Learning to love others the way Jesus loves us
El Elohim hayyim, the living Lord The riots are waning. The protests continue in many places. The demand for change remains strong. After a week of peaceful protest marred by acts of violence and destruction, the question is "now what?" How do we as a society move toward racial reconciliation and away from systemic racism… Continue reading Friday’s interlude
Proverbs 21 The US in in the third month of COVID19 limitations and fear. It is also in the 7th day of protests that began with the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and expanded to race relations and systemic injustices in general. In the last few years, and increasingly faster, we… Continue reading Interlude for Thursday
Jehovah Rohi. The Lord as Shepherd. I checked the news today. It appears that curfews are working to distinguish between protestors (99% of the people involved) and rioters in most places. When protesters go home, police are able to focus on the people who want to incite violence. The rioters are attacking police, 99% of… Continue reading Wednesday interlude
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4… Continue reading an interlude for prayer
This is not a black square. I listened to one of my Black sisters who said it made her uncomfortable. I know, too, that it is a symbol, so I do not have an argument with anyone who chooses to #blackouttuesday. For me, however, I choose to stand with my Black brothers and sisters as together… Continue reading an interlude
I have been broken by the events of 2020, and I feel like I need to take a short break from Psalm 119 to examine the most profound lament of the Old Testament in light of the current Church and culture in the US. Illuminated Scripture Journal cover. Crossway, 2001 I did some background reading… Continue reading Lamentations
Psalm 119:73-80 Teachers know that every student learns a little differently. Some like to take copious lecture notes, while others prefer a hands-on discovery approach. Some work best alone in a quiet room; others thrive in a vibrant group activity. No approach is wrong, which is why the best teachers employ a variety of learning… Continue reading YODH
Psalm 119: 65-72 What does it look like to keep the Lord's precepts with our whole heart? From this passage, I see three main qualities: 1. Know that God is good.2. Know that God does good.3. Recognize difficulties as opportunities. The Bible reminds readers over and over of the goodness of God. From creation to… Continue reading TETH
Psalm 119:57-64 Two phrases stood out to me in this section: "The Lord is my portion" and "The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love." If we dwell on these two things, we could avoid a lot of trouble, headache, and worry in this world. If the Lord is truly our portion, why… Continue reading HETH
Psalm 119:49-56 For many of us COVID19 quarantines are beginning to lift. More people are out and about, some businesses are reopening, and churches are making plans to start modified gatherings for worship. For some people the reopening of society is a relief; for others it represents a new kind of uncertainty. The cultural narrative… Continue reading ZAYIN
Defaulting to Grace 