How Lent Leads to Kingdom Blessing

The Kingdom that begins with Lent leads us to blessing.  There is the call to turn—repent!—which is Lent.  There then comes a pronouncement: “Blessed!”  Consider how stunning this is. When Jesus begins to teach about the Kingdom of God, the first word is “Blessed!”  This is not what we expected, not from God almighty in …

No, Mary Didn’t Know

Of course, that is the point of the song, isn’t it?  Mary could never have guessed all that her child, hers yet God’s, would do.  The exploits, the healing, the mastery of all powers earthly and heavenly, and the use of them all to love people whole and well.  Then again, had Mary thought about what …

WHEN EXILES SING ZION’S SONG

Earthquakes, coup d’état, and plague convert citizens into refugees, and homeland into exile, as has happened last week in Haiti and Afghanistan.  Against such painful backdrop, the People of God in Jesus Messiah have a song to sing that offers hope from a deeper and wider story.  Consider how. The ancient people of God experienced …

A Modest Proposal for Christ Followers on Inauguration Day

I am writing with our current political circumstances in mind, the day before a new President takes office in the U.S.  He will do so in a nation deeply divided over Presidential politics.  Many Christ following persons hold extreme opposite views from those of other brothers and sisters in Christ.  Here’s how extreme: some feel …

Jesus Comes for Us–Precisely for All!

  The Lord our God loves, chooses, and works with/through a people to right the wrong of their lives and world, whatever, however, whenever. But, the Lord does so, not just for them, but for all, for as many as will … The Lord loves his own, so that he may love all. The Lord …