I begin a new series today — and it could last a good, long while. The series is on Missional Jesus. Our question: How did Jesus understand the missional life? This, of course, involves two “missions” — his mission and ours. We will learn that his mission is our mission because his mission is God’s mission, the missio Dei. Today and tomorrow will be brief background matters to Missional Jesus: we will look at the Spirit’s inspiration of Mary to... Read more
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace each of us may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.†Read more
God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless these men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen Read more
Ah, I have to give pride of place this week to Don Johnson’s rumination on parenting. Pray with Trevin. While there, say a prayer for the Grahams. Tribune story of her death. Cynthia Lambert writes a nice piece on “it’s OK to go back and fix things.” And her little essay on the “handprint” is a just what the Doctor ordered. And how about that ending? I like it. And a third on “can you smell it?” — daily prompts... Read more
In Jon Wilson’s Why Church Matters, which explores Christian practices that make the Church what is (supposed to be), the first major practice is worship. He’s got three interesting themes to give us a nice topic for discussion: |inline Read more
I had lunch with one of my former students, one who graduated one month ago, because he wanted to talk about going to seminary. I don’t know why — maybe because I’m accessible through e-mail and this blog or maybe because I’m getting older — but I get asked this question often. So, here’s two considerations that I think everyone thinking of going to seminary ought to think about: |inline Read more
Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, refresh me; Water from the side of Christ, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me. |inline Read more
As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I’m doing some reading on table fellowship, and so I read my friend’s, Craig Blomberg’s, book called Contagious Holiness. This maybe the most complete display of what the Bible says on meals. |inline Read more
Last Thursday, the 7th of June (Kris’ birthday), a dying tree with a nest of woodpeckers fell on my neighbor’s home. The next day the tree cutters, at our request, saved the shank of the tree that was housing those woodpeckers and propped it up against our fence. Now, a little more than a week later, I can announce that each of the three baby woodies has successfully managed his or her way up the shank and begun to explore... Read more
If you use Phyllis Tickle’s The Divine Hours, here is how you begin every day: I’ve done it for years and its recitation has become increasingly important to me. |inline Read more
Jesus Creed
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