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
lection reflection (12 March 2019)
reading the bible daily with the church
Deuteronomy 9.1-12
In today's passage, Moses reminds the children of Israel to be humble and recognize that God's blessing of the Promised Land is not a result of anything they have done but is solely by grace. He explicitly tells them, "You are not going to take possession of their land because of your righteousness or . . .
Posted in: reflections
lection reflection (26 Feb 2019)
reading the bible daily with the church
Ruth 1
In this opening chapter of the Book of Ruth, the confession of faith made by Ruth (vv. 16-17) is familiar and beloved by many. Coming as it does from the lips of a Moabite woman, however, we mustn't let its familiarity overshadow it's striking and unexpected declaration of faith in a foreign God. Just as Abraham . . .
Posted in: reflections
lection reflection (25 Feb 2019)
reading the bible daily with the church
2 Corinthians 1.1-11
The beginning of St. Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth contains one of the most eloquent, beautiful, pointed treatments of suffering and comfort anywhere in Holy Scripture. It is not easy reading, however, because the Apostle's language goes round and round. It can be especially difficult to . . .
Posted in: reflections
lection reflection (12 Feb 2019)
reading the bible daily with the church
Isaiah 58.1-12
Today's passage from Isaiah challenges us to "put up or shut up," as the saying goes. Here we see a picture of what well-rounded, holistic faith looks like in action:
Isn’t this the fast I choose:
To break the chains of wickedness,
to untie the ropes of the yoke,
to set the . . .
Posted in: reflections
