Growing up Protestant, I knew little of St. Francis of Assisi (1181/1182 – 1226) until I studied him in seminary. It was his uncorrupted humility and dedication to the poor that won my high regard for his life of obedience. Like modern times, Francis grew up in a time of great disparity between the …
Vocations in the Middle Ages – I
I have a love-hate relationship with the Middle Ages (fifth century fall of Rome to the 1517 Reformation). I love the monastic life, cathedral architecture, and chivalry. I abhor the brutality, disease, and loss of classical knowledge. After the Vandals sacked Rome in 455 CE and then the last Roman …
Kingdom Calling
In my last blog, I introduced a Hebrew word, tsaddiqim, which means “righteous.” The American Heritage Dictionary defines righteous as “meeting the standards of what is right and just, morally right.” How do Christians live as tsaddiqim? It starts with understanding the gospel. Dr. Amy L. …
tsaddiqim
I recently attended a Texas Methodist Foundation (TMF) luncheon where the President and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University (HTU), Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, spoke about why HTU matters in our community. This historic black university started educating students in 1875 and predates the University …
The Mighty Quinn
I occasionally watch the evening news, but it is becoming harder to do because the majority of the news is negative: mass killings, divisive politics, destructive weather, etc. The world does have many problems, but it also has many inspiring events. More balance in the news is needed. The major …
The Feast of Christmas
Thanksgiving is over and we light the first Advent candle, a joyous season of festive music, fattening foods, and fun gatherings. I decided to read about the origins of Christmas during this year’s Advent season to gain a historical perspective on the incarnation and nativity of Jesus Christ. Dr. …
Saint Nicholas
We lived for two years in The Hague (Den Haag), the seat of the Dutch Parliament and the third largest city in The Netherlands. My wife and I worked in Royal Dutch Shell’s Head Office and lived in a nearby house. Located next to the North Sea, we experienced wet windy weather and little sunshine. In …
The History of Christmas
One of the reasons that I enjoy the Christmas season are the many festive activities. It starts with decorating the house, then proceeds to attending festive parties and shows, purchasing presents, and worshiping in our decorated church. I am fortunate to have many happy Christmas memories during my …
The Purpose and Passion of Work
I am researching God’s involvement in workers’ choice of vocations. Many people refer to this as a calling, although this term is used more often in reference to ministerial vocations than secular. My topical question is: does God call workers to vocations and if so, how? For many years, I have …
Honesty
I value honesty even when the truth is painful. Over time, I have learned that honestly confessing my failures is far better than disguising or hiding the truth. A pig with lipstick is still a pig: it is best to just call it a pig. Witnessing our grandchildren grow up is a joyful experience that my …