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Resurrection Life
We are now in Eastertide. Let us live… truly live… in the power of resurrection life. 7 The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:7-8, NRSVue)
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The Kingdom of God is FOR this world
I am currently working my way through NT Wright and Michael Bird’s new book, Jesus and the Powers. It is some “prep” for this election season. More than that, it is necessary prep for how to lead in the church in a time when we face serious upheaval. We will have deep divides. The nastiness is very real. How do…
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The defining moments of history
Resurrection. Without Good Friday there is no resurrection. The power of the weekend is overwhelming at times. But it comes down to the most essential meaning, one defined by NT Wright in this way:
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Good Friday
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?Oh, were you there when they crucified my Lord?(Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble) tremble Were you there when they crucified my Lord?Were you there when they nailed him to the cross?Were you there when they nailed him to the cross?(Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble) trembleWere you there when they…
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Two holy days in Lent that move me
It’s been well over 10-15 years since I have begun my journey into the liturgical/sacramental life. The embracing of Lent personally, then trying to lead a Pentecostal church into that sacred space (slowly), has been quite a journey. There are now two days in the season of Lent that move me the deepest currently: Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday.
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The lovely losers
Holy Week has its readings. Along with that I am still working my way through my “ancient wells” Scriptures and have come once again to the Sermon on the Mount. It is tough to concentrate because I just finished Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy, which focuses on the Sermon on the Mount so my mind is already full on this…
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Palm Sunday — Follow the King
Palm Sunday will lead us into Holy Week. In the exuberance of Palm Sunday to make Jesus King, he calls us into the depths of what that means to follow him. Mark 1:1-11 Are we truly ready to follow him?
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Encountering the possibility of what IS to come
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and…
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The vision of hope is grounded in love
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:7-8, NRSVue) I want to turn from exhaustion to hope. That is the way of love.
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Victory isn’t through the sword
John 12:20-36 is our Gospel for the Fifth Sunday in Lent. The hour for Jesus’ suffering is upon him. He could ask to be delivered from this hour, but he knows this is why he came. What lies ahead is necessary and when Jesus is finished, the Father is glorified and the kingdoms of this world will fall. Here is…
