Most people do not want to be theologians. There are the books that you are supposed to read, tons of them; there are the buzz-words, such as hermenuitics, ousia and salvation. There is the Greek and the Hebrew, thrown in. And in case you have not given up, there is the paradigmatic disagreement on the …
Mark 2, and Jesus taught them
Reading Mark 1, Jesus prayed in a lonely place in the morning (Mark 1:35). ... Mark 2 begins with too many people. And paralysis, and desperation to attend on him ... they removed the roof above him; and... let down the mat on which the paralytic lay 2.4b And then a claim by Jesus, met …
Mark 1, a deserted place
The gospel of Mark, I was taught, was written to encourage the early Christians in the face of persecution. The beginning of the good news 1.1 Into this, is good news, clean news, pure news. The voice that speaks with authority, and without fear. Praise you, Jesus - of Jesus Christ Jesus, what beautiful name. …
The time to honor
... while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. John 1 parallels the creation narrative. In which the Word, through whom all things came into being, shines in the darkness. With winds sweeping; and then all this time later: Word, and things into being, and light. A dynamic God, at work, …
Holland III (final)
A final post about my time in Holland, and an update on my plans. Some photos below. In short, I have plans to be in the United States in July. The Easter week, and weekend, was a time of decision making. And of contact with people. And a good time, in fact! And I was deciding, …
Oblivious
There stood at the foot of the cross, the women in Jesus' life. His mother's heart broke. A pain incomprehensible. A soldier. Oblivious. A mysterious Mary of Magdala. And, two more women. ... The entire world, drawn onto the cross. And crucified, with Jesus. No more. "It is finished." ... A heart break, rumbling on. …
A welcome
I was encouraged on the weekend, to "welcome". To think about how I was welcomed as a new Christian, and to welcome new Christians in the same way. (This was the topic of the sermon at church.) "Welcome" connects directly into orthodox Christian theology. We are welcomed into Jesus, and we welcome Jesus into us. …
Holland II
An update on my travels in Holland. I feel "at home" here, perhaps in the sense of the established nature of the Netherlands. I have spent the past three weeks in an apartment in the suburbs of The Hague. It is about 45 minutes walk to the CBD, and with a tram nearby. I have …
Being
The experience of being, the state of the heart, and the quiet moment with God. The moment under Grace, forward, and uncertain, and correct. With thanks ... (Being, is relationship, and doing, stems from being.)
A community to believe in.
I am astounded at how little we (the church) hear of God's long-term plans, and of esteem (appropriately understood) of our identity. We should be in a community where such conversation and esteem of one another is common place. I think people - and in particular, people outside the church, may well fear the implications. But, …
