There’s a dinner in Bethany to celebrate Jesus and to celebrate Lazarus and to end the Sabbath. At some point late in the meal, Mary pours perfume on Jesus’ feet, and Judas complains. John, in telling the story, explains that Judas carried the money box and stole from it. And then tells the reader that […]

God. This week your people were murdered. They were just being children, or filling in or cleaning up or leading.They were just living in a victimized country in Europe.They were being people. This week your people lost homes and lost lives in storms.This week your people, through natural causes and traumatic actions, left this life. […]

And I never write here at 300 words on Saturday. But the last time I wrote, I told you that I was ill and taking a break. Several of you wrote to me to say, in essence, “It’s okay to rest.” And to tell me that you’d talk with God about my health. I am […]

God. We are tired. Our bodies are tired from the anticipation of what could happen and from the disruption of all our usual patterns.Our minds are tired from planning and adjusting and adapting, from practicing patience.Our hearts are weary with stories of sickness and suffering, income loss and food inadequacies.Our spirits feel brittle, as if […]

One day last week, I decided to take a couple weeks away from writing here at 300 words. I was finishing up the “Sermon on the Mount” series and needed a breath before starting something new. So I simply didn’t post on Friday. Nancy asked whether I was going to say anything. I said, “no”. […]