#BIGRead14

Only two certainties in life, right? Death and taxes? Today’s poem deals with dying, and the sense of ‘slipping away’ … although Ernie’s comments earlier today that death for many isn’t such a comfortable time… although what most would hope for – slipping away in sleep! I loved hunting out the image above though … a comforting potential … which reminds me somewhat of the stories of Narnia – when the Pevensie family die in a train crash, but don’t feel anything – and are transported to Aslan’s country.

#Luke2Acts

Luke 3 – There’s a lot in today’s reading – John proclaiming the coming of Jesus, the strong promise “every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire”, the instruction – “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same”….

Makes me think of Shane Claiborne’s Red Letter Revolution: What if Jesus really meant what he said? – lots of uncomfortable challenges.

We also have the baptism of the Holy Spirit – a third of the Trinity that we tend not to focus on too much – aside from at Spring Harvest this year! There is also a long genealogy, which can be tempting to skip through – but traces the line from Jesus back to Adam, and therefore back to God.

#BIGRead14

I have to say a breezy day (preferably a warm, breezy day) is one of my favourite kinds of weather, so I love the fact that Stephen’s poem today looks at the breeze:

When the breeze comes;
we rise to life.

I am currently pretty tired so ready to be pretty still, but then awaken at the next breeze… so I may not be all that cohesive!

#Luke2Acts

Luke 2 – There’s a huge amount of thinking here from @zugzwanged – so enjoy! How do we gain this level of excitement ‘When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child’?, or the faithfulness and devout belief of Simeon and Anna … Having been talking about my book for the last couple of days, the thought of a 12 year old disappearing – I can just imagine the parent’s panic… but Jesus simply said ‘where did you expect to find me?’ … exception rather than the rule, as always… 

#BIGRead14

Death and taxes .. the only certainties in life, right? Today’s poem on ‘joy’

Unpredictable, undemanding joy, let me
dissolve into your abundant
sufficiency, your limitless
expansiveness, your eternal,
redemptive fullness.

I have had a day of ‘joy’ – recording God Spots for UCB, lunch with Lynne, recording a longer interview around #digitalparenting with Paul Hammond, then on the train to London catching up with Rev, before an evening with lovely friend Karen…

#Luke2Acts

Luke 1 is focusing on a number of miracles, foretellings of Jesus, as the story starts. Throughout, my brain seized upon “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us”, right at the beginning … which in my head connects with the message that we as Christians, as the ‘face of God on earth’ may want to share the things that have happened to us – choosing whether it’s the good, the bad or the ugly we share, but demonstrating our wholeness…