If there’s one unifying factor for our divided planet, it’s that people all around the world love celebrations of joy. People in every nation love to join in celebrating so many joyous occasions. We love births, weddings, graduations, promotions, anniversaries – basically any reason to celebrate our life achievements in great joy and togetherness. What ALL people equally dislike is bad news. And Ash Wednesday is bad news for too many people. Rather than celebrating a...
I follow Paul, I follow Peter, I follow Apollos, I follow Christ. So Paul famously describes the leader-based factions developing in the Corinthian church. Like many of you, I like to think that if I were there, I would be in that Group 4 that says, “I follow Christ.” Maybe Group 4 was earnest, maybe they were being snarky, or maybe they were peacemakers trying to center the factions around what was important (if they...
Part of what comes with moving across the world is the acquiring of new traditions. For instance, just as the language is slightly different, so are the holidays. There is certainly no Independence Day on 4th of July, but England does have its own “Bonfire Night” or “Guy Fawkes day” which conversely memorializes the failure of the Gunpowder plot (It’s very British of them to celebrate keeping things as usual). I also had to find...
My Valentine’s day was slightly out of the ordinary. My girlfriend scheduled an oil change by accident and we ended up spending Valentine’s day at the Toyota dealership and Dunkin’ Donuts. Afterwards, we went to our evening classes. My Professor threw confetti at me and gave me candy when I read ἀγάπη. It was a strange night. The Professor was the second of three we would have for our course. My girlfriend and I left,...
Lent always seems to sneak up on me. As someone who really tries to intentionally observe the Lenten season, I hate feeling rushed to come up with “what I’m doing for Lent.” Furthermore, it has been my general observation that those hurried Lenten commitments made without prayer or much reflection tend to be a bit more… well, superficial. I’m giving up sweets for Lent. I’m giving up soda for Lent. I’m giving up chocolate for...
We’re back in the season of Lent, that time of somber reflection, prayer, repentance, and fasting. For many of us, it wasn’t something we grew up with but has grown to become a very meaningful season of reflection and devotion. For me, Lent has come to represent discipline. Fasting and devoted prayer does not come easily for me (as I’d imagine is true for most people). It requires a great deal of self-discipline, which means...
This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, as it is Ash Wednesday. As we enter into this season of Lent to prepare our hearts in reflection on the passion week of Christ and Easter, I think about the value of this season of lament that is found in the liturgical calendar. In recent years, I’ve come to really value this season of Lent as a space to lament and reflect on God’s presence with us in...
It was Easter Sunday in 1972. My grandfather was preparing to sing an Easter cantata with his church choir when he suffered a stroke and collapsed. On the following Sunday, he went to be with the Lord. I never met my grandfather, but I’ve heard countless stories from my mother about what a wonderful man he was, full of joy, gentle-natured and filled with the love of his Savior. Four years ago, on the night...
I have been waiting to review one of my favorite movies from 2012 for quite some time, Cabin in the Woods. As soon as I saw it I knew I needed to blog about it, and more importantly, I knew I needed to review it this week—Holy week. Perhaps you’re thinking, this is totally random; why is he reviewing a movie from last year during a time when he should be reflecting on things like...
On this Holy Monday, I cannot help but to remember this past Lent with joy. These past few weeks have been some of the most peaceful days I’ve had in a very long time. In short, my goal for Lent was a bit secular in nature, as it was to be more mindful. I hung up verses throughout my house to help remind me everyday of this mindfulness goal. But the fruit of the Spirit...
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