Tag Archives: Hope
Jesus’ teaching continued on in Jerusalem – so far first they walked past the fig tree, then Jesus stayed with friends in Bethany, then Jesus cleared the temple and then they left the temple and the city (probably stayed with friends again) and went past that fig tree again. “Read my post The Next Thing Jesus Did” to read about the fig tree and read…..
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I’ve been thinking about yesterday’s post “A Teaching in the Temple Area.” It seems this teaching is as much about making room in our hearts and minds for the inclusion of people who are different than us. It seems that so often people are fighting for inclusion. Everyone has a need for acceptance. If we can’t make room in our hearts and minds to include other people into our lives, how will…..
After Jesus said “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ He and those with him entered the temple area in Jerusalem. I told you we had discussed the fig tree lesson at a quiet day several years ago. I remember having asked if Jesus and his disciples were still hungry when they entered the temple area. Did he drive out the people who were buying and selling…..
Jesus rode the colt into Jerusalem and everyone who heard about his coming laid palm branches down and shouted ‘Hosanna in the highest!”
What did they mean when they were shouting those words? When I was growing up I thought Hosanna was a praise word – I understood they were praising Jesus. When I became a student of the Word as an adult I…..
Some people think that Lenten traditions of discipline and the Christian life of repentance is all drudgery. Some think it’s about self-debasing or self-loathing and that we walk around with heavy sacks laden with remorse and sin on our backs. But that isn’t what lent and repentance is about. No, the season of Lent and the action of repentance is about lightening our loads. The season is…..
Yesterday in my post I referenced Romans 6 and mentioned the subtitle of part of the Chapter – “Slaves to Righteousness” – later in the day I read an article saying that Christians can turn people off talking about righteousness. I’ve heard the same kind of thing said about Christians in pursuit of justice. I think the truth is better said that some Christians are called to speak,…..
In Paul’s 2nd Letter to Timothy he writes that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for training in righteousness (3:16). I found myself reflecting on this verse last night and early this morning. It seems to me that the Lenten season of Repentance is a tradition that is useful for training for righteousness. Some of things we choose to change about our behaviors and activities in our Lenten Season may…..
What do you think about when you hear the words: “Quality of Life”
Do you think about how much fun there is to be had and how much wealth there is to accumulate?
Do you think about health care issues?
Do you think about what kind of clothes a person wears?
What kind of car they drive?
…..
I was giving a presentation from my book to a group of women and I asked them if they had ever been called a temptress. Eyes opened wide and I said – not a temptress in a sensual or sexual sense – most women have been called that – I’m talking about being called a temptress because you presented temptations to other people the way the devil presented them to Jesus when they were in the wilderness together.
Those encounters…..
What if you took 40 days to fast from self-loathing? It would be a wonderful form of self-discipline and act of repentance during the Lenten Season.
So many of us are in the habit of saying some very “not nice” things about ourselves and other people and even the Lord. Negative self-talk is a vicious circle that can destroy a person, a family, an organization, the world. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I include the world in the list…..
