Christian formation – Page 2 – searchingforthinplaces

I paid it all — Jesus Christ crucified

This slogan struck me because it is a take off from one of my favorite childhood hymns, Jesus Paid it All. What was the striking thing was the grim image of Jesus hanging on the cross, blood dripping and the phrase “I paid it all – Jesus Christ crucified.” That’s great. But I am notContinue reading “I paid it all — Jesus Christ crucified”

Trucking for Jesus

It was on the mud flaps of a big 18 wheeled truck, “trucking for Jesus,” which I found so much less offensive than those silhouetted images of naked women which seem to be found in that location. Trucking for Jesus. The literalist in me instantly said, “no your not, your trucking for …” whatever massiveContinue reading “Trucking for Jesus”

This bloods for you

The roadside sign was in front of a small, white, clapboard church. It was a roughly sketched out image of Jesus, with blood droplets coming from the crown of thorns and his hands. The droplets were in vivid red, although somewhat faded with age. And beneath the image the caption read “This bloods for you.”Continue reading “This bloods for you”

Jesus is real

Jesus is real. That’s what the big sign on the side of the interstate proclaimed. Homemade sign, about the size of a commercial billboard. Black background. White letters. No church affiliation. No website. Simply, “Jesus is real.” Don’t know who to credit for this revelation. It is in a relatively well trafficked area, which willContinue reading “Jesus is real”

Good Shepherd Sunday

Acts 2:14, 36-41, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2:20-25, John 10:1-10 In our liturgical celebration this is Good Shepherd Sunday, recognizing Jesus as our Good Shepherd. The texts for this day focus on shepherd’s or the result of being under the influence of the Good Shepherd. Of course, the Psalm is the 23rd, which isContinue reading “Good Shepherd Sunday”

Bible Study

I hope that you engage in regular Bible study. Not a little Bible reading, a little snippet of a verse for a devotional. There is value in that to be sure, and I start my day that way as well. You know, Bible study somewhere between reading a verse to start the day and aContinue reading “Bible Study”

Imagine-n this

And they grow up

Last Sunday was my last real Sunday with the Confirmation class. Next Sunday they will be confirmed. After that they will move on to the youth group. I will miss all of them. And I am glad to see them go. It is time. We started together last August. They were small, frightened sixth graders.Continue reading “And they grow up”

Gift

I am the geeky church lurker who loves to wander through other gathering place of congregations and capture images. Things they may think are worth capturing and things that they can’t believe anyone would ever want to capture. This image comes from a friends congregation in North Texas, and for me it is the embodimentContinue reading “Gift”

Command

The Good Samaritan is such a simple and complex story. If you grew up in church this may have been one of the first Bible stories you remember, and if you teach or preach in church you probably have used this text more than once. It is easy to condemn those that walked on by,Continue reading “Command”