The loss of a loved one can cause us seemingly endless grief. But Jesus is always with us, He never abandons us. John Gibson Paton was a Christian missionary in the 19th century. In 1858 Paton and his wife arrived on the island of Tanna in the South Pacific. HeContinue Reading
One of the greatest Christian artists is Giovanni Fiesole, better known to the world as Blessed Fra Angelico, the “Angelic Brother.” Fra Angelico is a patron saint for artists. His style of painting beautifully bridges the iconographic and gothic traditions. Giorgio Vasari, author of “Lives of the Artists,” referred toContinue Reading
If God has a plan for each of us, what does it mean to have free will? It is fairly common now for a television series, especially a drama, to have a main story arc that runs through all of its individual episodes. One of the first television shows toContinue Reading
Do we treat each other as family? From God’s perspective we are all brothers and sisters but we often fall short in seeing each other that way. The parable of the workers in the vineyard offends our sense of justice and fairness. Why should the worker who worked only forContinue Reading
There is an old story about two pilgrims traveling to a monastery high up in the mountains of Tibet. A storm was approaching and they made their way as quickly as possible along the narrow and treacherous paths. While negotiating one such path they heard a voice calling out forContinue Reading
In the Apostles Creed the Church professes the belief that when Jesus died upon the cross He descended into Hell. That idea may make some people uncomfortable. But it is an ancient belief that Jesus descended into Hell not as a victim, damned for all eternity, but as a conqueringContinue Reading
How great and tender is a mother’s love? How many lessons do we learn from them? A young girl once came to her mother for advice. The daughter had graduated from school with honors, but was having difficulty in her career. Every time she tried to move forward, it seemedContinue Reading
Robert Louis Stevenson once told a story about a storm tossed boat. It was night and the waves brought the boat dangerously close to a rocky shore. The wind threatened to drive the boat to destruction on to the rocks. The passengers were confined below decks while the crew struggledContinue Reading
After Jesus rose from the dead, and after His Ascension into Heaven, Mary of Magdala traveled about the country. She proclaimed the Gospel to all she met, eagerly sharing the news, “Christ is risen!” Arriving in Rome, she sought an audience with Tiberius Caesar, intending to complain about the treatment ofContinue Reading
We are most fully ourselves when we live as part of a community. There is an old Russian proverb, some wisdom that may have been imparted to young men as they contemplated marriage, that goes, “Don’t buy the house, buy the neighbor.” Or put another way, don’t marry the womanContinue Reading