Last year I read through Kenneth Bailey’s book “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes” – and his observations in the opening chapter around the birth story of Jesus, as told by Luke, captured my attention. Bailey set the story in the context of the way homes were built and how the culture of hospitality worked in… Continue reading Ever been in Mary’s shoes?
Tag: Surviving
When you grieve what’s going on a world away
My heart has been so heavy lately, for two things that I know have been all over the news. For the people of Haiti and the region where I have Haitian friends, Haitian families and pastors that have been impacted by the earthquake and heavy rain. For the families whose houses were devastated and now… Continue reading When you grieve what’s going on a world away
Redemption of the past
So today is the first Sunday of Advent, and this morning the pastor was reading over the first chapter in Matthew – which, if you have read it – is a geneology of the dads (and a few moms that are mentioned) in the line of Jesus. I suspect some of us have always skipped… Continue reading Redemption of the past
Something New
You know how sometimes a verse just sticks in your brain and you can’t get it out, and you realize that it is then the Lord is speaking to you through that verse, even though it was a different time, a different people, spoken thousands of years ago? For me, that started happening quite frequently… Continue reading Something New
The Curious People of God
Two days now I have woken up with a song in my head – and its not because I was listening to music the night before. One morning the dream was of maybe 10 or so singing the old hymn “How Great Thou Art”, and the next it was a more recent song “Unshackled” by… Continue reading The Curious People of God
In with the new?
As believers, we might easily quote verses and pictures proclaiming “Beauty for Ashes”, holding to the image that God can bring anything good out of something hard. Or, we find encouragement in a song like “God’s not done with you” – clinging to the fact that our unfinished stories can still hold purpose and promise… Continue reading In with the new?
Lemonade doesn’t cut it
I have a love/hate relationship with the phrase “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” I know the intention is good, and I know it’s a way to remind people that there is always a way to take something that might leave a sour taste in your mouth and look at it a different way,… Continue reading Lemonade doesn’t cut it