Darkness, Despair, and the Futility of Lamp-light

Light and Darkness Imagery in The Raven Among the many famous works of nineteenth century American writer Edgar Allen Poe, perhaps none is more well-known, analyzed, or celebrated than his 1845 work of narrative poetry, The Raven. Written from the first-person perspective, the poem tells the story of a nameless male narrator, as he laments […]

Without God, Morality is Meaningless

Contemporary Western culture is marked by a keen awareness of morality. We oppose all forms of injustice. We march in the streets in the name of ending racism. We protest oppressors and expose evildoers. The mood of public discourse in the West has revealed an inescapable truth: an innate sense of morality lies deep within […]

Evening Prayer of Examen

Take ten slow, deep breaths Invitation Holy Spirit, I welcome you. Help me become aware of your Presence. And as I reflect on the events of the day, I ask for clarity and understanding Of how you were at work today. Thanksgiving What am I especially grateful for in the past day? Petition O God, […]

Known | John 1:1-18

Morning Prayer Liturgy

Address Father God, Creator of heaven and earth, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God of Israel, God and Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Have mercy and hear our prayer First Prayers O Lord, open our lips, And our mouths will proclaim your praise. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, […]

Daily Scripture Readings

Daily Scripture Readings | November 22-28, 2020 Sunday, November 22, 2020 Psalm of the Day: Psalm 43 Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-28 Monday, November 23, 2020 Psalm of the Day: Psalm 44 Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:1-13 Tuesday, November 24, 2020 Psalm of the Day: Psalm 45 Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:14-27 Wednesday, November 25, 2020 Psalm of the […]

4 Free Resources for Studying the Bible

The Bible is an incredibly profound book. Through the texts included in the Bible, we can gain wisdom for life, come to understand ourselves and others better, and – most importantly – come to know the living God on an ever-deepening relational level. However, if we’re being honest, the Bible is hard to read, and […]

That They May Be One

John’s Vision of Church Unity The Gospel of John has been one of the most famous and widely-read books in the Christian Church from the time it was written and first circulated almost two thousand years ago, all the way up to our present day. John contains probably the most famous verse of the Bible,1 and some […]

Security in Obscurity

John the baptizer had gained a sizable following among the people of Israel. He was regarded by many to be a prophet, and indeed, to this day there is still a group known as the Mandeans, who revere John as the greatest prophet of God.1 His long-lasting legacy is a testament to the fact that […]

Listen

“Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” 1 For many Christians, prayer begins as a monologue, in which the believer talks to (or worse, at) God, and not much else. O what great a tragedy this is! While this first step is great (and certainly better than not praying at all), there is more to […]