Russellings of the Spirit

grace

  • My Prepared Self

    As we sat yesterday watching the inauguration speech of Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., 46th president of the United States, Joan leaned over and asked me, “Is he reading from a teleprompter?” It sure didn’t look like it. Uncle Joe, as I… Continue reading

  • Lord, in your mercy…

    … hear our prayer. Hear our prayer for humility in the face of chaos and confusion. Hear our prayer for justice, administered without regard for place or privilege. Hear our prayer for softened hearts and willing hands. Hear our prayer… Continue reading

  • An Unfinished Christmas

    I may have mentioned this before (apologies to you if this is old, stale news), but Joan and I are in the middle of a giant remodel in our home. Shortly after moving in to this house, we decided to… Continue reading

  • Old Faithful

    [A warning to readers: this post contains a ton of references to the game of professional football. It is done in service– hopefully – of a larger theological point. Just the same, people who despise football might want to tune… Continue reading

  • No Strings Attached

    Joan thinks of me as a hard-working guy. The truth is, I am lazy to the core. My doctor and various family members say they are impressed by my health and vitality. The truth is, I hate to exercise and… Continue reading

  • The Heartbreak of RPD

    In a wholehearted endorsement of the axiom advising us that confession is good for the soul, I offer this mea culpa today: Sometimes I suffer from RPD… Resistant Personality Disorder. What this means is that I will sometimes resist something… Continue reading

  • There Must Be a Reason

    My wife, Joan, is a big fan of “doing things for a reason.” And there is always a good, solid reason for the things she does. When cooking her world-famous pasta primavera, for example, [What… you’ve never heard of it?]… Continue reading

  • The Heart of the Matter

    After experiencing a somewhat fraught relationship with it for too many years, I finally can say with confidence that I LOVE the Bible. Whether I am diving into accounts of the trials of God’s people, being seared by the white-hot… Continue reading

  • Child of Privilege

    I remember the interview very well, even though it happened more than 30 years ago. It was an excellent job and I really wanted it. I had some of the necessary qualifications, but certainly not all. And yet, at the… Continue reading

  • Team Jesus

    I made my choice a long time ago. In the middle of one of the darkest times of my life… when every door seemed to be sealed shut… when my relationships only offered pain and resentment… when the future looked… Continue reading