Archive for February 2018

February 28, 2018 DAILY READING John 8:12-30 Psalm 119:105-112 This weekend’s reading: John 19:26-27 FIELD NOTESScholar N.T. Wright says about Jesus in his book, John for Everyone: “He and his father are giving evidence that he is the Messiah; but if this is so, he is bringing the light that they cannot escape. As he…

February 27, 2018 DAILY READING 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 Psalm 119:105-112 This weekend’s reading: John 19:26-27 FIELD NOTESIs there anything worse than the feeling of hopelessness? I am hard-pressed to think of a worse feeling. And yet, unfortunately, all of us will eventually be in that space. Eventually we all find ourselves in a moment where…

February 26, 2018 DAILY READING Romans 11:2-10 Psalm 119:105-112 This weekend’s reading: John 19:26-27 FIELD NOTESThis sobering passage reminds us of this simple truth: we are not special. Sometimes our desires for ourselves cloud our view of those around us. We let jealousy, and really, our own sense of superiority dim us to the light…

February 24, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 22:23-31 Mark 8:27-30 This weekend’s reading: Luke 23:43 FIELD NOTESAs today’s text opens, Jesus and his disciples are walking along the path to visit several villages around the pagan city Caesarea Philippi. Out of the blue, Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” That was…

February 23, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 22:23-31 This weekend’s reading: Luke 23:43 FIELD NOTESMy mother-in-law was a talented seamstress. She began sewing at an early age, and by the time she had her first child, she was proficient at French hand sewing. For her daughter’s baptism she stitched a white cotton batiste gown with pin…

February 22, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 22:23-31 Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18 This weekend’s reading: Luke 23:43 FIELD NOTESSeveral years ago my husband and I vacationed in Maine. One cold, clear evening we drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park to look at the stars. From the pinnacle of the mountain we had…

February 21, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 77 Proverbs 30:1-9 This weekend’s reading: Luke 23:43 FIELD NOTESDo you remember fairy tales in which the main character would be granted “three wishes” by a genie and she would agonize over which wishes she should choose? It makes us think, if we had three wishes, what would WE…

February 20, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 77 This weekend’s reading: Luke 23:43 FIELD NOTESPain always seems worst in the middle of the night — when the house is silent; when darkness shrouds our vision and the outside world seems to have disappeared; when we feel alone — so very alone. It’s during the middle of…