“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Friends, those “who have not seen” is all of us. “All who have not seen” covers everyone since the time of Jesus. And “believing” is not about intellectual assent to a particular Christian doctrine but about what we give our hearts to. … read
A few weeks ago I was looking at those first worship videos we made last year, when the great shutdown began. I watched the Easter video, which ended with short clips from so many in our Westminster community wishing each other a Happy Easter, and so many of us said, “See you soon!” That felt … read
If we were sitting down to a study on the Gospel of Mark, a theme that we’d be returning to, over and over, is that of holiness. In first-century Judaism, the definition of “holiness” was to be set apart. The emphasis was upon the “otherness” of God. To be right with God, there was a … read
I pray. I place my hands on the pulpit and feel the wood. I sense my feet firmly planted on the floor. I look up and see the stained-glass windows. I hear the soft sound of the blower behind me. I taste the peppermint I just finished. I breathe in the unique scent of this … read
Reflecting on the passage from Mark 3:1-6, why wouldn’t these religious people want someone to be healed? When I came to faith as a college-age adult, that question perplexed me when reading this text. Specifically from a narrative perspective. I mean, the Pharisees were like the pastors, the people who know the Scriptures inside out. … read