The one whom Christians have waited for since the beginning of Advent 4 weeks ago, has come on Christmas day: Jesus, the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah of ancient Israel. I wonder if celebrating this event yearly dulls our senses to the outrageous and ridiculous nature of the claims that Christians make about Jesus of Nazareth,… Read More »
the Courier Meditation – Imagining Grief and Lament
After writing about joy last week, I would be dishonest if I didn’t mention that this holiday season can be more difficult for some because of loss, pain, abuse, injustice, and oppression. Grief may mark these days because of the loss of a close friend, spouse, or family member or because of the memories of… Read More »
the Courier Meditation – Risks of Imagining
When I was young, my little brother and I would play with miniature tractors on the dining room carpet. We would plant our corn and soybeans and then harvest them all in the course of a few minutes, much faster and more efficient than Dad could do it. We imagined that we were farmers. We… Read More »
the Courier Meditation – Dare to Imagine
In this season of Advent in the church calendar, we long for, anticipate, and hope in the arrival of God through the person Jesus of Nazareth, the long-promised and expected Messiah of Israel, the Christ. Each year, Christians enter into the story all over again of how the God of Israel came to earth to… Read More »