Almighty God, Grow among us, your sinful children, a sanctuary for doubts, questions, and fears Oh Christ, you welcome us, help us welcome questioners, doubters, searchers, seekers As you carry our sin, help us to lift our crosses and carry one another As you hear our prayer,teach us to listen to each other Creator God, […]
Author Archives: paulrpurdue
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, before daylight makes things clear, the Scriptures say, “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women made their way to the tomb.“ That pre-dawn hour is always the coldest. The creation waits for the sun’s rays to crack the horizon and dance […]
Will you ride with Jesus? Who rides to the dark Calvary Whose legs drag the ground as he sits astride a borrowed colt Who rides through palm branch pom-poms and shouts of joy Who rides past swooning crowds: who do not grasp his destination Who looks at the Holy City and weeps for our inhumanity […]
Jesus stands in conflict with the ways of this world. Palm Sunday launches a sort of cosmic duel between: light and night, goodness and sin, love and selfishness, peace and violence, freedom and slavery, forgiveness and vengeance, courage and cowardice, hope and despair, life and death. The Prince of Peace enters into the Royal-Temple City: […]
Every flock has its’ rare birds. After years shepherding the faithful, I realize we have some unique specimens in this flock that flaps and flutters after Jesus Christ. Martin Luther spoke of our Christian species as a sort of cross-breeding: sinner and saint The longer I serve the more stories of strange rare specimens I […]
Pick a habit for the day.
A few focusing Holy Habits for any day during or after Lent Pick one to do each day until Easter Add your own to the list Add these to your daily Scripture and Prayer • As you eat a meal, give thanks for of every person involved in bringing the food to you from seed […]
Jesus’ ministry began with forty days in the wilderness. Lent comes as a forty day spiritual journey towards Easter. Fourteen days since my hospital release, forty days seems like a long time. Jesus wrestled with the Tempter. I am wrestling with defining my being by my doing. My twenty two year internal church drive says: […]
I am fairly sure many of us are thinking about the Second Amendment to our US Constitution. I decided to read it. I encourage you to read it. My reading stirred up more questions than answers. If you are looking for a soapbox to shout from, please move along to the next blog. There is […]
Like so many others, I will begin 2013 with a self-improvement program. On January 2, I will undergo a Birmingham hip procedure or a total hip replacement. Almost three years ago, I first consulted with the surgeon, Dr. Anthony Shinar, from Vanderbilt, upon the recommendation of my rheumatologist, Dr. Susan Kroop. Rheumatoid Arthritis has been an […]
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