Author Archives: NextSunday Reflections

Luke 2:36-38 When someone I love dies, I always write a tribute to that person. I keep these remembrances to remind myself of the way that their lives have added grace to mine. These words become prayers of thanksgiving that I offer God for the blessing the person has been. I usually write about how […]

Luke 2:33-35 Mary and Joseph watch Simeon hold their not yet 2-month-old son in the temple, amazed at what was being said about him (v. 33). Life with a newborn is still a blur after forty days, and life with this newborn adds a unique dimension to parenting. These short verses give us a glimpse […]

Luke 2:25-32 Does God still surprise you?  Every so often I sit back and say to myself, “This is my life, and I’m so thankful for that.” These moments spent reflecting on my journey usually leave me surprised by the events through which God has worked: preaching regularly in a church I dearly love, meeting […]

Ezra 3:10-13 I was 10 when I first learned that joy and sorrow could coexist within a faith community. The Sunday after a new baptistery had been completed in our church building, we witnessed three baptisms. Abundant joy flooded our worship space. We celebrated with Brazilian cheese bread and strong coffee.  Later that week, my […]

Ezra 3:1-9 “Here I raise my Ebenezer, Hither by Thy help I’ve come;And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,Safely to arrive at home.” “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” has always been a favorite of mine. When I learned that “Ebenezer” means “stone of help,” the song became even more important to me. When we sing […]

Ezra 1:5-11 I have a rosary that symbolizes a spiritual experience in my life. The Mixtec tribe of Vicente Guerrero, Baja California, Mexico made this rosary. Cut squares of abalone shell and round glass beads descend to a simple, silver crucifix. My rosary reminds me of the summers I spent traveling as a Spanish-language interpreter, […]

Ezra 1:1-4 One day my father surprised me with a trip to see the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The two ticket stubs I kept from that lovely experience remind me of the music’s power to stir our souls that day.  God uses a variety of ways to stir our spirits and compel us to be part […]

Mark 1:1-4 My calendar has columns in which to list what I need to accomplish each day. In my case, a typical day might read as follows: write sermon, make sermon plans, visit the hospitalized, lead Bible study, consult with a staff minister, write pastor’s column. That’s all well and good. Making and checking off […]

Isaiah 40:27-31 Waiting on anyone, including God, does not come naturally to me. When someone keeps me waiting, I start to fidget. I jiggle my right foot, tap out tunes with my fingers, squirm in my chair, or pace the room. I wear myself out. Sometimes I grow so weary while waiting that I have […]

Isaiah 40:25-26 Do you ever feel as if God might have overlooked or even forgotten you? I know something about how that feels. I remember lying in bed at night during my childhood, listening as my drunken father rampaged through our little house. The next day, sobered up, he seldom remembered anything about the previous […]