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Staff Trax

Great Words to Live By

The Gospel reading this Sunday is known as the Beatitudes. It contains the words of Jesus when he was speaking to the disciples at the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus gives a list of those who are blessed in the eyes of God.

This could be seen as inspirational. The disciples had not done much public ministry before hearing the Beatitudes. They had made the huge decision to drop everything and…

Democracy in Action

Last Wednesday, Jan. 14, I joined almost 700 other people in Topeka for a day of protest, advocacy, and the sharing of a unified message of “human needs are human rights.” The day was sponsored by many different organizations, including Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA). I had never been to the Kansas state capital before, and I was proud to represent those of you who live in Kansas. It was a…

What Are You Looking For?

I had a conversation with my daughter last night about being positive versus negative. She was remembering when she was younger that I’d redirect her when she was upset to look at the positive side of situations instead of focusing on the negative. Then later when I was upset about something it would freak her out, since the message she heard from me was to not embrace feelings of anger or sadness.…

The Voice of the Lord

When preparing materials for worship each week, I have a chance to read the Psalm, First Reading, and Gospel text multiple times. This week’s Gospel text is the Baptism of Our Lord, and it seems the Psalm and First Reading both tell of what is to come in the Gospel.

The Psalm this week speaks of hearing the voice of the Lord over waters. “The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the…