Two thousand years ago, Christianity was brand new. It was kind of like a start-up company. It had a very inspiring founder, Jesus, of course. The healer, the teacher, the preacher, the miracle worker, and very special Son of God. But after Jesus returned to heaven, someone had to keep this new enterprise going. It…
We’re working our way through the sixth chapter of Mark’s gospel this month, taking a deep look at what it means to live like Jesus. Living like Jesus is more than just doing what Jesus does, and saying what Jesus says. Living like Jesus means having the same purpose and identifying ourselves completely with Christ. …
You Can’t Go Home Again is a great American novel by Thomas Wolfe, published in 1940. The novel tells the story of George Webber, a novice author, who writes a book that turns out to be filled with references to his hometown of Libya Hill, which was actually Asheville, North Carolina. The book was an unqualified…
Summertime and the livin’ is… George Gershwin Once upon a time, the very first fireworks were concocted in a cooking pot: cooked up by a Chinese cook in her kitchen. At least, so the legend goes. Apparently the combustible ingredients were right there in her spice cabinet: saltpeter, charcoal, sulfur, and a dash of who…
Life is easier in twos. Think of all of the things that come in twos: eyes ears hands arms elbows legs feet knees The easier to see and hear. Easier to run, skip, and play. Easier to write, draw, build, and create new things. All the easier to do lots of things! I bet you…
Our scripture today tells two very different, but intertwined stories: a parent desperately trying to save his daughter, and an unnamed woman desperately trying to save herself. First, we have Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, who comes to Jesus, literally begging for Jesus to help him. Jairus is a man of great privilege:…
Summertime and the livin’ is… George Gershwin The very first plane ticket I ever held in my fat little hand – I won in a contest. It was an essay contest sponsored by Eastern Airlines (now long defunct). I was twelve. 500 words on “The Duties of Citizenship” launched me into the friendly skies for the very first time.…
Read more Leaving on a Jet Plane (or) A Trip to the Duty Free Store
To be faithful is not an easy thing. I learned this early at the age of nine or so. I was a Girl Scout, a very marginal Girl Scout. Well, in all honesty, I was a lousy Girl Scout. My uniform would never quite pass muster. There was always stuff to be sewn on that…
Inch by inch, row by row Please bless these seeds I sow Please keep them safe below ‘Til the rain comes tumbling down. Pete Seeger It is a very common practice for little kids to plant seeds at school. Depending on the time of year and climate, some lucky seeds get planted in little backyard gardens.…
Three weeks after the celebration of Pentecost, we continue to hear scriptural stories and references about the Holy Spirit. Today’s Gospel is no different. Following Jesus’s crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into heaven, the apostles continue to grapple with what it means to accept God’s gift of the Holy Spirit into their lives. Others continue to…
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