A few have asked me for some suggestions for Lenten reason, Lenten preparation, and Lenten formation. From BCP: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.... Read more

O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP Read more

Sheesh, it’s getting to the end of February and it has been feeling like Spring around Chicagoland.  I’ll take it. On Monday I will be announcing our next DMin cohort beginning July 2017. Come back Monday! Adam and the Genome. Good idea, worship over the meal, by Kendall Vanderslice: [HT: KKNM] Meanwhile, the Assemblies of God Community Dinners in Seattle, Washington, the Disciples of Christ Potluck Church in Madisonville, Kentucky, and the Episcopal Southside Abbey in Chattanooga, Tennessee, began experimenting... Read more

Marc the Travel Agent, by John Frye Marc, the part-time travel agent, sparked enthusiasm in people and closed sales on travel packages to countries he had never visited. His customers bought into his descriptions of the foreign cities and countrysides, the delicious foods and delightful smells of market stalls, the stunning architecture and cobbled streets, the intriguing language and colorful clothing, the pleasing weather and gorgeous night skies. Eager customers usually walked away saying, “It must be nice to be... Read more

By Deacon Godsey, a student in my MANT cohort at Northern Seminary. THE CHALLENGE OF PASTORING WITH DEPRESSION Deacon Godsey Pastor, Vintage Church I am 42 years old and have served in some form of full-time ministry for the better part of 20 years, including the last seven as the solo lead pastor of a small church in Lawrence, KS (the lone “blue” bastion in an otherwise ardently “red” state.) As such, I am both a veteran of local church... Read more

https://soundcloud.com/user-212639123/the-barren-fig-tree-a-parable-of-jesus-luke-136-9-kr-42 Read more

At Caesarea Philippi President Shiell teaching about Jesus challenging Caesar in the midst of empire. Pictures by Erick Hodge: Sir Hodge Read more

More sermons need more stories about women. The one who controls the story controls the glory, and that includes both which women we draw attention to in the Bible — Huldah, Esther, Miriam, Deborah, Mary, Junia, Priscilla, and more — and the ones we point to in the history of the church. While there are only some rich, thick biographies about some women in the history of the church, like Phoebe Palmer or Harriet Beecher Stowe, there are other collections... Read more

Jerusalem, the Garden of Gethsemane, East Jerusalem Pictures by Erick Hodge: Sir Hodge Read more