Apprentice 2 Jesus

The visit without pictures

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. We are finishing a trip to Israel and I limited myself to a phone and typing with thumbs isn’t my thing. But I wanted to make one note before I get back to working on posts about the Israel trip.

The release we need in repentance

Lent is a season of contrition. It is sensing the sin against God and dealing with the ugliness. We have fallen short of the glory of God and there is a feeling in that, not just a forensic fact to have presented in court.

The purpose of Lent

“Lent is a season of repentance and preparation. In many churches, it is a time when those who will be baptized prepare for their new life with God. It is a time when those who have been estranged from the church can be reconciled to the body of believers. It is also a time for all of us to think about the ways we have drifted from the faith. The common theme uniting these three functions of Lent is that that all involve turning toward God with intention and reflection on the past.” — Esau McCaulley, Lent

Transfiguration Sunday

Exodus 24:12-19
Psalm 99
Philippians 3:7-14
Matthew 17:1-9

The power of these passages set up against the approach of Ash Wednesday and Lent is incredible. The more I walk in the Anglican tradition and the flow of the Church calendar, the more I am in awe of the journey with Christ.

A generational upheaval

In the work I get to do, I meet people in organizations working with youth and children a lot. Over and over the deep concern in reaching children, educating children, etc., is the severe loss we have from COVID. There is a serious lag in development in an upcoming generation and we need to take in some ideas for serious reform in all areas.

I need to KNOW God

“We read in the Bible that the Word became flesh. It does not say the Word became ink. Not a book – the Word became a man and dwelt among us. And John said, “What we have heard, what we have seen, what we have handled, of the Word of truth, that declare we unto you” (1 John 1:1–2). They spoke to an experience about a person, Jesus Christ. So the Word of God is his Son made flesh.” — Clarence Jordan, The Inconvenient Gospel

Why I follow Jesus

Lent is less than a week away. It is time for deep reflection on what Christ has done for us. It is a time of spiritual assessment. Why do I follow him?

We follow Jesus because he succeeded where we failed. He resisted the temptations that have conquered us all…

When we find ourselves trapped, it is only Jesus who is both mighty to save and gentle enough to restore without breaking us. Restoration is possible, but it will hurt, because it removing claws is always painful. — Esau McCaulley, Lent

The river of God

We too often have become people who want to manipulate God and manipulate people. We love our formulas for success. We like our “ankle deep” relationship with God. We’re still fully in control.

Read Ezekiel 47:1-12 HERE.

The prayer revival at Asbury University has been going for a week. Visitors are coming so there are times when they allow for overflow in other spaces on campus. I wish social media didn’t exist because doubters from Christian to atheist have their say on what is happening on that campus.

Christianity is not an “add on” in my life

For what we need more than goods is God; more than a living is life. Even though we build with our own hands a new world, if we find not God, our lives still are voids darkened by the lurking shadows of our own selfishness and echoing to the whimperings of children who won’t admit they are lost. — Clarence Jordan, The Inconvenient Gospel

The beauty of the liturgical year

I grew up in a very different tradition than where I am now. It’s only in the last 5 years I have come fully into the Anglican tradition. Lent approaches and I am reading a new book on Lent by Esau McCaulley in preparation. I will then revisit Fleming Rutledge’s powerful book, The Crucifixion.