by David Anderson
There is an old Jewish story about the young pupil who asks the respected rabbi a question about that well-known passage in Deuteronomy 6:6. “And these words, which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart.” “Why is it this way?” the pupil asks. “Why are we told to put these words upon […]
by David Anderson 10 Comments Filed Under: Adult Spirituality, Faith/Trust, Family, Letting Go, Love
On Saturday I preached the funeral of a great man. Doug McArthur was the Treasurer of Trinity Church in Solebury, Pennsylvania, where I was privileged to minister for eleven years. As I reflected on why Doug had been such a powerful influence in my life, I realized that he was a grand father. He […]
by David Anderson 4 Comments Filed Under: Faith/Trust, Faithfulness, Family, Fear, Grace, Love
We all start out with a training-wheels god. It’s always a very much bigger version of mother and father (with all the bane and blessing that entails). It’s a god who looks after you but also looks in on you—so you’d better be good. As we grow older we keep riding the training-wheels god. Our […]
by David Anderson 2 Comments Filed Under: Adult Spirituality, Faith/Trust, Letting Go, Now/ the Present, Reality--trusting it, Seeing
It’s the day after. The one that usually pulls you down. The day after Thanksgiving is such a downer we call it Black Friday. Retail therapy is the only upper we know for such a downer. The day after Christmas is the same, and everyone goes to see a “holiday movie.” The day after Easter […]
by David Anderson 4 Comments Filed Under: Adult Spirituality, Faith/Trust, Happiness, Reality--trusting it, Surrender
Tony Campolo is a writer, teacher and preacher, a white man who belongs to a black church in West Philadelphia. Mt. Carmel Baptist, he says, is “the closest thing to heaven this side of the pearly gates.” Campolo tells the story of a little preaching competition he had with the old black pastor at Mt.Carmel […]
by David Anderson 2 Comments Filed Under: Faith/Trust, Happiness, Now/ the Present
“You know how you lie when you’re dating?” That’s the way Peter began his story. Early in their relationship, Marsha asked Peter, “What do you like to do?” Peter said, “I like to swim!” And Marsha said, “Um….me too!” So they got married, and went on their honeymoon to the Outer Banks of North […]
by David Anderson 6 Comments Filed Under: Faith/Trust, Fear, Grace, Letting Go, Surrender
As the world celebrates St. Patrick’s day, we pause to remember Ireland’s great patron who has been adopted by the world. Born in Roman Britain, kidnapped by slave traders from Ireland prowling the Welsh coastline, enslaved for years as a shepherd in Ireland, Patrick had no formal education, but his searing experience created within him […]
by David Anderson 3 Comments Filed Under: Daily Practice, Faith/Trust, Nature/Creation
When I read this I was intrigued. “In Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany, some nursing homes build false, imitation bus stops for their patients who are suffering from dementia. Some of these bus stops are even fitted with outdated advertisements and timetables—30 years outdated. The patients will sit at the bus stop waiting […]
by David Anderson 3 Comments Filed Under: Faith/Trust, Happiness, Now/ the Present, Reality--trusting it, Seeing