I recently read a book by Lauren F. Winner called Mudhouse Sabbath. Lauren converted from Judaism to Christianity and this wonderful little book is about the traditions from Judaism that she believes would enrichen the Christian faith in tangible, day-to-day ways. What she said about the Sabbath caught my attention in a big way… “I remember that, for Jews, the Sabbath shapes all the rhythms of calendar and time; the entire week points toward Shabbat. The rabbis, who are always interested ...
I suspect most of us are very familiar with the passages in Genesis that talks about God creating us in his image. Genesis 1:27 tells us: So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. I have been thinking about this for a while now, ever since I heard a snippet of conversation on the radio about being created in God’s image. The person was admonishing his listeners to be better, more righteous, yes, ...
One of my favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia is when Lucy discovers that Aslan is a lion. She nervously asks Mr. and Mrs. Beaver if he is safe. Mr. Beaver responds: “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” Re-reading this bit of dialogue sparked something in my heart. I thought of how Noah faced a flood that would wipe out his whole world, how David stood up to a giant. ...
Today is Tu B'Shevat, it is a Jewish holiday, known as the New Year for Trees. It is based on Leviticus 19:23-25, which states that fruit from trees may not be eaten during the first three years; then the fourth year, which is the first year that the tree begins to produce its fruit, that fourth year the fruit belongs to God. The holiday itself is not found anywhere in the Bible, it was not commanded as a festival, but established as an agricultural and tithing ...
Dear God, Thank you for all that I have and that I am. Thank you for stretching out your arm, and sacrificing your only Son to save me. Thank you for the Spirit to comfort me in all afflictions, and give me the right and wise words to speak at the right time, and the boldness to do so. Thank you for the gifts that allow me to carry out the functions you’ve ordained for me to fulfill within the Body of Christ. Thank you for the spirit of boldness that allows me to come to you and lay ...
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