The ground by the creek:Two weeks ago, frozen under crusty drifts of dirty snow.One week ago, submerged under a flood.Today, coaxed into a carpet of new lime green.It's been a hard winter, but I'm noticing bits of green in grass and congregation. And to celebrate, the prophet (Isaiah 43) speaks for God: See, I am doing a new thing; even now it springs forth. Do you not … [Read more...] about 27th day of Lent:
Archives for March 2010
26th day of Lent
This is the day that the Lord has made. A number of these God-made days I simply muddle through and wonder what, if anything, of significance happened. But God has made it, no matter what I see or don't see in it.There are other days when even I can notice, for example, that God's timing is impeccable. A chance encounter leads to conversation that draws on courage and … [Read more...] about 26th day of Lent
25th day of Lent
Patrick, missionary and bishop to Ireland, had been snatched and captured by Irish raiders from his home in England as a teenager. He spent six miserable years as a slave in Ireland before he escaped back to Britain. During that time, however, he faith and relationship with God grew as he prayed constantly out herding sheep on the Irish hills. He risked his life escaping … [Read more...] about 25th day of Lent
24th day of Lent
Sunday is coming and the text is about Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus' feet with a pound of expensive nard, a fragrant, very expensive ointment...so expensive that the act was financially reckless. But the way she did it, wiping Jesus' feet with her hair, was embarrassingly improper, at least for some of the guests.Here we go again. There is something about loving God with … [Read more...] about 24th day of Lent
23rd day of Lent
Letting go.In the story Jesus told about the two lost sons (Luke 15), what did the "prodigal" son let go of in order to leave slopping the pigs and come back home to his family? Pride. Independence. His self-centeredness. His claim as a "son" replaced with a willingness to be a servant (he thought).In the same story, what would the older son have to let go of in order to … [Read more...] about 23rd day of Lent