Tag: christianity
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Did God Do That—or Did It Just Happen?
This evening I was reading a few more pages from The Pilgrim Continues His Way. I came to the chapter called “The Pilgrim’s Account of the Fifth Meeting,” and something in the story caused me to stop. The Pilgrim travels to Bila Tserkva, where he meets another traveler, a merchant. Together they stay in the…
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But This I Know
Reflections on Psalm 31 & 35; Job 19:1–7, 14–27; Acts 13:13–25; and John 9:18–41 If the Psalms are the Jewish hymnbook, I think David could have made a pretty good country-and-western singer. Many of his Psalms have all the ingredients of an old country song—trouble, enemies, loneliness, regret, sorrow, and more than a few tears.…
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How Will We Respond to Grace?
Daily Office Readings for Thursday, September 3, 2026: Psalm 37, Job 16:16-22, 17:1,13-16. Acts 13: 1-12, John 9:1-17. There is an old hymn that says: “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.” That kept coming to my mind as I read today’s Daily Office readings. They take us from David, to Job,…
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Are We Still Listening?
Daily Office Reflection — Wednesday, September 2, 2026Psalm 38; Psalm 119:25–48; Job 12:1, 14:1–22; Acts 12:18–25; John 8:47–59 Sometimes when I read the Daily Office, the readings seem unrelated at first. One passage speaks of suffering. Another speaks about God’s commandments. Job is lamenting the frailty of human life. Herod is sitting on his throne…
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Maybe We Find Freedom When We Stop Talking and Start Listening
Daily Office Reflection — John 8:33–47 Jesus says some harsh words in today’s Gospel reading. He is continuing a conversation with people who question who he is and where he comes from. They appeal to their heritage: “We are descendants of Abraham.” Jesus doesn’t deny their ancestry. He knows they are descendants of Abraham. But…
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When We Don’t Understand
Daily Office Reflection — Acts 12:1–17 Sometimes Sacred Writings leave me with an answer. Sometimes they leave me with a question. Acts 12 leaves me with a very big question. King Herod begins persecuting believers in the church. He has James, the brother of John and one of the Sons of Thunder, killed with the…
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A Traveler Passing Through
Daily Office Readings — September 1, 2026Psalms 26, 28, 36, 39; Job 12:1; 13:3–17, 21–27; Acts 12:1–17; John 8:33–47 This morning I found myself lingering over the Psalms. David seems to be in turmoil. He asks God to hear him. He asks God to examine him and vindicate him. He speaks about the wicked and…
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Teach Me to Walk in Truth
Daily Office — Proper 17, Year TwoPsalms 25, 9, 15; Job 12:1–6, 13–25; Acts 11:19–30; John 8:21–32 Sometimes when I read the Daily Office, one word or phrase seems to follow me from one reading into another. Today that word was truth. Psalm 25 begins with a prayer that has become increasingly important to me:…
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Grace Was There Before I Knew Its Name
Scripture: Philippians 1:6 “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”— Philippians 1:6 I have been slowly reading The Way of the Pilgrim. It is one of those books I don’t want to hurry through. Sometimes something…
