Forward Day By Day – August 11, 2019

Sunday, August 11, 2019

There are different estimates of exactly how many times Jesus speaks some variation of “Do not be afraid.” No matter the number, the recurring message is clear: Do not be afraid. Life is a creative process. The tools we might need as we make ou….(View this...

Forward Day By Day – August 10, 2019

Saturday, August 10, 2019

There is a high level of stress and disorder in our gospel passage. Jesus tells his friends—for the second time—about his impending death and resurrection. They don’t understand, as usual. Despite seeing Jesus’ wondrous powers, despite walking and talking with Jesus...

Forward Day By Day – August 9, 2019

Friday, August 9, 2019

Today we hear the prophetic version of Just wait until your Father gets home. Nathan is so angry he is practically sputtering and tells the king a tale of injustice concerning two men and an ewe lamb. David declares the act of injustice to be punishable by death....

Forward Day By Day – August 8, 2019

Thursday, August 8, 2019

The last sentence in today’s framing verse is one of the great biblical understatements of all time. David has perpetrated a complicated, power-abusing plot upon Bathsheba and her husband Uriah—because he desired Bathsheba. The greatest king in the history of Israel,...

Forward Day By Day – August 7, 2019

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

It feels a little out of character for Jesus to sound so darkly apocalyptic, so cryptic. “Some of you,” he says pointedly, “will still be alive when the kingdom of God has come.” And Christians have argued ever since: What? Which of us?When? ….(View this reading...

Forward Day By Day – August 6, 2019

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Human babies love faces. When babies see joy and delight in those who love them, they learn how to be joyful and delighted. The way my parents’ faces reflected their love for me when they gazed at my babyself taught me the life-truth that I am loved. The light in...

Forward Day By Day – August 5, 2019

Monday, August 5, 2019

Today’s passage from the life of King David speaks to the close, familial relationship David has with God. Remember a couple of days ago when we started reading about David declining to host the Ark of the Covenant? David feels it is unseemly for the Ark of the...

Forward Day By Day – August 4, 2019

Sunday, August 4, 2019

All things pass away, and our priorities change over time. As we grow older, we realize that the toy at Christmas, the crush on that person, or the effort to make more money matter less than they used to. Not that those things weren’t or aren’t important—it’s just...

Forward Day By Day – August 3, 2019

Saturday, August 3, 2019

For the next few days, we will read about King David returning from a military triumph and some of the decisions he makes in setting up his reign. He has named the new capital after himself and come into possession of the Ark of the Covenant—the most important...

Forward Day By Day – August 2, 2019

Friday, August 2, 2019

Just a bit ago, Jesus was talking about sewers. And today we have one of the most infamous episodes in Jesus’ ministry: the day he calls a Gentile woman a dog. Go ahead and read all of our gospel reading for today. This is an actual conversation between Jesus and...