When the alarm wakens us in the early morning hours, we reach for a lamp switch. The sudden entrance of light causes us to blink—and maybe yawn. When the closing credits...

When we hear the word witness used in a religious context, we think in terms of a verb—something we do, a spiritual obligation that overwhelms us with feelings of inadequacy. But...

I started a new job recently, working in a retail environment where I was basically starting over. I had much to learn: same field, new company. The new work overlapped some...

Fear hangs heavy in the air. The authorities have brutally executed the disciples’ leader. Clearly the authorities intend to squelch this burgeoning threat. How far will they go with this crusade?...

Zechariah had predicted a day when the inhabitants of Jerusalem would look on the one they had pierced and mourn for him (12:10). Their sensibilities would stir them from their spiritual...

My family recently moved to a community situated on a lake in the Adirondacks of New York. Rustic cabins that overlook the water and the surrounding mountains dot the lake. Recently...

Some movies end with a door left open to a sequel. The writers wrap up most of the plotlines but leave one conspicuously open. This will become the launch point for...

In six short verses the psalmist offers a succession of a dozen entreaties to praise the Lord. These staccato phrases express the where, why, how, and who of praise—with emphasis on...

Christ is risen, he is risen indeed!” This shout of exultation often marks the arrival of Easter, but I have never resonated with it. When I studied today’s passage, I understood...

We first meet Nicodemus in chapter 3 of John’s Gospel. He seeks Jesus under the cover of night in order to learn from him, which—on the surface—seems an admirable deed. A...