For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 1 Timothy 6:10 Ebenezer Scrooge is perhaps the best-known example of a miser who let his love of money destroy his relationships with his fiancé, his nephew, and his life-long business partner Jacob Marley. Charles Dickens’ much-loved A Christmas Carol has been […]

I have tried to focus on the positive, to identify things for which to be thankful, and to look on the bright side. For most part, I am able to do these things. There are so many heart-warming stories this time of year. I am thankful for my family, my friends, my home, the opportunities I have to go places and do things with wonderful people. And I am still basically an optimist who believes […]

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Much of what we think we know about the origin of Thanksgiving is a drastically edited version of reality. For example, Nathaniel Philbrick in his detailed account of that chapter of history (Mayflower, Viking, 2006) writes, “Without Massasoit’s help, the Pilgrims would never have survived the first year and they (Pilgrims) remained steadfast supports of […]

Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. (Ruth 1:18) This passage is sometimes used at weddings, which is appropriate. But it has nothing to do with the love between marriage partners. It was the plea of daughter-in-law Ruth to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Naomi and her family had to migrate to another country because of a famine. While they […]

If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. (Leviticus 24:35-36) Facebook recently had a story about a North Carolina congregation that has been hosting homeless sojourners for a year and a half with little awareness […]