Ramblings from one following Jesus on the back roads of life
The school year is winding down. We have four days left, and then the summer break will begin. I don’t know who is looking forward to summer more, the students or the teachers.
It’s starting to get warmer here in the sunny South. In a couple weeks, school will be out and the easy, breezy days of summer will begin for some. Others will just have to deal with the heat. It’s been a good week, although it didn’t end the way some thought it would. Maybe folks will finally be convinced that Jesus meant what he said in Matthew 24:36.
We had some storms roll through the area this week. There were a lot of trees knocked down, and some folks have been without power for five days. Thankfully, there was not the damage or loss of life that some have seen in the past few weeks. We have also been invaded by a plague of cicadas. I think they are the 17 year variety. They are pretty much just on our side of town where there are more old trees and not as many new neighborhoods.
Today is Kentucky Derby Day, one of the three days a year when I watch horse racing on TV. I don’t think there is a favorite to win the Triple Crown this year, but you never know. It’s been awhile, so maybe it’s time. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. To all the moms out there, I hope you have a good one. For those of you who are able, let your mother know how important she is and how much you love her.
This has been an interesting week. Terrible storms devastated large parts of the Southeast, particularly Alabama. It is heart breaking to see the destruction and loss of life, and it also good to see the Church moving in to help. Here in this part of the sunny South, it has been cooler than normal, but we have been spared the worst of the recent weather.
This week has been a week off because the schools are off. I caught up on some yard work and traveled to spend some time with my sister and her family. We went to a Stations of the Cross event in our town this evening. Tomorrow we’ll go to a Saturday vigil, and Sunday will see us at a sunrise service somewhere in town.
Weekend Wanderings is back after a three week hiatus. A lot of water has flowed under the proverbial bridge, and God has been teaching me a lot of things. I’ll try to share some of those in the future. I can’t begin to list all of the good links from the last three weeks, but you can look at the blogs and check some of them out if you so desire.
Anyway, here are some of the best:
This and this are huge. Read, reread, and read again.
Living the resurrected life.
These next few links are all courtesy of Scot McKnight: Bull what? This is for those of you who remember CSN&Y. Interesting article on Glenn Beck. When did the NCAA forget that it is supposed to be about the athletes?
A couple of good posts from Dan Allen on expository preaching, here and here.
Alan Knox writes about tradition.
Jesus has left the building (HT: Alan Knox).
Good words on good words from Kansas Bob.
What do we do with sehnsucht?
A prayer.
A post about something ridiculous.
A reminder.
Chaplain Mike on embracing God’s dream, and the heart of the kingdom.
Ronnie McBrayer writes about geysers and grace.
Incorporation, co-option. and the Gospel.
Better than a beating.
Donald Miller says that the heart knows the truth.
Have a great weekend.
Here in the sunny South, it seems we are going to skip spring and go straight to summer. It’s been in the high 70s, low 80s the last few days. Josh and I went into Charlotte today for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and festival. The parade lasted almost 2 hours, so we skipped the last part of it and went in search of food and beverage. I had a corned-beef sandwich and washed it down with a Guinness, followed by a Black and Tan. I’ve never had one of those before. It was quite tasty.
There’s been a lot going on this week, from the continuing problems in Japan to the military action in Libya. Sometimes it seems that all that ever happens in the world is war and disaster, but thankfully that’s not the case. Here are the links for the week:
Martha of Ireland has some good things to say about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
John Dyer’s thoughts on blogging. Chaplain Mike’s response.
Is evangelicalism at a tipping point? Scot McKnight weighs in.
Jesus at ground zero.
Jesus contends with religion.
Jesus of the Scars.
The original formula.
Alan Knox on adorning the doctrine of God.
Matt says that nobody really loves freedom.
Dan Allen has a good series on depression. The first post is here.
Jared Wilson says we need to change the subject.
Pray for American troops involved in the military action in Libya, and for the Marines in Japan helping with the growing nuclear disaster. Gave a great weekend.
The recent earthquake in Japan showed that good planning, and strong building codes can go a long way toward keeping a disaster from being much worse. It also showed that there is only so much that man can do when confronted with the power of nature. Please pray for the folks in Japan and other areas hit by the earthquake and tsunami.
Spring is on its ways here in the sunny South. March came in like a lamb, the daffodils are blooming, and the trees are getting ready to leaf out. Softball has started, and even though the team I coach is not the most talented, it should be a enjoyable season.