disciple – Page 14 – 300 words a day

The temptation of spring break.

For most schools around us, this week is “spring break.” It’s a week of great temptation. Not for the kids who head to the south, free of parental constraints, susceptible to all kinds of appeals. Well maybe for them. But certainly for people who are left behind, who are still having events. Certainly for executive pastors […]

by Jon Swanson

Still.

I’m struggling to be still these days. Too many things to fix. Too many problems to solve. Too many waves, too much wind. I’m in the boat, shaking Jesus. I want to know that he knows we are all drowning. *** She wasn’t old enough for a funeral. No one is, I suppose, but 47 years […]

by Jon Swanson

The terror of normal

He was a guy. He was sitting, calmly, listening to Jesus. He looked normal. And he was. People from the neighborhood came out to see Jesus. They heard about pigs flying. Flying like lemmings that is, leaping from cliffs like ones possessed. They heard about a huge stampede, an economic crisis in an agricultural community. When the […]

by Jon Swanson

Writing a Bible biography

Okay. So I just made up that title. But I don’t know what else to call stories of people in the Bible. Say, for example, that you want to understand more about Joseph of Arimathea. You hear that name around Easter. (Or in yesterday’s post). 1. Go to Biblegateway.com. In the search field, enter “Joseph […]

by Jon Swanson

I’d rather have a fresh start.

I bought Andrew a new Moleskine journal. He wants to write about the trip he’s about to start. I almost bought one for myself. I didn’t. Two-thirds of the one I started at the beginning of the year is still blank. I have a couple blank little ones on the shelf. But I love blank […]