He came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you stay alert for one hour? Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak. – Mark 14:37-38 One young man, a disciple, was wearing nothing but a linen…
Read more Streaking at Gethsemane (staying awake, but still running away)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 One way to write about my parents (they will be 90 and 93 this year),…
May the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. – Philippians 1:2-4 It’s Sunday morning! Always one of my…
Read more Living a dangerous goodness. Dare we follow Jesus?
There is so much to share and to process right now that I will be posting a little more often than is typical – especially through these “40 days” of Lent. One resource I plan on pointing us to on a regular basis is the worship ministry of Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, where Rebekah serves…
Jesus answered, “Don’t you know what I am talking about by now?” – Mark 7:18a We can find this phrase, or others just like it, scattered throughout the gospels. I would love to have seen the body-language Jesus used to go along with his exasperation! I’m sure there was a lot of head shaking, eye…
Read more “Would you listen already?” – Lent is a good time to pay attention to Jesus
Jesus said, “Now I am deeply troubled. What should I say? ‘Father, save me from this time’? No, for this is the reason I have come to this time. Father, glorify your name!” – John 12:27-28 Sometimes I wonder if the reason Jesus was so deeply troubled during that contentious week in Jerusalem, leading up to…
Read more Jesus said, “Now I am deeply troubled…” Lent day 2
“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” – Jesus, John 8:31 Recently, in a moment best described as either optimism or poor judgment, I committed to making a series of videos designed to mark my progress (and to encourage…
Read more Won’t You Join Me? A personal invitation to experience Lent 2021
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8 How do people learn and discover? How do people grow and…
Read more Ask, Seek, Knock! (Change is not a threat – it is evidence of life)
So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived! All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, God was…
Read more God’s simple question: “Didn’t I trust you with this message of Reconciliation?”
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – James 1:5 Today’s subject is partly in honor of Rebekah’s sister Rachel, who loved to teach and was committed to helping those students who needed a little extra. So three…
