Mark 8:31-38 Dear Partner in Preaching, Some will see in this Sunday’s passage a call to be patient and long-suffering in the just cause, and in this sense to take up one’s cross, and I’m sympathetic to that counsel. Others will hear the promise that all things, even something as awful as the cross, work together, in the words of the Apostle, “for the good of the one who believes” (Rom. 8:28) and so invite us to take up our cross trusting that God is in control, and I’ve seen that counsel provide comfort during difficult times. Still others will ask what things we’ve used to try to save our lives rather than giving ourselves...
Luke 23:33
posted by DJL
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And all of a sudden it’s over. All the build up, all the drama, all the suspense is over in just one sentence: “When they came to the place that is...
Luke 23:32
posted by DJL
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. It’s another small detail, I know, but again I think very important. Jesus is led away with two others, both criminals, and he will be put to death with them. Why does this matter? Because Jesus, the one we...
Philippians 2:5-11
posted by DJL
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human...
Cross Dressing for the Gospel
posted by DJL
Okay, face it – you clicked on this post because of its title…or maybe the picture. Either way, indulge me while I set it up. Radio Lab is one of my favorite radio programs that I almost never listen to. Not, I swear, because I don’t love it – it’s just that I rarely find the time to sit and listen – to anything! – for an hour, so even when I download episode after episode most of them sit in my iTunes queue waiting for my next road trip. But this Saturday I happened to be running some errands. A lot of errands. And since most of them involved lots of driving and only minimal in-and-out of the car, I got to listen to most of an...