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
One Sunday during fellowship time, two brothers tried to teach me about Star Wars: which movies to watch and in what order. What I got out of that was not an appreciation for the plotline but for the storyteller’s trick of non-chronological releases of prequels and sequels. We usually read Naaman’s story as if it’s … read