Category Archives: Faith

In the Backpack

Posted on June 3, 2025 by awtraughber

Frederick Buechner starts The Alphabet of Grace, his theological “slice of life” book, with this wonderfully true assertion: At its heart most theology, like most fiction, is essentially autobiographical.  Aquinas, Calvin, Barth, Tillich, working out their systems in their own … Continue reading →

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Anselm on Teaching, Seeking, Desiring

Posted on May 30, 2025 by awtraughber

We introduce Anselm and his version of the ontological argument for God’s existence relatively early in our junior Bible class.  Sometimes it clicks, sometimes it doesn’t; we consider it as much because it was the first of its kind as … Continue reading →

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The Good Shepherd (and a quick word on 49)

Posted on May 15, 2025 by awtraughber

This past Sunday, many churches celebrated Mother’s Day.  Other churches also commemorated “Good Shepherd Sunday,” which is celebrated every fourth Sunday of Easter.  The key text for the day is John 10, where Jesus says: 11 “I am the good shepherd. … Continue reading →

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“Where There’s a Will . . .”

Posted on April 9, 2025 by awtraughber

We’re just over three months into the “Desert Fathers in a Year” series.  So far, my favorite saying comes from the section on hesychia, which relates to the idea of deep peace.  The saying comes from Abba Arsenius: Abba Mark … Continue reading →

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The End of Break (and a turn in the road)

Posted on March 29, 2025 by awtraughber

And just like that, spring break has come to an end.  For all intents and purposes, the turn of the calendar from Saturday to Sunday brings with it a change in disposition, of direction, when conversations and thoughts turn in … Continue reading →

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A Song for the Season

Posted on March 5, 2025 by awtraughber

Marked on the front end with Ash Wednesday, the season of Lent begins today.  Here’s a recent song by Andrew Osenga that captures today (and everyday) wonderfully.

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Loose Ends at Lent

Posted on March 3, 2025 by awtraughber

It won’t be long until Ash Wednesday begins a new Lenten season.  And while deep roots for neither of these moments exist in my own tradition, I am grateful for the opportunity they supply for both reflection and action.  And, … Continue reading →

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Choices and the Day-to-Day

Posted on February 19, 2025 by awtraughber

My favorite quote from a great piece by Kirsten Sanders about Christianity and the nature of everyday life: Discernment doesn’t mean that you are responsible for the result of your own choices. It means that at the end of your … Continue reading →

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Sentence Stems for Two Conversations

Posted on January 19, 2025 by awtraughber

There are two kinds of sentences that one should hear at church or in relationships with other Christians.  One should be primary, the foundation for everything that could follow.  Unfortunately, the second one has become the actual primary sentence stem, … Continue reading →

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Once More with Resolve

Posted on January 2, 2025 by awtraughber

While I don’t think big decisions should be made on little etymological nuances, those nuances are often intriguing.  Case in point: resolve and resolutions. Counselor and author Chip Dodd starts his January newsletter with some thoughts on the terms: Resolution … Continue reading →

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