender ourselves and all which was, as we...
From the Inside Out

No More Same Old, Same Old

Years ago I worked with a Negative Nell who continually whined and complained.  Often, my co-workers and I heard her mutter, “SSDD [Same Sh**, Different Day].”  We rarely escaped a meeting without her bemoaning her lot in life and her railing against God for all the...
Pick Up Your Mat

Present in Prayer

The man called Apostle Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:17) tells us to “pray without ceasing.”   As a pastor, I wish always I did this to the letter, but I admit that I do not.  Occasionally, I forget to pray.  Nevertheless, I have what I call “pastoral radar,” and at...
From the Inside Out

“Not to Worry”

Recently, a well-intentioned person, who I believe meant to be empathetic, said to me, “I’m sure you’re worried about this.”  Alas, the person misunderstood.  I wasn’t worried.  Rather, I felt overwhelmed and tired.  And, I also felt a sense of trust, especially in...