born and raised twice in the bay, I preach Jesus and him crucified
When Mary visited her relative Elizabeth, she took about seventy miles from Nazareth to a place near Jerusalem—possibly Ain Karim, five miles west of Jerusalem, where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived. Later, in 2:4, Mary would make a similar journey, but this time, she would be much more pregnant. Mary's song, found in Luke 1, sounds... Continue Reading →
I've observed a fascinating pattern unfold over the years. Frequently, individuals express frustration, claiming an inability to find the right community or lamenting being deemed unsuitable by a particular group. As this narrative recurs, it becomes tempting to empathize with their plight and blame others for not meeting certain expectations. Yet, a deeper reflection reveals... Continue Reading →
At some point in 1996, I met Dudley Spears in Bowling Green, KY. I was slowly making my way towards preaching. By making my way, I mean doing everything backward and more complicated than it should be. I was always impressed with his ability to write clearly and swiftly at a rate I couldn't fathom... Continue Reading →
"And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "Behold, he is... Continue Reading →
Cristo e il centurione, by Sebastiano Ricci “When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come... Continue Reading →
Phillip W. Martin 