Category: Faith & Formation
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Nectarine
Nectarine This is a nectarine to remember. Sweet, juicy, and perfectly ripe. Each year I look forward to summer and the promise of all its delectable fruits – especially the promise of nectarines. The less hairy sibling of the peach (and if it wasn’t for the fuzz, I would love peaches), it is one of…
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Swept into the Eye of the Storm
Tornadoes always fascinated me when I was a child. I mean, they scared me, but I also found the idea of them somewhat exciting. Growing up in Southern California, the unpredictability of earthquakes instilled a deep fear of when the next one would hit. Somehow, tornadoes seemed less scary. At least there was an alarm…
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A Great Story?
I’m in the midst of a great story, but in this moment it does not feel so great. This sums up my life pretty well right now. A few months ago I had a sense that changes were on their way. I felt both excited and nervous as I anticipated their arrival. May 1 ushered…
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Just Keep Swimming
Sometimes the simplest truths are the deepest ones. Tonight I’m facilitating a retreat on Journaling and I mentioned how easy it is to give up once we miss a day or two (or twelve) of journaling. In those moments, it’s incredibly easy to give up and fall into guilt and shame. In fact, that often…
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Lenten Reflections: Resurrection
Resurrection John 20:11-18 (NIV): Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
Jesus is Placed in the Tomb Matthew 27: 57-60 (NIV): As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus Dies on the Cross
Jesus Dies on the Cross Luke 23: 44-46 (NIV): It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief
Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief Luke 23: 39-43 (NIV): One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is Crucified
Jesus is Crucified Luke 23: 33-34 (NIV): When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Questions: Can you imagine having these in your hands,…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is Helped by Simon to Carry the Cross
Jesus is Helped by Simon to Carry the Cross Luke 23:26 (NIV): As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. Questions: Can you imagine the weight of the cross on…