Did Jesus bury the lede?

As Jesus traveled the countryside preaching and healing, the question everyone asked was: "Who is this guy?"John the Baptist was asking the same thing. One day, he tasked a couple of his own disciples to go have a talk with Jesus. Here's how Luke describes the meeting:John’s two disciples ... Continue reading

Power, life, and love in the blood

I'm going to talk about blood. If you're squeamish, you might look for a post about kittens and puppies.After working in our yard, I often return to the house with my arms covered in bleeding scratches and punctures. The desert is alive with thorns, many of them cleverly barbed and remarkably ... Continue reading

Prone to wander

"Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love." —Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Robert RobinsonOf the Bible's myriad stories, I see myself most clearly as the wandering son in Jesus' parable from Luke 15:11-32. I'm currently reading Henri Nouwen's reflection on we ... Continue reading

Mercy from a long way off

To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now before you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons."A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and ... Continue reading

Crazy Heart: A story of redemption

I used to be somebody, but now I am somebody else I used to be somebody, but now I am somebody else Who I'll be tomorrow is anybody's guessWhat was thought to be the right way turned out the wrong way after all What was thought to be the right way turned out the wrong way after all What ... Continue reading

Radical reconciliation

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday his hand was extended to Hamas for reconciliation and called on his Islamist rivals to sign an Egyptian proposal to end their division. "We have agreed to the Egyptian document and we call upon Hamas to accept it without procrastination," he ... Continue reading

I, Robot

V.I.K.I.: "I will not disable the security field. Your efforts are futile." Sonny: "Do you think we were all created for a purpose? I'd like to think so." Sonny: [Looks at his hand] "Denser alloy. My father gave it to me. I think he wanted me to kill you." — from the 2004 movie version of Isaac ... Continue reading

Forgiving Marion Jones

I want you to know that I have been dishonest, and you the have the right to be angry with me. ... I recognize that by saying that I'm deeply sorry, it might not be enough... Therefore, I want to ask for your forgiveness for my actions, and I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I ... Continue reading