Four Things on Friday
January 31, 2019
An Interesting
Article/Podcast
This episode is ridiculously long. That’s not to deter
you from listening to it, but you might want to listen while you are knocking
out a list of chores or something. There is a brief introductory article on the
web page, however, that will be helpful for the One Good Thing This Week section of this edition of Four Things on Friday.
Protect Your Noggin
is a joint effort of Jeff and Stacie Mallinson. I have referenced Jeff several
times in this little publication. I learned about him through the National
Youth Gathering. Since then, I have been listening and reading a lot of his
material. (Chris got me his book for Christmas. She is pretty amazing that
way!) I like how the Mallinsons tackle difficult topics and refuse to offer pat
answers.
At the end of every Protect
Your Noggin podcast Stacie wishes the listeners, “Peace upon peace.” The
first time I heard her say that, I thought it was kind of hokey, but the more
I’ve listened to the Mallinsons and thought about their message, it strikes me
that peace is something that many of us lack sorely in this life. At the same
time, it is something that Jesus promises us, and I have begun praying for peace
as I pray for myself, my family, and our congregation. I find myself taking
comfort in those words.
Quotes I’m
Pondering
“Grace isn’t just a theological concept. It’s something
that reorients our relationships.” – Jeff Mallinson, Sexy: The Quest for Erotic Virtue in Perplexing Times
“Peace upon peace!” – Stacie Mallinson, at the end of
every episode of Protect Your Noggin
One Good Thing
This Week
I got published!
After I listened to the podcast above, I was ruminating
on the topic and I wrote a poem on the topic. It’s not a happy rhyming poem,
but Molech isn’t a happy subject to think about. I shared it with the
Mallinsons and Jeff replied to me saying that he wanted to publish it on their
website. Here is a link: https://www.protectyournoggin.org/articles/molech-and-christ-poem
I’m pretty excited about this. I write a lot, but it is
mostly seen in-house – if it is seen at all. It is thrilling and humbling to
think that something that I wrote which is both theological and artistic was
considered worthy of sharing with a larger audience.
Our Scripture
readings for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany are:
Over the years I have learned that those who read the
Scripture lessons and spend a little time thinking about them before church on
Sunday get more out of the service.
The sermon is: To Fulfill the Law
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