"I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." (Matthew 9:13)|The sun rises.  Another day embarks with household tasks followed by the trek to the field, school, factory, office, or ...

The Greatest Commandments|Like a crowd betting on the next race, they circled Jesus to put him to the test. Lawyers, teachers, and priests, they would snare the carpenter's son. They were educated and respected. Jesus ...

Come Back to Life "You will grieve, but your grief will become joy." (John 16: 20) "You who were lost have now been found."  Paul rammed into the Spirit and his old convictions crumbled.  With God's help, he was freed from ...

Ours for the Asking "I will heal their defection, says the Lord, I will love them freely."  (Hosea 14:5) The prodigal son begins his homeward trek in the Old Testament.  Israel insists on going its own way and falls into ...

To See More Clearly|Jesus knows us well. How we take peculiar satisfaction in delving into others' lives. We scrutinize their weakness and prescribe remedies. Behind this well-intentioned concern is another story. Jesus ...

 Listen to the Young "Stay Awake!  For you do not know when the son of Man will come." (Matthew 24:42) What sustains us in dark hours?  What keeps fear from surging?  Life-support comes in many forms.  A word scratched ...

The Many Sides of Love God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. (John 3: 16) Moses climbed Mount Sinai to pray.  There in a cloud stood the Lord.  The Lord assured Moses: I am mercy, kindness, and faithfulness.  ...

When I look for the thread that holds so much of life together, it is the thread of love: learning or seeking or failing to love. Is it all about love? Love: the cheapest coin of the realm, the huckster's cry, the confetti, ...

A Different Kind of King "The king…shall defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the poor." (Psalm 72: 4)|Where are you from?  This question often arises in talk among strangers.  Hometown, region, ...

The Living Word "It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities" (Acts 15: 28).|The followers were divided.  Jesus was no longer among them as before.  He had taught ...