Author: Sweet Tea and Front Porch Storyteller
-
Daily Office Readings
At first glance, these passages seem disconnected. We move from a king’s personal commitments, to exile and restoration, to a mysterious priest-king, to disciples returning from mission. Yet a common thread emerges when we ask: What does God want us to see that we often miss? Psalm 101: Seeing Character Before Success The Psalmist repeatedly…
-
Rejoice, Wake Up, Hope, and Go
A Curious Pilgrim Reflection on Psalm 97, Ezekiel 7, Hebrews 6:13–20, and Luke 10:1–17 Daily Office Readings:Psalm 97 • Ezekiel 7:10–15, 23–27 • Hebrews 6:13–20 • Luke 10:1–17 Some days the Daily Office readings seem to move in different directions. One passage is filled with joy, another with warning, another with hope, and another with…
-
The God Who Remains Faithful
A Curious Pilgrim Reflection on Psalm 89, Ezekiel 4, Hebrews 6, and Luke 9:51–62 Today’s Daily Office readings seem, at first glance, to pull us in different directions. We encounter a Psalm celebrating God’s eternal love, a prophet acting out judgment, a warning passage in Hebrews that has troubled Christians for centuries, and Jesus challenging…
-
Why My Pilgrimage Led Me Home
A Curious Pilgrim Reflection On Sunday, June 7, 2026, I will kneel before the bishop and be confirmed as a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Springfield, Missouri. At seventy-six years old, some might wonder why anyone would make such a change. Others will understand immediately. Life is a journey. More importantly, life is…
-
Fear Is Not the Final Word
A Curious Pilgrim Reflection for Sunday, May 31, 2026 Daily Office Readings: Psalm 66, Ezekiel 3:16-27, Ephesians 2:1-10, Matthew 10:24-33, 40-42 The Bible is a collection of books written over hundreds of years by people who lived in different lands, spoke different languages, and experienced very different cultures. Yet beneath all those differences runs a…
-
Hope That Keeps Us Walking
A Curious Pilgrim Reflection on Psalm 72, Wisdom 19:1-8, and Hebrews 3:1-6 Daily Office Readings Psalm 72Wisdom 19:1-8Hebrews 3:1-6 One of the questions I often bring to my Daily Office readings is simple: What thread connects these passages? At first glance, today’s readings seem quite different. Psalm 72 offers a vision of a righteous king.…
-
Boldly Approaching the Throne of Grace
Learning the Courage to Come Near A Curious Pilgrim Reflection Daily Office Readings One word from today’s readings captured my attention and refused to let go: Boldness. It is not a word many of us naturally associate with our relationship with God. Many of us were taught reverence, respect, obedience, and humility. Those are important…
-
When Power Forgets Love
Politics, Religion, Economics, and the Courage to Remain Human A Curious Pilgrim Reflection on Romans 13:1–7 Daily Reflection Scripture: Romans 13:1–7 Few passages in Scripture have created more confusion, fear, debate, and misuse than Romans 13:1–7. For centuries these verses have been quoted to demand unquestioning obedience to rulers, governments, political systems, and even religious…
-
The Lamp Along the Road
Scripture, Experience, Reason, and the Living Voice of God A Curious Pilgrim Reflection Daily Office Readings:Psalm 119:97–120 • Book of Baruch 3:24–37 • Epistle of James 5:13–18 • Gospel of Luke 16:19–31 There are moments in life when the Scriptures begin to open in ways we never imagined possible. Not because we suddenly discovered new…
The Curious Pilgrim 