The Scripture:

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus) was setting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you!” Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want … {read more…}

The big message of Sukkot is “God provides.” God provided manna from heaven, meat from the skies as ravens landed, sweet water from a dry rock in a dry land.

“God provides.” This is a hard message for me to swallow. God does provide in ways that I notice and feel, in ways that meet a felt need—sometimes, even often. But nearly as often (or at least, so it seems) my needs go unmet, my hurts unhealed, my bankbook unreconciled, my relationships unmended.

I suppose it can be said that God meets all of my needs in some sort of eschatological, end-of-life sort of way. Such as, “well, God will meet all … {read more…}

Every once in awhile I get an email from some one who is feeling that old postmodern itch on the top of their nose. These folks are very sincere, and want to make good choice…but damn it, the old church that they used to love is just not working any more and they don’t know what to do! It’s a pretty scary place. Believe me, I can still call up the emotions that surrounded my own multi-year journey. I’d really like to be a help to people along the way…I only wish it didn’t take some much time between the experiencing of the thing and the understanding of the thing, don’t you?

Anyway, I just dashed off this email to … {read more…}

The Passage:

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like ones who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said amongst the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. The one who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves.

Plsam 126, NIV, adjusted for gender inclusive language.

And now God, do it again … {read more…}

The Passage:

This is what the Lord says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard and say, ‘O Lord, save your people, the remanent of Israel.’ See I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them for the ends of the earth. Among them wil lbe the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them besides streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, beacuse I … {read more…}

The Passage:

I bless God every chance I get: my lungs expand with his praise. I live and breathe God; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy: join me in spreading the news; together let’s get the word out. God met me more than half way, he freed me from my anxious fears. Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. God’s angels set a circle of protection around us while we pray. Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see — how … {read more…}

I have been “fasting” an hour a day for Ramadan. I spend my newfound hour honoring the word, and expressing thanksgiving for it’s revelation. It’s a long way from what my friend-of-a-friend Andy describes as “the Christian who bows down to the Muslim’s feet, the Muslim who bows down to the Christian’s feet,” but it’s a start.

I took a trip recently, and that made it hard to keep up with the collage work. (Too many supplies to carry with me.) I’m determined to keep on keeping on until I hit 30 pieces, even if it’s not 30 days. Muslims often add a day to thier 30 day fast … {read more…}

The Scripture for Day One

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty

Jeremiah 15:16

Thoughts on the Story:

Lessons in Being a Prophet
Lesson One: Mood Swings

There Jeremiah is fuming at God. When God’s message first burrowed its way like a spinning dart into the prophet’s heart, he was glad. What revelation! What a privilege! What a feast!

Later, when colleagues misunderstood and friends grew angry….later, ignored and the subject of much anger, the prophet complains. It’s … {read more…}

As Ramadan begins, Muslims around the world will fast and prayer, make confession and repentance. Ramadan celebrates, among other things, the giving of the word. For the People of the Book, it is a time to express reverence and thanksgiving.

I have not expressed thanksgiving for the book of my people for a long time. Somewhere along the line my holy text got turned into a rule book. It lost its lore, it wonder and its intrigue. I don’t want it to be a rule book. I want it to be…..my grandmother’s scrapbook–full of notes, half-formed poems, handwritten recipes, ticket stub, yellowing newspaper clipping, a corsage from a ball with a date unknown, the dried wing of a butterfly.

So, I … {read more…}

This is the prayer chain Eden made for her friend, Rosie. And here is the way the kid’s use it. (The brown beads are spacer beads.)

Children’s Prayer Chain

The Trinity Beads
Bead One: We welcome you Mama God/Papa God
Bead Two:We welcome you brother Jesus
Bead Three: We welcome you sister Spirit.

The Prayer Beads
Bead Four: Jesus loves me this I know
Bead Five: For my heart’s song tells me so
Bead Six: Little ones to God belong,
Bead Seven: When we’re weak, God is strong

Bead Eight: Yes, Jesus loves me
Bead Nine: Yes, Jesus loves me
Bead Ten: Yes, Jesus loves me

Bead Eleven: He loves me all day/night long.

The Amen Bead: Amen!

Rosie and I are thinking … {read more…}