Devotions of Triumph

Striking a balance between our private devotional time and our corporate worship is a challenge as we seek to live by faith in the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord. But striking a balance we must as one feeds the other. I have discovered over many years of failed attempts that unless I am spending…

John’s Truth: The Sacred Heart

Meditation I must admit, I can not begin to understand the benefits. Still, it does fascinate me. To Meditate: a verb meaning to think deeply or carefully about something. To  contemplate…ponder…muse…reflect…deliberate…ruminate…chew…mull over…brood…cogitate. To  aid meditation time a person might use extended period of silence or maybe chanting to clear their thoughts. Someone might light a candle…

Mark’s Perspective of Service

  Suddenly my eyes were opened, this week, to the amazing nature of  the passages in Mark’s gospel recording Christ’s final journey to the Cross. While others would follow, Mark is the first to write about these events. Because of this, he really should be celebrated. Mark was just a young man following the twelve disciples and he hints that he…

A Personal Perspective

When I sat down to write my second book I knew I wanted to feature the Cross, but somehow picking the image that would speak for me was overwhelming. I thought: Who am I to define the cross? Surely there are those who have much more theological training. Why would God want me to write…

Luke’s Perspective

Several years ago, when I first began exploring the art and music surrounding Jesus’ story, I was touched by all the different artists and composers who have found inspiration in the events surrounding Jesus’ arrest, trial and subsequent crucifixion. It became a bridge, through the centuries, to their view of the cross. There wasn’t “one…

A Symbol of Sacrifice

Whether or not you declare an official creed as a part of your worship each week, I encourage you to to sit down, as I did, and try to express your own personal creed or mission statement.  It will help you center your thoughts around what is really important each day and it might guide your path…

Jesus Calls Us to Love Each Other

The prophet Isaiah writes: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow, and familiar with suffering.” ~ Isaiah 53:3 and the Psalmist David also spoke of his suffering in such a way that we can hear Jesus speaking these words: “You know [O Lord] how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all…

Opening the Eyes of Our Hearts

 I’m ashamed to admit it, but sometimes I can dismiss the suffering of those around me. I can be so driven to get everything on my “to do” list complete that even a complaint from my closest family members can go unnoticed. Then suddenly I will see their suffering. The eyes of my heart will be opened…

The Full Gaze of Adoration

What do you feel when you look at the cross? Do you feel horror, guilt and shame that Jesus had to go through such suffering? How do you endeavor to call his sacrifice into view? As we consider this in the following weeks, I hope you will join me for this series of posts that…