Category: Church
-
Learning the Language
In his book Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God, Tim Keller amplifies a point made by Eugene Peterson, …our prayers should arise out of immersion in the Scripture. We should “plunge ourselves into the sea” of God’s language, the Bible. We should listen, study, think, reflect, and ponder the Scriptures until there is an…
-
Rocks
Hands that dabbled in wood and stone in Joseph’s workshop now repair us, and rebuild with us, even from dust.
-
All Outta Context
Last Sunday many churches heard Luke’s report of Jesus’ appearance on the first night after he rose from the dead. Jesus was, indeed, revealed in breaking bread. But he criticized and lectured those he greeted before they got to the table. The picture above is a redacted version of a meme posted by a preacher…
-
Nonessential Funding
Daily Bible reading crashed into my news feeds today. So I’ll throw the mess at you and see what sticks. Here’s Steven Greenhut’s piece from “Tax Day“: It’s mind-boggling to think about how little we actually get for all that cash, especially here in California where the state government measures success by how much money…
-
Staffing issues
I read Numbers 17 this morning. It’s short – go read it. What struck me was God’s purpose for Aaron’s staff: And the Lord said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.” Lest.…
-
Why Not Both/And?
“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled…
-
Beware Less Efficient Shots
Too bad people tend to forget the true meaning of Easter. So texted a former coworker named Dan last night. Aside from feeling reflective he was feeling pretty good because his Colorado Avalanche scored a road victory over my hometown L.A. Kings. One reason – maybe THE reason – that so many miss the true…
-
Casting Call
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9) … And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt,…
-
“The Lazarus Narrative”
On the Fifth Sunday in Lent, many Christians will hear the report of Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave. It is recorded in Chapter 11 of the Gospel of John, linked here rather than paste here a long text over which you’ll likely skip and skim. …Did you read or play it? You really should.…
-
Yes, There’s Evil
Yes, there’s evil. No, I’m not going to pelt you with a Walt Whitman-esque litany of all the ugly stuff, real, imagined or concocted for extra views & clicks, that you see every time your eyes veer screenward. The screen grab above came from an email I received from the Social Security Administration. I’m old…
Northern Plains Anglican 