Tomorrow’s Old Testament reading introduces us to Abram (he’ll be Abraham later).  In a dramatic and typically biblical scenario, God calls Abram to leave his homeland and his family and go to the place God has prepared for him.  Not only that (but wait, there’s more!), God will make Abram a great nation, he will bless his name, and he will be a blessing to others.  Abram’s response?   “Ok.”
Abram didn’t realize he wasn’t in the ‘divine drive-thru’ and that those promises wouldn’t necessarily be ready for him as he drove …

Yesterday in USA Today, the front page statistical snapshot was of our experience of the supernatural.  Over 4,000 adults were surveyed in August of last year and 29% affirmed some connection with the dead.  Lesser numbers believe they’ve seen a ghost and consulted with a medium.  I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that reason why Halloween and scary stories/movies/etc. resonate with us so consistently is that there is something to all this.  I need to qualify that.  Do I believe that there are spirits of …

From Morning Prayer today

Have mercy on me, O God,
for my enemies are hounding me; *
all day long they assault and oppress me.

2
They hound me all the day long; *
truly there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

3
Whenever I am afraid, *
I will put my trust in you.

4
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust and will not be afraid, *
for what can flesh do to me?

5
All day long they damage my cause; *
their only thought is to do me evil.

6
They band together; …