If your Lenten resolve has failed, know that you are not alone. This past week I have slipped back into pre-Lent habits and not done as much as I have been in the way of personal prayer, contemplation, and scripture study. This is mostly why I have not been keeping up with my Lent posts, but it also has to do with...

As I have started streaming on Twitch again, I have been reminded of what a truly enjoyable and fulfilling experience it is when I interact with good people over a shared love of music. As a result, my desire to blog on a daily basis has lessened. So if the frequency of my blog posts is less than it has been, it is...

When we were children, we thought we had it all figured out. Life was about good vs evil. We wanted to be the “good guys” and to triumph over the “bad guys.” So all we had to do was learn the difference between the two, choose the good, and we'd be all set, right? But as we grow up and work our way through...

One of the things I chose to abstain from for Lent was Twitch – both streaming and viewing other streams. But it has cut me off socially from good friends I enjoy interacting with there, and it occurred to me during a sleepless night last night that I'm feeling socially isolated. It doesn't help that, in addition to...

Earlier this Lenten season, I expressed some thoughts and questions I had about the influence of the Holy Spirit. Does He communicate with us through feelings? Thoughts? Reason? I think it's all of the above. Chapter 1 of the book “The Crucible of Doubt: Reflections on the Quest for Faith” by Terryl Givens and Fiona...

Sundays are often so busy for me that by the end of the day I'm ready to crash (hence my lack of a post yesterday). But the past few Sundays, instead of feeling overwhelmed as I have every Sunday for the past five months, I've felt gratitude and peace. So what changed? Mostly my perspective. Sundays are busy because...

Today I read a blog post entitled ”'Blessed are the Warriors' Isn’t a Thing” and I can't stop thinking about it. The title states the premise of that short blog post clearly. Jesus said “blessed are the peacemakers,” so why are so many who claim to be Christians enthusiastically supporting war and glorifying those...

One of the things we have tried to do as a bishopric is visit people in their homes. We've set aside Wednesday evenings as the time to do this. Sometimes schedules don't line up or we aren't able to arrange to visit with anyone (we don't want to show up unannounced), but when it happens, it's always a wonderful...

I finished reading Patrick Stewart’s memoir “Make It So” – a long, interesting read by one of my favorite actors. Worth reading at least once, it has given me a deeper appreciation for Stewart and his work. His style is amiable and his storytelling is engaging. From his humble beginnings to his greatest triumphs, he...

I enjoy having long talks with loved ones. It's a wonderful way for us to connect, share experiences and perspectives, and to “think out loud” – to talk through and crystallize thoughts that have been bouncing around in our brains but haven't quite fully formed yet. Lately I've been having long talks with my son....

I forgot to write a post yesterday. My first church meeting started at 9am and between all the church meetings, phone calls with family, and meals somewhere in there, I wasn't free until about 8pm. Add Daylight Saving Time starting and having to take allergy medicine that makes me sleepy on top of all of that and I...

Today I watched “Francis of Assisi” – a 1961 film about the story of Saint Francis. I managed to find a free low-resolution version the film on YouTube. It was difficult to get into because it was very dated “Hollywood” in its style and acting, but when I started thinking of it as more of a grandiose stage play, it...