Addiction and Faith

As The Next Door delivers its addiction treatment services, it does so with faith being at the heart. “Everything we do, from staff meetings to client care, upholds a Christ-centered focus,” says Ray Brocato, the CEO of The Next Door.  “Our goal is to meet the women’s spiritual needs as well as their physical and […]

Do You Believe in Miracles?

– Written by Rev. Tambi Swiney “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” During the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, broadcaster Al Michaels uttered these memorable words as the final seconds ticked off the clock during the medal round of the men’s ice hockey tournament. This game between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. would determine […]

Monday Meditation: Healing

– Written by Rev. Tambi Swiney As a child, I was fascinated by the story of the four men who carried their paralyzed friend on a mat to Jesus because they believed that Jesus could heal him. Since a large crowd had gathered to hear Jesus that day, when the friends arrived at the house […]

Monday Meditation: Easter Sunday and Trauma

– Written by Rev. Tambi Swiney Although we tend to focus on rejoicing on Easter Sunday, the gospel narratives remind us that the first Easter Sunday was the culmination of three days of trauma, and trauma doesn’t simply evaporate. Three days prior to the discovery of the empty tomb, Jesus’ partners in ministry scattered in […]

Monday Meditation: Do You See This Woman?

– Written by Rev. Tambi Swiney As The Next Door focuses on the core value of respect throughout 2021, we can turn to the Gospels and look to Jesus for inspiration. A story from Luke’s Gospel seems particularly relevant. A religious leader had invited Jesus to be his honored guest for dinner. The meal was […]

Monday Meditation: A New Look at Psalm 23

– Written by Rev. Tambi Swiney At least once a month, I lead a Spirituality in Recovery group focused on Psalm 23, perhaps the most famous of the 150 psalms included in Scripture. This psalm is frequently read aloud at funeral services because of this line: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow […]

Monday Meditation: The Beatitudes

– Written by Rev. Tambi Swiney When Jesus sat down on a mountainside overlooking the Sea of Galilee to deliver what would come to be known as “The Sermon on the Mount,” I imagine that the women and men and children who gathered around him leaned forward, straining to hear his provocative words. The opening […]

Monday Meditation: “The Hill We Climb”

– Written by Rev. Tambi Swiney I can’t get her words out of mind. Last Wednesday, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman burst into the world’s collective consciousness as she recited her poem “The Hill We Climb” on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Gorman began and ended her poem with references to light. In the opening line […]

When I Grow Up

– Written by Rev. Tambi Swiney    During the pandemic, my extended family has gathered weekly via Zoom to stay in touch. With participants ranging in age from 7 months to 81 years, these experiences have been memorable and life-giving for us. One feature of these virtual gatherings is a trivia game, and if a […]

Spread the Word

– Written by Rev. Tambi Swiney “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news […]

Tagged AddictionfaithgospelHealingHopeRecoverytransformation