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I was training a class of young folks in the basics of ministry in the fall of 2001. They were each called, as are we all, and were committed to finding their unique area of giftedness and assignment. So I crafted a curriculum of ABCs beginning with their own salvation, pulpit decorum and serving with … Continue reading Remember your baptism and rejoice

And the Lord spoke with Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend. And as a friend, Moses asked the Lord for assurance that he would never leave him on his own to command this people. God assured Moses that his presence would go with them and God would give him rest. … Continue reading The day God worshiped himself

Many of us know King Hezekiah because of the account of his sickness and healing in the book of Isaiah, but his first appearance historically is in II Kings 18. He was 12th following the reign of David. Judah was under an Assyrian Suzerainty treaty accepted by Hezekiah’s father, an ineffective treath that neglected its … Continue reading King Hezekiah prevailed

The book of Ruth is a mere four chapters but it bears within it such a model of the kinsman redeemer to which we are privileged through Jesus. But let’s begin at the beginning. It’s a story of a family who had to leave their home because of a famine. The head of the family … Continue reading Ruth

{This piece is excerpted from “Keep Walking in Prayer…until you can’t come back” in honor of my son Adrian’s birthday.} I know. God shows up every day. But this particular day, my son, my homeless-by-choice young son, was on trial although he had been stabbed repeatedly by a city employee. Yes he was in jail; … Continue reading The day God showed up

If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He [the Holy Spirit] does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.” Romans 8:27 The Message Our lack of prayer words often freaks us out. It seems we should be better equipped when we … Continue reading Those who know the ‘words’ of prayer

As a young woman, she was the consummate pleaser. Her mother had become very ill after the birth of her son, Melvin, when she was about 10. Her aunts were very mad at their brother for marrying this school teacher – not sure of the nature of their objection to her. Tradition has it that … Continue reading She made her own self happy

It’s the kind of memory you’re supposed to have when you share a meal at the communion table. We sing. We testify. We shout. We tell stories and share the gospel. But the greatest intention of the meal, as I understand it from Jesus’ mandate, is the remembering part. He says to the disciples, whenever … Continue reading Remember

What a strange thing! It pleased God to bruise him. Ever think about this verse? Yet it pleased God to bruise him; he has put him to grief. (Isaiah 53:10a) It pleased God for him to be crushed. To be pierced through. This really struck me. It pleased God to bruise him. And I thought, … Continue reading God wanted us at all costs

Praying for others is our sacred, solemn assignment; not to be taken lightly or abandoned before heaven’s response. Prayer is so many things and many times a friend just needs to know someone else is on duty whispering their heart’s desires with agreement. Sometimes this prayer, this intercession, takes on a completely different form; physically … Continue reading Somebody prayed for me