Contemplating Grace

Life Notes—May 6, 2010  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”  John 14:27  There is something special about relationships with those to whom we are intimately intertwined.  … Continue reading Shared History

Life Notes—April 29, 2010  “Little children, I am with you only a little while longer.  You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’”  John 13:33  I have been to Salt Lake City a number of times.  It is … Continue reading The Ultimate Mystery

Life Notes—April 22, 2010  “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know … Continue reading A Good Follower

Life Notes—April 15, 2010  “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’  He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’”  John 21:15  I have never been around lambs.  My mother, who … Continue reading Moments for Mutton

Life Notes—April 8, 2010  “But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”  John 20:25b  My daughter, Grace, was born suspicious about Santa Claus.  The whole ‘coming down … Continue reading Faith-Guided Vision

Life Notes—April 1, 2010  “What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”  1 Corinthians 15:50  One of the mysteries of the structure of the United States is the relationship between, yet the separation of church and state.  One … Continue reading In, Not Of

Life Notes—March 25, 2010  “It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.  Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Aha!  You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!’”  Mark 15: 25,29-30  Two thousand years ago, people … Continue reading Getting or Receiving

Life Notes—March 18, 2010 “After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene…” Mark 15: 20-21a Jesus has been … Continue reading A Little Relief

Life Notes—March 11, 2010  “Pilate asked them, ’Why, what evil has he done?’ But they cried all the more, ‘Crucify him!’  So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.”  Mark 15: 14-15  The temple leadership, the Sanhedrin, held their mock trial … Continue reading A Necessary Series of Events

Life Notes—March 4, 2010  “Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, ‘Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’ But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, ‘I do not know this man you are talking about.’”   Mark 14: 39-40  Jesus, praying in the Garden of … Continue reading Blood in the Water