I’m thrilled to announce the release of three of my “Untold Tales” short stories available in time for Easter! These imaginative and moving portraits of the passion present beloved stories and characters in new and fascinating ways. Collect all of these beautifully illustrated books, and give a copy to a friend for Easter. Read excerpt of “Love Cut the Rope.” … More Book Release: Untold Tales Series
I’m struck by the immigration-related language Paul uses to describe the reconciliation that is possible because of what Jesus did in this week we call Holy. … More Naturalized on Good Friday
Here’s the good news for weak and well-intentioned “quitters” like you and me: God will never quit on us! … More Last Words 6: Finishing Well
Good Friday Vigil Meditations “The Seven Last Words of Jesus” By Jeremy Berg | April 2020 Read all seven meditations below, or print PDF here. SET UP: Part of the power of our Good Friday vigil experience is the sacred space we create in the church with stations to move through. This year we are … More Good Friday Vigil: Seven Last Words (Download)
Driving through the Colorado mountains in our minivan last month, our family got a great kick out of holding our breath as we drove through the tunnels that drill their way through the mountain. After a suspenseful moment of darkness, the light would appear up ahead, and a few seconds later we would be laughing … More The Journey Through Easter Mountain
“I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross. The only God I believe in is the one Nietzsche ridiculed as “God on the Cross.” In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples and stood … More He Suffered For Us (by John Stott)
Let us draw near to the cross on this Good Friday, keep vigil, contemplate the Lord’s passion, consider his agony of spirit and physical torture. Let us not fall asleep as the three did in Gethsemane, nor abandon him as the rest did by the end. When we ponder his last moments, just before the … More My God, My God (Psalm 22)
“Now it was the custom at the Festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.”Do you want me to release to you … More Which Jesus do you choose?
Now that I’ve been writing at Daily Illumination for over a decade, its nice to have entire collections of writings for various seasons of the church year. If you’re looking for some inspiration this Holy Week, please consider my Lent/Easter collection of nearly 30 posts here. If you come across anything inspiring, or you want to … More Holy Week Collection
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand … More Judas in the Mirror (Matt 26:20-28)
“Now [God] uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But … More Mailbox Podcast: “Smells Like Death”
I’m enjoying these meditations by Ken Gardiner found here. “And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.” (Matt. 27:36) HIM THERE! Who put him there? To answer that literally, we must say, “The soldiers”; the army of occupation. Technically they were Romans, and the centurion in charge would most probably indeed have come from … More At the Foot of the Cross 3 (K. Gardiner)
We spent a beautiful evening at The Depot at the Mound Beach gathered by candlelight at the foot of the cross meditating on the passion story. About 25 people showed up for our journey to the cross. We read, reflected and prayed through the passion story, sang a couple hymns, and marveled at the spectacular … More Good Friday @ The Beach
I’m enjoying these meditations by Ken Gardiner found here. “And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.” (Matt. 27:36) HIM THERE! Him! As we think of him, let us try to picture for a moment, how he would seem to them – the ones with whom he’d shared himself. You see, for us, our … More At the Foot of the Cross 2 (K. Gardiner)
I’m enjoying these meditations by Ken Gardiner found here. “And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.” (Matt. 27:36) HIM THERE! Words are strange things; for their size they carry so much meaning, especially when they are put together, as in the present case:- HIM THERE! Why, there isn’t even a verb, … More At the Foot of the Cross 1 (K. Gardiner)
Some good thoughts from Ben Witherington on Black Friday: I was minding my business drinking my morning coffee, and looking out on the unexpected snowfall on Black Friday which made it white Friday here in Lexington when ‘what to my wondering eyes did appear, then a plane load of Irish, seeking out reindeer’. Yes, that’s … More Black Friday Reflections (B. Witherington)
The Josiah Smith Band have been a special part of my season of ministry at Fusion. They have been part of nearly all of our Fusion retreats and have left an impact on our group with their music and their sincere love of our students. One neat moment was when Josiah came to our morning … More Josiah Smith Band – “With Open Hands”
Kingdom Harbor 