Aliyah

  Aliyah Matthew 17:1-13   Mark 9:2-13   Luke 9:28-36   Yesterday, on our arrival at Caesarea Phillipi, I puzzled as to why Jesus wanted us to tarry there. A beautiful location, true, but such a small village, host to but a smattering of Jews. Should I ask...

Aporia

Aporia Noun: an expression of doubt or uncertainty; a logical impasse or contradiction.   I: Peregrine Adjective: having a tendency to wander Glaring lights cast staccato silhouettes around me as I wander dark streets. Bovine crowds herd up and down, night and...

Swordfight

Swordfight Ephesians 6:13-18 Ÿ Colossians 3:13 When Phil and Sue Martindale walked into my office that morning, I did a double take to make sure they were who I thought they were. Long-time attenders at church, the Martindales were friendly, outgoing and caring. Phil,...

Scarlet Cord

Scarlet Cord Joshua 2 —   Matthew 1:5 — James 2:25-26 It is faded now, more pink than scarlet. The memory of that day Caleb gave it to me remains clear. I remember, too, the day Otni’el wove it into a bracelet, and how joy rose up in my heart when gave it to me. It...

Rising Sunday

Rising Sunday Matthew 26-28  Mark 15-16  Luke 23-24  John 18-21 Leviticus 17:11  Matthew 26:28  Isaiah 61   The First Hour The weight of Jesus’s crucifixion was an iron weight on Mary’s heart. As bad as things had ever been for her in Magdala, what with the...

Sandals

Sandals Luke 8:26-39  Matthew 3:11 Luke sat on a stool, bent over to lace his sandals. He stood, then winced. Ouch. I must get a new pair of sandals. These beastly old things will make me lame. Andrew called out, “Luke, are you ready? ‘Tis time to depart.” The day...