On Ash Wednesday, or perhaps ‘Ash Sunday’ this year in New Zealand, with dust-like ashes crossed upon our foreheads we were each invited to call to mind that this mortal body, this earthly life, is passing away – sooner than we realize – and that you and I would be wise to diligently prepare for Read more
Why pray? Let me suggest the first reason: God wants to be in a relationship with you. How can you know this? Because you want to pray. And how do I know that? Because you’re reading this. That may sound sarcastic, but it’s not. There’s a serious point here: your desire for prayer reveals something Read more
Jesus wept tears, he wept because he was human. Jesus grieved, unashamed – his friend was dead. He remembered Lazarus’ face, his welcoming smile, his laughter. He remembered the hours they had sat talking; chewing the fat, shooting the breeze. Jesus wept for all that is passing. Lazarus was gone, dead and buried and Read more
It is the spring sumo season in Japan, one of the six two-week periods of the year when the national sport is played out before huge crowds. But not this year. The media are showing the wrestling tournament taking place in an empty venue. Spectators are banned from the arena. In various parts of the Read more
Megan Westra a progressive Christian speaker and seminary student has launched an email devotional called “Lent-ish,” urging her readers to look on the bright side of Lent. Read more
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days when Catholics in New Zealand abstain from eating meat. Some people in the Catholic community worldwide are debating whether food made to look and taste like meat is allowed on days of abstinence. Read more
Lent: No booze. No meat. No french fries. For millions of Christians around the world, 40 days of “fasting” kicked off on Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent. In the United States, even as younger Americans drift further away from organized religion, the practice of Lent persists. The Lenten season culminates on Holy Thursday, Read more
Why does God care if you give up chocolate? It’s a question I get asked in some form at least a couple of times each Lent, from Christian and non-Christian friends alike. While it’s a good question, I can’t help but find it a bit strange. Restrictive food fads are the rage From my perspective, Read more
Imagine you’re sitting in front of your doctor, and he says that your health definitely needs to improve. He then looks you square in the eyes and says, “If you wish to live a healthy long life, you must stop eating junk food and living a sedentary lifestyle, and start eating plenty of healthy foods Read more
A fourth-grade student says he wasn’t allowed to wear the ash cross on his forehead on Ash Wednesday His teacher gave him a wipe and told him to take it off Read more