It is a little paradoxical to write about Easter in the middle of Lent, but every year we pastors prepare our Easter sermons during the heart of the sacrifice and fasting that Lent brings, so the practice makes sense. In many of our countries, Easter is the day people return to the normalcy of work... Continue Reading →
The Ashes of our Journey – Lenten Wanderings
By Teanna Sunberg Tomorrow, across the globe, many Christ followers will line up at altars to be marked on the forehead or the hand with ashes. It is Ash Wednesday. It is the first day of Lent – this plodding and sometimes painful wandering towards the brokenness of the cross that culminates in the miracle... Continue Reading →
Mary Magdalene
By Frederick Buechner It's at the end that she comes into focus most clearly. She was one of the women who was there in the background when he was being crucified—she had more guts than most of them had—and she was also one of the ones who was there when they put what was left... Continue Reading →
The Cross is Still There
By Scott Armstrong Along with the rest of the world I watched yesterday as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France went up in flames. The unspeakable tragedy became clear as its famous spire tumbled to the ground below. Millions of people correctly lamented such a horrendous loss and attempts to raise funds in order to... Continue Reading →
At Arm’s Length: A Lenten Reflection
In this season of Lent, I have been reflecting on a haunting phrase: “at a distance.” Doesn't seem too scary or even noteworthy, right? Why would I say it is haunting? It was the night of Jesus’ betrayal, the night before he would be crucified. Feet have been washed, Passover has been served, and the soldiers... Continue Reading →
Lent: Getting Back in Touch with our Souls
“Lent is our salvation from the depths of nothingness. It is our guide to the more of life.” –Joan Chittister Lent is nearly upon us. Every year when I write about Lent, especially in Spanish, it seems to provoke controversy. Why would Evangelical churches celebrate something that is Catholic? Well, the quick answer is that... Continue Reading →
Returning to Calvary
By Raphael Rosado I really admire people who have a true vocation for what they do! As the saying goes: “If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.” However, it’s important to understand that passion is not an accident, neither is it innate or the result of success. For... Continue Reading →
Looking to the Cross
By Raphael Rosado As human beings we spend most of our lives preparing ourselves for the future. For example, something as simple as traveling from one place to another requires us to plan certain things beforehand. We need to give maintenance to the vehicle, fill it with gas, program the GPS, pack suitcases and make... Continue Reading →
All for Joy
By Ken Childress "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who... Continue Reading →
More Than Doing Without
By Charles W. Christian Lent is the approximately forty day period leading up to Easter Sunday. It is meant to be a time of preparation and reflection that is patterned after Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness at the beginning of His earthly ministry (Mark 1:12-13; Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). As we have entered this... Continue Reading →