As mentioned last week…Jesus is the new and living temple, “for in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) To come into God’s presence, one no longer needs to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and enter the temple. Rather, Jesus is the Word made flesh, and therefore, God now tabernacles among humankind.
Read MoreJesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, the feast that commemorated both the Israelites’ passing out of slavery in Egypt and the covenant that God made with the Jewish people in the wilderness. “In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business.” Jesus
Read MoreOne of the strangest lines in the Gospels is uttered by the centurion at the foot of the Cross. In Mark, we are told that when he saw that Jesus had “breathed his last,” he said: “Truly this man was the Son of God.” (15:39) One would have thought this was the last thing a person would
Read MoreFRIDAYRead: 1 Corinthians 15:44-49 Good Friday remembers the day our Lord died for our sins on the cross. We call this His Passion. I have often sat alone to reflect on the agony and suffering He went through because of my sins. At one point, scripture tells us He said from the cross, “It is finished”
Read MoreThe message of Palm Sunday is one of promise and absolute faith. It shows the importance of believing God, prior to seeing any “final results.” Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was foretold long before it happened. “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and
Read MoreNot everyone appreciates poetry, but I came across this that was sent to me. I think it says succinctly what we believe as followers of Christ. Faith and Belief Faith is knowing the light will come onWhen it’s pitch black and the switch is thrown Faith is believing the sun will set after eve has
Read MoreI know that Easter is still a few weeks away. We find ourselves muddling through the doldrums of Lent. But I want to make a bold claim: Now is the time to begin our Easter story. You see…we aren’t meant to dwell in Lent; Lent propels us to Easter. And our joy is only possible because we hope in what
Read MoreLast week, I ended by saying, “I’m learning that I have not only to offer God my own creativity and responsibility, but to make that offer freely, without trying to control God or anyone else.” How do we do it? The old adage says, “Let go and let God.” We can offer ourselves freely to
Read MoreMany people I have met and counselled during the years have a common struggle: surrendering control to God in those areas of their lives that are out of their control. During my life as a dad, lawyer, judge and pastor, I have been relatively good at organization and balance. However, I find myself challenged when faced
Read MoreLike millions of Christians throughout the world, on Ash Wednesday we are reminded of our mortality. We have come from dust, and to dust we shall return. Thanks be to God, this is not the end of the story, but just the beginning, because God himself entered into my dustiness in Jesus Christ. Questions for
Read MoreSometimes I get asked, “What is Lent all about?” That’s when I often go into a lengthy discussion about the church calendar, the liturgical year, etc. I notice the inquirer’s eyes glazing over as they’re shifting from foot to foot and most probably feeling sorry they asked me the question! They often follow up with:
Read MoreWhile it seems we just put our Christmas decorations away, we begin Lent on February 14th this year… and that’s right around the corner! I will be talking about Lent these next few “takes” so begin thinking about ways you can prepare to follow Jesus more deeply and meaningfully. Unless we prepare now, we may
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