Did they slide the mat under him so he could sit up as if sitting in a swing? Or did the four friends let him down to Jesus flat on his back? It would make a difference in the size of the hole the five friends opened in the roof. Mark 2 tells us […]
Author Archives: paulrpurdue
Ancient rope came as a loose weave of palm, hemp, papyrus or flax fibers. You can’t leave natural fiber nets lying in the bottom of the boat; it will rot. So Peter’s crew carried the heavy wet nets from up the docks, past the empty scales at the fish market, to the drying racks dotting […]
Luke tells us that “Jesus returned from the Jordan River full of the Holy Spirit,” and that makes perfect sense. Every time we sing “Child of blessing, child of promise”, I want to waltz down the center aisle holding that newly baptized child of God! The sky cracked open, the Holy Spirit landed on Christ […]
When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled By Howard Thurman When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and the princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal […]
God, our refuge and our strength, we feel the fierce urgency of the now. We long to save the soul of our nation.* We can not be satisfied with injustice- anywhere. We lift up those who endure excessive trials and tribulation. May your creative power redeem their suffering. In our struggles, keep us free from […]
Have you heard Heaven’s Voice speaking: “You are my child, my Beloved; I rejoice in you”? Do we believe the Good News that “God loves us” and that “God loves the world”? When Jesus was baptized, Jesus was praying. Jesus was praying and heaven itself opened up. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus […]
“This will be a sign to you: a baby wrapped in rags and lying in the manger” As we hurry towards Christmas cheer, let us slow down and watch for angel’s signs. Ponder the holy mystery- the Creator dwelling with us- the newborn king sleeping in feedbox cradle. Tonight, Almighty God comes as vulnerable as […]
This week I bumped into Sarah Mcwhirt-Toler at Fido. After handing her my notarized shot record, she let me hold little 45 day old Francis. Pastoring has its privileges. I found the quietest space in the coffee shop and swayed with Francis looking at the lights, gazing out the windows, and trying to focus on […]
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Don’t say, ‘Hey, my name is on the church role.’ God can grow baptismal certificates like leaves on the magnolias outside our church. No! Live differently.” Who preaches like that? Who attends that church? Tom […]
On the day after Thanksgiving, Connie drove off for work from our Air B&B cabin at am. Our displaced dog anxiously nuzzled me awake, so we set off on a long predawn walk. The first rays of sunlight broke the horizon to dance on the glassy lake waters. As if called up by the light, […]
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