Lent began as a baptismal preparation period. It seems fitting to remind of John the Baptist. That eccentric man did a preaching tour in the wilderness surrounding villages of Galilee, …
Ash Wednesday – the Beginning of Lent
Today is Ash Wednesday. I should have remembered that when the lady came into Starbucks early that morning with what looked like a terrible birthmark on her forehead. “Poor lady,” …
The Start of Lent
Lent invites us to spend 40 days with Jesus in the wilderness.
The Power of a Question
It was time to go home, so Sarifa came to my room in the surgical ward to wheel me down to the car. She and Bev packed our three small …
No one left to come
Martin Neimoller was a famous Lutheran pastor in Germany. He is known for his opposition to the Nazis’ state control of the churches, and he was imprisoned in Sachsenhausen and …
Modern Forms of Greed
This article is adapted from a blog by Frank Sonnenberg. “The Many Faces of Greed.” Greed is a term that describes ruthless people with naked ambition, people with an insatiable …
No such word
There is no church without us The sum total of our tears struggles, joys, doubts, longings, fears, and loneliness. No such word, church Church is a noun describing one thing …
Watch That Diet
View PostIt’s a God thing!
Philip Yancey is an American author, most known for his writings on a spiritual plane. He has sold over 15 million books in 40 different languages. Needless to say, he …
Awake the Sleeping God
I recently encountered a guy that sounds really spiritual and godly. Say’s “God is good,” CONSTANTLY. Enough to make you go crazy as you think about the people who love …
Meat, Not Milk
Daily Bible Readings: Monday, January 3. Read Ephesians 4:11-16. 1) For what did Paul say that spiritual gifts are given? 2) Against what did Paul say we must protect ourselves? …
Faith and Its Work
View PostFraught Times
“Don’t panic” seems to be the right message for beleagured, stressed Christians. In this pandemic world there always seems to be another thing coming around the corner at us. But …
The Productive Life
Daily Bible Readings: Monday. Read 1 Timothy 1:18-20. 1) What athletic metaphor does Paul use in this text? 2) How is the metaphor appropriate for the Christian life? 3) What …
Nihilism 2022
I heard a conversation recently about the knowability of virtue, and it put into crystal-clear perspective the chasm that exists between Christian faith and the relativism of our age. In …
Teach Your Children
Long before Crosby, Stills, and Nash sang, “Teach Your Children,” Moses told ancient Israel to “Keep these words….recite them to your children….and write them on the doorposts of your house.” …
Every Spiritual Blessing
Daily Bible Readings Monday, December 27. Read Colossians 1:19-20. 1) What is Jesus to the church? 2) What is his relationship to God? 3) How do humans benefit from this relationship? Tuesday, December 28. Read …
The Urgency of Growth
Daily Bible Readings: Monday, January 3. Read Ephesians 4:11-16. 1) For what did Paul say that spiritual gifts are given? 2) Against what did Paul say we must protect ourselves? Tuesday, January 4. Read …
220102 Weekly Devotional
Daily Bible Readings: Monday, December 28. Read Colossians 1:19-20. 1) What is Jesus to the church? 2) What is his relationship to God? 3) How do humans benefit from this relationship? Tuesday, December 29. Read …
Owe no one anything.
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8. Except A Poem by Bruce Logue You won’t find …