Few things arouse human emotion as strongly as babies do. They are one of the few remaining cultural icons of innocence, operating with the simplest and purest of human feelings. They cry when upset, they sleep when content, and their waking activities revolve around eating, pooping, and discovering that they have arms and legs. A baby's desires are not complex. And yet, as any parent knows, this does not mean that caring for them is an equally simple task. In fact, the inverse is true; the more primitive and … [Read more...] about Babies and Bethlehem
hymns
A Hymn for Good Friday
What are your favorite worship traditions of Holy Week and Easter? For me, I love singing "Christ the Lord is Ris'n Today" on Easter morning, along with "Were You There?" anytime of year. Last Sunday —Palm Sunday —my family took part in an old tradition that was new to us: processing around the church sanctuary waving palm branches to celebrate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Though our small Lutheran church in suburban Kentucky has little in common with Jerusalem, it became Jerusalem symbolically for a few minutes on … [Read more...] about A Hymn for Good Friday
The Day in Between
In between Good Friday and Easter, I'm taking time to prayerfully consider Bart Ehrman on the Colbert Report and the Twelve Voices of Easter (audio files). Ever had a conversation which seemed to have the assumption that the Bible is a big fat lie and if you believe the Bible you're an idiot? If so, how did you respond (or desire to respond when faced by such an opportunity)? The question of the death and resurrection of the Son of God, one which we share with the early disciples, stands at the center of the … [Read more...] about The Day in Between
Good Friday
Today is Good Friday for most Christians (for Orthodox believers, Good Friday is a week from today). Eugene Peterson, in Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness recommends that all Christians read the Psalms daily on a monthly schedule, so I have been endeavoring to do that for the past 6 months, using the Book of Common Prayer as my guide. Fittingly, today's readings for morning prayer included Psalm 51 and Psalm 52. … [Read more...] about Good Friday
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day
Take a moment sometime today to consider The Real St. Patrick and invite others to do likewise. Looking for some resources? I'd encourage you to start with several Christianity Today articles. If you have additional suggestions, including books to recommend, please share below. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every man who … [Read more...] about Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day