The Good Samaritan

God loves the alien and the foreigner

1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man [was] Elimelech, and the name of […]

Being Known and Being Hidden

In his book “Insurrection”, Peter Rollins shares the following little parable: Every Sunday the pastor would stand at the front of his Church and with a booming voice finish his rousing sermon with a plea: “Each week I go to a nearby town and serve the poor, the oppressed, and the downtrodden; what do you […]

The Cross of Christ Declares the Destruction of my Idols

10 “They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. 11 “You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. … 17 […]

Trust in the Lord with All of Your Heart

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. – Pro 3:5-6 NASB The Big Wedding I heard a story a few years back about a very unusual wedding. It was a big […]

Anthony Bourdain

Meals make the society, hold the fabric together in lots of ways that were charming and interesting and intoxicating to me. The perfect meal, or the best meals, occur in a context that frequently has very little to do with the food itself. Anthony Bourdain As usual, I have come very late to the party. […]

Eulogy for my Father

Years ago I lived with Dad while I was going to college. I remember coming home one day full of frustration and complaints, ready to spew at my dad. Just I was about to open my mouth, my dad said, “Hold on, there’s something important we need to do!” I said, “OK, what?” He went […]

Take Me to Church

My lover’s got humour She’s the giggle at a funeral Knows everybody’s disapproval I should’ve worshipped her sooner If the heavens ever did speak She’s the last true mouthpiece Every Sunday’s getting more bleak A fresh poison each week “We were born sick” You heard them say it My church offers no absolutes She tells […]

ziplining

Taking the Low Road – Penalties and Substitutions

5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity […]

Boundaries

So, make your boundaries. There isn’t a one of us who doesn’t have them and who doesn’t need them. But don’t pretend that you do so from a position of righteousness and strength.

I am not

I am not a poet The subtle mystery of cadence and rhyme escape me. And this is not a poem. I confess, this bothers me a lot. I’m ashamed of it, in fact. In the same way: I am not a musican. I am not an artist. I am not an intellectual. I am not […]