Jon’s note: Four years ago, in the early days of our collective pandemic journey, Rich Dixon reached out to offer to write once a week here. He understood my work. He wanted to give me a break. I was so grateful. And still am. +++ Four years ago, you and I began a journey. In […]

I struggle with remembering where things are in the Bible. I struggle with remembering details of stories. I remember ideas and images in sweeping references. I’m not alone. Some days, it’s helpful to review, to go back to the familiar images and read the actual story again. This is a good week for reviewing. Today? […]

It’s a very strange story, this story from the last week of Jesus’ life. Jesus is teaching in the temple. He is talking with individuals and debating with crowds. Off to the side, a couple people came up to Philip. “Can you introduce us to Jesus?” they said. Philip went to Andrew and asked for […]

God. We would love a good parade,with you as the grand marshal, and on every float. A crowd cheering, a flag squadwaving branches. We’d say, after you passed,“Hosanna. I gotta remember that.” Later, we’d watch for #Jesusisinthecity.And scroll past to smiling donkey picturesand shake our heads at the latest religious scandal.And listen to interviews with […]

This is a public service reminder. We are approaching what is known as Holy Week. For the next week, in churches everywhere, there will be an unusual number of public services. There will be public services on Palm Sunday. There will be public services on Maundy Thursday. There will be public services on Good Friday […]