Recently, while reconnecting with some friends on Zoom, I was reminded of these words from scripture that “when we do not know what we ought to pray” the Holy Spirit prays for us with “groans too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26) I don’t know about you,…
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A few months ago, my wife and I were sitting on the floor, surrounded by a mound of toys, playing with our 2-year-old nephew. We loved listening to his infectious laugh, marveled at his well-developed vocabulary, and were gradually exhausted as he ra…
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My wife Susan and I went on a long bike ride in the gorgeous weather of last weekend. Sometimes when we’d round a turn on the bike trail, I’d shout, “Serious headwind!” We’d both lean into the pedals hard or downshift to make the cycling easier. Some…
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In the early days of this pandemic, it was said that this was an equal opportunity disease. A virus doesn’t care about wealth or poverty, degrees or good looks – it just finds a way into our breath. While this is true, over time doctors were noticing…
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Things have gotten fuzzier as the days go by. That’s true for me in all sorts of ways right now, and I suspect that I’m not alone. I don’t need to shave every day; the beard grows fuzzier. I can’t go get a haircut; the ‘do gets fuzzier. The weekly pa…
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We all have people in our lives who have been integral to fostering our faith in Jesus. One such person in my life was a campus pastor of mine in college, Ryan. I often think of Ryan in the spring, because he had the worst allergies of any person I’v…
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The other day I was on a walk with the sole purpose in mind to deliver a few greetings to friends who live in the neighborhood. The contents of my pockets included: a card for a neighbor who encourages me in my writing, a cassette tape from my youth…
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A few weeks ago, there was a glorious spring day here in the Quad Cities. I made sure to get some extra time outside to soak up a little sunshine. We sat out on the deck as we ate dinner that evening. And as we were picking up around the house, I eve…
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Laughter is really great for the soul. It may be the perfect antidote to a life soaked with anxiety. When pieces of our world as we’ve known it appear to be slipping away – some of them forever? – why shy away from humor? It may be that thread to san…
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In these days of social distancing and spending lots of time in my house, I have looked to people in our congregation to teach me how to do this. For some of our community, having to stay home is nothing new. For months, sometimes years, they have “s…
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This particular April 9th – in the year 2020 – enjoys a remarkable confluence of religious moments. For Western Christians, it is Maundy Thursday, the beginning of the great Three Days that culminate on Easter. For our Jewish neighbors, it is the fir…
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This week I received a message from a friend of mine from seminary. Her work, pre-Coronavirus and now, involves some solitary, repetitive tasks, and so she’s gotten into the habit of reciting some simple prayers from memory as she works: the Lord’s p…