Russellings of the Spirit

Jesus Christ

  • “Nope. Not you.”

    Rejection hurts. “Don’t take it personally,” they say. But sometimes personally is the only way you can take it. It’s like the time I was cut from the eighth-grade basketball team. The first three practices were the tryouts. The day after… Continue reading

  • This Old Table

    And so it begins. Earlier today Joan and I bid a fond farewell to the lovely distressed barnwood table (and six matching chairs) as it was toted out of our breakfast room. So many meals around that table. So many… Continue reading

  • GLOW

    My wife GLOWs. Every fourth Thursday of the month. From 5:30 to 7:00. And because she GLOWs, we glow (and grow) together as a family. You see, GLOW is the name of the women’s cancer support group Joan attends at… Continue reading

  • Go Do Love

    Yesterday at church I heard an inspiring sermon. The pastor challenged me (well, all of us actually) to make an intentional practice of acknowledging the many-layered, complex, rich, and vibrant nature of every person we meet. She told us that… Continue reading

  • Dragon Slayer

    Last night Joan and I took a brisk, 40-minute drive over to Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence, as I am sure you all know, is the home of the University of Kansas. The purpose of our trip, however, had nothing to do… Continue reading

  • Dueling Drives

    How often do you find yourself caught between a pair of strong, yet diametrically opposed desires? For example: Have cake? Eat cake? Exercise body? Veg out? Shave? Cultivate trendy stubble? Spend? Save? Blog? Think about blogging? Rock? Hard place? This… Continue reading

  • Celebrating Women in Ministry

    From watching the TODAY Show this morning, I learned that today – October 11 – is the International Day of the Girl. Seems like something I should have known already. I hope you won’t take offense at being called girls,… Continue reading

  • One Funeral Too Many

    Jesus began to weep. (John 11:35, NRSV) Here lately I have been going to entirely too many funerals. OK, I suppose you could say this is just par for the course for people in that “certain” age bracket to which… Continue reading

  • The Guatemalan Giggle of Grace

    In my life, moments of grace have come in many different forms. The compassionate word. The gentle glance. The understanding touch. The sweet smile. My heart will always reserve a special place for that day when grace came in the… Continue reading

  • The Staged Life

    Joan and I are now living the “staged life.” And I really don’t like it. At all. Here’s the deal; two weeks ago, we put our house on the market. We are in the process of doing what many retired… Continue reading