Good evening, friend: How is your soul? Whatever its state, it cannot but have been helped by these gorgeous, gorgeous days. Drink in the beauty of God’s creation as you continue to live into this new pace of life. For me, one of the most captivating verses in the Psalms is found in Psalm 56:8. […]
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Sleep on This: Easter Monday and my lousy lawnmower (April 13)
Good evening, friend! I have a lawnmower that I pretty much hate. I paid $85 to tune it up and sharpen it up. And still, after running smoothly for about fifteen minutes…enough time to do one half of my lawn…it begins to sputter and cough. (I think it has Corona for lawn implements.) When it […]
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A safer way to the empty tomb
I have led 10 groups to the Holy Land. Every journey ends the same way: a visit to the Garden Tomb where we celebrate the day that changed forever: the resurrection of Jesus. This is always a meaningful way to close out our pilgrimage. But 2015 stands out, by far, as my most memorable visit […]
Sleep on This: April 10 – Good Friday
It is perhaps the most ironic of names. “Good” Friday. Because, in so many ways, it was so bad. So, so bad. Jesus in all his bloodied dignity standing courageously before Pilate. Crowds, stirred up by a few mouthy rabble-rousers— (there are ALWAYS a few mouthy rabble-rousers in the crowd; it takes such courage to […]
Sleep on This: Maundy Thursday (April 9)
Good evening, friend. We call this “Maundy Thursday,” taken from the Latin word mandatum which means “commandment.” On the last night they shared together, Jesus told his disciples he had a “new commandment” for them: that they love one another as he had loved them. Of course, in those last moments, they had no idea […]
Sleep on This: Spy Wednesday (April 8)
Good evening, friend! How is your soul? Are you resting well? Are you finding a personal rhythm in your disrupted life-schedule? There are obviously inconveniences and annoyances—and worse—to our present lockdown. But there are also good things to be found in this new life that has been imposed upon us. I pray that you are […]
Sleep on This: Virtual communion—is it permitted? (April 7)
Good evening, friend! As you know, I write this blog each evening because I want to offer you encouragement and comfort as you prepare to take your night’s rest. On this third night of Holy Week, I would like to offer a different kind of encouragement…and forgive me for taking longer than I normally do; […]
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Sleep on This: “…in heaven…” (April 6)
Good evening, friend. As we enter Holy Week, I pray your soul is well, that you are learning to live in shalom, regardless of your circumstances, and that you are soaking in the teaching of Rabbi Paul who models for us what it means to live in hopeful joy even when—ESPECIALLY when—life circumstances are hard. […]
A call to prayer and fasting on Good Friday
My dear Chapel Hill family, 2 Chronicles 7:14 makes this promise: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Well, our land needs healing. Our […]
Virtual Maundy Thursday and the confessions of a tech-stunted pastor
I wish I were more tech-savvy! Especially right now when so much of our Chapel Hill community is being handled virtually. But honestly, I’m still figuring this stuff out. For instance, did you know that if you subscribe to the Chapel Hill YouTube page and select the bell icon, you can be notified about all […]
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