You likely remember the exact moment the world shifted—the devastating phone call, the quiet hospital room, the empty chair at dinner, or the text you dreaded ever receiving. It is the overwhelming silence that hits when a person who defined your daily life suddenly exists only in your memory. It’s a common story at The… Continue reading Good Grief! You’ve Changed!
Author: Web Admin
Building a Peace Rooted in Justice
In Matthew 25, Jesus famously calls his followers to care for “the least of these”—to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, tend to the sick, and visit the imprisoned. Crucially, the passage opens with the judgment of whole nations. This isn’t just a mandate for individual charity; it is communal, systemic, and… Continue reading Building a Peace Rooted in Justice
What is your favorite quote or passage?
I recently had the joy of seeing my favorite musical, Les Misérables, live at the Phoenix Theatre. It was beyond marvelous! While I’ve loved this show for many years, what resonates with me most is its overarching theme: Love. It also contains my favorite quote of all time: “And remember the truth that once was spoken: To… Continue reading What is your favorite quote or passage?
On paper, this dynamic shouldn’t work.
As a self-appointed “Paw-Paw” to my son Michael’s live-in cats, Lando Catrissian and Neville Fuzzybottom, my son Nathan’s two dogs Winston and Oliver, and my daughter Ruthie’s dog, Ernest Barknine (Ernie), our home is a study in peaceful coexistence. The cats are inside our home 24/7 and Ernie visits us every Sunday. Lando and Neville… Continue reading On paper, this dynamic shouldn’t work.
It’s about becoming an oasis.
To live in the Sonoran Desert in late summer is to understand urgency. The sun pushes us indoors, the heat shimmering off the pavement, while news feeds bring a relentless stream of noise—political tension, immigration enforcement targeting our neighbors, and wildfire smoke lingering on the horizon. It is easy, under the weight of 110 degrees… Continue reading It’s about becoming an oasis.
Where is God calling me to put love into action?
Faith is never meant to stay contained within four walls; it is a living, breathing movement of love and justice out in the world. As a community, our heart beats for social justice, equity, and the inherent dignity of every person. But progressive faith demands more than just shared values—it calls for active practice. To… Continue reading Where is God calling me to put love into action?
August Reflections: Lessons from a Journeyman’s Journey
In July 1985, I began my first pastoral job at Saddleback Christian Church in Mission Viejo, CA. I was a college junior, and we were a small group of about 50 people meeting in an elementary school multipurpose room – one family had fourteen kids – talk about instant youth group! Four decades later, I… Continue reading August Reflections: Lessons from a Journeyman’s Journey
You are still capable. You are still vital. Your story is far from over.
Back in the late 1970s, Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer conducted one of the most fascinating experiments in modern psychology—one that continues to challenge how we think about aging, vitality, and the stories we tell ourselves. She invited eight men, all in their late 70s and early 80s, to spend a week together at a retreat… Continue reading You are still capable. You are still vital. Your story is far from over.
Aloha! I am back in the office.
Aloha! I am back in the office, deeply refreshed and filled with profound gratitude after an incredible, renewing time in Maui. Celebrating forty years of marriage surrounded by the breathtaking horizons and peaceful rhythms of the island was a beautiful reminder of the sacred, sustaining power of rest. I return to our community with a… Continue reading Aloha! I am back in the office.
Staying Cool, Together in Faith.
Whew—it is a scorcher out there! While the summer heat is just starting to hit its peak, our community’s heart is only growing warmer. It would be easy to stay inside where the AC is blasting, but there is something deeply special about gathering in worship during these dog days of summer. When we show… Continue reading Staying Cool, Together in Faith.