As his brother, I don’t really have childhood memories that don’t include Roger. We were only 16 months apart so we shared everything – a room, clothes, and even friends. In my memories, he is in every scene. He is part of the furniture, one …
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The Sword of Gratitude
Darkness closes in. The silence is deafening. My vision is clouded. I can’t see a way out. Death marches on, threatening, intimidating, and piercing the very depths of my being. There is nothing I can do but wait. . . with heavy breathing and an …
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Gratitude, Hope, and Hospitals
Today my brother, Roger has travelled down to Lake Jackson by himself to visit us. (We’ve been in this house for close to 15 years and this is his first time to see it.) I’m grateful for the time we spent going to church, watching …
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Reclaimed Wood – Reclaimed Hearts
I clutch the head tightly with the claw and strain to pry the nail out of the flesh leaving an open wound. Sometimes it splinters even more. The bent nails must be hammered from the opposite side in order to be removed. Reclaimed wood is …
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Holy Week – Sunday – Risen – Jesus is Better
Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; John 20:1-21:25 Early Sunday morning a group of women took anointing oil to Jesus’ grave. However, what they found was not what they expected. They would not be anointing His body that day. Instead, an angel rolled away the …
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Holy Week – Saturday – Empty
Matthew 27:62-66; Luke 23:54b There is simply not much written about Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath day which followed Jesus’ death. It’s an empty day. The hearts of His disciples were empty too. They were hurting and mourning. They were fearful for what their own future …
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Holy Week – Friday – Good Friday
Matthew 27:1-61; Mark 15:1-47; Luke 23:1-56; John 18:28-19:42 Good? This is the day we remember Jesus’ death on the cross. How can something so terrible be good? Well…. it was the terrible price that God paid so that we (sinners) could be in relationship with …
Read MoreHoly Week – Sunday – Jerusalem Arrival
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:9-19 Palm Sunday is the day that we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem the week prior to His crucifixion and resurrection. Anyway, here’s what I learned about the culture of this whole: During Jesus’ day, Pilate ruled over …
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Holy Week – Thursday – Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-75; Mark 14:12-72; Luke 22:7-71; John 13:1-18:27 On Thursday of Holy Week, Jesus celebrated a traditional Passover meal with His disciples. (well… maybe not so traditional) He sent John and Peter ahead to get the meal prepared. When they arrived the disciples thought it …
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