Summer Magazine Extra: Our Father

I sat alone in the dark hospital room, waiting for the nurse. It had been a long day filled with intense emotion, but time was about to stop. The door slowly opened and a silhouette filled the bright doorway. I quickly stood up and the nurse smiled. Then she whispered, "Hello, daddy."

My daughter was born less than an hour earlier and my wife was recovering from a C-section down the hall. I took a deep breath and reached out my arms to hold my firstborn child for the first time. She was so small, so light and delicate. I tenderly cradled pure beauty wrapped in soft blankets and welcomed her into the world.

I don't know how long we were left alone in that hospital room. I got lost in the moment, overwhelmed by love as I gazed at my little girl. All at once it struck me; this is what it's like to be a father.

One day, Jesus' disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. Jesus said, "like this: 'Our Father...'"

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Summer Magazine: Lost Eden

Haiti. Tsunami. Darfur.

Cancer. Abuse. Heartbreak.

What does one think in the face of tragedy? What does one say? More important, what does one think and say about God?

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Easter Magazine: Too Many Mothers!

There is something about being a Christian that makes you into everybody's mother. And there are just too many mothers around.

I'm a teacher and it's my gift. It's a cool gift. I get a microphone. I get a broadcast. I get a pulpit. I get to talk (or write) and you get to listen (or read). And when I'm teaching, it's especially cool when I see "lights" go on all over the place.

The downside of the gift of teaching, though, is that I can't stop being your mother. I keep trying to correct you, fix you and make you like me.

Someone has said that "where two or three people are gathered in the name of Christ...there are problems."

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Christmas Magazine: What's the Big Deal (About Jesus)?

The questions once plagued me: What am I doing here? Does my living make any difference at all? Where am I going? And then the most important question of all: Is there a God? And if there is, what difference does it make?

As I look back over the years, a lot of events aren't clear, but running through all of them is the reality of the love and presence of Jesus. Lots of folks have lied to me, but he has never lied, not even once. A lot of people have failed me, and I have failed a lot of people, but he has never failed, not even once.

Jesus got under my skin and I can't get away from him. It's hard to get away from someone who loves you. Jesus' love is like that. Everywhere I turn, if I am quiet enough, I can hear the soft sound of his sandaled feet...

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