I have the honor of being the writer for Forward Movement’s November 2013 meditations. With thanks to Forward, I’ll be posting the meditation here every day. You can view the whole text at: http://prayer.forwardmovement.org/forward_day_by_day Nehemiah 12:43. They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. God calls us to rejoice, even in the toughest of...
Read MoreRead MoreHello! I’ve been off the grid a bit this summer, spending time with my sons, now young men, and my wonderful husband. My newest book is out, The Spy on Noah’s Ark and other Bible Stories from the Inside Out, published by Forward Movement at www.forwardmovement.org When a book comes out, it’s some intense work up front. But it’s all for...
Read MoreRead MoreMary and Martha both play an important part in Jesus’ journey to the cross. Yet Martha has been the object of condescension throughout the years for not taking the time to reflect, for doing busywork and not listening. Jesus himself praised Mary for “choosing the better part,” when Martha complained that her sister was not helping in the kitchen. But Jesus would...
Read MoreRead MoreI’m in the process of scheduling Scarlet Cord book conversations for 2013. Happy to get any group kicked off or answer questions through Skype, Google, conference call, whatever works best. Order books from Amazon and shoot me an email at [email protected] No charge, of course. Blessings in this Advent season!...
Read MoreRead MoreMy young cousin Mary had always been a slip of a girl. Still was. Thin, awkward, in the way of all teenage girls. But when she walked in the door that summer day, my stomach seemed to explode. My son John, sheltered in my womb for several more months, kicked me so hard I had to sit down. Twisting and...
Read MoreRead MoreI am an old woman stooped over like a fishing hook — and my husband is no spring chicken. Too many years without children have deadened our spirits and taken away our hope. I don’t know why God was punishing me, or even what I’d done wrong. To others in Judea, I was just the barren one, soon to crumble...
Read MoreRead MoreI opened up my email this morning expecting the same old mail and usual political donation requests. Yet there was something different: a new painting of Mary Magdalene from Scarlet Cord artist Karen N. Canton, transmitted at 1:30 a.m. I like it. The pain in Mary Magdalene’s eyes is strong and unyielding, the tomb from which she strides forth is...
Read MoreRead MoreFrom a sermon preached on August 19th at St. Luke’s, Minneapolis, Minnesota Earlier this week our family experienced a life-changing moment, at least for my husband and me: we took our youngest son, David, to college. Six hours in the car to the University of Iowa, several hours to see that all was well, and then six hours home. Home to...
Read MoreRead MoreREALLY looking forward to the 47th Annual Meeting of Triennial for the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) in Indianapolis next week. Delighted to be giving the keynote address, “Many Paths, One Journey,” on July 5, at 2:30 p.m. (or shortly thereafter). Theme: Many Paths, One Journey. We look at Bible women and contemporary women, seeking common paths and common wisdom....
Read MoreRead MoreGrowing up with three older brothers, I have a keen sense of what’s fair and what’s not. Take for example, the day when my brother closest in age to me (3 1/2 years older), was given more chocolate chip ice cream — my favorite — by our mother. “He’s got a bigger stomach,” she said. Really. Let’s see. He didn’t have...
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