SACRED SAGAS
"A long story of heroic achievement"
Perhaps a rather presumptuous title, but, life takes courage to live and is, therefore, a sort of heroic achievement. I write about the story, the long story of my life that includes a few heroic achievements, but mostly ordinary ones.
Worship and Discipleship: My story about worship. Not only is worship what we, creatures of God are expected to do. it is also the heart of how we're being formed into the image of the one we worship. Click on the link in the drop down menu under 'sacred sagas' and read all about it.
They have no wine: a meditation on Jesus' first sign (John 2:1-11); changing water to wine; seeing beyond the problematic miracle of water to wine to the symbolic meaning for us today.
Help my unbelief: a meditation on Mark's lengthy version of the story of the father whose son had 'a spirit that kept him from speaking and hearing' (Mark 9:14-29). The story is pivotal in our understanding of what Jesus came to do. It assures us of his control over all things, including our issues today. It's story about the struggle with unbelief, a struggle most of us can identify with, and what Jesus said we should do about it.
Off with your shoes, please. A theologian once claimed that, when reflection on the Trinity was holy ground and shoes were to come off. In this brief article I reflect on my favorite quotes about the Trinity and admit the mystery that underscores the greatness of the God and Father of Jesus Christ.
Journey to Jesus with Mark as our Guide. I have long been fascinated with the Gospel of Mark and so I began a serious study and, in 2018, wrote Lenten devotions using Mark's Gospel. The depth and subtly of Mark hooked me and I continued to write about Mark. Journey to Jesus with Mark as our Guide is an introduce to this richly spiritual guide to help you read Mark with your eyes wide open.
Binding the Strong Man (Mark 3:2-35). Jesus said, “… whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” Many of us have struggled with these words and wondered whether we've committed the unforgivable sin. We need a better understanding of the context of Jesus' saying and about to whom Jesus spoke. There is danger that we today could commit the unpardonable sin, but we need to know what Jesus was referring to. I've tried to address that in this article.
Come, everything is ready (Luke 14:12-24). The parable of a great banquet is often told to guilt and scare people into the kingdom. However, Luke's version, which never comes up in the Revision Common Lectionary, doesn't do that. Jesus' story begins, 'Someone gave a great dinner and invited many.' It's very vagueness forces us to ask, 'Are we that 'someone'? It seems to me that's the point of the parable. It calls us to make the same transformation (think conversion) the 'someone' in the parable made by inviting and welcoming the 'poor, the cripple, the blind, the lame' (think 'asylum seekers, homeless, beggars, alcoholics, prostitutes, illegal aliens, etc., anyone we'd rather avoid.
They have no wine: a meditation on Jesus' first sign (John 2:1-11); changing water to wine; seeing beyond the problematic miracle of water to wine to the symbolic meaning for us today.
Help my unbelief: a meditation on Mark's lengthy version of the story of the father whose son had 'a spirit that kept him from speaking and hearing' (Mark 9:14-29). The story is pivotal in our understanding of what Jesus came to do. It assures us of his control over all things, including our issues today. It's story about the struggle with unbelief, a struggle most of us can identify with, and what Jesus said we should do about it.
Off with your shoes, please. A theologian once claimed that, when reflection on the Trinity was holy ground and shoes were to come off. In this brief article I reflect on my favorite quotes about the Trinity and admit the mystery that underscores the greatness of the God and Father of Jesus Christ.
Journey to Jesus with Mark as our Guide. I have long been fascinated with the Gospel of Mark and so I began a serious study and, in 2018, wrote Lenten devotions using Mark's Gospel. The depth and subtly of Mark hooked me and I continued to write about Mark. Journey to Jesus with Mark as our Guide is an introduce to this richly spiritual guide to help you read Mark with your eyes wide open.
Binding the Strong Man (Mark 3:2-35). Jesus said, “… whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” Many of us have struggled with these words and wondered whether we've committed the unforgivable sin. We need a better understanding of the context of Jesus' saying and about to whom Jesus spoke. There is danger that we today could commit the unpardonable sin, but we need to know what Jesus was referring to. I've tried to address that in this article.
Come, everything is ready (Luke 14:12-24). The parable of a great banquet is often told to guilt and scare people into the kingdom. However, Luke's version, which never comes up in the Revision Common Lectionary, doesn't do that. Jesus' story begins, 'Someone gave a great dinner and invited many.' It's very vagueness forces us to ask, 'Are we that 'someone'? It seems to me that's the point of the parable. It calls us to make the same transformation (think conversion) the 'someone' in the parable made by inviting and welcoming the 'poor, the cripple, the blind, the lame' (think 'asylum seekers, homeless, beggars, alcoholics, prostitutes, illegal aliens, etc., anyone we'd rather avoid.
Smallbones’ Saga 2018
Jackie's newsletter
My 2018 Saga begins in the Drakensberg, South Africa, one of my favorite places. Nothing like sitting with friends, cheese and wine and overlooking this magnificent valley and mountains. The quiet, the panoramic view, the wildness, the stillness were like the balm of Gilead to my soul. A few weeks later I was back in the flatlands of N. W. Iowa and settling into retirement. Thus far, retirement is wonderful. I do what I want, when I want, where I want. What more can I ask for?
An important assignment I set for myself was to encourage people to read the Bible. Therefore, I write devotions for different seasons in the Church Calendar, such as Advent and Lent. Advent Devotions for 2018 are being posted under ‘read your Bible.’ I invite you to check it out and read your Bible during Advent. I posted devotions during Lent this year from the Gospel of Mark. Writing those devotions was a highlight of my year since I discovered the depth and subtlety of a Gospel I once characterized as ‘simple,’ an ‘easy read.’ Yes, there is a simplicity about Mark that makes it easy to read quickly, but that shouldn’t fool us into to thinking it lacks power to deeply nourish our spiritual lives or challenge us to read between and behind the lines to see what Mark intends for readers to see. It has become my favorite Gospel and I invite you to read it with me (see under ‘read your Bible’). I hope to complete all 16 chapters and put it into a book: “Journey to Jesus With Mark as Our Guide.”
My work as spiritual director and retreat leader continues. If you’re interested in either, please contact me.
May you experience peace and joy this Advent and Christmas and may 2019 be surrounded by love, not hate; peace not violence; truth not lies.
An important assignment I set for myself was to encourage people to read the Bible. Therefore, I write devotions for different seasons in the Church Calendar, such as Advent and Lent. Advent Devotions for 2018 are being posted under ‘read your Bible.’ I invite you to check it out and read your Bible during Advent. I posted devotions during Lent this year from the Gospel of Mark. Writing those devotions was a highlight of my year since I discovered the depth and subtlety of a Gospel I once characterized as ‘simple,’ an ‘easy read.’ Yes, there is a simplicity about Mark that makes it easy to read quickly, but that shouldn’t fool us into to thinking it lacks power to deeply nourish our spiritual lives or challenge us to read between and behind the lines to see what Mark intends for readers to see. It has become my favorite Gospel and I invite you to read it with me (see under ‘read your Bible’). I hope to complete all 16 chapters and put it into a book: “Journey to Jesus With Mark as Our Guide.”
My work as spiritual director and retreat leader continues. If you’re interested in either, please contact me.
May you experience peace and joy this Advent and Christmas and may 2019 be surrounded by love, not hate; peace not violence; truth not lies.
