Finished

The Lord gave me the following word to speak in church on February 28: Let the work be finished.  Let what my Son did when He died and rose again be enough.  You find all kinds of ways to hang on, to keep the responsibility.  Let me take your burden.  I have already borne your…

Why I Don’t Fast

I don’t fast. Many Christians extol fasting as a spiritual discipline, a catalyst of spiritual power, and an exercise in humbling oneself.   I understand the reasons others choose to fast, and I respect their convictions. But I don’t fast, and I’d like to tell you why. I don’t share my thoughts to suggest other…

Can Wrestlers Baptize?

Baptism scene from Nacho Libre In other posts, I’ve mentioned I’m wrestling my way though Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. I’m currently reading a section about sacraments. Calvin sees sacraments like communion or baptism as signs of the work of Christ. Baptism, for example, pictures our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ.  Baptism doesn’t only signify forgiveness.  It…

Lord of the Dead and of the Living

Picture by Patrick Murphy Death and resurrection cannot be separated.  This is so obvious it seems like a platitude.  Often our words and thoughts divide these into separate categories.  For the sake of clarity it’s sometimes helpful to consider them separately.  But it’s disastrous in real life.  Perhaps we are too used to treating death…