Ronald Allen, Professor at Christian Theological Seminary in Indiana, writes that in the Hellenistic culture of Jesus’ time, people viewed relationships as reciprocal.  We understand reciprocity.  We hope for it.  How many friendships, in our lives, have fallen by the wayside because one or the other of the friends didn’t reciprocate something—whether time, flexibility, showing… [Read More]

It was an anxious time.  I was in high school and we had just had tryouts for the school musical, Grease.  I was hoping for a part, but not just any part—I had spent countless hours fantasizing that I would be cast as one of the main characters, Sandy—the part that the actress, Olivia Newton… [Read More]

In the Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex, Sophocles once wrote, “I have no desire to suffer twice, in reality and then in retrospect.”  Though not  entirely sure of the personal backstory that prompted this brilliant, wise Greek playwright to say this around 430 B.C.E., I am pretty sure that he spoke truth from experience.  They say… [Read More]

When I was a high school English teacher and teaching Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology, one of the lesson plans I did was to have the youth design their own epitaph. It may seem, at first, like a morbid assignment, but the youth were quick to find ways to describe what they enjoyed most… [Read More]

When Jesus comes to his hometown to stand, read, and interpret scripture, his actual standing up to read isn’t the problem.  These scriptures from Isaiah had been heard before, handed down generation after generation, heard, discussed and interpreted way before Jesus comes along.  Jesus asks for the ancient scroll.  He moves his finger along the… [Read More]

A few days after Christmas, my sons and I traveled to Hershey Park for a brief jaunt.  We stayed overnight at a local hotel, mostly because I don’t trust myself driving long distances at night when I am tired.  In any case, this “staying overnight” piece would have been unremarkable, except for the hotel pool… [Read More]

The Magi or wise men who set out for the Christ child are not the same men who return home by a different route.  They have been shaped by their journey and will not allow themselves to be deceived so easily or readily.  But first, they must find their slow way to the Christ child. … [Read More]