“Will No One Have the Guts to be a Sinner?” (Part 1)

Co-Missioners, This is another offering from your editor, Jerome Burce. In passing it along he observes that it’s been a long time in gestation, and is still a work in progress. A prelude of sorts appeared three and a half years ago in Thursday Theology. It introduced and accounted for the essay’s brusque title. That the essay itself is starting …

“Will No One Have the Guts to be a Sinner?” —Preface and Ur-text

Colleagues, The congregation I serve is going to celebrate the Reformation this coming Sunday. So will lots of other Lutheran churches in the U.S., and elsewhere too. Whether and how joyfully they do it will depend heavily on their pastors’ opinions about the merits of what happened in 1517 and thereafter, and, more to the point, about the value of …

God’s Facebook and the Other One

Hark, TIME’s year-end cover sings “Zuckerberg is king of kings.” His FACEBOOK now makes us able To undo the Tower of Babel. Joyful, from all nations rise, Linked as friends through cyber skies. Near one billion at his fountain [“Zuckerberg” means sugar-mountain!] But with his sugar can you cook Recipes from God’s Facebook? I’m doubtful. I speak from hands-on ignorance–I’m …

Can Rome be Home? Yes and No Answers from 2 Canadian Anglicans.

Colleagues, [Marie here. Ed’s pretty sick. He’s had erratic blood sugars, headache, nausea, developing into double vision and weakness. Blood tests, CAT scan, ophthalmalogical examination for intraocular pressure are all normal. No one knows what’s up. Duration now 12 days. Will see a neuroophthalmologist, but not for another 8 days. And with no diagnosis, there’s no treatment. Suggestions welcome. Ed …

When the Ultimate Promise is Terrifying

Co-missioners,

Kudos to writer Chris Neumann for today’s one-of-a-kind post. We urge it on you for three reasons.

First, Chris raises an issue that has never surfaced in Crossings. We know of no prior writer who has addressed it. That includes Bob Bertram and Ed Schroeder. We doubt that it has ever crossed your own minds as an issue that needs addressing.

Resurrection of Our Lord / Easter Sunday, Gospel, Year C

Kevin

FAITH RISING Luke 24:1-12 Resurrection of Our Lord Analysis by Nathan Hall 1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, [the women who had come with him (presumably Jesus, not Joseph of Arimathea) from Galilee] came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, …

Good Friday

Brandon Wade

CRUCIAL PREPOSITIONS Isaiah 52:13–53:12 Good Friday Analysis by Jerome Burce 13 See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. 14 Just as there were many who were astonished at him –so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals– 15 so he shall startle many …

Second Sunday after Pentecost

Brandon Wade

Dear Sabbatarians, This is your lucky day! Today you get three pericope studies for the price of one. This year’s lectionary jumps right over Proper 4 and 5 to Proper 6 for next week. The first two are studies by Mike Hoy and the third is by Betty Krafft. Peace and Joy, Robin WHAT MAKES FAITH REMARKABLE Luke 7:1-10 Second …

The Resurrection of our Lord

Brandon Wade

What Makes the Rejects Sing? Psalm 118 The Resurrection of our Lord analysis by Ed Schroeder A Crossings Matrix for Psalm 118, the lectionary psalm for Easter Psalm 118 is the most-frequently quoted Psalm in the NT, specifically two passages. One is the Easter-focused words about the stone, rejected and then rehabilitated (vv.22-23). The other is the Hosanna chant of …

#766 Ash Wednesday Musings, with a Nudge from Machiavelli

Colleagues, I’m sticking my neck out this week with a piece that will either please or appall, I don’t know which. I write with Christ’s glory in mind. May you read it in the same light. If there should be argument, let it be about that. What else is there to vaunt? A reminder that any and all submissions to …