Two downcast women, deep in grief and weighed down by pain and suffering,
laboriously take one step at a time in the direction of their pain –
unable to avoid the inevitable,
unable to make sense of the senseless,
unable to do anything other than that which they know must be done:
funnel whatever energy remains into tender touch
for the one they so deeply loved,
for the one they so painfully lost.   » Read more…

I remember growing up in church hearing the stories about Jesus feeding the multitudes, healing the sick, making the lame man walk and bringing Lazarus back from the dead. I wondered how could a man perform such miracles. As a child, my wonder was more of an amazement and awe of how God could do all these things that appeared to be impossible and simply believed. However, as an adult, our wonder can sometimes turn into times of questioning and doubt of “how can I believe?”

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Jesus does something incredibly curious as he’s sitting with his friends the night he’s arrested. He acts, as Jesus often does, in a way that causes us to pause. In John’s highly narrated account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, we read an explanation of Jesus’ thought process.   » Read more…

We lost Grandma during Lent this year.

Growing up, staying at Grandma’s house was a treat. We had our routine. Breakfast always included homemade bread and vitamin C. Grandpa always read Scripture; Grandma read the meditation. Grandpa prayed for each child and grandchild before the day began. At the close of each day, Grandma would dole out cran-raspberry juice to each of us, hug us and send us to bed.   » Read more…

Have you ever really taken the time to listen to what a middle schooler had to say? There are some who call me crazy, but middle school is my favorite age group for a variety of reasons, including their stark honesty, humor, energy, emerging autonomy and individuality, to name a few.   » Read more…

As a kid, did your mom ever whisper to you when you left for summer camp, a sleepover or a date, “Don’t forget who you are and where you came from”? At the time, I thought that my mom just didn’t want me to embarrass her or my family.   » Read more…

Three jars took up residence atop my bedroom dresser soon after I first started earning money as a child. One was labeled “savings,” another “spending” and the third “tithe.”   » Read more…

As you read this, I am with a group of pilgrims preparing for another Palm Sunday procession. Literally, we are “approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives,” where Jesus sent two disciples to find a donkey colt for him to ride into Jerusalem by way of the Lion’s Gate. I have made this pilgrimage before.   » Read more…

Today in my Restorative Justice class we were invited into an exercise in which a statement was said – “English should be the official language of the United States” for example – and were told to take a stand by walking to the side of the room labeled either “agree” or “disagree.”   » Read more…

“Open to me the gates of righteousness…”
“This is the Lord’s doing…”
“This is the day that the Lord has made…”

These three phrases within Psalm 118 suggest to me that the Lord is in control. God is the gatekeeper inviting us to simply enter through the gates and give thanks, to accept the Lord’s grace and receive righteousness.

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What does it take to “awaken” me? I need to be awakened not just in the morning, but periodically throughout my day. I need “God moments”: a sunrise, a new blanket of snow, a dark night sky or a large, orange moon.

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SCRIPTURES THIS WEEK: Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; John 12:12-16; Mark 11:1-11
THEME THIS WEEK: Your king is coming

Patience is certainly not my forte. Last spring, while living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, during my semester abroad through the college’s Study-Service Term, I learned that I am not alone. Each morning, my commute to school began with a short ride on the daladala (minibus) to get to the ferry dock. Dar es Salaam is a coastal city, and I needed to cross an inlet of the Indian Ocean to reach downtown. At 6:15 a.m., the ferry dock is a chaotic mess of bicycles weaving through crowds of people running with school books or baskets of food on their heads. Everyone is desperate to catch the next ferry over, and nobody wants to wait – I didn’t, either.   » Read more…

Today’s verse describes how Jesus accepted God’s calling and was transformed by the decision. While God designated Jesus for the role he played in Christian history, the plan would not have been fulfilled without Jesus’ obedience and willingness to suffer. It has been difficult for me to be obedient in the same way since the calling from God has never been very clear, but I continue to strive to be such a disciple.   » Read more…

“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

We anticipate with Jesus his “lifting up” – his being lifted up in a two-fold way: he will be lifted high upon a cross and lifted up to join God in heaven. The first way is awesomely terrifying and the second provokes a sense of longing in my heart. I truly do wish to see Jesus.

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I am always blessed when I have the opportunity to spend time with my 3-year-old niece and 5-year-old nephew, for they always seem to have the right words to say at the right time. At Christmas, my nephew was so excited about all of his gifts. I remember him repeating the phrase over and over again, “Is this for me?” As a family, we were amused by his humbleness and sincerity.   » Read more…

In this passage in Jeremiah, God says that soon he will create a new covenant with Israel and Judah. The new covenant will not be like the old covenant, which was created when God chose the Israelites as his people and led them out of Egypt. The new covenant will be completely a part of the Israelites. It will be in their minds and hearts, and all the people will know about it.   » Read more…

My wife recently decided to move her boutique store to a small shop with a big window on Goshen’s Main Street. It is across the street from The Window, an agency that provides services to help meet basic needs of the elderly and anyone with limited income.   » Read more…

Reading is something I never seem to have enough time for, but that I do enjoy. However, unlike many of my friends who have cried while reading books, I had never been overtaken by such strong emotion because of the written word or felt that connected to any text before in my life.

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A signature. From learning to write our names in kindergarten, to making payments and filling out paperwork years later, a signature is used to show ownership. It is proof. It has value.

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In this Old Testament passage, God’s people are feeling forgotten and persecuted because of their wandering in the desert. The Israelites rebuke God with their desire to be back in Egypt where they held the place of slaves instead of the dry, barren desert. They challenge God with their claims and complaints and he responds, but not how they are expecting.   » Read more…

Several Sundays ago, the church I attend in Goshen talked about the power of healing prayer. We recognized the importance of sharing stories of crying out and healing. After the sermon there was a time to go forward to be anointed with water and receive a prayer for healing.

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The materials that I was asked to work with were all dead! In 1972, my college adviser asked if I’d be willing to assist him on a project. The focus was on organic gardening and a main task was to make compost. While this job may not appeal to many, I was eager to sign on to the undertaking.

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Just after the pilot informed us that we had reached cruising altitude and that we could move about the cabin freely, I got to a page in my book that I had read hundreds of times before.   » Read more…

During my elementary and middle school years it was not uncommon for my classmates and me to have to sell wrapping paper, cookies, books or other things to raise money for school. I would often bring the sign-up sheet to church and try to persuade people to buy or donate towards my school, which to me was a good cause.

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Life is crazy, and I’m told that it only gets crazier. Running from class to class and prioritizing group meetings, assignments and projects are only part of a student’s busy life – let alone socializing and fulfilling the promise that “tomorrow, I will go to the gym.” Knowing that work life and family life will be just as demanding is almost as overwhelming as it is exciting. At times, I feel trapped under the busyness of the everyday. It is enough to make me wonder if I’m missing something.

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In 2007-08, I spent a little over a year journeying the Exodus with my husband Wes and our own adopted hija (daughter). Older than both of us combined, Eliana had spent 40 years and more in her own “Egypts,” and bore the scars (visible and invisible) of a lifetime of slavery, prostitution and addiction. My husband’s and my Egypts were far less literal and far more of our own making, but still … we all needed this Exodus.

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Lent marks a time in our Christian calendar when we wait once again for the unexpected. Yet, Jesus’ death and resurrection should not come as a total surprise, as the Scriptures are littered with hints of what is to come in this awful, yet wonderful, saga that is the life of Jesus Christ.

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Please read the Scripture again before you start reading this devotion. Did you read it? OK, I trust you. Notice the depth of Jesus’ statement, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” The Message translates it this way; “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how” (emphasis mine).

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Abraham truly was the father of many nations. Sarah was a mother of nations as well, although she is not recognized across as many religions. This past summer I witnessed the true diversity of Abraham’s nations.

“Google Earth” software can focus on your house, then zoom out and out, wider and wider, until a satellite view of the whole earth fills your computer screen. Perhaps, like me, you have had “zooming out” experiences that help you to see the “multitude of nations” that are our fellow children of God.   » Read more…

“I will remember my covenant” is this week’s theme. Sometimes in our everyday, busy lives, this is easy to forget.   » Read more…

WELCOME:
Welcome to Goshen College’s online devotionals for the 2012 Lent season! Our theme this year, taken from Mennonite Church USA worship resources found in Leader magazine, is “Where Do I Sign?” Every Monday an author will introduce the sub-theme, whereas the following weekdays authors will reflect on a specific Scripture from the lectionary.

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Goshen College again offers an online resource to help believers make time and space in their hearts and minds to reflect during the season of Lent. Beginning Feb. 22 (Ash Wednesday) and culminating on April 8 (Easter), Goshen College students, faculty and staff will provide weekday reflections based on lectionary Scripture passages.

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The devotions will reflect honestly on the Scriptures and offer words of assurances of faith. The spiritual offerings will include poetry, personal stories, reflections and prayers, all intended to more closely examine the call to change and follow Christ.

Since 2001, Goshen College annually celebrates special seasons of the church calendar, particularly Advent and Lent, with online devotions. The popularity of the devotions continues to grow each year and there are now more than 9,000 online subscribers, representing many different denominational backgrounds and countries.