Lamentations 3 is not a pleasant and upbeat chapter until you arrive at verse 21: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” When facing challenging days, it is easy to believe that we are in ‘unprecedented’ times. Though our trouble may seem…
Read MoreI Tell you…
I have come to appreciate Eugene Petersons’ Message, a paraphrase of the Bible. It is beneficial after hearing verses and hearing them from your favorite translation for a lifetime. The Message throws open a window that allows you to see it differently. Not different as in twisting it into saying something new or novel, but giving you another way of seeing and hearing the Word. “I tell you, love your…
Read MoreI Thank My God
I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you. This is how Paul begins the Epistle to the Romans. He states that he thanks God for their faith. In a sense, he is thankful for their faith and friendship. Reading this today made me think about the people who have shared their faith and friendship with me. It started when I was young. My grandmother loved Jesus and…
Read MoreGetting Ready…
On your mark, get set, and GO! This brings back many memories from yesteryear. The sound that a race is about to take place. Though I have never been much of a runner, life resembles a race in many ways. Life is more like a journey than a race. At times because I thought life was a race, I was so focussed and in such a hurry to finish…
Read MoreGive me that mountain: A challenge for today!
Just about 11 months ago, I retired from full-time ministry. I began the journey in late 1981 and retired in May 2022. Regarding retirement, there were some things we expected, and there have some unexpected things as well. Some things we had figured out beforehand, and many we did not. What has gone according to plan? We have developed a hobby or two. We made some new friends. We…
Read MoreEverything I have, I have received!
The Apostle Paul makes this statement in 1 Corinthians 4:7. He talks to a group that feels superior and reminds them of a truth. “What do you have that you have not received?” That is a great question. When you get to the place where you feel pretty assured that you are something special, it would be good to remember Paul’s statement: everything I have, I received. You are…
Read MoreSilent Saturday!
How do you handle silence? Some folks are much more comfortable with silence. Silence after an episode of sorrow, pain, or loss is nearly unbearable. From the heartbreak of the crucifixion to Saturday, it seems not only has everything changed, but none of it is for the better. Imagine Mary enduring the unimaginable loss of her Son and dealing with devastating grief. The disillusioned disciples who had left everything to…
Read MoreI Come To The Garden Alone
After celebrating Passover with his disciples, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He took with Him Peter, James, and John. Jesus was filled with sorrow and was overwhelmed with what was awaiting Him. He asked His friends to keep watch with Him. The picture from the garden is quite dramatic: He is praying to the Father with His face to the ground. His Prayer? “Father, if it…
Read MoreWere You There?
Palm Sunday is past. The entry into Jerusalem, somewhat like a parade amidst the crowds shouting Hosanna, is now a dim memory. A habit I developed years ago was working my way through the Gospel accounts of the events of Holy Week, including Jesus’ teaching, arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. The Gospels spend much time recounting the week’s events that changed the world. Though I have known the story for…
Read MoreA little help from my friends
We were made to live in community. We do need each other. There are many reasons for forming friendships. Friendships change and evolve when you are my age and have lived in several places. Since I graduated from high school 49 years ago, I have lost track of my friends from high school. Rather than being friends, they were primarily acquaintances. I was heavily involved in the youth group at…
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