Cleaning the Temple

The Temple was bustling that day. Money changers bickered with worshippers over the exchange rate of foreign currency. Peddlers of doves, the poor man’s sacrifice, sat with their cages full waiting for the next customer. Business was booming –until Jesus arrived. He walked into the Temple court like He owned it. Holy anger burned His …

I Am Barabbas

Barabbas the notorious prisoner, the one guilty of murder, felt the iron manacles fall from his wrists and the inexplicable joy of undeserved freedom. The guards that had kept him in the dark Roman dungeon now stood silent as he walked away a free man. During the Passover feast, the Roman prefect always released one …

Honeysuckle Breeze

The shadows lengthenDaylight fleesSo I stand and wonderAt the majestyThink I will rest awhileIn the honeysuckle breeze The stars peek outOver leafy treesPlanets danceThrough the galaxyI sit down with GodIn the honeysuckle breeze Fireflies hoverCrickets singI hear the songsOf a summer’s eveI listen with GodIn the honeysuckle breeze I sigh and lean backMy head on …

These Nails

These nails.I just can’t get past them.They fixed You to a cross beamAnd they fixed my heart to the same. These nails.They speak of a love so violentThat the heavens were veiled that dayand the earth reeled and trembled. These nails.They are hope and confidence.They opened eternity’s doorAnd bade me come up higher. These nails.They …

Will You Listen?

There is an account recorded in scripture of two kings, Ahab and Jehoshaphat, sitting together and discussing politics. As the conversation turns to the Syrian aggressors who have been raiding Ahab’s domain, plans were made to engage the enemy in an attempt to win back some land that had been lost.  The scene goes something like …

Do You Know Me?

“Do you know me?” the question reverberated around the temple’s stone courts as Jesus confronted the crowds that had been whispering around Him.  The people had been debating about His identity for days. Some said that He was a good man while others insisted He was a huckster building Himself a reputation. One group guessed …

with.

With. It is such a beautiful word.  It implies shared purpose. It whispers togetherness and connection. I go WITH my son to the movies.  You are WITH your loved ones for a holiday. I am WITH the company for which I work. With speaks of accompaniment, interaction, and association. That is the word that caught …

Running

Heart pounding and thoughts racing, Elijah looked around the small dusty room he called home. Only moments before, the messenger from the palace had been standing in the doorway, smug and intimidating as he relayed the threat of the queen that the prophet would not see another sunset. His hands shaking, Elijah grabbed a change …