• Not-So Secret Faith

    Not-So Secret Faith

    How can we talk about always telling the truth and being honest, if we are also keeping secrets and refusing to share with one another? The love (without hypocrisy) Jesus longs for Ash Wednesday |  Matthew 6:1-6,16-21 Secret Faith One of the historic battles around Ash Wednesday is based on this gospel passage. A church fight,…

  • Ashes

    Ashes

    Ashes (Day 1 of A Simple Lent) Today isn’t a normal day. I wake up early, before the sun rises. I get dressed with extra layers and I prepare to share a public invitation. An invite to the anti-party. No loud music or dancing. The food is meeger. It isn’t an invite ordinarily welcomed. I…

  • Ash Wednesday 2016

    Ash Wednesday 2016

    If you are in Terre Haute on Wednesday, I invite to join St. Stephen’s in inviting the community into the observance of a holy Lent. In the morning, we’ll impose ashes upon the foreheads of those rushing to class and work. We’ll move inside and give the same invitation to students at the volunteer fair…

  • Making Room: A Simple Approach to Lent

    Making Room: A Simple Approach to Lent

    To live a life less productive and more full of opportunity, is to live ready to change. I’m terrible at minimalism. Simplicity. Productivity. I’m always trying lifehacks and tips to get to Inbox Zero. I’m terrified of my to-do list and used countless schemes to organize my stuff. We put so much on ourselves, but does…

  • Christianity Is More Than Kindness

    Christianity Is More Than Kindness

    We aren’t supposed to be kind. We’re not. Jesus didn’t die for us to be kind. He also didn’t die for us to be dicks, either. Or to fight over land. Or call people names. But being kind, being nice, that isn’t it. Being a good person, a kind and generous person is a truly important thing.…

  • Looking In the Wrong Direction

    Looking In the Wrong Direction

    I commend to you these three words or ideas to listen for in this summary of our story, for they are at the heart of our Gospel passage for today: identity, participation, greatness. The Transfiguration and revealing the glory of GOD Epiphany LastC |  Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a] As he came down from the mountain with…

  • How to Observe a Holy Lent

    How to Observe a Holy Lent

    Lent is the most notorious season of the church year. It has a reputation . It’s rebellious and different. The kind of season parents worry will keep their daughters and sons out late. The kind that could have an influence on them. In the Episcopal Church, we observe the season of the 40 days (not counting…

  • Want

    Want

    WANT As a supporter of gun control, I’m often asked “If a man breaks in and has your wife at gunpoint, wouldn’t you want a gun?” Want? For what? To kill? What I would want is a howitzer. Or Jason Bourne. Or to have Blade’s sword and his powers. Or the police. Or maybe just…