Category: Faith & Formation
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus Bears the Cross
Jesus Bears the Cross John 19:16-17 (NIV) Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Questions: Can you imagine what a weight the cross must have been…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is Scourged at the Pillar and Crowned with Thorns
Jesus is Scourged at the Pillar and Crowned with Thorns The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is Judged by Pontius Pilate
Jesus is Judged by Pontius Pilate Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,”…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is Denied by Peter
Jesus is Denied by Peter Matthew 26: 69-75 (NIV): Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin
Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin Luke 22: 66-71(NIV): At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested
Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested Mark 14: 43-46 (NIV): Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
As we approach Easter Sunday, I’d like to invite you to pause and ponder Christ’s journey to the cross, through this Lenten Reflections series. For each of the days leading up to Easter, I’ll post a daily reflection to guide you during these next two weeks. Each reflection includes a Bible passage, questions for personal…
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Storing Pain
It was just one sentence and all of sudden my eyes were full of tears. I couldn’t swallow them away. No matter how much I tried. I sat in a terribly bright room, surrounded by thousands. I couldn’t get away quick enough. By the time I made it to the ladies room the tears turned…
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Battling Narratives
I was amazed this week to discover a connection between two seemingly opposite films: Groundhog Day and Enchanted April. I know. But hear me out. Lately I’ve noticed how often I see my life through a certain lens. In that lens I am playing out the same stories over and over. I feel stuck in…
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Why Peter?
Earlier this week I was watching a film about Jesus. As I watched I was struck, in a new way, by Peter’s journey. Peter is usually pegged as zealous, and rightly so. There is a fierceness in him. He is always ready with a stark statements (i.e. “You are the son of God”) and is…