May 20, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Forgiving and Retaining Sins

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. – John 20:23

This is the final verse from the gospel reading for this upcoming Sunday. For years I would read this passage, and this verse, and immediately think that the disciples whom Jesus is addressing, and by extension the Church, were being given the authority to pass judgment on people. They were being given the authority to forgive sins and/or continue to use a person's sin as a form of punishment, giving this whole thing a kind of Law & Order feeling: “In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime, and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders.”

In that system people are either found innocent (their sins are forgiven) or guilty (their sins are retained). That certainly seems to be the “plain reading” of this verse. And there are many churches, in both the denominational sense of the word and in the congregational sense of the word, that use this verse in that way; just think about how many people have been ousted from churches because their sins were retained.

But, and I've said this before, forgiving sins isn't about the other person. When we forgive those who have sinned against us, we have come to the point where what was done to us no longer holds sway over us. We are no longer beholden to the feelings of hate or revenge or whatever that permeated us when an act was committed (or maybe omitted). This does not mean we forget, because there are plenty of reasons why a person would not want to forget what was done; but it does mean we can move on with our lives instead of dwelling on the event.

So instead of creating an ecclesiastical court system of forgiving and retaining sins, I think this statement was, and is, addressed to individual people. “If you (Tom, Bob, Sally, Mary) forgive the sins of any, then you will be able to live in peace. But if you retain their sins, then you will continue to live with that sin festering within you and you will not live in peace.”

Forgiving the sins of others isn't about letting them off without consequences. Forgiving the sins of others is about allowing ourselves to move on in peace.

Blessings,

May 13, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Faithful Perseverance

Our vacation last week took us back to Maryland to visit good friends and spend some time with our daughter and her boyfriend. All in all it was a good trip, and United didn't lose our luggage.

While there I had a conversation with a clergy friend of mine (a non-denominational pastor who has served several churches and now also teaches a couple of courses at the local community college) that started when he asked, “Do you ever get tired of doing this?”

I had almost that same conversation with another clergy friend this past Monday when they talked about the low attendance at their church on Sunday and scrambling to find replacements for the assigned liturgical ministers.

We (clergy) are called to teach and preach. We administer the Sacraments. We absolve and bless. We baptize and bury. We do any number of things, seen and unseen, for the benefit of people, church, and God. And, at times, it can feel like a futile endeavor as we struggle to form disciples of Christ.

In a results-driven world, we can be our own worst enemies as we wonder why people don't attend the bible studies or other formation classes they've asked us to create. We wonder how we can make Sunday worship essential to people who see it as just one of several activities to choose from that day. We try to come up with creative answers when asked, “How many people are in your congregation?” And we fight to keep from comparing what we offer against what others offer.

Do I ever get tired of doing this? Sometimes. Some days are worse than others. Which is why I look for opportunities to learn and refresh, like the webinar I've signed up for later today called, “Holy Limits in a Burned-Out World: A Conversation for Clergy.”

But when I feel particularly tired of doing this, I remind myself that, more than anything else in my job description, I am called to be faithful. I am not called to be a corporate CEO. I am not called to have the most entertaining sermons. We are not called to have the slickest website or most polished streaming production. We – me and you – are called to be faithful in worship, prayer, and working for the spread of the kingdom of God. It can be hard. It can be discouraging. It can also be extremely rewarding and life-giving. And looking back, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Everyone gets tired. Everyone needs a break – even Jesus went away to recharge. May we all be faithful, as the Lord is faithful, and persevere in working for the spread of God's kingdom.

Blessings,

May 5, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Vacation

In case you missed it, Joelene and I are off on vacation this week. We left last Thursday evening and will return sometime this coming Sunday.

We went back to Maryland to visit our daughter and her boyfriend, take in some sights, and have family photos taken. We are also reconnecting with a number of our friends while out there.

Vacations, for me, are a mixed blessing. The planning, prepping, packing, and pre-trip organizing can seem like more work than it's worth. And when I return, there's the unpacking, laundry, getting back into my time zone, and falling back into the rhythm of everyday life. I need a vacation from my vacation.

On the positive side, we get to spend time away, put work pressures out of mind, and just enjoy things as best we can. The fact that it hasn't been as hot and humid as it is during the summer also helps.

So know that we are enjoying ourselves, but we are also looking forward to being home in a few days when I hope to find everyone safe and healthy.

Blessings,