Scripture is an invaluable and irreplaceable resource for any traveler on The Way of Christ. We must immerse ourselves in the Word, and in it find God's instruction and His nourishment for our souls along life's path. But, is there more we must do to understand and truly digest God's teaching beyond mastering the written … Continue reading Going beyond Scripture
Christianity
‘It’s our baptism that calls us’
An interview with the Sisters of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ WICHITA, Kan. — In the not-too-distant past, a trip to the hospital in Enid, Okla., could be as much a spiritual journey as a physical one, with nurses equally ready to tend to matters of medicine and faith. St. Mary's Regional Medical … Continue reading ‘It’s our baptism that calls us’
Be like Barnabas, the glue of encouragement
Have you ever needed encouragement? Ever needed a second chance, even when you didn’t really deserve it? God gives us these gifts through grace, and sometimes that grace flows through his servants. St. Barnabas was such a servant. Barnabas first appears in Acts 4:36: “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which … Continue reading Be like Barnabas, the glue of encouragement
Battling opioids from the pulpit
Oklahoma City -- State officials are partnering with faith leaders to spread education about the opioid crisis, and to break down stigma surrounding drug addiction and treatment. The Rev. Shannon Fleck, executive director of Oklahoma Conference of Churches (OCC), said the ecumenical organization recently launched a partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and … Continue reading Battling opioids from the pulpit
The rewards of patience
The 14th century English phrase "Patience is a virtue" is believed to stem from the much older Latin, "Maxima enim, patientia virtus," -- "Patience is the greatest virtue." But, in English or Latin, the core lesson of these maxims has eluded me for much of my life. Not that I don't understand that patience is … Continue reading The rewards of patience
The heart of a saint … Why relics?
I had the opportunity last Saturday to attend the pilgrimage of the heart of St. Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, patron saint of priests, to St. John of Nepomuk Catholic Church in Yukon, Oklahoma. This occasion was momentous in itself, but also gave me an opportunity to delve into the question: Why relics? St. Jean Vianney The two-day … Continue reading The heart of a saint … Why relics?
Made, and called, together, in the image of God
Almighty God, whose Son, the risen Christ, sent forth your apostles Andronicus and Junia to proclaim the Gospel and extend your reign: send us forth in your Holy Spirit, that women and men may minister as one in faithful witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the … Continue reading Made, and called, together, in the image of God
Praying for Peace with Our Lady of Fatima
After my last piece on thin places, I decided to spend some time today in another of my favorite thin places -- the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, in the small town of Bison, Oklahoma. Quite by accident I noticed (yes, I had overlooked) that today was the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, recalling the … Continue reading Praying for Peace with Our Lady of Fatima
Secularization. The death of a thin place.
Much is made these days of the secularization of society -- the loss of influence of Christianity, and religion in general, in society at large. I've generally considered this a topic for the coasts and Europe. Here in the buckle of America's Bible Belt, where a town of 50,000 gladly supports more than 100 churches, … Continue reading Secularization. The death of a thin place.
Death and life eternal: Our faith, in 10 simple words
Death. It is a tough topic. And, for many of us, it is an uncomfortable one. But, it is unavoidable. I have had to overcome my own fears of being around death and dying in the last two years of nursing home ministry. In this environment, death always is nearby in space and time. It … Continue reading Death and life eternal: Our faith, in 10 simple words
