Category: When Love Shows Up

Earlier this week I had a parishioner reach out to me to express disappointment in our church’s response to our country beginning a war with Iran this past Sunday – or, rather,

It snowed in Cincinnati today for no reason. If you weren’t here, you may not know what I mean, but really there was no reason for it. It wasn’t cold enough to snow, and there was no

In our continuing conversation about finding the middle in American politics, it’s worth repeating something that sometimes gets overlooked: The middle moves. Which is to say, some things we

Lately I’ve been trying to understand the Middle a lot. When we talk about the middle ground in this country what do we mean? Really? Do we mean the place where

Multiple Christian denominations were fractured during the time leading up to the Civil War. The moral issue of slavery was at the center of these splits. Most notably, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists tore in

Last week I talked/wrote about the moderate life – about my natural inclination towards being a moderate regardless of how extreme and ideologically pure I often wish I were.

I have wanted to be an extremist for much of my life. There is something very attractive about extremism, if I’m being honest. I’m probably not supposed to say that, but it’s true: Extremism is tied to idealism in

“I just don’t think religion and politics should have anything to do with each other,” she said, and I was ready to argue right away. I have

I saw something recently that said I’m not making any resolutions for 2026: It’s the year’s turn to get better. So far that’s not happening, but there’s still time.  Have you ever had

What are the little things that make it Christmas for you? What has shaped your perceptions of Christmas – of what it’s supposed to be? Likely, it’s a combination of

So I’m in therapy. That’s nothing new. I’ve been in therapy on and off for much of my adult life. I’m really grateful for it. Sometimes it’s not a good fit, but when it is a

So there I was last Sunday putting up Christmas lights. It was the first week of Advent. I had spent the morning preaching at church. Now I was in my front

This past Sunday, millions of Christians heard the same text read aloud in their church. Many Christian traditions – including Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, American Baptists, and the Episcopal

I know I wrote/talked about this last week, but I’m just not done with it – this “Render unto Caesar” moment Jesus has in the Gospel narrative. Jesus

“Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and give to God the things that are God’s.” This famous line, sometimes worded in the old English, “Render unto Caesar,” is attributed to Jesus,

When I was growing up, Howard Stern was on the radio. I know he’s still around, now on satellite and all that, but I’m talking about the radio. I’m 46 now

There’s really no laughter like funeral laughter. It is somehow utterly unexpected and entirely appropriate every time. In the midst of deep sorrow, a joke escapes,

Let’s talk about the beginning of blessing. Well, maybe there is no such thing as the beginning of blessing, because blessing comes from God and

I want to do a little thought experiment with you. I want you to imagine you are sitting with your best friend and they start

Jesus was a victim of political violence. But the real political violence against Jesus began before he was ever beaten, whipped, or killed. It began

Let us pray:   Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Charlie. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a

One thing Jesus couldn’t stand was exceptionalism. Time and time again throughout his ministry, you would see him telling the people around him that they

One funny thing about going on a pilgrimage is realizing how special you aren’t.   Last summer when I went on my pilgrimage to Cinque Terre

One summer I went on a road trip with my in-laws and it was way more fun than it sounds. It really was. My wife

I’m not interested in making more Christians.   Maybe that seems surprising to you. It was certainly surprising to me when I realized it.   I grew

I said last week that I hated the title “Good Samaritan”. It’s a week later and I still hate it. Last week, I mentioned hating

I hate the phrase “Good Samaritan.” My apologies to all the organizations and hospitals doing great work under this moniker. No offense is intended. But

Every Christian in America should be suspect. Every single one of us. Every single Christian in America. Non-Christian Americans should be looking at us sideways

Throughout St. Paul’s letter to a church he planted in Galatia, he is trying to impress upon his audience the magnitude of Jesus’ life, death,

In the beginning of the Bible is a story about the creation of the world. It is a very well-known story, and you have probably

When Cain kills Abel God is not deceived. You remember the story of Cain and Abel from the book of Genesis, yes? They are brothers.

I was not religious in college. Except for the night of a show. I was both a non-practicing Christian and a practicing actor at the

St. Stephen was stoned to death. He was both the first Christian deacon and the first Christian martyr. He riled up the authorities by speaking

When Jesus recruited his disciples, he did not pick from the usual suspects. He was a rabbi, but did not pick any seminary students. He

The Bible does not say that there is a Trinity. The term Trinity refers to God as being 3 persons in one divine being –

Jesus was publicly executed and his death was completely legal. You might think the brutality of his torture and execution would be the most interesting

The first time I met Cory Oberlin was on a phone call. His name and contact information had shown up in my mailbox a day

As we were coming home from church one Sunday, my mom commented excitedly about the pastor’s sermon. It was 1992 and the presidential race had

I want to tell you about one of my favorite prayers. I have been writing a lot over the last few weeks about loving your

Speaking of loving your political enemy, I remember a conversation I had with a relative a few years back. They are a family member with

The Christian season called Lent began this week. It is known as a time of penitence and fasting in preparation for Easter. Throughout the next

Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who hate us. We immediately rebel against this command, dismiss it as rosy idealism,

I believe that LGBTQ+ people are a blessing to this world. The church community I serve, the Church of the Redeemer, affirms this belief, as

Hey friends, I don’t have a new podcast for you this week and I did not want to let this week go by without stating

Last week I wrote about why I believe in loving my enemies even if it is difficult and distasteful and uncomfortable and unpopular to do

What does love look like in real time? That is to say, when you strip away all the idealism and romantic notions, all the hypotheticals

We took down our Christmas tree last night. We are not an organized people, the DeVauls, so there are still plenty of decorations up, waiting

This blog is also available as a podcast I want to do something I don’t normally do. I want to look back on this past

This blog is also available as a podcast Usually this time of year, as we prepare for Christmas I try to write something about how

This blog is also available as a podcast I wonder what happened the next time Lazarus got a bad cough. You remember Lazarus. He was

This blog is also available as a podcast 11 years ago my family and I walked into a theater and watched what would become one

This blog is also available as a podcast For the last few years I’ve had the privilege of driving my daughter to school most days.

This blog is also available as a podcast Well, this is the last blog I will publish before the election. I am aware that nothing

This blog is also available as a podcast The text message hit my phone at exactly 7am last Sunday. This is not the most unusual thing. Anny often texts

This blog is also available as a podcast There’s a story in the Bible about a woman grabbing onto the hem of Jesus’ garment as he’s walking through a crowd and it heals

This blog is also available as a podcast There’s a story about when the Dean of my seminary was interviewing for the job. He’d gotten

This blog is also available as a podcast “So are there other Republicans at the church?” he asked me. And I laughed. I laughed because

This blog is also available as a podcast Last week I insisted that, as a Christian who is American, I must understand myself as Christian

This blog is also available as a podcast The first morning after I returned from my first trip to Italy, I woke up, went out

This blog is also available as a podcast What does it look like to value our children? How do we care for them? What is our

This blog is also available as a podcast I used to wait tables for a living. Every so often I miss it. I liked taking care of people.

This blog is also available as a podcast I didn’t go to church much while I was on sabbatical. Obviously I didn’t go to my church at all. But I did go

This blog is also available as a podcast Did you know that our bones are constantly breaking themselves down and building themselves back up again?

This blog is also available as a podcast I have told the story before of how I had a conversion experience on a hillside in

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August 11th. Throughout my time off we have a

This blog is also available as a podcast Hi friends. As you may know, I am currently on sabbatical and we’ll be out until August

This blog is also available as a podcast One of the most amazing things about food is how consistently it is used as a way

This blog is also available as a podcast As a parent, there are few things as frustrating as when a young child insists upon doing something

This blog is also available as a podcast I can’t really talk about my sabbatical without talking about the pandemic. It’s possible you’re tired of thinking about the pandemic. I’d be lying if

This blog is also available as a podcast In exactly one month I’m going on sabbatical. I will be away from my job for just

This blog is also available as a podcast Today at the gym I overheard a conversation. I did not mean to. I was not eavesdropping. Well not

This blog is also available as a podcast At Church of the Redeemer’s Thursday morning Bible Study we are currently reading through 2nd Corinthians. 2nd Corinthians is likely an edited collection of two to three

This blog is also available as a podcast Here is your uplifting piece of Scripture for the day. It comes from the book of the

This blog is also available as a podcast The story goes that Valentine was a clergy person in the Roman Empire during one of the

This blog is also available as a podcast In my first parish job, my rector told me it takes audacity and humility to be a

This blog is also available as a podcast I want to be kind. I want to be kind today, to be kind tomorrow, to be

This blog is also available as a podcast In November of 1984 my parents threw an Election Night party. I still remember the little elephants on the cocktail

This blog is also available as a podcast Christians often misunderstand the point of the biblical prophets. We’ve been doing this for centuries. We act as if their primary purpose is predicting

This blog is also available as a podcast I once heard a story about Desmond Tutu, and I’m not sure if it’s true, but I’m going to tell it to you

This blog is also available as a podcast It’s worth noting that Jesus didn’t always like his job. This is well-documented. And I’m not talking about when Jesus slipped away from