Over the past few years I have gotten used to what I call the “storms of bad news.” Sometimes I see them coming over the horizon, other times they flash out without warning. Tragic acts of violence, public health crises, intense political conflicts, or ecological disasters ride in like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,…

When I was in seminary a friend helped me prepare for my ordination exams. At our first session he asked, “Who governs the church?” “…God?” I replied, sheepishly, like a kid in Sunday school. He let out a quiet sigh, a clear signal that I should try again. Not knowing where this was heading, I…

Last night I went to a movie. I don’t usually go to movies because I get busy and I don’t like to take that much time out of my day or night to do something unproductive like sitting in a theater. But it was my daughter’s idea and she can talk me into a lot…