You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon. Song of Songs 4:15 I may be experiencing some extra aches and pains in my joints, and popping a few more ibuprofen than usual, but the good news is that Rebekah and I are out there in the garden, actually making progress, and it …
Continue reading Peace in the Landscape of “Retirement” (R-words in the Garden)
Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[a] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Genesis 32:26-28 - Rebekah blessing the congregation The best I …
Continue reading “I will not let you go!” Rebekah has the opportunity to preach again.
I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk Song of Songs 5:1 Over the years the garden has been a recurring theological theme in my writing. It's kind of funny because I am …
Continue reading Sunday morning preaching – and how our garden reminds me of church
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 - at St. Giles this Sunday It's been a while since I last penned any updates in the "Derek & Rebekah go to Church" series. We are …
Continue reading Another splash of new life (at hashtag “Derek & Rebekah go to church”)
Then you shall declare before the Lord your God: “My father was a wandering Aramean,Deuteronomy 26:5 Over at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church this weekend, Rebekah and I enjoyed another positive Sunday morning. I will make this a fairly short post as I want to highlight just one simple idea. After worship we went down to the fellowship …
Continue reading Life, marking birthdays, Camino de Santiago, and other pilgrimages
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.Hebrews 4:14-16 This story is from a long time ago, but it came into my mind when I was thinking about going to church this morning. Usually when things pop into …
Continue reading Meeting God in Worship (hint: it’s not about the preacher)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.James 1:17 - Beks turns nine! Getting under way with Beks' ninth birthday last Saturday, this has been a pretty interesting week. Add in Father's Day, a big birthday for our son Andrew, Beks' first …
Continue reading A Big Week for Special Moments (Photo-Friday)
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in …
The Lord God took the human(s) and settled him (them) in the garden of Eden to farm it and to take care of it.Genesis 2:15 - Rebekah working with the plants As an observer by trade (both writing and photography require a great deal of eyes and ears open paying attention) I often find myself simultaneously participating …
Lord I believe - help my unbelief.Mark 9:24 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a futureJeremiah 29:11 I can’t say I had forgotten how cool it is to see Rebekah doing her preacher thing …
Continue reading A Washington Wedding: Watching Rebekah in action again!
Derek Maul: Words, Photographs, and Food for the Journey 