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 […]
Author Archives: paulrpurdue
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 […]
Light of the World Light bathing shepherds in heavenly light Light shining hope to distant sages Light cradling Mary and Joseph Light flowing from a feed-box throne Light encompassing the Creator come as child Light driving back eternal night Light warming our frigid hearts Light illuminating all who will kneel Light guiding our path Light eclipsing our sin […]
The Sandy Hook evil seems unimaginable. It numbs or inflames our senses. Sandy Hook pushes the limits of human depravity or brokenness. It lies so far beyond normal human sinfulness and failure that it shocks us. Yet, the deep grief we all feel reminds us that humanity rejects such violence and longs for something better. As we […]
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