Holy Week I love this time of year. Spring has rolled in. Trees are greening. The smell of growth and bloom is in the air. And, I love the week we call “Holy Week.” The celebration of Resurrection is the greatest event on the calendar – for believers and followers of Christ it is the… [Read More]
Holy Week
Quietude – April 13-14, 2019
The Warning We are entering the most solemn and holiest of weeks. Jesus’ final earth days and He is in full-on “teach them now 101” mode. He is putting the pedal to the metal in His final earth words. The disciples are with Him and they are baffled and confused. Jesus does everything possible to… [Read More]
Gethsemane
The following is Day 38 in “40 Days of Lent – the people, places, and events of the Passion.” Titled: Gethsemane Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,… [Read More]
the real lord’s prayer
The seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of Saint John is, by far, my favorite chapter in the New Testament. My grandson, Simon, and I used to listen to it while driving in the car. I was certain he would memorize it. The reason I love it so is… context, context, context… I am not going… [Read More]
quietude: march 20 2016
On the day* after Jesus’ last Sabbath celebration with His disciples, He entered the home of Lazarus (the one Jesus raised from the dead), Mary and Martha. Their home was in Bethany. There, they served Him supper. Mary took a pound of Spikenard ointment, a very costly item and anointed the feet of Jesus. She… [Read More]
a malchus moment
Something happens to me every single year during Holy Week. I become quiet, pensive, and reflective. I read those last chapters of The Gospels. I ponder and pray John 17. And, without fail, I remember Malchus. You know the one hot-headed Peter sliced his ear off in the Garden. He was a soldier in the… [Read More]
resurrection season
This weekend the Christian world celebrates Palm Sonday. Ron Drake, our Pastor, has always referred to it as Lamb Selection Day. This is the day God instructed Moses to tell the people of Israel to choose a lamb, an unblemished lamb, for their Passover meal, which would be five days later. You can read the Biblical… [Read More]
The Day Death Died and Hope Was Born!
My daughter and I sat in the church building, we were visitors to hear my good friend from Indiana sing. The church’s announcements were flashing on the overhead and it caught my eye: “The Day Death Died”, it was the name of their cantata to be performed on Resurrection Sunday. I looked at my daughter… [Read More]