Cruciformed #2: Beyond Our Blurry Vision

As we journey with Jesus down his way of the cross, something grabs our hearts. That drawing power reaches through the centuries. When our kids were small, they were both avid TV learners. Our daughter loved Mr. Rogers. She would answer him when he asked questions. She would say, “Goodbye, Mistuh Wojuhs!” at the end of the show and tears would roll down her cheeks. Our son was the Sesame Street kid, for sure. One of the segments that he loved when he was very young had a song that would stick in your brain all day — sometimes to the point of wanting to beat your head against the wall because it became the incessant background noise of the day. That segment? “One of these things is not like the others…” (Yes, I bet some of you can hear that song now and will for the rest of the day!) In that “not like the others” segment, kids were supposed to figure out which one of the objects on the screen was not like the other ones — notice the controversial example below, as the comments on YouTube emphasize some of the higher reasoning needed to make this distinction. If you cannot see the above video, check it out online. At the first turning point in the Gospel of Mark, he tells us about a miracle of Jesus that was not like any other. NONE of the other three gospels has an account of it. Mark chose this miracle to emphasize what he was doing in his story of Jesus. See if you can determine what makes this miracle so perplexingly unique: They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village” (Mark 8:22-26). Did you catch the way this miracle is different? This man’s blindness required a double-dose of Jesus’ healing power! What? Why was a double-dose of Jesus’ healing power required? What was going on in this miracle? Mark wasn’t worried that we might think Jesus couldn’t do the miracle. He had stilled storms and calmed raging winds. Jesus had cast out a legion of demons. He had raised the dead, restored sight to the blind, helped the lame to walk, cleansed those in advance stages of leprosy, restored shriveled arms, and fed the multitudes. The issue wasn’t Jesus’ power, but something that Jesus wanted to teach his closest disciples. Mark also saw that this lesson would be indispensable for us, too. Jesus chose to do the miracle in two moves to alert us to our need for deeper healing of our out-of-focus wrong-sighted view of him as our Savior. The previous interactions of Jesus with his apostles and the crowds showed that they were not “getting him”: they had trouble understanding what Jesus did, why he did it, what he was about, and what he wanted them to learn. The episode that follows Mark’s account of the blind man’s healing is Peter’s confession. Peter confessed Jesus’ rightful identity (Mark 8:29), but he did not understand (or would not believe) that Jesus’ role as Messiah and Son of God required him to die on a cross (Mark 8:31-33). Peter only partially saw Jesus! Like the rest of the apostles and the crowd that followed Jesus, Peter desired the all-powerful and liberating Jesus. He yearned for a Messiah who could do anything for him and the people. He wasn’t ready for nor did he want God’s Messiah, the one who would submit himself to death on a Roman cross as a ransom for all people (Mark 10:45). Peter, the other apostles, and the crowds wanted Jesus as the triumphant and all-powerful Savior; they didn’t want him as the Suffering Servant for all people (Isaiah 53:1-12). They sure didn’t want Jesus to be the Lord who called them to follow him in the way of the cross and sacrificial service to others (Mark 8:34-38; 9:33-37; 10:35-45). Like the blind man, Jesus’ followers needed a double-dose of healing to see completely. Mark wanted all of us to recognize that “one of these things is not like the others”! Jesus’ definition of the Messiah, Son of God, is different from every other human definition. Mark wanted us to realize that this blind man and his story of a double-dose of healing is about us — about you and me and our persistently confused ways of seeing. What followed this healing is a series of episodes in Jesus’ ministry where he repeatedly spoke about the necessity of being rejected (betrayals and trials), reviled (crucified and mocked), and resurrected on the third day (Mark 8:31-32; 9:30-32; 10:32-34). All along the way, the disciples of Jesus said and did things that showed they still needed this second dose of healing. They refused to accept the way of the cross and sacrificial service. They argued over who would occupy the places of prominence. So, they had to journey with Jesus. They had to endure watching him being rejected, reviled, and resurrected before they could begin to see clearly. Jesus’ way of coming as Messiah, Son of God, and Savior, meant that he lived as the one who was not like any others. He refused to be defined by the shallow human definitions of titles. Jesus chose to redefine these titles by what he did and what he sacrificed as he journeyed to the cross and through the empty tomb. As we journey with Jesus down his way of the cross, something grabs our hearts.

CRUCIFORMED!

For us to be ‘cruciformed’ means that we offer our hearts to be reshaped to be like Jesus’ heart. It means we offer ourselves to be used by God to bless and serve others. “Do it again, Phil! That is so cool!” my brother, Byron, excitedly yelled. I slapped another sheet of plastic into the frame, then flipped it over the heating element. While the plastic warmed, I put my chosen shape onto the vacuum bed. When the plastic began to sag, I flipped the pliable sheet of plastic on top of the mold, then pumped the vacuum lever like a wild man. The suction drew the soft plastic tightly over the shape on the vacuum bed. I held the plastic in place until it began to cool. I removed the plastic sheet, separated it from the mold, and then trimmed the excess plastic from the newly formed object. I glued this newly formed piece (the top side of a tugboat) to the previously formed piece (the hull). I had made a floating toy boat to get my brother out of my hair. He quickly filled the sink with water and sudsy shampoo to play with his new toy. I then began making some neat stuff for myself! What a blast! Nothing like heat, melting plastic, levers, a vacuum pump, and old caustic plastic cement in the hands of a little boy! Which is probably why I haven’t seen one of those Vac-U-Forms advertised in decades. However, I won’t forget what happens when warmed plastic is pulled over a mold and is sucked tight to it. That plastic is re-formed, or maybe better, transformed into something new. Paul described this process in spiritual terms to the Corinthians. He first spoke of the finished work of a person transformed to be like Jesus: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17). Notice the next phrase Paul wrote, as well: “All this is from God…”! The Corinthians’ transformation was not something that they pulled off for themselves. Only God could do this kind of work. True transformation is something far beyond our human ability to achieve. We can no more “re-form” or transform ourselves into a new creation than the plastic sheet could make itself into a toy. However, we do have a part to play in this process of transformation. Just as the plastic must be heated and give up its shape and become pliable to be re-formed, so must we. We must offer our wills to be re-created by God. Our hearts must be willing to be “de-formed” to be transformed by the Holy Spirit into the likeness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). So, what can make our wills pliable? Why would we offer our hearts to be “de-formed” so we could be transformed? Paul suggests it’s the power in Jesus’ self-sacrifice on the cross: God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). While Jesus’ death on the cross may appear to be a ridiculous way to reach the hearts of a lost world, Paul knew the great power of Jesus’ self-giving death on the cross to draw people to him (1 Corinthians 1:20-25; cf. John 12:27-34). Mark broke his gospel story of Jesus into three parts, centering his message on the importance of the cross.[ONE] Today’s message is a glimpse of this story so that we can see our goal that lies at our stories goal. In Mark’s key central section on discipleship, Jesus repeatedly told his closest followers that he would go to Jerusalem, be killed, and then rise from the dead on the third day (Mark 8:31-32; 9:30-32; 10:32-34). They could not grasp what he was saying. In fact, the first time Jesus told them, Peter rebuked the Lord for saying he was going to die in Jerusalem (Mark 8:32). Because Jesus’ disciples could not — or perhaps, WOULD not — understand his going to the cross, they misunderstood what the Lord was calling them to do with their lives. He emphasized their need to follow his example of self-giving love to serve others (Mark 10:45). For them to follow Jesus as their Lord, however, they would have to be “cruciformed”! They must be reshaped by the cross of Christ so that the Holy Spirit could transform them into Jesus’ likeness. They must be “cruciformed”! And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:34-35). For us to be “cruciformed” means that we offer our hearts to be reshaped to be like Jesus’ heart. It means we offer ourselves to be used by God to bless and serve others, not seek special recognition for ourselves. Each of us must die to our selfish will and walk with Jesus in the way of the cross, choosing that God’s will, not our will, be done in our lives. Being conformed to Jesus through the cross is one of the reasons that baptism was more emphasized in the early church than it is in many groups today.[TWO] More than something they did — remember, baptism is a passive verb, an act of grace that someone else does to the believer — baptism was a time when early disciples shared in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection while declaring their faith in him as their Savior (Romans 6:3-14; Colossians 2:11-12; 3:1-4). They offered themselves to be “re-formed” into the likeness of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. They voluntarily gave themselves to God to be “cruciformed” — to be transformed by Christ and to be clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).

Key Resources for Resurrection Sunday, Holy Week, Commission and Ascension Sundays

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete (1 John 1:1-4). Over the years, many of us have looked for the visual resources to help our brothers and sisters in Christ better visualize the world of Jesus and the way our Savior lived and touched people. Our faith is rooted in the bedrock truth of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-7). The Renaissance masters who painted Jesus may have created great art, but they did a huge disservice to the historical times and reality of Jesus. Statuary has even gone further in distorting the physical reality of Jesus and his human family. As we approach Resurrection Sunday and journey through Holy Week, many families, teachers, and friends are looking for images to go with the Scriptures they use to share Jesus’ story with their children, families, and loved ones. We wanted to share what we consider three invaluable resources for you to use for graphic images as you tell the story of Jesus. Yes, we know many of you are tuned into The Chosen and grabbing as many of their devotional and Bible study resources as you can. That is a good resource to get a feel for the gritty reality of Jesus and his world. However, the resources we are offering you are easy to share in very personal ways. These are resources you can leave in the hands of those you love to be an ongoing blessing to them. Let’s remember that we pursue Jesus so we can become JESUShaped disciples and share Jesus’ life, teachings, and love with the world (2 Corinthians 3:18). Below, you will find upcoming articles for Holy Week, Ascension, and Pentecost-related topics: Cruciformed! Cruciformed #2: Beyond Our Blurry Vision Cruciformed #3: Listen to Him! Cruciformed #4: Only by Prayer Cruciformed #5: The Power of Small Cruciformed #6: The Gamble Cruciformed #7: He Knew! Resurrection 2.0: The Empty Tomb Cruciformed #8: The Land of In-between Resurrection 2.1: In the Breaking of the Bread Resurrection 2.2: Sometimes I Doubt Resurrection 2.3: Unless…! Resurrection 2.4: We Hear His Voice Resurrection 2.5: Sarcastic Ridicule Resurrection 2.6: The Lord of Fresh Starts ToGather: Thanking God for Our Women of Faith Resurrection 2.7: Let the Clouds Remind You Resurrection 2.8: With Christ The Pentecost Challenge Below, you will find images of Jesus’ journey from the upper room to the resurrection from two online resources: Free Bible Images — We especially love the photos section, but there all sorts of images for Bible stories, both photos and illustrations at FreeBibleImages.org. Video Bible — A friend of VerseoftheDay.com and Heartlight.com works with VideoBible.com has given us a sneak peak of the Passion related images that will be used in their Bible video. The Jesus Film Project offers great word for word Bible text to narrate each of the Gospels while gritty, real-to-life sets and actors present the story of Jesus visually. This is part of the CRU ministry and is a wonderful resource we have used for years based on the Lumo Project. Below are several images that give you a sneak peek of a few of these image resources. Hopefully, they give you ideas of how effective and powerful they can be as well as get you thinking of ways you can use them for the good of the Kingdom. In addition, we hope you will explore what they offer and help them continue their ministries! We pray you are blessed by simply going through these images and Scriptures to help you tell the story of Jesus’ journey through the cross to the resurrection for us! We are blessed to have a resurrected Savior. Let’s close this post on resources by reminding ourselves of the greatest resource for life that has ever been present on our planet! Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9). About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil

Sighing for Home

How do we deal with the longing? Oh… water… well… gate… Bethlehem. Now go back and say those five words with deep longing several times. You see, David longed for more than just a sip of water when he used those five words to say: “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” (2 Samuel 23:15). Most of us have been there — emotionally and physically spent. Things aren’t going like we thought they would. Then we hear a sound, pick up an aroma, hear a song, or are reminded of something comforting we have experienced in the past. Suddenly, we can’t get it out of our head. We think about it incessantly. David has gone through a long struggle and tried to handle it honorably. Yet the bottom line remains the same, he is a hunted man and finds himself living in the most rugged places trying to avoid capture and death (2 Samuel 23:13-15). During the obvious struggles that he faces each day just to survive, there are deeper emotional ones. Will he continue to trust that God will keep his promises? Is he ever going to be universally recognized as King? Will he have to hide, living like a wild animal, all the days of his life? Will he ever get to go home again? Can life return to the simple, idyllic, God-worshipping days he once had as a shepherd boy? No wonder he longs for a simpler time when life’s plans were not so murky and God’s presence felt so much closer. So David’s mind drifts back as remembers a place from his earlier years. A well. It’s by the gate. It’s located in the city of Bethlehem, his own place of birth. Ah, and the water… yes the water… it’s so cool and crisp and clean and comforting. If only I could be a boy again and not pursued by crazy King Saul. Oh my, that water was so good and I miss that time of largely untested faith! And possibly even before he realized it, with a sigh he said something like, “O for some water from the well near the gate in the city of Bethlehem.” It wasn’t really a request that someone risk breaking through the Philistine army garrisoned there. He wasn’t really asking one of his mighty men to risk his life to go behind enemy lines to get David a simple drink of water from the old well of his childhood. It was merely a sigh that betrayed a yearning stirring deep inside him for something simple, familiar, refreshing, comforting, and that reminded him of home. David’s mighty men were so dedicated to him that they risked life and limb to get the water for their leader who had such deep yearning for something so simple and yet so lost to him. So David did something that seems, at best strange, and at worst, down right cruel. He poured out the water onto ground saying he was not worthy of the risk and potential sacrifice of troops so important to Israel’s future, only God was worthy of such a sacrifice (2 Samuel 23:16-17). In the old hymn “Home of the Soul,”* there’s a lines that go somewhat like this: Oft in the storm, lonely are we,Sighing for home, longing for Thee, Yes, there is a restlessness in our soul that sighs and yearns for God’s presence to be real and close, and as experienceable as a cup of cool water from the old familiar well of our childhood. Whether you want to call it a “God-shaped hole,” the restless “itch” of addiction, or simply “going home to a place we’ve never been before,” the yearning and sighing ultimately can be comforted only by a recognizable experience of God’s nearness — the holy, tangible, and real presence of the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. So let’s not dumb down our discipleship to a mere need for religious experience: we need Immanuel, God with us. And Scripture promises us that we can experience God and his nearness in a variety of ways. We’ve looked at four different ways Matthew reminds us that are ways God has given us to experience his presence: Through the story of Jesus (Matthew 1:23). Through living as family in accountability, forgiveness, and concern for our lost ones (Matthew 18:20). Through serving the vulnerable around us who are in need (Matthew 25:40). Through living out the Great Commission across the lost world (Matthew 28:18-20). Mark talks about following the powerful Jesus in living a life sacrifice to serve those who are lost (Mark 10:45). Luke would point us to living as Jesus’ disciples, witnesses to the lost world of Jesus’ powerful presence, by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:36-47; Acts 4:12). John reminds us of Jesus’ promise to not leave us alone as abandoned orphans, but that he would come to us and show himself to us as the Comforter, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to live in us and lead us into all truth (John 14:14-31; John 15:26-27; John 16:12-15). So what’s the point? Don’t deny the longing, the sighing, the groaning, and the yearning for more of God’s presence. We were designed and made for a real relationship with the present, experienceable, and real presence of God. So open back up your Bible, spend some time in the four gospels and the book of Acts, and begin to ask God to show the real Jesus, who longs to make God’s presence real to you. Don’t settle for less, because your heart yearns for more! * “Home of the Soul” with the music written by Samuel W. Beazley and the lyrics by James Rowe. For Going Deeper: John Eldredge’s book Beautiful Outlaw:Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus is a great place to start. Hang on, it will blow the religious fog out of your life! Gary Thomas book Sacred Pathways:

Key Resources for Resurrection Sunday and Holy Week

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete (1 John 1:1-4). Over the years, many of us have looked for the visual resources to help our brothers and sisters in Christ better visualize the world of Jesus and the way our Savior lived and touched people. Our faith is rooted in the bedrock truth of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-7). The Renaissance masters who painted Jesus may have created great art, but they did a huge disservice to the historical times and reality of Jesus. Statuary has even gone further in distorting the physical reality of Jesus and his human family. As we approach Resurrection Sunday and journey through Holy Week, many families, teachers, and friends are looking for images to go with the Scriptures they use to share Jesus’ story with their children, families, and loved ones. We wanted to share what we consider three invaluable resources for you to use for graphic images as you tell the story of Jesus. Yes, we know many of you are tuned into The Chosen and grabbing as many of their devotional and Bible study resources as you can. That is a good resource to get a feel for the gritty reality of Jesus and his world. However, the resources we are offering you are easy to share in very personal ways. These are resources you can leave in the hands of those you love to be an ongoing blessing to them. Let’s remember that we pursue Jesus so we can become JESUShaped disciples and share Jesus’ life, teachings, and love with the world (2 Corinthians 3:18). Below, you will find images of Jesus’ journey from the upper room to the resurrection from two online resources: Free Bible Images — We especially love the photos section, but there all sorts of images for Bible stories, both photos and illustrations at FreeBibleImages.org. Video Bible — A friend of VerseoftheDay.com and Heartlight.com works with VideoBible.com has given us a sneak peak of the Passion related images that will be used in their Bible video. The Jesus Film Project offers great word for word Bible text to narrate each of the Gospels while gritty, real-to-life sets and actors present the story of Jesus visually. This is part of the CRU ministry and is a wonderful resource we have used for years based on the Lumo Project. Below are several images that give you a sneak peek of a few of these image resources. Hopefully, they give you ideas of how effective and powerful they can be as well as get you thinking of ways you can use them for the good of the Kingdom. In addition, we hope you will explore what they offer and help them continue their ministries! We pray you are blessed by simply going through these images and Scriptures to help you tell the story of Jesus’ journey through the cross to the resurrection for us! We are blessed to have a resurrected Savior. Let’s close this post on resources by reminding ourselves of the greatest resource for life that has ever been present on our planet! Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9). About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.

Daily Prayer for April 9

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. John 14:18-21, NIV Lord our God, dear Father in heaven, we are gathered in your presence through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Reveal to us our Savior Jesus Christ. May the Savior be revealed to us; otherwise in our need we will never come through. Grant that at this late hour for the world we may see him as he is, and through him and through the kingdom that he brings we may be lifted above the troubles of our time. Strengthen our hearts every day, and fill us with joy because you guide everything on earth as in heaven; in the end you will give us the victory that belongs to the kingdom you have founded. May we be comforted through all eternity in this kingdom, a kingdom far greater and more glorious than all the kingdoms of the world. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Why Self-Denial? Dietrich Bonhoeffer Self-denial is not individual acts of self-torment or asceticism. Read now Ora et Labora: The Benedictine Work Ethic William P. Hyland Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism, teaches us to fuse prayer and work. Read now Comfort for the Godforsaken Cameron Coombe Jürgen Moltmann knew where to point those feeling abandoned by God, not least a student in a mental health crisis at the other end of the earth. Read now Dancing with Neighbors Tessa Carman Saying no to certain kinds of tech makes more room for living. Read now An Easter Letter Heinrich Arnold A Bruderhof pastor’s message to his communities calls each of us to wake up to what God is doing in our world. Read now

Daily Prayer for April 4

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him…I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” John 1:32, 34, NIV Our Father in heaven, as your children may we truly receive something from you to bring our lives into a living bond with you. Grant that we may overcome everything harmful and evil. May it be given to us to help that your kingdom may come closer and closer, that your will may be done, and Jesus Christ, your Son, may be recognized as the light of the world for the salvation of all people and their deliverance from all evil. Protect us and grant that your Spirit may remain with us. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Kim Min-Ki’s Songs for Everyone Chungyon Won A legendary Korean songwriter gave his people a common language of resistance and hope. Read now What I Learned Tagging Along to My Parents’ Work Stephen G. Adubato As a child, observing my parents on the job demystified their work and, I see now, shaped me in several beneficial ways. Read now The Coming of the King Laura E. Richards In this short Easter story, some children prepare for the arrival of a king and receive someone quite different. Read now Rediscovering Pope John Paul II Nathan Beacom Twenty years after his death, it’s a good time to take a fresh look at the legacy of a remarkable man. Read now The Thin Brown Line Steve Guthrie Can the police ensure public safety? G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown suggests the responsibility might lie elsewhere. Read now

Daily Prayer for March 23

This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances.” Isaiah 49:8, NIV Lord our God, protect us in your Spirit. Strengthen our hearts especially when we often have to bear suffering, that we may be steadfast in hope and may again and again experience a day of salvation. Protect us in every way. Accept our praise and thanks, and let our hearts rejoice in what you have already done for us. We want to discern your ways more and more so that we may please you as your servants. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Its Just Stuff What Estate Sales Reveal About Us Sherry Shenoda An estate sale is a sort of liminal space – a passing on of the accumulated flotsam of a life. Read now Can You Find Jesus in This Painting? Sr. Carino Hodder, OP Art often portrays Christ larger than life, but works where he isn’t might tell us more about our spiritual lives. Read now The Rewards of Elder Care Maureen Swinger At the Bruderhof, I’ve learned that caregiving can be draining – and also immensely enriching. Read now She’s Dead! Kate Susong Be forewarned: This story contains death and a dead body. And even worse, you will laugh. Read now Advice from a Senior Demon C. S. Lewis How best to corrupt a human from C. S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters. Read now

Daily Prayer for March 14

Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. Isaiah 4:5-6, NIV Dear Father in heaven, our refuge for this day and for each day to come, touch us with the finger of your power. Be our protection and strong defense against all attacks of darkness. Where people look to you out of the darkness, let their eyes grow shining bright with the light from your eyes. Let your light shine within us and around us. Let your light bring your cause to victory, to the final great day of Jesus Christ. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough The Workism Trap Bobby Jamieson No, your career is not your path to fulfillment. Read now Building Solidarity in Europe’s Gig Economy Ben Wray Food-delivery bike riders in London, Berlin, and Copenhagen are pushing back against their algorithmic bosses. Read now The First Task of the Church Stanley Hauerwas The most creative political solutions Christians have to offer our troubled society are not new laws, advice to policymakers, or social programs. Read now The Flamingo Loophole Alice Pistolesi How a climbing gym in the war-scarred Balkans brought residents and migrants together. Read now Why Watch The Brutalist? Chris Zimmerman Brady Corbet’s Oscar-winning film may be long and bleak, but it won’t disappoint the intrepid viewer. Read now

Daily Prayer for March 13

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6, NIV Dear Father in heaven, may our hearts find words to praise you together, to ask you with one accord that we may be brought into community with you. We come to you with our whole selves, with all that we have experienced, with all that has been given to us through your leading. For to this day you have shown us the way, guiding us through right and wrong, through the perfect and the imperfect. You have led us all to know that we belong to you. We are yours. You are working in us to bring about what you have in mind for each one of us and for the many, many who hunger and thirst for justice and truth. Be with us through your Spirit. Touch us through the hand of Jesus Christ. He is our Savior, and we hold fast to him so that we can praise you in his name. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Building Solidarity in Europe’s Gig Economy Ben Wray Food-delivery bike riders in London, Berlin, and Copenhagen are pushing back against their algorithmic bosses. Read now The First Task of the Church Stanley Hauerwas The most creative political solutions Christians have to offer our troubled society are not new laws, advice to policymakers, or social programs. Read now The Flamingo Loophole Alice Pistolesi How a climbing gym in the war-scarred Balkans brought residents and migrants together. Read now Why Watch The Brutalist? Chris Zimmerman Brady Corbet’s Oscar-winning film may be long and bleak, but it won’t disappoint the intrepid viewer. Read now Can Hobbies Bridge Political Divides Aryana Petrosky Bonding over shared passions can help dissipate political divisions, but only if we don’t let our hobbies become politicized. Read now