What I appreciate about Robert Frost’s poetry is the “rhythmic logic” that always seems to yield a kind of desperately honest beauty. Here is comes especially in two places. “And lonely as it is that loneliness / Will be more lonely ere it will be less” and...
8. Mark 14:12-16
posted by DJL
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water...
When Do We Stop?
posted by DJL
I strongly encourage you to follow this link to a video posted by the Rev. LeeAnne Watkins, Rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul, MN. I found it honest, poignant, painful, and in its own way beautiful because of the courage it took to share. Thank you, LeeAnne. It’s 6...
7. Mark 14:10-11
posted by DJL
Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. This is one of the moments in Mark’s account not only...
The “Middle Zone” of Preaching
posted by DJL
As part of a grant project studying vibrant preaching, I had the chance recently to read over a) the results of a survey taken by more than a thousand people who regularly listen to sermons and b) the in-depth interviews given by about two hundred more. The results have been fascinating and I’m only just beginning to process them. But one thing already stands out: People want to understand why the biblical stories they hear read at church matter. Desperately. More than that, they want what happens on Sunday to matter throughout the week. When I processed this observation with a group of preachers participating in the study, one voiced the...
6. Mark 14:6-9
posted by DJL
But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for...
Revolution
posted by DJL
I’ve learned a lot from Seth Godin – about marketing, about publishing, about being a leader. I read his blog regularly and found this post particularly provocative. What is it we think right now is just right, just about perfect? Or, maybe more to the point of our life in the...
5. Mark 14:4-5
posted by DJL
But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” We’ve already asked why this woman would make such an extravagant gift. An equally...
And the Oscar Goes To…
posted by DJL
I realize that there is no category at tonight’s Academy Awards for “Best Film Dealing with Theology ,” but I can’t help wonder who the winner would be if there were. Now, I should be clear: by “theological” I don’t mean “religious.” We all have our favorite religious movie, I’m sure. But what I’m interested in here are the movies that delve into questions of life, death, destiny, meaning, and faith in an interesting and engaging way. Would it be The Descendants with its description of the broken and poignant relationships that are part and parcel of the human condition? Or perhaps The Help with its portrayal of the...
First Sunday of Lent
posted by DJL
We give you thanks, O God, for all things: For the Spirit that names and affirms, the Spirit that leads and drives, we give you thanks. May we ever heed its call. For the wilderness periods of our lives that help us grow strong while teaching us not to rely on our strength but on your mercy,...
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