Ashes and Fasting: Lent Has Begun
The Season of Lent began yesterday with Ash Wednesday. The ashes that begin the season point us towards the ultimate end of the season. Lent will end with…
A Letter From the President
I received the note above from the President this morning thanking me for preaching at the National Prayer Service and including a word of encouragement to our congregation at…
Lessons from Moses: 2013 Inaugural Prayer Service Sermon
Today I was honored to deliver the sermon at the National Prayer Service following yesterday's Inauguration. I'll write more later about my entire experience—from…
Preaching for the President's Inauguration
I received a call a couple of weeks ago from a White House staffer inviting me to preach the National Prayer Service that is a part of the presidential inauguration festivities…
Put God Back in Public Schools?
One reaction to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School has been a call to “put God back in the schools.” I even heard one person suggest that the violence…
No, Everything Doesn't Happen for a Reason
“Everything happens for a reason,” he said as he reflected upon the terrible events that had occurred in Newtown, Connecticut. I suppose these words were meant…
The Price of Ending the Charitable Deduction
I’ve been following with interest the conversations in Washington about the fiscal cliff and the debate about how to raise revenue while cutting government…
Room in the Inn?
Merry Christmas! Today, we end our journey retracing Mary and Joseph’s steps with the long-awaited arrival of the Christ Child. After Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem, …
The Journey: From Nazareth to Bethlehem
In my trip to the Holy Land to research my book, The Journey, we traveled by car, by van, and on foot as we sought to follow the journey Mary and Joseph would have taken from…
The World Ending at 5:00 p.m. Today?
So thousands of people around the world believe that today is the day the world ends. I’m guessing not many of you reading this page actually believes the world will end at…