Whatever perfect days Barret knew in this life, whatever joy he had, whatever giftedness he possessed, he now enjoys fully. We don’t know what heaven looks like, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s rather close to a day of wine tasting on the central coast of California. Whatever heaven looks like, Barret is there, fully in his element, and no longer lost. His perfect day is now eternal, shared with the one who found him and showed him the way home.
Read MoreIt is safe to say that America is obsessed with personality types. This isn’t a new phenomenon but it has changed over time. Thirty years ago, a common pick-up line was “what’s your sign?” referring to zodiac astrology. Today, you’re more likely to hear “what’s your Myers-Briggs type?” Or, if you visit the office at Christ Church, “what’s your Enneagram number?”
Read MoreOur rebuttal game is no match for God’s. God’s game is much stronger. No matter how squawky we get about what’s wrong with the world, or other people, or what’s wrong with ourselves, Easter comes along with a defiant little conjunction. But there is forgiveness. But there is grace. But there is resurrection.
Read MoreIn the fall of 2013, I was midway through my first semester of seminary in Northern Virginia. I hadn’t gotten off campus much, but I was determined to change that. Northern Virginia is known for its stunning vistas and rich history, and I was ready to start soaking them up.
Read MoreMy sophomore year of college, I traveled to London with friends. There were four of us–three with majors in philosophy and one in economics. With that mix, one stop on our trip was clear–University College London.
Read MoreYesterday was a Spirit-filled day for many of us here at Christ Church. In the morning, we celebrated our sister, Elizabeth Henry-McKeever, as she was ordained a deacon. Then a few hours later, we celebrated the life and mourned the loss of our brother Gus Fulk.
Read MoreWe are all very good story tellers. We tend to reserve that praise for professional story tellers or talented grandparents and great actors, but we are all good at telling stories.
Read MoreThere was no cell signal so paper had to do, a Mapquest printout and an old Arkansas atlas stashed behind the driver’s seat. The road was right, we’d double-checked at the last turn, but we’d been going for over an hour and…nothing.
Read MoreIt was a Friday night, around 11pm. I was settled into my bed with a book and a cup of tea. The air was stale and the lighting was harsh, and the sound of a helicopter landing 100 feet away filled my ears and made my whole body vibrate.
Read MoreHave you ever considered what kind of life God lives? What it is that God experiences? I have to admit that too often my thoughts of God are a mixture of what God can do for me, or the basic properties of God, or on the darkest days whether or not God even exists.
Read MoreI’m a fairly calm, even-keeled person. Some would even say mellow. As a matter of fact, I pride myself on being slow to anger. Except perhaps in parenting. And maybe when reading the news. Also when the puppy needs to be taken outside at 3:00 in the morning.
Read MoreIn seminary, I took a class called Biblical Storytelling. I learned from an absolute master how to bring the words of Scripture to life.
Read MoreEight years ago, this past Tuesday, I joined a procession into this very church and participated in a worship service like no other I’ve experienced.
Read MoreOne of the funniest things I’ve seen lately is a spoof called “Virtual Reality Church.” The creator John Crist advertises his fictional product with this ad: “Tired of having to get dressed and drive across town? Introducing Virtual Reality Church! Choose your own denomination, worship leader and sermon topic, all from the comfort of your couch!”
Read MoreOver the holiday, I had the privilege of serving as chaplain for the Diocese of Mississippi’s winter camp for 9th-12th graders. I had a fabulous time and I saw the Spirit at work in a variety of ways.
Read MoreWhat a joy to welcome everyone this afternoon to the rededication of the stained glass windows. Christ Church has an amazing story to tell today, one of generosity and accomplishment.
Read MoreThe light is out, we’ve read our books and told our stories, our songs have been sung, our prayers said, it is time for me to go.
Read More2018 was a fairly good year for grammar, with a few notable exceptions. Twitter, obviously. But there were also problems in higher grammar, as any fan of the Oxford comma will tell you. That’s the so-called “optional” comma before the word “and” at the end of a list.
Read MoreThere was a time when I danced on tables and sang show tunes at the top of my lungs, dressed in outlandish costumes and performed in chorus lines.
Read MoreThis is a noisy time of year. Some of the sounds are delightful – like Christmas music on the radio and the chatter of children speculating about what Santa will bring.
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