(Thoughts About the Beatitudes, Part 1) Over the past couple of years I have heard at least three sermons on joy and/or happiness. A key feature of these messages was the distinction that the speaker made between being joyful and being happy. In general, the argument relies on a somewhat valid analysis of our tendency...... Read More

“And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from (the) evil (one).” When I started writing about the Lord’s Prayer, a friend of mine said that she couldn’t wait to see what I was going to do with this phrase. Lots of potential controversy lurks behind its words. Questions about the origin of...... Read More

Forgive us our (sins/debts/trespasses), as we forgive our (debtors/those who sin/trespass against us). It must be one of the most galling things for human nature to know that from the very beginning of our existence we are in debt. Before we ever commit a sinful act, or a trespass, or a fault, we owe. Not...... Read More