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Maundy Thursday: A Covenant of Hope
The room was dark, somber, even gloomy. Heaviness clung to the air and caught in their throat. The disciples didn’t understand what would transpire in the following hours. But they sensed a growing somberness about Jesus and growing uncertainty within themselves. For the past several days, Jesus increasingly talked about his death. And now, as the gathered round the Passover table, the theme emerged again. Jesus picked up the bread and broke it—his body, he said. Then he passed the cup, telling them to each take a drink. This wasn't like the other Passovers that the disciples had celebrated since youth. There was something new and different about this one.…
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Another Recommendation–Enrich your Lenten season, see Risen
All week I've asked the Lord what to write in my blog and all week no answer–until this evening. David and I just returned from viewing the new film Risen and I simply want to add my hearty recommendation along with my friend, Sandi Glahn, and her friend Chrissy. (See their blogs 2/19 and 2/15) The earlier blog contains the film trailer. I fought back tears during multiple scenes, and I'm not a crier. How refreshing to view a creative work that isn't sappy or contrived. Invite a non believer to go with you. Productive discussion is likely to follow. For you who demand that every Christian film follow verse…
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FRO*ZEN
Weeks of record low temperatures of – 42, – 26,-17,-11 are causing a freezing phenomenon. Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory reports that the lakes are now more than 85 % iced over. The world’s most famous waterfall, Niagara Falls is frozen enough that professional Canadian ice climber, Will Gadd, was able to climb to the top of the frozen left side. It is not supposed to thaw until May. Even in the Texas Hill Country are recent reports of trees iced over creating a winter wonderland effect that rivals the graphics in the movie “Frozen”. We know according to Webster’s Intercollegiate Dictionary that frozen means the state of “being treated,…
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Stepping from the Shadows
His dark shadow looms in the distance—heart pounding with trepidation and grief. He saw in the sacred pages that something like this would happen. So he made the proper plans. Now he must step from the shadows, stand, and speak. His simple but significant act is recorded in all four of the gospels. Yet somehow we often overlook him during Passion Week. Joseph of Arimathea spent much of his discipleship in secret. He enters the cross scene at the last second, securing the Savior’s body just as the Sabbath descends upon Jerusalem. His final act fulfills prophesy and finishes the sovereign plot. It’s easy to rush over this part of…
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Don’t Let Your Hearts Be Troubled
A few weeks ago, my husband and I decided to skip the traditional fish brunch that I normally prepare for Easter and we made reservations to go eat at a restaurant instead. This past Sunday, along with many other folks, my family feasted—I mean, we ate like kings and queens—on some serious food. My favorite part of the brunch? I didn’t have to do dishes afterwards. My least favorite moment? The weeks before Easter. In the days leading up to Easter, I kind of drove my family crazy. Instead of showing enthusiasm about our new plans, I resisted. Every time someone shared their excitement, I killed it with horror.…
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E…A…S…T…E…R
As we prepare for Resurrection Sunday, what do you believe? Do you believe that Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins and then rose again on the third day? For me, this is what I believe and I will celebrate Easter this way: Those who believe in His Death and Resurrection have: Everlasting Live Jesus defeated death for all those who believe in Him. My home is not this earth…it is in heaven with Him forever. Those who rejoice in His Death and Resurrection have: …
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Everything Centers On This One Thing
My earliest memories of Easter include new church dresses with hats and lots of yellow ribbons, intense searches for plastic eggs with the rare $2 bill stuffed inside, marshmallow peeps (which I never liked) and loads of Cadbury chocolate, complete with the resulting stomach-ache. The day came and went with a little bit of anticipation, but nominal impact on my day-to-day life. As I grew up, the cognitive recognition that Easter celebrated something important, something critical, something that all of reality hinges upon, was not lost on me. However, the disconnect between head and heart can sometimes keep the significance of an event at a distance. I would reflect on…
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A Family Gospel Devotional from 1 Corinthians 15
Holy week has commenced and Resurrection Sunday draws near. And, if you read blogs, my guess is that you also use other forms of social media and are probably drowning in Easter activities via Pinterest, Facebook, etc. I mean did you know you can even make a tomb out of a donut and an Oreo? Yeah, neither did I until everyone posted it on Pinterest. These activities bring fun and joy, but if you only do one Easter activity with your family this year, I challenge you to make it a gospel devotional based on 1 Corinthians 15. Preparation: Get your family Bible and read 1 Corinthians 15:1–8, 53–58 out…
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Mary’s Little Lamb
“Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb…Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow; and everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went…everywhere that Mary went that lamb was sure to go.”
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The Meaning of Easter … “What Does a Child Think?”
What do kids think? Have you ever watched a re-run of the Art Linkletter show, “Kids Say the Darnedest Things?” The crux of this great TV show centered on Linkletter asking kids to respond to all sorts of questions. Of course, kids will say the darnedest things and those responses would get a laugh and entertain audiences young and old. During their interaction with Linkletter, kids would respond by spouting off the first thing that came to their precious little minds. The show was such a big hit, later in 1998, Bill Cosby aired a similar version of it as he interacted with kids ranging in age from 3 – 8 years old.