When Fred Craddock was young he remembered listening to preachers and teachers talk about what it meant to be a Christian. He heard stories about Mother Teresa working with the poor in the slums of Calcutta. He heard about Albert Schweitzer as a medical missionary. He heard about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. … Continue reading Sacrifice that doesn’t make the news
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Jesus prayed for unity among believers
In John 17, Jesus prayed for his followers, both then and now. It’s important for us to remember that these aren’t just the prayers of some random guy. Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God! Therefore, what Jesus prays for you IS God’s will for you. Hopefully that perks up your ears and heart. … Continue reading Jesus prayed for unity among believers
The glory of Jesus outshines
In a prayer for his disciples—both then and now—Jesus prays: “Father, I want those you have given me… to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world” (John 17:24). Jesus prays that we will see his glory. This surely includes a growing appreciation of … Continue reading The glory of Jesus outshines
When you finally “get” the cross
In The Pilgrim’s Progress, a character named Christian makes his way to the Celestial City. He would have considered himself “religious,” but doesn’t come to personally experience the significance of the cross until after he has already begun his journey. As he walks along the path, he carries a big “burden” on his back. It … Continue reading When you finally “get” the cross
Wisdom or real estate?
Harold Kusher tells the Hasidic story of a man who got a telegram. It told him that a relative had died and left him some valuable property. He had to contact a rabbi for details. When he did so he was told that the relative was Moses and the valuable property was his religious tradition. … Continue reading Wisdom or real estate?
The king has one more move
Bobby Fischer was a world chess champion. There’s a story about a time when he went to see a film, called The Seventh Seal. A medieval knight plays a game of chess with death, the evil one. As the film progresses, they make moves back and forth. Finally, the evil one makes a move and … Continue reading The king has one more move
Four words for Good Friday
Today is Good Friday. Christians from all over the world gather at special services to ponder the cross and to thank God for what he has done for us in Christ. He has given his life for ours. The Reformer Martin Luther called it the “glorious exchange.” We’re the ones who deserve to be up … Continue reading Four words for Good Friday
And we are its hands
Today is Maundy Thursday. It’s not as well-known as Good Friday, Easter morning, or even Palm Sunday. Some churches hold special services; some don’t. Either way, it’s a very significant day. The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin translation of Jesus’ words in John 13:34. “Mandatum novum” means “new commandment.” This new commandment is to … Continue reading And we are its hands
Talk not only about what you’re doing, but why
Holy Week is upon us. Like Christmas it can be a time of traditions. We wave palms on Palm Sunday, sing “The Old Rugged Cross” on Good Friday, and say “He is Risen!” on Easter morning. Some people also have family gatherings or Easter Egg hunts. At its heart, a tradition is about passing on … Continue reading Talk not only about what you’re doing, but why
An upside of tradition
When it comes to traditions, Christians sometimes have mixed views. On the one hand we can be suspicious of them. Fair enough. Over time people can elevate man-made traditions and give them an authority they should not have. In fact, Jesus warns against this in Mark 7:8: “You have let go of the commands of … Continue reading An upside of tradition
