Category: A Faith in Process
Notes from the Journey
For the Birds
The hummingbirds are preparing to migrate long distances for the winter. By the middle of October they will be gone. As they fill up for their journey, I noticed something. Hummingbirds have two approaches to feeding. Some perch on the feeders, drinking with concentration. They tend to stay for more than a minute. Then there…
Kyrie, Eleison
Over in the corner, the tax collector begins to pray, but he won’t even lift his eyes to heaven. He pounds on his chest in sorrow and says, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Luke 18:13 The Voice Kyrie eleison (KI-ree-ay ay-LAY-ee-zonn) or “Lord, have mercy” is an important prayer in Christian worship, a prayer from the…
In Need of Grace
I am rereading the books of a celebrated author. His words always speak to me. When I googled him, though, I discovered he’s been going through an ugly, career-ending time, the target of outraged online criticism. Anyone whose life is public finds that their mistakes and sins are public as well. But sin is everyone’s…
Today, by Peanuts
“Who Touched Me?”
In the crowd that day was a woman who had suffered greatly for twelve years from slow bleeding. Even though she had spent all that she had on healers, she was still suffering. Pressing in through the crowd, she came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his garment. Instantly her bleeding stopped and she was healed. Jesus suddenly…
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe an approximate 25 hours of fasting and intensive prayer in response to Mosaic law: “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must…
J. I. Packer
James Innell Packer (22 July 1926 – 17 July 2020) was an English-born Canadian evangelical theologian, cleric and writer in the low-church Anglican and Calvinist traditions. He was considered one of the most influential evangelicals in North America. He was a contributor to Christianity Today, where I briefly worked as a receptionist. “Call me Jim,” he said with a smile as he shook…
“Who Am I?”
Grace, Please
Grace: the free and unmerited favor of God, manifested in salvation and blessings. Through this man we all receive gifts of grace beyond our imagination. You see, Moses gave us rules to live by, but Jesus the Anointed offered us gifts of grace and truth. John 1:16-17 The Voice “In the New Testament, grace means God’s love in action toward people who…