"Apologize to your brother!" mumbling, “Sorry.” The child apologizing either doesn’t really understand what they did wrong or doesn’t care. The apology certainly isn’t sincere, and everyone knows it. As a parent, we have a vested interest in demanding such apologies in the hope of teaching our children the value of owning up to their wrongdoings. But generally, apologies should be between the involved individuals. Politicians are the master of the public non-apology apology. “I didn’t say what you think I said, and I apologize if that’s what you mistakenly heard.” And forgiveness should be between the involved individuals. “I think when someone apologizes, then they should be forgiven.” This

I can relate to a theme that Pastor Jason covered in his blog a few weeks ago. There have been times over the last four months when I have just felt tired, not from lack of sleep and not from too much exercise, but from a feeling of impatience for life to get back to what used to be normal. I have been weary due to the changes in my life that have been imposed by Covid-19. But then I read this in the Bible. In chapter 9 of his letter to the people of Galatia (an area near what is now Ankara, Turkey), Paul said, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” His context then was certainly different than ours today but if we persevere by doing

Telephone call to customer service: "Hello. In order to access your account, please enter your 10-digit phone number ... please confirm that the first four letters of your address are ... Thank you. We will connect you with an agent ... Hello, thank you for calling. My name is ... I need to confirm your account, can you give me your phone number? And your full address? And the last four of your social?" Why did I bother giving the computer any information if I have to provide the same information to the agent? Computer form: Name, phone number, email, which model car would you like to test drive. What day and time would you like to schedule the test drive? Submit form. Phone rings. "Hi, I'm

Like many of you, I think that I am ready for COVID to be over. I am ready to put an end to this social distancing. Not to just go outside, but to go outside without the worry of wearing a mask, or if that person next to me coughing will be “the one” that gets me. But, alas, we are nowhere near that time to let down our guard. We are not nearing a time when we can remove our masks and see the faces of the people around us. And the question remains, how do we connect in what seems to be an ongoing social distant reality? We could disregard the safety protocols… though such a disregard would negate our call to care for those around us. We could close the front door to our home, lock it, and wa

In 2013, as St. Stephen's was preparing to celebrate its 125th anniversary, members of the congregation were asked to share their faith stories. Members responded with stories of moments in their life when they recognized God. My story related to the mountains. I remember being at Mt. Evans in Colorado one day as a teenager. As I was driving home, I turned a curve in the road. The weather, the lighting, and the scenery combined to create a perfect image of endless creation. It was no accident of geology. It could only be the guiding hand of a creator (with the help of geology!). Spending the last few months in semi-isolation may have led others to wonder about God. Why does God allow people