Sharing a Baptism
Read: Romans 6:3-8 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (v. 4) I’ve always found it funny to listen to sports fans talk about their favorite players. When […]
Will They Let Me In?
Read: Psalm 15 O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? (v. 1) Athanasius of Alexandria once wrote, “If you wish to learn what sort of person is a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, sing Psalm 15.” I don’t know about you, but when I read (or sing) […]
Rejoicing Alongside Lament
Read: Ezra 3:10-13 The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping. (v. 13) We like to think that our worship of God is emotionally simple. For example, when we are happy, we sing loud, joyful songs. When we desire intimacy with God, we sing slower, quieter […]
It Starts with Praise
Read: Psalm 148 Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. (v. 5) Out of the silence of the darkness of nothingness, God spoke . . . and creation happened. Every sound and color exploded into being, shouting “Alleluia!”—a holy ruckus of praise to God. But mountains and snowflakes, […]
Gods of Plastic and Circuits
Read: Habakkuk 2:18-20 Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. (v. 19) Yesterday I wrote that silence is an important part of worship. It’s tempting to think that […]
A Prism Splitting Pure Light
Read: Revelation 8:1-5 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (v. 1) One of the most important parts of any song is the moment right before it starts. The silence before a song is the precious cup into which the song is poured. It is a […]
Pleasing Sacrifice
Read: Hebrews 13:15-16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have. (v. 16) Respectful. Responsible. Kind. The school my children attended used these three words to help students think about their behavior. There were rules for classroom behavior and how to stay safe on the playground and for many other situations, but […]
Christ Alone
Read: Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (v. 8) When I was a baby, my doctor told my mother that it was best to lay me on my stomach to sleep. He said that babies were happier on their stomachs and were less likely to choke if they spit up. […]
Simple Love
Read: Hebrews 13:1-7 Let mutual love continue. (v. 1 NRSV) When I had two children in elementary school, I was constantly signing student homework planners to keep track of what was happening in class and receiving quarterly reports of all of the assignments my kids had or hadn’t turned in. Report cards came home regularly to […]