In her new book “An Altar in the World,” bestselling author Barbara Brown Taylor writes about “the practice of paying attention.” She explains: The practice of paying attention is as simple as looking twice at people and things you might just as easily ignore. To see takes ti...

     Every year after Ash Wednesday, it takes a while for me to clean out the ashes completely from under my fingernails. I don't know if other ministers have this problem, but like most ministerial burdens, this one is also a blessing.   In a middle-class church like min...

Rising from the ashes, from the dust of earthrising to heaven, the court of the LordSo is this journey, from the burnt palms,a sign of the cross, marking us, on our skin, our livescoming, a journey, faces to Jerusalem,to that rising at Easter morningto the ascension into heaven Slowing our lives, jo...

This night, especially this nightfeeling you, Lordsitting beside me in the pewwanting only to take his handhe is beside us, each onewalking, leading ushis face toward Jerusalemour steps, yoked together leading us to that daythe fated day upon the crossleading us still, onwardtoward the cross, beyond...

Setting his face toward Jerusalemknowing the cross ahead, waiting for himthese days of journey, walking with Christhopeful days, our greatest hoperecognizing, knowing we are the ashesthe dust, knowing we need God’s gracehope, not in our confidence, not in our worksonly in the saving grace of the s...

Growing up in the Reformed tradition, we did not observe the season of Lent.  As with crucifixes, vestments, and other traditions within the Christian church, Lent was simply ‘too Catholic’ to be observed within our circles.  At first blush, I suppose such an objection may seem valid, ...

Note: This is Part 1 of a Six-Part Lenten Sermon Series on the Subject: "Questions about Jesus that they don't want answered." Keep posted for the remainder of the series. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Today with Ash Wednesday we begin the solemn season of ...

This is another Dress-Down Friday for February 27, 2009. Knowing my constant use of the social network twitter, my friend Cate send this: It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted a video from Rocketbook - here’s a little something on advertising: One thing that really stands out...

Ask — Do I fear the cross of Christ or do I embrace it? Seek — Place a crucifix in a prominent place in your home. Look upon this sign of our salvation upon rising and before you retire for the night, asking Christ to help you to "take up your cross" and follow him. Knock — Meditate on Philipp...

God of the desert, as we follow Jesus into the unknown, may we recognise the tempter when he comes; let it be Your bread we eat, Your world we serve and You alone we worship....