Luke 17:11-19 Dear Partner in Preaching, What do you think? Is it too much to suggest to our hearers that the secret to a good life and the heart of our faith is contained in this brief passage? The key to both is tucked away in a deceptively simple observation: They’re all made well. All the men in this story, that is. They are all made well. Did you notice that? Alright, so let’s back up just a bit, slow down just a little, and see what we might notice together. At the outset of this relatively short story from Luke’s Gospel, there are ten men who are suffering from some form of skin disease. (It’s named as leprosy,...

Luke 17:11-19 Dear Partner in Preaching, “I’m grateful.” That was the regular response of a colleague and friend of mine of a few years past to my casual question, “How are you?” It took me by surprise. Not just the first or second time, but almost every time. Eventually, of course, I wasn’t so much surprised, as I was struck by the simplicity and power of this statement. It wasn’t the answer I expected. Indeed, we usually expect little more than “fine” or “pretty good” or maybe once and a while “great” when we ask this conversational placeholder, “How are you?” “I’m grateful.” My colleague chose her words...

One of my favorite places to go for moments of inspiration and joy is SoulPancake. A few weeks ago I shared with you the video introduction to their “success series” where they asked people to define what they thought counted as success. Today, a follow-up video where they go a little further by asking people whether they’ve thought about who has helped them become successful. Very few, as it turns out, have. Perhaps that’s not too surprising, as many of us get so busy with work or family or moving toward whatever goal we’ve set or maybe just keeping our heads above water that we don’t take enough time to reflect. So the first...