Month: February 2026
Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Easter
Christmas and New Year’s Day are behind us. Valentine’s Day (my sister’s birthday) is in the rear window too. School buses are cruising our roads. Footballs are no longer flying through the air, and the weatherman says that warmer days are coming soon. In my garden, potatoes are starting to break the surface. Spring is … More Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Easter
The Joy of Unanswered Prayer
I heard a powerful thought as I was driving home from helping my daughter move sheep. One of the joys of our move to Missouri is the opportunity to be close enough to help and be helped by our son-in-law, daughter, and grandchildren. One of the weekly tasks is moving the sheep from one paddock … More The Joy of Unanswered Prayer
A Pastor Asked Me . . .
A pastor called with a question about what I have called on this blog, “INTENSELY LOCAL MINISTRY.” How do we reach the people around us? The neighbor next door and the one across the street–how do we tell them about the love of Christ in a culture where the discussion of personal faith is seen … More A Pastor Asked Me . . .
Dissipating the Anger of God: Psalm 85
The ESV editors supply the three-word heading, “Revive Us Again,” as a summary of Psalm 85. An outline of the content of the psalm might look something like this: Stanza Description Verses. Contemporary Re-phrasing How God was faithful to Israel (vss. 1-3) … More Dissipating the Anger of God: Psalm 85
When Can Christians Lament?
I heard someone say, “Social Media Apps are Lament Platforms.” It’s not my phrase, but when I heard it, something rang true and false in my ear at the same time. Like a chord misplayed, it hinted at something that was jarring and yet suggestive of something important and true. I wrote it down til … More When Can Christians Lament?