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Sensual View in browser February 13, 2024 Sensual   Rachel Hackenberg How beautiful you are, my love, how very beautiful! Your hair is like goats along the hills; your teeth are like shorn ewes that have been washed; your lips are like a crimson thread—so lovely; your cheeks are like pomegranate halves. – Song of … Read more

While It Was Still Dark View in browser February 12, 2024 While It Was Still Dark   Talitha Arnold In the morning, while it was still very dark, [Jesus] got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. – Mark 1:35 (NRSV)    Since it was long before the sun’s light … Read more

Cursing and Planting View in browser February 11, 2024 Cursing and Planting   Jennifer Ruth Lynn Garrison Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame? … Read more

What Really Matters View in browser February 10, 2024 What Really Matters   John Edgerton In the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed; … Read more

Summons View in browser February 9, 2024 Summons   Quinn G. Caldwell The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. – Psalm 50:1 (NRSV)    I don’t believe that nonsense about some big difference between the “judgmental” God of the Old Testament and … Read more

Cling-Ons View in browser February 8, 2024 Cling-Ons   Phiwa Langeni Peter [said] to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s make three shrines—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” – Mark 9:5 (CEB)   Not to be confused with the fictional Klingon species in the Star Trek universe, these ancient … Read more

God, Rid Me of God View in browser February 7, 2024 God, Rid Me of God   Matt Laney Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” – … Read more

Astounded View in browser February 6, 2024 Astounded   Martha Spong They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. – Mark 1:22 (NRSVUE)    We are only 21 verses into the fast-paced Gospel of Mark when Jesus pops into a synagogue and teaches. The … Read more

Voting Booth View in browser February 5, 2024 Voting Booth   Jennifer Ruth Lynn Garrison Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king [Solomon]. He was one of Solomon’s officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah. – 1 Kings 11:26 (NIV)    An early memory. I am standing … Read more

Stay Human View in browser February 4, 2024 Stay Human   Vince Amlin Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2 (NRSV)    The first thing Jon … Read more