Monthly Archives: February 2013

Time is grace

Posted on February 27, 2013 by theoutwardquest

The gospel reading in the Revised Common Lectionary for this Sunday is Luke 13:1-9.  The first five verses issue a call to repentance.  People bring two incidents to Jesus’ attention.  First, Pilate has killed some Galileans while they were making sacrifices. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lectionary, Seasonal | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Apology-making it right

Posted on February 26, 2013 by theoutwardquest

I have covered two elements of apology: remorse and taking responsibility. Chapman and Thomas in The Five Languages of Apology present these as different languages of apology.  In other words, for some people expressing regret and remorse is what makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Purim

Posted on February 23, 2013 by theoutwardquest

In solidarity with the Jewish celebration read the book of Esther. Or watch this music video by the Maccabeats.  We gentiles can be the toga-wearers who join the party.

Posted in Seasonal | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Apology-taking responsibility

Posted on February 21, 2013 by theoutwardquest

I have another Lenten reflection on Chapman and Thomas’s The Five Languages of Apology. Beyond expressing regret, a second element of an apology is accepting responsibility.  Chapman tells how his little son once responded to the accusation of knocking a … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Apologies-specific with no excuses

Posted on February 20, 2013 by theoutwardquest

I am back to the subject of apologizing.  There is a similarity between apologizing to some  person that you have harmed and repenting before God.  Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas in The Five Languages of Apology say that sometimes you may … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal, Spirituality | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Moses and Elijah explain Christianity

Posted on February 19, 2013 by theoutwardquest

Among the readings for the second Sunday in Lent is Luke 9:28-36.  It is the set gospel for Roman Catholics and an option for most Protestants. The scripture is Luke’s version of the Transfiguration.  On a mountain top Moses and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Lectionary, Seasonal | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Repentence, Apology, and Lent

Posted on February 18, 2013 by theoutwardquest

Lent is a season of penitence. What is penitence? Is it like apologizing to God? I bring this up because I have been reading Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas’s Five Languages of Apology.  Chapman is pretty well known among marriage … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal, Spirituality | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

For Lent-a prayer of penitence

Posted on February 16, 2013 by theoutwardquest

Here is a beautiful rendering of the prayer in Psalm 51.  It is in Hebrew with English subtitles.  And it is set to music.

Posted in Psalms, Seasonal, Spirituality | Tagged | Leave a comment

A link on Lent

Posted on February 14, 2013 by theoutwardquest

I have come to appreciate Walter Russel Mead on many topics.  Here he has a short take on Lent. “Those smudges you see on some foreheads today aren’t really about doom and gloom; they are about a hope so bright … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal, Spirituality | Tagged | Leave a comment

Almost Christian-between bigotry and whatever-ism

Posted on February 14, 2013 by theoutwardquest

Kendra Creasy Dean has obviously spent a lot of time struggling with the results of the studies she sites (she has put the details of the studies in two extensive appendices).  She has struggled with the prevalence of the almost-Christian … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Theology | Tagged , | Leave a comment