Four hundred years. In the particular span between Malachi and the birth of Jesus, there was a great deal of land conquering and dominating afoot. The vast conquest by Alexander the Great was followed a century or so later by the domination of Julius Caesar. In the east, China began to build its Great Wall. Virgil, Dante’s literary companion… Continue reading Stranded In Time (Zechariah Part 3)
Category: Songs of Assent
Supreme Activity
If God just made a "mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all" kind of selection in choosing Jesus' mother, then Mary is so far beyond our experience that there is no point in pondering her response to God. She was just a superior sort of being. But if it is God's… Continue reading Supreme Activity
Tasting Wisdom
This fall I am teaching a study from Labor Day to Thanksgiving on Christian wisdom. I have been intrigued by various reactions to this topic as it has come up in the recent past. “I am teaching a class on Christian wisdom... “ “So, you are going to teach on Proverbs?” “No, I am going to teach on wisdom.… Continue reading Tasting Wisdom
Tattooed
I got on the plane after another gloriously intense session of the Institute for Worship Studies. IPod and book in hand, I sat down next to a strong, muscular guy in his early 30’s. His earbuds were dangling from the collar of his t-shirt. Thought: This is going to be a quiet ride. Reality: It was a voyage on the… Continue reading Tattooed
Uninvited Solitude
I've had an uninvited visitor in my home for the past several days. She isn't visible to anyone but God and me. Her visit began with a rather unwelcome, but much needed, departure. Nearly two weeks ago my husband dropped everything to be with his ailing mother across the country. My son is here, but… Continue reading Uninvited Solitude
Wisdom’s Words
I am taking on an extended study of practical Christian wisdom this fall with the same trepidation that I experience when I teach on faith, hope and love. Has not everything to say about wisdom already been said…over and over again? There are certain themes that never leave the human conversation for long. Wisdom is… Continue reading Wisdom’s Words
Pondering
Having described myself as a ponderer, I thought I'd offer an explanation of what that is for me, and why it is important enough to become a descriptor of my vocational life. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the act of pondering as "to think or consider especially quietly, soberly or deeply." To ponder is hold an… Continue reading Pondering
Carla Waterman 