When I can’t find the words to pray, I reach for either the Book of Psalms or The Lord’s Prayer. Tonight, it is Jesus’ prayer in the King James Version that helps form my request to the Mercy Seat. Our Father No war is a surprise to you. No stealth invasion is stealth, no plans … Continue reading Our Father, Remember Ukraine
A picture is worth a thousand words, or so the saying goes, but what if an event happened so long ago that no picture remains. No painting of it preserved. No film kept on file. All that’s left are words. Ancient words at that, about an even more ancient event. Before the Genesis we know … Continue reading Before “In The Beginning”
Last night I read obituaries. That’s not a usual activity for me. But at 1:30am my stomach was sour, so I sat at the kitchen counter eating dry Rice Chex and flipping through the quarterly magazine from one of my alma maters. I read about Wesley, Werner, and Wilbur. Lola, Lorraine, and Leon. But it … Continue reading Reading The Obituaries
Since I was old enough to sing “Jesus loves me, this I know,” I’ve ended all my prayers with “In Jesus’ name, Amen.” I’m now starting to incorporate another phrase into my prayers: “In the words of David.” When I study the prayers of the psalmist David, I see that they are different than mine. … Continue reading Psalm 143: In The Words Of David
I don’t much like the word worship. Say the word and in my head I immediately hear an awkward, off-key version of “I could sing of your love forever.” So when Eugene Peterson says in A Long Obedience In The Same Direction that Psalm 122 is about worship, I envision making a quick read of … Continue reading Psalm 122: A Pause to Sharpen
The one who guards – that’s the way God is described eight times in Psalm 121. I’m only two songs into rereading Eugene Peterson’s classic “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” about the Songs of Ascents, but I’m all ready to place money on this being one of my top two favorites. The songwriter … Continue reading Psalm 121: Faith In A God Who Watches
This Easter morning our pastor asks, “How would you complete the sentence: Jesus is my…” HOPE. That’s the first word to pop in my mind. As Esau McCaulley wrote this week “Christians, at their best, are the fools who dare believe in God’s power to call dead things to life.” Go ahead, call me a … Continue reading When I Begin To Lose Hope, Three R’s Rescue Me
One of the most beautiful things about the holy scriptures to me is the way it is both same ol’ same ol’ and magnificently new. God was, is, and forever will begracious and compassionate,slow to anger,abounding in loyal love and faithfulness. Halleluja God was, is, and forever will bein charge of the winds, the waves, … Continue reading The Wind, Waves, Jesus, and Baal
The Bible Project did a 14-part podcast series on five characteristics that God uses when describing Himself to Moses. Their discussions on the middle attribute – slow to anger – were fascinating. In particular, I couldn’t stop thinking about their question, “Who is the first person God gets angry with in the Scriptures?” Unbelievably, the … Continue reading Character of God: Slow To Anger
I wonder: did the prophet get peppered with questions and unsolicited advice when he rolled out this song to his listeners (Isaiah 42:1-9)? Behold my servant, whom I uphold,my chosen, in whom my soul delights; Uh, hello? Your new song is about a servant? Even if this so-called agent of choice of yours brings delight … Continue reading Isaiah 42: The Song You Didn’t Expect To Like
Lord, Come Quickly 