The news travels

After Luke 4:14-30 

The baptism

in the river,

the temptation

in the wilderness,

had passed;

now was the time

to return.

As it did,

the news moved

out in reports,

in waves, often

traveling ahead

of him, creating

interest and

curiosity, inspiring

hope and expectation,

across the Galilee

and surrounding

areas, a growing

fame preceding him,

wherever he went.

 

Photograph by Absolut Vision via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“Wakening,” poem by John Deane – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

Three Ways to Walk with Those Who Grieve – Kirsten Black at Faithful Paradox.

 

In the Silence of God – poem by Mark Rico at Rabbit Room Poetry.

 

“O Come, Thou Traveler Unknown,” hymn by Charles Wesley – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

My Old, Obsolete Knowledge – Seth Lewis.

Never too old, never too wise

After Luke 4:1-13 

It’s lurking, always lurking,

rearing its head when

least expected to even

most expected. It is

direct, or it is disguised.

It comes looking for the point

most vulnerable, often

the point most guarded

and defended. It comes

quietly, or with loud

fanfare. It is clever,

often striking at where

we think it will never

happen, will never strike.

It comes disguised as

beauty or pain, humility

or pride, where we are 

most guarded or where

we are lax; it doesn’t

discriminate. We’re never

too old, never too wise,

for temptation.

 

Painting: The Temptation of Christ, oil on canvas (1854) by Ary Scheffer (1795-1858).

Some Sunday Readings

 

How Does God View Deconversion? – Justin Dillehay at Desiring God.

 

God Is More Happy Than Harsh – Benjamin Vrbicek at Gospel-Centered Discipleship.

 

Christianity Today and the Need for Institutions – O. Alan Noble.

 

When journalism crosses a moral line – Denny Burk at World Magazine.

 

Baptism to temptation

After Luke 4:1-13 

The hallelujahs of the baptism

give way to the tolling bell

of temptation, the waters

of the river giving way

to the desolation of wilderness.

In inhospitable terrain,

alone, it is here alone

for forty days, it is here

he faces temptation,

temptations to good ends

through the mechanism

of wrong means. Satisfy

hunger? Circumvent

your humanity and turn

stone into bread. Become

king? Here are all the kingdoms

of the world; take them now

and skip that messy crucifixion.

Prove God exists? Throw yourself

from the top of the temple; surely

God will pass that test.

Three offers.

Three denials.

 

Painting: Christ in the Desert, oil on canvas (1872) by Ivan Kramskoi (1837-1887).

Some Friday Readings

“Christ Pantokrator,” poem by Catharine Savage Brosman – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

“Broad is the Way,” hymn by Isaac Watts – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

Reading Providence – Andrew Roycroft at New Grub Street.

 

Worn – poem by Seth Lewis.

He is there

After James 1:12-18 

In all the trials

of our life, he is

there. In all

the temptations

of our life, he is

there. In all

the evil we

encounter and

the sin we 

commit, he is

there. If we 

remain steadfast,

he is there. If

we fail, he is

there. He is

immutable; he

doesn’t change. 

 

Photograph by Greg Rakozy via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“Crown Him with Many Crowns,” hymn by Matthew Bridges – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

My God, In Whom I Trust – Sarah Ivill at Alliance for Confessing Evangelicals.

 

“The Strife is O’er,” Latin hymn, 1695 – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

The Genius of Dirt – Seth Lewis.

 

The Voice of ‘A Great Awakening’ – Greg Morse at Desiring God.

Trials and temptations

After James 1:12-18 

The first thing we need

to grasp is that temptations

do not come from God.

Perhaps from the devil,

perhaps from our own

fallen nature. God can’t

be tempted; nor does he

tempt anyone. Our own

desire is another story. 

It comes from us. We’re

lured by our own desire;

it draws us like the siren's

call. When it’s conceived,

desire gives way to sin,

which leads to death.

It’s not God; it’s us.

 

Photograph by Jametlene Reskp via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

Hell to Pay: What Truly Happened to Jesus on the Cross – Nick Batzig at Beautiful Christian Life.

 

“Pilate,” poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

Psalm 22 – poem by Andy Patton at Rabbit Room Poetry.

 

“Hawks in Holy Week,” poem by Sally Thomas – Joseph Bottum at Poems Ancient and Modern.

 

“It Is Finished!” – Robb Brunansky at Cripplegate.

 

“Ballad of the Trees and Master,” poem by Sidney Lanier – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.