What’s the meaning of life? In 1991, the editors of Life Magazine published the answers that 300 “wise women and men” gave to this very question in The Meaning of Life: Reflections in Words and Pictures on Why We Are Here. Their responses, as you might expect, are far-ranging and diverse. Author John Updike (raised a Lutheran, by the way ☺), suggested that “Ancient religion and modern science agree: we are here to give praise. Or, to slightly tip the expression, to pay attention.” Noted scientist Stephen Jay Gould, disavowing divine inspiration, argued instead that, “We cannot read the meaning of life passively in the facts of...
Mark 11:15-19
posted by DJL
Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the...
Renew 52 Now Availab...
posted by DJL
Concerned about the decline of many of our congregations and the larger Church? Dismayed by smaller attendance on Sunday mornings? Worried that your children or friends don’t seem interested in their faith? Well, now there’s something you can do about it! I’m very excited to announce a...
Mark 11:12-14
posted by DJL
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat...
The Moral Roots of Liberals and Conservatives
posted by DJL
During an election season, it’s very easy to get captivated by the reasoning of one party over another. Actually, strike that. During an election season, it’s very hard not to get totally captivated by one side over another! While some level of partisanship may be understandable during an election, however, it impedes actual governance. What I really appreciate about Jonathan Haidt’s TEDTalk on “The Moral Roots of Liberals and Conservatives” is that he outlines the positive contributions of each side of our political spectrum. His conclusion – that though he may stand on one side of the debate (and address an audience that does...
Mark 11:1-11
posted by DJL
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If...
Questions
posted by DJL
In the Gospel reading from Mark that a lot of us will hear this Sunday (Mark 9:30-37), Jesus tells his disciples a second time that he is going to Jerusalem where he will be rejected, beaten, and crucified and, three days later, be raised from the dead. As I mention in a column on Working...
Mark 11:1-6
posted by DJL
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If...
Thank You, Julia!
posted by DJL
This summer – August 15, to be exact – marked the 100th birthday of Julia Child. Why should you care about that? Because “America’s cooking teacher” might just be one of our best role models for the kind of church leader we need in a rapidly changing world. I’ve...
Mark 10:46-52
posted by DJL
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly...
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