You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light. Light produces fruit that consists of every sort of goodness, justice, and truth. Therefore, test everything to see what’s pleasing to the Lord, and don’t participate in the unfruitful actions of darkness. Instead, you should reveal the …
Continue reading Good Friday makes this kind of joy possible #photofriday
Again, the high priest asked, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the blessed one?”Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Human One sitting on the right side of the Almighty and coming on the heavenly clouds.”Mark 14:61-62 There is a lot on my mind this morning: There is excitement and anticipation - because …
Continue reading Jesus knew the scriptures; to understand him, we must too
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 14:37-38One young man, a disciple, was wearing nothing but a linen cloth. …
Continue reading Streaking at Gethsemane (staying awake, but still running away)
Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain where they were alone. He was transformed in front of them, 3 and his clothes were amazingly bright, brighter than if they had been bleached white. - Mark 9:2-3 So I'm a little bit excited about church today. I always enjoy …
Continue reading Jesus wants to take us, breathless, into the possibilities…
“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person!" "If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.""If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for …
Continue reading Jesus is all about retaliation (not pacifism, but activism)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3 One of the many really great things about the guys I am meeting with in small groups at WFPC is how smart they are, how sharp, how focused in terms of their commitment to read, to share ideas, to listen, and to learn. …
Continue reading Do we need to “be” blessed, or are we “already” blessed?
Jesus is a huge, all-encompassing, cosmic idea
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished... - Luke 2 Today's Advent focus is "Manger". We …
Continue reading There is no other story: (8 manger scenes – one act of humility and vulnerability)
What's happening is life. Raw, contagious, authentic, fresh, unfiltered, vital, abundant, spilling over, dynamic...
Don't just smile at the photos of the children. Look at yourself and your concerns and worries and take a clue from Jesus
Derek Maul: Words, Photographs, and Food for the Journey 