Judges 2:6-12, 16-19 A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho November 16, 2014 In our Year of the Bible readings, you won’t read the Book of Judges until Advent, so I’m preaching it a little early. But I wanted us to spend some time with this book. Judges helps us see a…
This is a short essay I wrote for a collection of writings in celebration of Coleen Grissom’s 80th birthday. Coleen was Dean of Students (and then Vice President for Student Affairs) at Trinity University. I’m very grateful for her presence in my life. She was one of the best professors I had (and that is…
This Veteran’s Day I’m thankful for one veteran in particular, my birth father, Clinton Kenneth McCourt. After Pearl Harbor in Dec 1941, he like many of his generation, answered the call of the nation and joined the Navy a few months later, serving in the Philippines. Before I’d learned my birth father’s name, I’d suspected…
Earlier this week, I wrote about the small, little voice in my head using the word “rejection” to describe how I’m experiencing this new information about my birth parents. I appreciate your comments and support in response to that post. And I want to reiterate that while it is a piece of the puzzle, it…
I’m sure there are scholars who have written about this, and I should track down their wisdom. Disclaimer–this is only my reflection and may not resemble other adopted children’s experiences. I’ve recently been discovering things about my birth parents. I was able to speak to my birth mother on the phone for a few minutes.…
A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho on November 2, 2014. 1 John 3:1-3 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved,…
Thank you to everyone who has been following along this time of discovery. Ever since receiving my original birth certificate in August, I’ve been on quite the journey. It’s all been good. I’m quite sure I have not processed it all yet. And it is not only my story, so bear with me if the…
I came across this quote on Facebook this morning and realized how much differently I am experiencing All Saints Day this year. I remain grateful for the saints I’ve always been thankful for– my grandparents Clarence and Grace, Ruth and Torkel, my aunt Jo, my uncle Len, and so many more. I was adopted into…
A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian in Boise, ID on October 25, 2014. Deut 34 This weekend is when we remember the Protestant Reformation. Almost 500 years ago, Martin Luther posted some complaints about the medieval church on Twitter. No, on his Facebook page. No, that’s not quite right either. He wrote them down on…
Donald and Lynn Knapp are licensed ministers in the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Which is great and all. They also own a wedding business in City of Coeur D’Alene that illustrates how sacred marriage is by removing it from the church and putting it in a for-profit business called “The Hitching Post”. They…
Glass Overflowing 