At this time of year, with Christmas just a few hectic weeks away, any discussion of inner peace may seem abstract at best. If the shopping and cooking and decorating and wrapping and many social obligations don’t get your peace, then a family member is sure to bring up politics at the dinner table and … Continue reading Advent — Our Journey Back Into the Garden
Faith
Enjoy the gift of giving to others
Congratulations. If you’re reading this, you’ve survived the Thanksgiving triple threat of undercooked turkey, indigestion and heated family table talk of impeachment. But, aside from a fridge full of leftovers, what do we take away from this holiday? The name itself seems to be a simple answer to a superfluous question. Thanksgiving. It is about … Continue reading Enjoy the gift of giving to others
For a love that transcends life…
This column originally published on Nov. 22, 2019, one day after a training mishap at Vance Air Force Base claimed the lives of Lt. Col. John “Matt” Kincade, 47, an instructor pilot assigned to the 5th Flying Training Squadron, survived by his wife and two sons, and 2nd Lt. Travis B. Wilkie, 23, a student … Continue reading For a love that transcends life…
Be great in the little things. Be great in Love
“Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” Anyone who ever stood at the water’s edge as a child, throwing rocks with abandon, knows the imagery in that quote, from the Dalai Lama. The problem is, just as the pebble is ignorant … Continue reading Be great in the little things. Be great in Love
Blessed are you, the Church Militant
This sermon originally was delivered on Nov. 3, 2019 in observance of the Feast of All Saints, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Okla. Who is a saint? As we gather here in a sanctuary named for St. Matthew, that may seem an odd question. Certainly, all the canonized saints are included in this definition … Continue reading Blessed are you, the Church Militant
The true meaning of the day after Halloween
For many, today is a day to sort through the sacks of candy the kiddos brought home, perhaps liberate a few of the choicest morsels for Mom and Dad, and set the rest aside to be thrown out sometime around Christmas. But, other than the obvious excuse to eat way too much candy, why do … Continue reading The true meaning of the day after Halloween
‘Who am I?’
Note: This originally was delivered at Noon Mass at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Okla., on Wednesday, 23 October 2019. Unraveling our identity in Christ, with St. James I want to thank Fr. John for giving me the opportunity to preach on the Feast of St. James, since he is the source of my given … Continue reading ‘Who am I?’
Faith — Our passionate love affair with God
This sermon was delivered during Evening Prayer at Enid Community Corrections Center, on the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila, Oct. 15, 2019, as part of the prison ministry of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Okla. Faith, I think, is best described as a passionate love affair between the soul and its Creator — between … Continue reading Faith — Our passionate love affair with God
Encounters in the border land
Luke 17:11-19 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And … Continue reading Encounters in the border land
St. Francis, Padre Pio, and the power of humility
This is a reprint of a sermon given Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, in advance of the Feast of St. Francis, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, in Enid, Okla. Like many people, my first exposure to St. Francis of Assisi was one of those small images of Francis surrounded by animals. My mother had a ceramic … Continue reading St. Francis, Padre Pio, and the power of humility
