Mark 1:12-13

And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Identity comes before mission. It’s hard, that is, to do much of anything lasting or significant – and...

Abundant Life: Behind the Post Apr23

Abundant Life: Behin...

This week I wrote a column on preaching that I don’t think should be particularly risky but that I know is. It’s about when Jesus says that he comes that we might have not just life, but abundant life. Why should it not be risky? Because it’s about God’s love. So how controversial can...

Mark 1:9-11

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well...

Easter 3 Apr22

Easter 3

Dear Lord, You have called us to be witnesses. You who hold the cosmos in your hand are the One who has called us. Let us heed your voice. You have called us to be witnesses. This is not some future event but a done deed. Let us heed your voice. You have called us to be witnesses. You have not...

Recipe for a Hippopotamus Sandwich: A Poem for Saturday Apr21

Recipe for a Hippopotamus Sandwich: A Poem for Sat...

Can I just say that in case we are ever tempted to think poetry has to be dry, or serious, or difficult, or intense, or intellectual, or any of the other stuff that usually puts us non-poetry folks off poetry before we actually read any…. Can I just say thank God for Shel Silverstein? Author of The Giving Tree and so many other stories and poems for children and adults, Silverstein reminds us that poetry, at its best, takes a definite number of words and uses them to remind us of the infinite possibilities inherent in language, imagination, and life. Note here – how can you miss it; that’s part of the joke – how Silverstein tries to...