Meaning morphs through usage, and languages evolve alongside the civilizations that employ them. That’s why some words that used to mean one thing now mean something completely different. That’s also…

This weekend, adults will invest extraordinary amounts of time, money, and ingenuity into two often competing agendas: 1. Terrify childish imaginations.  2. Stoke childish appetites.  And no, I’m not talking…

Our family just returned from three days on Beaver Lake in Arkansas. Our vacation coincided with a spectacular seasonal display. The trees in the Ozarks were aflame with autumn color;…

I’m going to hold these truths self-evident: Preschoolers demonstrate human authority issues precisely. Observe a preschool classroom and see... We are all, deep down, tyrants with an over-riding desire to…

The last word on such words, from the Word. Lots of hard and hurtful words this week, from lots of different sources. Some of the most difficult to understand were…

On Saturday, September 12, two Los Angeles police officers were shot while sitting in their patrol car at the Metro Blue Line station in Compton. The perpetrator opened fire through the open passenger side window. The deputies (a 31-year-old mother of a 6-year-old son, and a 24-year old man) suffered multiple wounds. They radioed for help and were rushed to a nearby hospital.

Where were you when the Towers came down? That question transports any of us old enough to remember 2001 to a morning that changed everything, forever. The horror of what…

Did you know that Methodism has been in India for a long time? I didn’t. For me – for many – the Methodist Church and the country of India intersect only in the work of the illustrious E. Stanley Jones, 20th century Methodist missionary giant and friend of Gandhi.

When Jesus taught in parables, his metaphors powerfully engaged listeners because they were so often unexpected – even shocking. Many still are. The image of a mustard seed to teach…