Our family has adopted the ancient practice of “Chalking the door” on the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th in the Western Church). It is a way to orient our lives towards hospitality at the beginning of the year, as well as to ask God’s blessing on our home.
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A sermon for the first Sunday of Christmas, on the disturbing story found in Matthew 2.13-23.
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We have become quick to dismiss people because they are on the “other side” from us. “Republican or Democrat?” “Pro-choice or Pro-life?” “Affirming or rejecting?” “Capitalist or socialist?” As if that one description of a person provides enough information for us to accept or dismiss them: “If you’re that, then you must be all of this too.”
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I was invited to offer the invocation before a meeting of the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government this week. This is the prayer.
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Christine is the founder and facilitator for God Space, an online community that grew out of her passion for creative spirituality, gardening, and sustainability. Today’s post is adapted from her new book, The Gift of Wonder in which she explores characteristics like play, curiosity and imagination that shape us into the people God intends us to be.
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JESUS of Nazareth passed from this life on Nisan 14th in Jerusalem.
He is preceded in death by Joseph bar Jacob, who raised him as his own son. He is survived by his mother, Mary; brothers James, Joses and Judas, and his sisters.
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And that is what appears to have infuriated the pharisees, who tell Jesus to silence his followers. Certainly, they don’t believe that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. And it’s one thing for these peasants to make claims about Jesus in the villages of Galilee: it is another thing entirely for them to do so in Jerusalem. It’s one thing for them to speak against the Romans in their homes in the hills: it’s another thing entirely to do so in the shadow of the Eagle standards raised in Jerusalem. No, “tell your people to be quiet, Jesus.” This kind of behavior is unacceptable.
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Would assuming a posture of humility rather than defensiveness lead to conversations that are more kind, more honest and more productive than much of what passes for civil discourse both in the church and in the wider culture? I both believe and know this to be true. It is a practice I adopted following a conversation I had several years ago, and which I call “acknowledged hypocrisy.”
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My non-fiction reading tends to involve visits to just a few sections of the library, with the occasional purchase of books I know I’ll want to mark up. Here are the stand-outs from 2018 (and here’s my best of 2018 fiction list in case you missed it):
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It’s the season of “Best of…” lists, and here’s mine for fiction. Of the 68 novels I read this year, here are the stand outs. Fredrik Backman makes it three years in a row for best novel, with Us Against You.
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50 years ago yesterday, Tommie Smith and John Carlos walked to the podium at the Mexico City Olympic Games to receive gold and bronze medals in the 200 meter sprint, Tommie Smith having set a new world record in the process. Just another medal ceremony among many.
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After finishing his meal, Mark looked around the courtyard at the gathered ecclesia. He noticed Yiftach and Adina in animated conversation and smiled.
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