Last night at our small group meeting, we shared our respective experiences in fasting this week. Some of the descriptors of this week’s experience: weakness, distraction, lack of focus in prayer, bad mood, temptation . … Read More

Our Thursday home group has been discussing the spiritual discipline of fasting in recent weeks. We have decided as a group to fast together on Wednesdays (or Thursdays, if work prohibits on Wednesdays) during the … Read More

Today in my old home city of Philadelphia a victory parade of epic proportions is taking place.  For those of you completely out of touch, the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl on Sunday! I … Read More

In our recent consideration of the Glory of the Bridegroom, we saw how Jesus manifested His glory in His first miracle at the wedding in Cana–how He came to fulfill the old marriage covenant (the … Read More

Have you noticed the daylight hours are already lasting a little longer? That means the season of Lent must be near at hand! “Lent” derives from the old English word for “spring” (“lencten”), the season … Read More

Our Gospel reading on Sunday was John 2:1-11: Jesus Changes Water to Wine. The key to understanding the full significance of the miracle at the wedding in Cana is in understanding how closely it corresponds … Read More

For those of you following our daily Scripture reading plan, maybe you noticed a common theme in the readings earlier this week was striving. In the Genesis 16 reading, strife takes over Abram’s household after … Read More

“As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” (Genesis 9:7) God said these words to Noah after the flood, repeating the imperative given to Adam in … Read More

Happy New Year, since I didn’t get a chance to say that to many of you! And Happy Dreikönigsfest (feast of the three kings)! Or, if you prefer, Happy Epiphany! (The Christmas season is officially … Read More

As I look at our Christmas tree leaning against the balcony wall, still in the netting and waiting to be put in the stand and decorated–Yes, I realize Christmas is four days away, and no, … Read More