Okay, so yesterday we talked about Advent and its invitation to slow down, to ponder the significance of what God has done (and is still doing!) through Jesus, and in this way to prepare our hearts to celebrate not just the birth of a beautiful child but the incarnation of God in Jesus as Emanuel, God with us. I’m guessing that most readers of this blog already know a fair amount about Advent, and that the post was more of a reminder and invitation than an introduction. But do you know about the Advent Conspiracy? Actually, I’m guessing that many of you do. But for those who don’t: The Advent Conspiracy is a world-wide movement to help...
Luke 21:5-19
posted by DJL
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this...
Matthew 1:1-17
posted by DJL
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and...
Advent!
posted by DJL
Advent! My favorite season of the year. But why? I’ve been thinking of that of late. Certainly part of it is because Christmas itself is such a wonderful holiday and beautiful celebration. But if that were the only reason, I think I’d say “Christmas is my favorite holiday.” But...
Matthew 1:1
posted by DJL
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Why in the world does Matthew start his story this way? With a genealogy of all things? I mean, talk about an archaic literary device! If you’ve ever heard this passage read from the King James Version,...
Luke 21:1-4
posted by DJL
He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty...
The Moment
posted by DJL
I think Margaret Atwood’s poem “The Moment” perfectly compliments some of the themes we’ve been exploring of late in relation to gratitude – both in general as we approach Thanksgiving and in relationship to Luke’s story of Jesus and our Lord’s injunction to see and care for...
Luke 20:40-47
posted by DJL
Then he said to them, “How can they say that the Messiah is David’s son? For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ David thus calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?” In...
Catching Fire Review and Discussion
posted by DJL
Fifth Friday Film Forum: Catching Fire Spoiler alerts: If you haven’t read Catching Fire or seen the film, you may not want to read this. I have to admit that when I first read Catching Fire and realized that Suzanne Collins was going to send Katniss and Peeta back into the arena to compete in another Hunger Games, I was disappointed. What seemed such a brilliant plot element in the last book suddenly seemed tired, as if Collins was a one-trick pony. But that feeling soon disappeared. Although there is indeed a second round of the Hunger Games competition in Catching Fire, the plot both inside and outside of the arena was different enough...
Luke 20:20-47
posted by DJL
Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the...
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