It was one of my dad’s favorite pearls of wisdom concerning how to get along with others. “Never judge a man when you haven’t walked a mile in his shoes,” my dad would say to me. Like all metaphors, borrowing shoes has its limitations. But there is a lesson in this...
Pastor Tommy
Bridges: February 14 to April 18
We began our trilogy, Bridges, on Valentine's Day with our first episode, A love story. Each series in our trilogy takes us on a journey towards reconciliation. In this way, our entire journey is a love story. Each episode is an opportunity to grow closer to God, each...
Memories: The lies of assimilation
"That's not how we do things here," the man says quietly to his wife, while loud enough for the people around them to hear. Meanwhile, the sound of the drums intensified in rhythm as the young men and women kept perfect time. Even the skeptical found themselves...
A love story1: Pride and prejudice
Relics of St. Valentine of Terni at the basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin…by Dnalor_01 , Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA 3.0) Valentines Day is both a strange and a familiar day of celebration. Although not an official holiday, at least one greeting card company doesn't...
Pastor’s Book Club News: Be the Bridge
We finished our study of the book and videos by Melissa Spoelstra, Jeremiah: Daring to Hope in an Unstable World. This often misunderstood book of the bible offered important lessons applicable to our lives together. We learned just how much we have in common with the...
Exceptions: Consequences are not rejection
As we come to the end of our series, Daring to hope in an unstable world, it's fitting to turn our attention to the good news that is the source of our hope. Otherwise, we run the risk of losing hope when we discover that we are frighteningly close to the situation...
Bridges: Coming February 17
The image should be familiar. It’s the same one from our January series, Daring to Hope in an unstable world. The image stays with us because a lot of us accepted the challenge. We’re daring to hope despite the anxiety we’re feeling from the threats that surround us....
Rocks and hard places: Exile and the blame game1
"You made me mess up!" the four-year-old says to her sister as the blocks she carefully placed into a work of art tumbles into a pile of chaos. "What did I do?" her sister shouts back. It starts young, as though blaming others is in the human DNA — a part of the...
Leftovers: Vaccines for the heart
According to an article provided by the Cleveland Clinic on their website, tears are an essential part of a healthy life. Dr. Michael Roizen, a wellness expert at the clinic, reminds us that tears help us see clearly, wash away debris, and alert others to our...
Tight: As close as underwear
As we continue our study of the Book of Jeremiah, this week's lesson challenges us with a couple of powerful metaphors — pottery and underwear. Jeremiah has his hands full. His job is to warn the people that they need to make some profound and challenging changes in...