It is perhaps the most ironic of names. “Good” Friday. Because, in so many ways, it was so bad. So, so bad. Jesus in all his bloodied dignity standing courageously before Pilate. Crowds, stirred up by a few mouthy rabble-rousers— (there are ALWAYS a few mouthy rabble-rousers in the crowd; it takes such courage to […]
Sleep on This: Maundy Thursday (April 9)
Good evening, friend. We call this “Maundy Thursday,” taken from the Latin word mandatum which means “commandment.” On the last night they shared together, Jesus told his disciples he had a “new commandment” for them: that they love one another as he had loved them. Of course, in those last moments, they had no idea […]
Sleep on This: Spy Wednesday (April 8)
Good evening, friend! How is your soul? Are you resting well? Are you finding a personal rhythm in your disrupted life-schedule? There are obviously inconveniences and annoyances—and worse—to our present lockdown. But there are also good things to be found in this new life that has been imposed upon us. I pray that you are […]
Sleep on This: Virtual communion—is it permitted? (April 7)
Good evening, friend! As you know, I write this blog each evening because I want to offer you encouragement and comfort as you prepare to take your night’s rest. On this third night of Holy Week, I would like to offer a different kind of encouragement…and forgive me for taking longer than I normally do; […]
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Sleep on This: “…in heaven…” (April 6)
Good evening, friend. As we enter Holy Week, I pray your soul is well, that you are learning to live in shalom, regardless of your circumstances, and that you are soaking in the teaching of Rabbi Paul who models for us what it means to live in hopeful joy even when—ESPECIALLY when—life circumstances are hard. […]
A call to prayer and fasting on Good Friday
My dear Chapel Hill family, 2 Chronicles 7:14 makes this promise: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Well, our land needs healing. Our […]
Sleep on This: April 3 – the Name above all names
Good evening friend. There are parts of this COVID-19 journey that are a pain, of course. But there are many aspects of this rhythm that have become sweet to me. Among them is this: my father calls me nearly every day to check on me. One might argue that it ought to be the other […]
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Sleep on This – April 2: Exalt Jesus
Good Evening Friend! How is your soul this night? I pray that these bedtime chats will be helpful in realigning your thoughts and prayers before you enter into that great gift which is good sleep. I’ve said repeatedly that Philippians 2 is holy ground. In the opening verses, Paul admonishes his readers to: live humbly; […]
Sleep on This: Life together (April 1)
From 1935-1937, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was hung by the Nazis in the closing days of World War II, served as the leader of an underground seminary called Finkenwalde. There, young pastors were prepared to serve the Confessing Church, the German Christians who ultimately stood in opposition to Hitler and his state-sanctioned church. During that time […]
Sleep on This: Having the Mind of Christ (March 31)
Good evening dear friend. Crises such as that which we are facing bring out the best and the worst in people, including Christians. As I mentioned two nights ago, when we turn to Philippians 2, we are standing on scriptural holy ground, both for what it teaches us about ourselves AND about Jesus. For that […]
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