“Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:17).Hudson Taylor was a British missionary. He was known to say this: “Don’t have your concert first, and then tune your instruments afterward.”*That makes sense. There’s no point of tuning your instrument after the concert is already over. You have … Continue reading Tuning your instrument after the concert

One of the earliest physical depictions of Jesus is found in some graffiti in Rome. You can see it the graphic that accompanies today’s devotional. It dates from the late-first to early-third centuries, probably closer to the later. It shows a man on a cross, but the man has a donkey head. There is another person … Continue reading Enduring mockery

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8).In the Odyssey, Ulysses is travelling by boat past the island of the sirens. He knows that when he and his crewmates hear the … Continue reading See to it that no one takes you captive

An outdoor adventurer loved to get close to big whirlpools in lakes and other locations. He used a body camera and got up close under the water. He would then post the videos to YouTube.It was exhilarating, but dangerous. During one of his dives he died. He got too close and was sucked into the … Continue reading The vortex

In Mark 9 we learn about the transfiguration of Jesus. “There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them” (verses 2-3).Then Moses and Elijah arrive. Then a voice from heaven proclaims: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (verse 7)Both then … Continue reading Listen to him

A.W. Milne was a missionary. He and some others became known as the one-way missionaries. They bought one-way tickets because as they went to far flung regions and into uncertain circumstances they knew they might face danger, lose their lives, and never come back.So they did something strange. They packed all of their belongings to … Continue reading Pack your coffin

In the movie Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury needs to give away all his possessions.He invites in the poor. They start taking away his things. He looks to the cross and says, “You! You! You are the only one who knows how easy this is!”Pardon? That’s not what we expect him to say. We expect him … Continue reading The highest joy?

Such-and-such is my “cross to bear.” It’s an expression people use. Someone dealing with chronic pain might say it is their “cross to bear.” Another person who takes care of a loved one in need might say it is their “cross to bear.”We’ve been spending some time thinking about carrying a cross in light of … Continue reading What you’re gaining vs giving up

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” So said Jesus in Mark 8:34. We’re spending a few devotionals unpacking the meaning of this enigmatic statement.Denying yourself has to do with denying that sinful, selfish part of you. Our computers and phones have a default factory … Continue reading Oblivious of self

A man was walking through a Tokyo department store in the Christmas season. He noticed something strange, even offensive. It was someone nailed to a cross. But the person wasn't Jesus, it was Santa.*At first perhaps we might think that this is the ultimate sign of the horrid commercialization of Christmas. However, it might be … Continue reading Take up your electric chair