|
|
|
|
May 2023
|
Hi Subscriber,
May can be a busy time for many people. The school year is ending. Summer is just around the corner (in the Northern Hemisphere, that is). Final papers, final concerts/shows/games, graduations, opening up the yard, outdoor sports, etc.
|
I hope that in the midst of this exciting and busy time that you will not forget to take time to breathe. We are in the season of Easter. Our Jewish siblings call this the time of "counting the omer." It is a time to count the days from Passover to the Shavuot (Pentecost).
|
The practice acknowledges the ordinariness of life between big events. It is also a time of mourning, acknowledging the suffering of the people.
|
The Passover remembers God's act of deliverance from slavery in Egypt. That was spectacular. The Shavuot remembers God's giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. That was spectacular.
|
The 49 days between those spectacular events are just ordinary life, which is often painful and difficult.
|
We eat, we sleep, we make messes, we clean them up, we make love, we get angry, we laugh, we cry.
|
Life happens...and it is good...and it is messy.
|
The book of Acts (the sequel to the Gospel of Luke) connects the coming of the Holy Spirit on Jesus' disciples with the Shavuot. The house shook. A strong wind blew through the place. Tongues of fire rested on their heads. They were able to speak in languages they had never studied. Christians will celebrate this even on May 28 this year.
|
It is a spectacular event. It is the stuff of blockbuster special effects movies. It is easy to long for Pentecost moments every day.
|
Yet, most of life is ordinary and messy.
|
I hope we can learn to count the omer. God is as present with you in the mundane washing of dishes, and in the painful experiences, as in the tongues of fire.
|
peace and omers to you this month.
|
|
Taking the journey together,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Narrative Lectionary is doing a three-week series on Romans this month. I made this video to provide some introduction to the book and explore what Paul means by the phrase "the power of God for salvation" in Romans 1:16.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Putting The Good Shepherd in Context
|
|
It is common practice to preach from John 10:1-10 on Good Shepherd Sunday. That’s wonderful. However, the metaphor of the Good Shepherd jumps into a much fuller image when we place the metaphor in the context of the story and the debate Jesus is having with the religious leaders of Jerusalem.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Messy Life Together | A #Missional Sketch of Matthew 28:16-20
|
|
I invite you to dwell in the sketch above. These are my notes from Matthew 28:16-20 as I was preparing to preach this text a number of years ago. This passage is often referred to as The Great Commission. Get context here.https://youtu.be/VFq5TktIQf4God's mission (missio dei, to use my fancy missional ecclesiology language) is: Messy The disciples all worshiped Jesus when …
|
|
|
|
|
On the Art Side
|
|
|
The weather is starting to warm up here in Minnesota. Last month we had a day where I was able to sit out on the front lawn of Luther Seminary (where I work now) and do this quick pen and ink sketch. Enjoy!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
