HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! As we celebrate Easter Sunday and prepare to descend the steps of the temple to resume our life of daily discipleship, let’s review the Songs of Ascents and what they mean for our journey beyond Easter Sunday: 15. It’s All about Praise! 14. The Gift of Unity 13. Read more
Psalm 134:1 A song of ascents. Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. Holy Saturday sometimes seems Read more
Today is Maundy Thursday. For those in Chicagoland, I invite you to join me at my home church, Christ Church Highland Park, for a special Maundy Thursday service entitled Christ, Our Passover. I will be presenting an Old Testament view of the Passover during the course of this communion service. *** Psalm 133:1 A song Read more
Luke 19:41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against Read more
In our thirteenth Song of Ascents (the pilgrim songs that travelers would sing on their way Up to Jerusalem), we encounter Psalm 132—the longest of these songs. The title of this discipleship lesson might be Desired Dwelling Place because it highlights God’s desire to dwell among His people. This song begins: Psalm 132:1 A song of Read more
Luke 19:28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find Read more
Psalm 131:1 A song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is Read more
The collocation fall guy has been much in the news lately. Accordingly, a few weeks ago I reported the most common meaning of the slang phrase — “scapegoat” — but then cast a line into the mainstream of native users of the American language with this fishhook on it: “What was the original fall? … Read more
Psalm 130:1 A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; 2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore Read more
Mark 10:32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Read more
