Journal

Waiting on the Lord

Waiting on the Lord

(to be read slowly, with much silence between the thoughts)   In John 21:3 Simon Peter said, “I am going fishing.” They said, “We’ll go with you.” Although they fished all night, they caught nothing. After being directed by Jesus,...
What Our Bibles Say About Us

What Our Bibles Say About Us

Jolts of inspiration don’t arrive in the mail every day. But a while ago, my uncle called. He told me that in cleaning out his basement, he’d come across my great-grandmother’s Bible. He’d be happy to pass it on to me. Nanny — as we affectionately knew her — fled...

Restoring Peace

I almost passed this article by, as I do with many articles that come to my computer screen, but the title intrigued me. There is so much truth in the article, through to the last quote which sums it all up for me. I thought this fits so well with what Coracle is,...

Opening Day

I wasn’t much of a baseball fan until the Nationals arrived in Washington. They just drew me in. Their youth and exuberance were contagious. The broadcasters helped me learn the game and appreciate the stories of individual players. Before I knew it, they were...

Jesus Lives

The sermon on Easter morning at the Falls Church Anglican began with a question which pondered why it was that Mary went to the tomb of Jesus that Easter morning. The answer centered on the love Mary had for Jesus, perhaps in response to all Jesus had done for her. I...

Stripping of the Altar on Maundy Thursday

My thoughts lingered on the stripping of the altar as the mood in the Maundy Thursday service shifted from Holy Eucharist to Gethsemane. All was cleared: left over bread and wine, communion vessels and fine linens, and candles. These items won’t be needed now....
The Importance of Retreat

The Importance of Retreat

What is retreat, and why do we do it?  Retreat is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director.”  A Christian retreat is often referred to as a definite time spent away from...

“Where Do We Go From Here”

Soren Johnson is one of Coracle’s board members, and recently he gave this address to over 800 (mostly) Catholic men on retreat in Herndon, VA.  His words apply to all men who long to follow God while living in these times.  “Where do we go from here?” Annual...

Praise God!! Fifteen Years Later…

In 1997, some old friends and those who would become old friends hosted the Emerging Urban Leaders Summit in Washington DC, with the help of Re:generation Quarterly, The Falls Church, and Leadership Network.  We wanted to name and capitalize on the fact that God was...

Communion

At this point in a conference like this on justice, it’s already overwhelming.  It’s quick and easy to feel like there’s so much to do, and so much I’m not doing, even when I’m already trying to do as much as I know to do.  What to do with these longings, these...

A Marathon vs. A Sprint

The long, tedious work of love in the ordinary is what the work of justice most needs.  So said another old friend, Gary Haugen, who spoke this morning.  His talk opened by reflecting on the problem that remains:  27 million people in slavery…more than New York,...

Being Just vs. Doing Justice

This conference is impressive, and so heartening (more on that later).  But some thoughts on the opening plenary session.  A note about scope:  several thousand people in the Philadelphia Convention Center (the majority quite on the younger side) from around the...

What Is Justice, Anyway?

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard the word ‘justice’ already, well… The effect of so much attention on one topic from so many different angles can hurt the head, and it makes me ask, “OK, now just what are we talking about again?  And just what is...

Creation Care as an Act of Justice

Corhaven is a 17 acre slice of earth, given to our community to steward well for the purposes of God which includes stewarding well the land itself.  Peter Harris is the founder and international director of A Rocha (their motto “Christians in Conservation”), a well...