John 11:1-45 I went looking for crocuses the other morning, and I found them, thank God. They were right where they are every spring — perhaps a little later this year than some — but there they were. Although they were looking a little peaked, I have to say — I ‘m thinking this hard winter …
Month: March 2014
Seeing and Believing
John 9:1-41 It is an amazing story we encounter this week — this one of the man who was born blind who gains his sight. Indeed, as I read it I am tempted to take a number of side trips away from the main point for, in fact, there are many such opportunities. For instance, …
A Story Worth Telling: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well
John 4:5-42 Every story worth telling begins with something being out of place. Every story worth re-telling begins with a conflict. Every story told over and over again is about obstacles overcome — or not. Otherwise there is no story. Think it through with me and you will know this is so. For instance, I …
Nicodemus By Night
John 3:1-17 I saw a little of Nicodemus in myself this week. For you see, it’s the first week of a new session for my early morning workout class. Winter has worn on for us here in Northern Illinois and I have found it more and more difficult to respond immediately to my alarm when …
A Cross of Ashes and Another Cross
Psalm 51 “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me…” Psalm 51:3 This story comes to mind most every year on Ash Wednesday. I was six, maybe seven years old. We were on a family camping trip. The fold out camper had been backed into its spot and unhitched from our station …
Gifts for the Wilderness
Matthew 4:1-11 I wonder sometimes if the most challenging part for Jesus in the wilderness was not the tests that came at the end. I wonder if the hard part was those forty days which came before. Indeed, I wonder how it was at day seventeen when not a whole lot was happening yet — …
Productive Pain: Standing Still in God’s Love and Mercy
Joel 2:1-18 “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.” —Joel 2:12-13 …