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“The memory of the Bethlehem babe bears to mortals gifts greater than those of Magian kings, — hopes that cannot deceive, that waken prophecy, gleams of glory, coronals of meekness, diadems of love.”
Mary Baker Eddy
The Bethlehem Babe
Jesus
My Good Friday Sermon 2011
Each year, I represent my church as one of the seven or eight preachers in our town’s three hour Ecumenical Good Friday Service. The second to speak today, here is what I said: Today, on Good Friday, we have a picture of a scourged Jesus, beaten, bleeding, and ridiculed with a crown of thorns, dragging … Read more
Why Jesus Doodled in the Dirt
They had just brought to Jesus the woman taken in adultery – in the very act – to challenge Jesus (who had been preaching love and forgiveness) with the law requiring her to be stoned. They were demanding his perspective on this requirement. Before responding with his classic statement, “He that is without sin should … Read more
New Poem by Me: Immaculate One
Immaculate One Self (innocent, perfect, pure) conscious (cognizant, alert, attentive, sentient) communion (trustingly at one) with God (inseparable omniscient ever-presence) contemplating… mediator way of salvation manifested in glory connecting transparent; comprehending conception (origin, existence) of being (life eternal) unconfined, unencumbered… Messiah (promised deliverer) hope, full-orbed complete fulfillment – encompassing perpetual peace – astonishing but true … Read more
Seasonal Scribbles
These three pages of jottings in my journal were done in church as the celebration of Jesus’ birth approached… May we all focus on the reason for the season!
Book Review: Beyond Belief
A review of this book in the Christian Science Monitor said, “This remarkable book will stir and provoke thought. It offers rewards to any reader concerned with the promise and power of faith, and the hunger for spiritual discovery.” It lived up to this description and much more. Pagels makes clear how choosing the gospel … Read more
A Disappointing “Jesus”
We went to see Jesus Christ Superstar today. I have loved the soundtrack for decades but never have seen it. I have always wanted to. I have a personal tradition of blaring the song “Hosanna” every Palm Sunday. So when I saw that we could see the actual musical, on Palm Sunday of all things, … Read more
Abandoning Self-Interest
This sounds like heresy and sacrilege in our society. But it is a foundational Christian concept that if correctly adopted would go a long way to solving all the ills that confront us, not only individually, but societally as well. I always thought Jesus sounded harsh asking people to follow him when he wouldn’t let … Read more
Today’s Poem: Sheep-feeding
Sheep-feeding “Lovest thou me?”… then … “Feed my sheep.” He was emphatic about it — repeating it three times — to stress the imperative directive. How do you do it? I feed sheep when I heal someone through prayer when I listen to a friend when I cook for my husband when I homeschool my … Read more