Holiness Reeducation

I am not sure if there is a theological term for it, but most pastors I know experience what I call an Easter hangover. Yesterday I could hardly function. I took two naps. But that is a beautiful feeling, having left everything you are on in a moment of celebration and worship. Every week should [...]

Darkness came, evil enveloping the light of the world No one wanted to take the blame or the credit You crucify him, no you do it, they yelled back and forth No one wanted the blood of Jesus on their hands Slowly, excruciatingly, determined he walked Wood digging into open wounds Wounds given not because [...]

Today is Maundy Thursday. The Old English word maundy comes from the the Latin mandatum which means command. The name comes from Jesus’ words to his disciples as they sat around the table the night he was betrayed. In John 13:34 Jesus said, “A new command I give you; Love one another. As I hve [...]

Even for us Protestants who consider ourselves to be fairly liturgical Holy Tuesday isn’t usually a day we think about too much. It wasn’t until I happened to be leading a Tuesday night service during Holy Week that I really spent time learning about the history of Holy Tuesday. It was on Tuesday of Holy [...]

Today is the perfect Midwestern spring day. It is just like I remember them. It is cloudy, there is always the threat of rain, the wind is blowing 30 mph, and although it is supposed to be in the 60′s today, you would be insane to wear short sleeves or shorts. Ahh, spring in Indiana, [...]

It is absolutely amazing what a week away with your wife can do for you. Gretchen and I enjoyed a marvelous week in Colorado hanging with old friends, running into a boat load of old youth group kids who are all adults with families now, skiing, and enjoying serendipitous reunions. God is good and it [...]

***Editors Note – I posted a new podcast today – a sermon from Lent*** Eastertide is here and it is blissful. But, I didn’t want to move on to Easter without first taking a look back at Lent and offering some reflections. True to my promises, I have been going on a meat eating rampage. [...]

Darkness came, evil enveloping the light of the world No one wanted to take the blame or the credit You crucify him, no you do it, they yelled back and forth No one wanted the blood of Jesus on their hands   Slowly, excruciatingly, determined he walked Wood digging into open wounds Wounds given not [...]

In a statement from the Vatican yesterday, Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary talked about the newest sins we must focus on in our world. None of these sins are new, and there are no new theological claims in them, but it is interesting to think about what the good Monsignor points [...]

Unbelievably, yesterday my blog went over 50,000 views. In the two years I have been writing it I have found great joy in the discipline of writing. I have encountered new friends, and most importantly I know that people really, desperately, passionately care about who the greatest lead singer in rock history is and what [...]