Who considers that when Jesus washed feet, He washed twelve pairs…not eleven? The cobblestone city streets were likely to be strewn with animal droppings and covered with dusty dirt or clingy mud. Even in sandals, feet sweat. Especially in sandals, they were the most likely limb to be injured and Read more
John reports (John 13) “the time had come” for Jesus to go to the Father. In this case it was a period of about 50 days. For the last three years Jesus had loved His own…His own disciples, the Twelve; His own people, Israel; His own sheep, any who heard Read more
I woke this morning with unanticipated pain. In a fallen world like ours, pain is to be expected: It came with the first act of disobedience. It is a gift: It warns us that something is amiss. It is an opportunity: It invites us to explore our hearts. My first Read more
So…there is every day and everyday. There is day-after-day and thoughtless routine… autopilot, if you will. One of my “every day” things is time in the Scriptures. Sometimes that time is an unengaged habit. Sometimes it is a rock-my-world event! Even remembering the horrific suffering and brutal death of Jesus Read more
Caution tape surrounds my house today, and there are the sounds of drills, hammers and work boots on my roof. After what seems like too long a time, our solar panels are undergoing the process of restoration. For the last few years, they have faithfully converted our abundant sunshine into Read more
Recently a reader suggested that my posts were written looking for sympathy. At first it stung a little, but it did prompt me to look at my motives. I have some choices of how to respond when someone challenges me. I can bristle and rebel and say “How dare you Read more
This day has been a pain in the back. Literally. I have been sitting with a sock of heated beans against my lower back all morning. I don’t know what I did to it; I just know it hurts to bend, reach, stretch and, worst of all, walk! Actually, there Read more
O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today. Jesus came to show us the Father. Everything true about Jesus is true about the Father. To have Jesus born in us…means we are never far from His Read more
“Let it be to me according to your word…” — Luke 1:38 Christmas is only a few weeks away! That means this is Advent! If you are in a liturgical church, the folks and the furniture up front are draped in purple. If not, you may not even be aware Read more
I do not occupy myself with thing too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother… Psalm 131:1b-2a I hate not being listened to. I resent not being asked for my input, especially when it comes to Read more