Who are the lepers?
I am participating in a community group currently studying the book of Leviticus. Much of Leviticus deals with the question, “What does it mean to come as a people, as a community, into the presence of the Almighty God?”
What are we depending on?
I’m coming back to Psalm 16 this week. This psalm challenges me with a fundamental question which becomes more obvious and pointed in hard times like this pandemic: What are we depending on?
The New Era of Resurrection
For churches which follow the church calendar, this coming Sunday is the Second Sunday of Easter. Easter is not so much a one-day celebration of the resurrection of Jesus as it is a season to reflect on the meaning of the Resurrection for our lives. After seven Sundays of the Easter season comes the day …
Good Friday Reflections
It is Good Friday during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our whole world is different. It seems out of control. In North America, we are accustomed to being in control of our lives. We value our independence and want to live, work, play, and worship as we please. Our leaders want to be in control of their …
Stress inoculation
A number of years ago, a pastor and spouse were referred to a psychologist for help in parenting two young children.
Don’t be afraid!
Don’t be afraid!
At the end of his earthly life, Jesus told his closest disciples: “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you;
Volatility
I wrote previously about the ups and downs in life, comparing it to the recent activity on the stock market. One word that has been used to describe the stock markets in recent days is the word “volatile.” It is interesting to consider the implications of this word for our life of faith in the …
Ups and downs
The news this week has been about the world stock markets which dropped suddenly and then have been up and down in wide swings nearly every day. Whether one has invested in the stock market or not, the news about the world economy has implications for all of us. The down days bring concern to …
Soon, but not yet
My father is spending this Father’s Day in the hospital. His situation reminds me that all of us live in the reality of a “soon, but not yet” existence. What we thought a week ago was to be an overnight stay because of some recent falls turned out to be more complicated. By mid-week, geographically …
Reflections for Good Friday
On this day that Christians call “Good Friday” I am reflecting on why Jesus had to die. In some devotional readings this past week, I have been struck by how our sinful human condition produces a world in which something or someone has to die in order for life to continue for others. W. Phillip …