Tag: Joy
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Joy to Tears
Psalm 22:25–31; Amos 8:1–7; Acts 8:1b–8 For many people, singing in worship of God is a significant part of their life of faith. They love the joy-filled worship of God. The image provided in Amos takes those joy-filled songs and turns them into songs of pain, sorrow, and lament. The misery of the people of…
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The Dead Eat
Psalm 114; 1 Corinthians 5:6b–8; Luke 24:13–49 Those guys (and women) didn’t know what they were talking about! Really? The tomb is empty, and you think he’s alive? A vision of an angel? Really? God doesn’t do that anymore. The Resurrection just happened mere hours before and the questions are already flying. Those 2 disciples…
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The Dead Speak
Isaiah 25:6–9; Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24; John 20:1–18 The stone. We always talk about the stone on Easter. There was no question it was a big stone so that it was moved without human intervention was a big deal. As much as the stone is represented simply, it isn’t simple. Mary ran back to inform the…
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Together Time
Paul reminds the Corinthians that they were inheritors, too. The Last Supper was really the first supper
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In the Shadows of Triumph
Isaiah 42:1–9; Psalm 36:5–11; Hebrews 9:11–15; John 12:1–11 Yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday. The Messiah, no, the King, no, God (!) entered Jerusalem! At churches around the world, children paraded waving palm branches. The triumphant entry is a big thing! I remember being part of a multi-church parade on Palm Sunday. We walked from one…
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Pursuit of Wholiness
We may be muddy, dirty, bloody, cranky, angry, depressed, grieving, sad, or even happy and joy-filled. We are still to pursue holiness.
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45 Days Countdown
Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22; Daniel 12:5–13; Ephesians 1:7–14 We love countdowns. Before church service starts, we have a countdown. Every sporting event has a countdown. Part of its attraction is the pressure. It moves us. Another attraction of a countdown is finitude. We know there is an end, even if our team is losing (or maybe…