Leaving behind some of the more painful spiritual exercises, we turn to peace and contentment in Psalm 131, one of the shortest to read and longest to learn adn thanks for listening!

What do we do with our own anger, particularly when we have been hurt or betrayed? Are we supposed to pray these imprecatory psalms, or do we have to abandon them? Read Psalm 35 and see you Sunday.

In another pair of Psalms we look to the tools of repentance and confession and their importance for Christians personally and communally as we enter into the joy of salvation. Read Psalm 32 and thanks for listening!

As we continue in the Psalms, we turn to suffering, not something we typically consider a spiritual exercise, and look at perhaps the darkest of all the Psalms. Read Psalm 88 and thanks for listening!

As we begin Lent, we first turn to the practice of meditation, of being still and knowing he is God, a practice particularly difficult in the age of cellphones, the internet, and constant distractions. Read Psalm 46 and 136 and thanks for listening!

In our final Sunday before Lent, we wrap up chapter 3 with Mark's first sandwich story, which helpfully prepares us for what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Read Mark 3:20-35 and thanks for listening!

Jesus' ministry in Galilee transitions to a new phase as he appoints 12 disciples as apostles, giving us further insight into what it means to follow him. Read Mark 3:1-19 and thanks for listening!

Controversies continue in the Gospel of Mark as Jesus violates expectations about fasting and the Sabbath, two important activities to consider today. Read Mark 2:18-28 and thanks for listening!

As we turn to the next chapter, Mark recounts a pair of stories full of surprises. Read Mark 2:1-17 and thanks for listening!

Mark slows down his rapid account of Jesus' work as we turn to the first miracles of Jesus, miracles that tell us about who he is, what his gospel is, and who we should be. Read Mark 1:21-45 and thanks for listening!