"So, now we're negotiating." It was a great moment. We had been going back and forth for a while and finally had agreed on a course of action and all that was left to do was determine the details. You see, it had become clear to me that we...
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Well, sure, but the name "rose" captures that smell perfectly, doesn't it? You see, names matter. They aren't merely random labels we attach to things, places, and persons. That kind of thinking has gotten us in deep trouble as...
There's a prevailing notion that the mere granting of mental assent is believing. But is that really true? Is that really enough to actually believe? Does simply saying you think something is true mean you truly believe it? I know we live in a society that likes to reduce life...
The concept of "holy space" takes a beating in our modern society that values egalitarianism above hierarchy. But without one place being set aside as "holy" we lose the ability to see the "holy" in every place! In our Scripture Lesson today we read how God promised Abram (later his...
We live in an age where "marvelous" and "wonderful" have been tamed. We hear these words and immediately get excited about the "good" things happening! But this definition that "marvelous" and "wonderful" always mean "pleasant" and "positive" things is a reflection of our own shallow age. Through centuries of human...
In ancient architecture, the cornerstone was the first stone laid in the foundation of a building and its importance was both practical and irreplaceable. It was by the cornerstone that the whole building was oriented. The cornerstone was the stone that all other stones in the building was referenced...
Isn't it amazing that we humans all share some similar fears no matter what culture we come from. Most cultures have horror stories about zombies and vampires and ghosts. Why is that? I'll tell you why. We humans are aware enough of our own existence that we fear mortality,...
They even have a name for it; it's thanatophobia. Of course it's based on the Greek word for death - Θανατος and φοβος - literally the fear of death. It can become so bad in a person that they are terrified of dying every waking moment. Horrible! And yet, we live...
SSDD! You know, "same stuff, different day." That's the way a buddy of mine would answer as we started our workday at a factory where I worked after school in my teenage years. He had been with this company for many years and had had the same job in...
I don't believe in "fairness." Really! I really don't believe in it at all. Oh, I get the concept, don't get me wrong, but I simply don't believe humans are capable of it. At least not yet, anyway. Frankly, I'm convinced the Evil One uses our innate knowing that fairness...
