Monday of Holy Week, 2020: What annoys Jesus is far more significant than what annoys me, thankfully! Join me for 8 minutes with Mark 11:15-19, Jesus' cleansing of the temple. How was it viewed? Why is it so important? Music for today: 'Christe Eleison' (Christ have mercy) from JS Bach, B Minor Mass
https://youtu.be/g1kdc2ZbM3U
and Andrew Peterson, 'The Cornerstone.'
https://youtu.be/uCYqA1KClpI
How does a 'middle-age' white presbyterian make friends with a group of black teenage girls? A shared appreciation for Fred Hammond, of course! 3 minutes with Romans 8:26-27, and how sometimes the best prayers (and songs!) are when you get past the words. Today's song: 'You are the Living Word', Fred Hammond Let's go to church!
Three piece suit on the outside. Track suit on the inside. Ever have one of those days? Take a few minutes with Psalm 100 and 102 to consider our moods and worship. Our song today: 'Enter His Courts' by Ashley Cleveland. From her album, 'Lesson of Love', one of my all time favorites. If you like rock, blues, and gospel, you will love this!
https://youtu.be/L7-8a6hiuXE
*p.s. for Cup church: neither funeral was for a member; nor were either COVID-19 related. Life (and death) is still happening outside of that, believe it or not.
'Some have greatness thrust upon them.' Let's take a moment to be grateful for those on the front lines who are stepping into important and courageous work even when they weren't expecting such a role. A few minutes with Queen Esther and her transformation in 4:14-17. Perhaps you or I will also have a part to play 'for such a time as this.'
Today's music: Elgar's Cello Concerto, first movement. An amazing and unexpected swan song from this composer following his wife's death and the devastation of WWI, created a masterpiece largely unappreciated until a 13 year virtuoso named Jaqueline du Pre 'discovered' it and transformed our understanding of it. (She's 21 in this recording; she was only able to perform until 28 due to MS, from which she passed in her early 40s. She was married to the conductor of this performance, Daniel Barenboim.) https://youtu.be/UUgdbqt2ON0
Needing some comfort today? Can you think of someone else in need of comfort as well? Let's take 6 minutes together with 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. Music today comes from John Prine, a wonderful songwriter on my mind who's in critical condition with COVID-19. He's like Van Gogh in that he wordpaints 'ordinary' people with great compassion and understanding. And, like Dylan and Van Morrison, he's done some of his best songwriting in recent years, not just in the '70s.
For motivation to reach out to an older neighbor: 'Hello in There' https://youtu.be/VKoYHFVBpEA
If you're feeling a bit down yourself: 'Gold Inside of You.' https://youtu.be/xnL9EoWwC8o
And if you need to know if God would forgive you if you tried coming back to Him: 'Boundless Love'
https://youtu.be/XRyZBgeprMs