“Our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the first day after the Sabbath. Although the first day after the Sabbath remains the first of all the days, it is nevertheless also called the eighth day. “
—Justin Martyr (c. 160) Ante-Nicene Fathers 1.215
Greetings! Here are eight things I found interesting last week that you might also:
1. In his article “When Darkness Is My Closest Friend”, Randy Newman shares four sources of help in his battle against depression: “The complexities of our personhood, the richness of the Psalms, the examples in Scripture, and the benefits from practical strategies.” Interestingly, but not surprisingly, Newman finds the richness of the Psalms to be “the most potent antidepression medication.”
2. “First-century Christians weren’t prepared for what a truly radical and radically inclusive figure Jesus was, and neither are today’s Christians. We want to tame and domesticate who he was, but Jesus’ life and ministry don’t really allow for it. He shattered barrier after barrier.” Read the rest of what Peter Wehner has to say about “The Forgotten Radicalism of Jesus Christ.”
3. In case you missed it, I wrote about how I regularly read through and pray Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible.
4. “Ears to Hear”: Did you know there are currently 40 different yearly calendar systems in use in the world? I didn’t either! George Grant provides a fascinating history lesson on the development of our current calendar year in “Word Play – New Year, Old Calendar.”
5. “Eyes to See”: “The Three Paths”
6. Quote of the week: “When I remember my baptism, I remember the baptism of Jesus. I remember that I committed myself to the way of the cross, the mission of God, and to the ministry of the kingdom. I remember that God poured out the Spirit upon me. I remember that God sang over me in that moment. God announced that despite all my failures and faults—‘You are my child,’ ‘You are loved,’ and ‘I am delighted with you!’ God, even with my sins, celebrated me then and continues to rejoice over me now.” –John Mark Hicks, Enter the Water, Come to the Table: Baptism and Lord's Supper in the Bible's Story of New Creation, p. 46
7. Verse of the week: For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18 ESV)
8. Prayer of the week:
“Thou who art over us,
Thou who art one of us,
Thou who art –
Also within us,
May all see Thee – in me also,
May I prepare the way for Thee,
May I thank Thee for all that shall fall to my lot,
May I also not forget the needs of others,
Keep me in Thy love
As Thou wouldest that all should be kept in mine.
May everything in this my being be directed to Thy glory
And may I never despair.
For I am under Thy hand,
And in Thee is all power and goodness.
Give me a pure heart – that I may see Thee,
A humble heart – that I may hear Thee,
A heart of love – that I may serve Thee,
A heart of faith – that I may abide in Thee.” (Dag Hammarskjöld, Markings, p. 100)
May the peace of Christ be with you.
BWN