Lenten Comfort: So this is Love

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” – John 3:16 Flowers, poems, breakfast in bed, a weekend away or grand gestures is how our culture defines love. Things that elicit particular feelings or sensations are categorized as love, and in the West (conveniently) there is always something you can buyContinue reading “Lenten Comfort: So this is Love”

Lenten Comfort: Living with Limits

“But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die’” -Genesis 3:4 It is understandable that Advent and Christmas are the preferred church holidays. Ash Wednesday comes in the long weeks of winter with its invitation to remember our mortality. While our culture encourages us to live in denial of death, for centuries, ChristiansContinue reading “Lenten Comfort: Living with Limits”

Lent Comfort: It’s Not Fair

But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to theContinue reading “Lent Comfort: It’s Not Fair”

Spiritual Practices: Hopeful Future (Comfort- Luke 24:33)

“It is true! The Lord has risen.” -Luke 24:33 One of the gifts of faith, is being grounded in the hope of a good future. Even when our circumstances are challenging, the stories of scripture remind us of God’s faithful presence and the promise that this is not the end of our story. When peopleContinue reading “Spiritual Practices: Hopeful Future (Comfort- Luke 24:33)”

Spiritual Practices: Processed Past (Comfort- Luke 24:32)

“They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” -Luke 24:32 “What was your biggest ministry mistake?” he asked. Famous for put-you-on-the-spot questions, my colleague seemed to relish the look of horror that crossed my face as all theContinue reading “Spiritual Practices: Processed Past (Comfort- Luke 24:32)”