He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Matthew 26:42Jesus is now becoming more centered and moving to different religious coping strategies. Rather than pleading for God to miraculously take away the coming suffering, he moves to what psychologists of religion have termed collaborative religi...  Read More

Sleep is a big deal for our health across multiple body systems. “Adverse outcomes of insufficient sleep and/or sleep disorders are weight gain and obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, accidents and injuries, stress, pain, neurocognitive dysfunction, psychiatric symptoms, and mortality” (Grandner, 2017, p. 1). That list is worth re-reading and saying, “I need to be kind to myself and get adequate and regular sleep, or go to a sleep medicine clinic if that is not happening despite my best efforts.”  Read More

In the first-century Greco-Roman world there were particular attributes of the ideal man (Conway, 2015), although it is unclear what percentage of men actualized them. One attribute was mastery, being overall non-men, and having high self-control. Another was achievement, proven in competition with other men. Being masculine was also a moral quality, as being seen as manly was always positive, even when women displayed the characteristic; conversely, being effeminate was always seen as morally negative.  Read More

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane and said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Matthew 26:36-37This week, we look at Matthew’s telling of Jesus in Gethsemane, in chapter 26, verses 36-46. The first verses describe Jesus looking for a private place to pr...  Read More

The following guide is designed to serve as a potential framework for your discussion. Feel free to use it as is or adapt as the Spirit leads.  Read More

Years before I was born, my mother’s oldest brother found a secluded location and ended his life. So, I grew up under the shadow of this event. In my mind’s eye, I can still see the picture of this uncle on my mother’s dresser.Many have proclaimed that anyone who has committed suicide has committed the sin of murder with no opportunity to repent, and therefore, they would be lost for all eternity....  Read More