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Random Thoughts

Random Thoughts, Westmont,

Old Skool Cafe

For a long time I had heard about the incredible things a young woman and fellow Westmont alum, Teresa Goines, was doing in San Francisco to help at-risk kids. People would talk about a supper club called “Old Skool Cafe” as if I was suppose to know all about it. I didn’t. Which was my loss.

Then last year I was asked to speak at a Westmont event in Palo Alto. To my surprise and delight, Teresa Goines was also speaking at the event. And she was seated at my table. D’Aun and I loved getting to know …

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Random Thoughts,

Resurrection Sunday!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Today is truly a glorious day! The dread of Friday is past, the silence of Saturday is shattered with amazing news. Jesus Christ lives! The hopes of Palm Sunday are restored, but made anew and entirely pure. Now is a time to celebrate the Risen Savior!

Where is my Lord?
They have taken Him away.
All I see is a tomb, a place that is empty.
And just when I need Him,
and long for His voice,
even His body would not wait for my tears.

Shut away in a box, …

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Random Thoughts,

Silent Saturday

Today is traditionally called Holy Saturday, Joyous Saturday, Great Saturday or Black Saturday.

Jesus is dead, buried, gone. His body lays motionless in a guarded tomb. God is mute, as Pete Greig said in his book. There is silence. Confusion. Fear.

A strange sense of nothingness permeates those who were close to Jesus and put their hope in Him. The disciples must be asking, “What happened?” Nothing made sense. No answers to their countless questions. Images of Jesus on the cross haunt them. According to the Gospel of Matthew, even Judas had killed himself before they could interrogate him.

For …

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Random Thoughts,

Good Friday – The Cross

Today is Good Friday (or Great Friday, in the Orthodox tradition). Jesus is tried, executed, buried, and descends into hell. It’s a sham trial, of course. And a brutal death on the cross. I wrote more here about the descent into hell if you are interested.

The cross has always been inconvenient. Every skeptic has asked, “Why did Jesus have to die?” The truth is that every believer has asked the same question. There are answers to this question, of course. Some deeply theological, some simplistic answers you might offer a child. My favorite is from Hebrews 2, which says …

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Random Thoughts,

Towel and Basin Thursday

Today is traditionally called Maundy Thursday and has focused on such things as the sleeping disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, the anxious Jesus praying fervently, and of course the Last Supper that Jesus had with His disciples. The Last Supper has become communion, a sacrament in the Church that reminds us of what Christ did for us. It is central to the Church no matter which denomination.

Even though the old word “maundy” can literally mean “washing”, in my non-liturgical faith tradition you don’t see enough attention paid to the act of Jesus washing the feet of his …

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Goble Properties, Random Thoughts,

Silver Wednesday

The Wednesday of Holy Week was the calm before the storm. Jesus continued to teach in the Temple and preparations were made for the Passover, but the day was uneventful otherwise. The Last Supper, the washing of the disciples feet, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the arrest of Jesus … all tomorrow. On the surface, Wednesday was quiet.

Of course, it was not quiet at all. Evil men were plotting. The Sanhedrin wanted Jesus dead. The Pharisees agreed. Somebody went to the bank and pulled out some extra cash, thirty pieces of silver, just in case the opportunity …

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