reflection for the Third Sunday in Lent
"I believe...in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit [and] born of the Virgin Mary." We confessed that truth two Sundays ago as part of the Apostles' Creed. As soon as the birth of Jesus happened in history over 2,000 years ago, the Devil and his demons have been on the attack. Satan tried . . .
Posted in: lentreflections
unprofitable, dangerous, vain, and doubting...
thoughts on prayer, social media, and the news cycle
Today's prayer of the day in the prayer book For All the Saints comes from Samuel Johnson, an 18th century Anglican. I find it especially fitting for Lent, in general, and the perpetual chatter of today's news and social media, in particular:
O Lord, my Maker and Protector...while it shall please Thee to continue me in . . .
Posted in: lentlifeprayerreflectionstheology
reflection for the Second Sunday in Lent
Let me start today by listing a few folks to get you thinking about Lent--Hulk Hogan, The Rock, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Jesse Ventura, Ric Flair, and "The Hustler" Rip Rogers. No doubt you've heard of all these guys who were all professional wrestlers. OK, maybe you haven't heard of the last one, but he's a . . .
Posted in: lentreflections
Caesarius of Arles on Lenten reading
theology quote of the week
Let it not be enough for you that you hear the divine lessons in church, but read them yourselves at home or look for others to read them and willingly listen to them when they do. Although through the mercy of God you frequently and devoutly hear the diving lessons throughout the entire year, still during these days we ought to rest . . .
reflection for the First Sunday in Lent
How is your Lenten journey going so far? I hope you have decided to make this a season of intentionally drawing closer to Christ as we prepare to remember his Passion and celebrate his Resurrection. Encourage each other as you seek Christ this week!
The traditional readings for this First Sunday in Lent find us contrasting Adam in . . .
An Ash Wednesday Homily
from worship with the 147th Attack Wing at Ellington Field
Everything we do today as part of our Ash Wednesday worship goes to a single purpose: reminding us of our mortality. The sight of the ashes we use, the smell of the ashes as you draw near to the altar, the grittiness we feel as they are applied to our foreheads, the words we hear as they are applied--all of this serves to remind us that we . . .
on ashes and water, sin and baptism
meditations on Ash Wednesday worship
As is tradition in our parish, last night we held Ash Wednesday worship service. Part of this service, of course, includes the imposition of ashes on the foreheads of the penitent. By the end of the liturgy, one thing jumped out to me:
Sin and death are messy. Literally.
As I struggled last night to move back and forth . . .
