Richard Rohr, one of my favorite writers on male spirituality, has a meditation on blind Bartimaeus in Mark 1o:46-52.  If you remember the story, Bartimaeus is desperate to get to the feet of Jesus.  He shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  He was rebuked and told to be quiet.  But he shouted…

I have been giving quite a bit of attention to a week-end retreat I will be doing this week-end.  One of the components of our retreat for about a dozen guys as to do with the affirmation of our masculine soul and the incorporation of the feminine complement.  It seems to me that this is not…

Did you know that Starbucks is dropping the word “Starbuck” from it logo.  This is happening in time for its 40th anniversary in March.  A company spokesperson observed  that people can now recognize the logo without the words.  It was stated that the new logo is a “metaphor for the company dropping the boundaries of itsown business…

I have not written for over a week.  As I have mentioned before, I am not sure if there are many readers of this post, but I believe that I am supposed to keep writing this blog, if for no other reasonthen out of sheer obedience.  I believe strongly that there needs to be voices out their…

During this Christmas season as believers we spend extra time reflecting on the meaning of God become a human being.  This is the greatest miracle of our faith and the story that we have to tell to a dying world.  God became human flesh in the baby Jesus. We read in Gal 4:4, “But when…

E. Scott Peck in one of his books quotes St. Therese of Lisieux as saying, “If you are willing to serenely bear the trial of being displeased to yourself, then you will be for Jesus a pleasant place of shelter.”  Peck says this is one of the most profound pieces of psychological wisdom he has…

As some of you know who read the posts on this blog, I am a Lutheran Pastor.  I have been at it for 40 years.  One of my great joy within the Lutheran Church these days is the research that Finnish theologians have been engaged in as they present new insights into  the theology of Martin Luther.  The “Mannermaa…

Pat Morley who founded “Man in the Mirror” has written many books to help men find meaning and purpose in life.  In his book “Pastoring Men” he makes this intriguing statement concerning men.  “Most men only know enough about God to be disappointed with Him.”  What do you think of such a statement?  Is this true…

I have been preparing a sermon for this Sunday based on Col 1:15-20.  This is one of the best descriptions and summaries of Jesus to be found in the New Testament.  Some think that Paul borrowed an early Christian hymn to express these wonderful words about Jesus.  This text is difficult to preach on because they are…

Again I am quoting from Wes Yoder’s “Bond of Brothers.”  I agree with Kenny Luck, who is quoted on the jacket of the book: “He says things in this book I have never heard anyone say about men and, more to the point, about me!”  Yoder maintains that often when a man is silent, he is…