One of the truisms of my life is that I can learn from the past. When it’s my own history, I rely on my memories to influence my decisions about present and future moments. That may not always be enough guidance, though. As a post-pandemic world emerges—and I want to cast out in new directions, adjusting to present circumstances in a new way—I will need sources other than my own perhaps-limitedMORE...
Christmas is upon us, with its insistent question, “What do you want to do about all of this?” Another question tags along: “How would any of us welcome a baby who came into our homes?” At the beginning of Advent we were comforted with the words of Isaiah about a child—a babe—being born to a virgin. A perhaps-small reason to hope during our own troubled times. But we knew, we believed, and weMORE...
Over the centuries, Advent has been a time of expectant repentance—part of our preparation for Christ to come into our lives. Today’s final blog in the series focuses on single-minded attention only to our own needs. Händel’s Messiah includes the spirited “All We Like Sheep”, based on Isaiah 53:6. The chorus romps through somber matters that seem to call for repentance instead: We areMORE...
Help is close at hand It may seem impossible to pry loved ones from continuing anger—especially if they’re deeply habituated or addicted to the presence of feel-good neurotransmitters that flood their brains when they’re furious. Thankfully, help is close at hand. Although there’s no magic treatment for perpetual outrage, there may be remedies that we can use with individuals whom we want to freeMORE...
Life-as-we-have-known-it is slowly coming back, with perhaps one lingering exception: Anger is still roaming our nation, clawing for a place in the national discourse and identity. From everything I know about this powerful emotion, it’s not a helpful part of our lives. Especially dangerous when it becomes addictive, anger ruins relationships as well as the individual and collective brains thatMORE...
Over the centuries, Advent has been a time of expectant repentance—part of our preparation for Christ to come into our lives. Today’s blog continues that theme, this time focused on the eventual outcomes of a life of continuing lying. I don’t always tell the truth. No matter what other names I attach to this behavior, it’s still always lying. In some parts of my life I’ve assembled fortresses ofMORE...
Over the centuries, Advent has been a time of expectant repentance—part of our preparation for Christ to come into our lives. Today’s blog continues that theme, this time focused on my sometimes unwillingness to take responsibility. One part of being sinful is not doing what needs to get done. “Sins of omission” is the doctrinal term. In the Confession of Sins at the start of worship, this matterMORE...
This entry is part of a blog series, Time Capsules, in which I tell you about places in our home where the blessings of our history are evident in stored artifacts. This time around, join me in rummaging around inside the boxes that hold my collected writings! It is said that you may call yourself an author when you’ve written and/or published more than one million words. After all these yearsMORE...
BOB SITZE has filled the many years of his lifework in diverse settings around the United States. His calling has included careers as a teacher/principal, church musician, writer/author, denominational executive staff member and meat worker. Bob lives in Wheaton, IL.