Valor and Faithfulness: Meditation on Ruth 4

These are not essays on Ruth, nor are they sermons. They are meditations. Orient yourself toward God and rest in the Spirit. Listen to the words as they wash over you, and allow them to reach deep into your being and form you.

Perhaps you may find God, if you listen closely.

Below is the last of four audio recordings, each focused on one of the chapters of the book of Ruth. All you have to do is rest and allow your imagination, the words, and the Spirit to do their work.

Join me for the final of four meditations on the book of Ruth.

Valor and Faithfulness: Meditation on Ruth 3

Perhaps you may find God, if you listen closely.

Below is the third of four audio recordings, each focused on one of the chapters of the book of Ruth. All you have to do is rest and allow your imagination, the words, and the Spirit to do their work.

Join me for the third of four meditations on the book of Ruth.

Valor and Faithfulness: Meditation on Ruth 2

Perhaps you may find God, if you listen closely.

Below is the second of four audio recordings, each focused on one of the chapters of the book of Ruth. All you have to do is rest and allow your imagination, the words, and the Spirit to do their work.

Join me for the second of four meditations on Ruth.

Valor and Faithfulness: Meditation on Ruth 1

Perhaps you may find God, if you listen closely.

Below is the first of four audio recordings, each focused on one of the chapters of the book of Ruth. All you have to do is rest and allow your imagination, the words, and the Spirit to do their work.

Join me for the first of four meditations on the book of Ruth.

Meaningless: Reflections for Lent, Week 6

We are nearing the end of Lent, and completing our reflections on Ecclesiastes. It has been an illuminating exercise for me. Understanding has found me in a way it never has before with this text. It is both encouraging and nerve-wracking, showing me how much transformation I have yet to experience.

Meaningless: Reflections for Lent, Week 5

As we near Holy Week, it is appropriate that our reflections on Ecclesiastes take us to meditating on our mortality. Death comes for us all, whether wise or foolish, good or bad, just or selfish.

The writer of Ecclesiastes encourages us to acknowledge our limitations and our mortality. Yes, work hard. Yes, be prudent. Don’t be an idiot and make things harder by letting your selfish inclinations and evil desires get the best of you.

Meaningless: Reflections for Lent, Week 4

In this fourth week of Lent, the author of Ecclesiastes continues to speak to me. I have begun to believe this may be my favorite book of the Bible. Despite the uselessness of any teaching I have ever had on it before (including in my college and seminary classes on it), it has so much to offer.

I’m realizing that while it needs the context of the rest of the Bible to help illuminate exactly what it’s talking about, these 12 chapters contain the core of everything the whole Bible has to offer. It lacks the narrative of God’s people and Christ’s gospel, but the fundamental wisdom contained in both are here.

Meaningless: Reflections for Lent, Week 3

The writer of Ecclesiastes continues to challenge American common sense. The text continues to point toward the worthlessness of pursuing wealth and power. This third week of Lent, as we contemplate the Christ who gave up divinity, who let go of boundless power and ageless life, in order to experience something better, it’s hard not to see the parallels.

Meaningless: Reflections for Lent, Week 2

As we observe the second week of Lent, reflecting on the words of Ecclesiastes, I find myself thinking about the prominent people in our world as I read chapters 3 and 4. I also find reminders for myself. The work I do is important for my clients, and the money I earn is important for my family. The classes I take are important for our future. But if I spend so much time meeting my responsibilities and lose my relationships or let opportunities pass me by, I’m a fool.

Meaningless: Reflections for Lent, Week 1

Ecclesiastes. It’s so little understood. My youth pastor once encouraged a group of us to do a study on it and then apologized a few weeks in because it was just…. Well, what would you expect from a simplistic Bible study curriculum designed for teens? So much angst…

But it’s not the dark, useless whole in the middle of the Bible people tend to think it is. It’s beautiful really. It’s not really about what is meaningless, though it sure seems like it most of the time. It’s trying to show what really is meaningful by contrast. It’s the result of someone’s meditating long and hard about life, about love, about God.