“Let us joyful be, and sing to God right thankfully loud songs of Alleluia” — from verse 1 of Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bonds Crank it up! We’ve been too mournful, too self-serving and too timid. When he wrote this next Easter hymn in our series in 1524, Martin Luther piled on heavy…

“Jesus rose from the grave to redeem all of life.” Pretty good line.  That’s why those conservative Presbyterians put that sentence on the outside of the flyer they mailed. It’s printed in the middle of the page, surrounded by images of various work-related responsibilities. Lifting that outer flap, the next one to appear reads simply,…

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” — Psalm 122:1 Too many people in too many places today can’t. We can. We have the opportunity so let’s do what this Scripture says. Let’s get glad and go.

“In every insult, rift, and war, where color, scorn, or wealth divide, he suffers still, yet loves the more, and lives, though ever crucified.” — verse 4 of Christ Is Alive Jesus wasn’t kidding. He meant it when he said, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) In times of disruption, division and death, it’s still…

“O sons and daughters, let us sing! The King of heaven, the glorious King, o’er death and hell rose triumphing. Alleluia! Alleluia!”  —verse 1 of  O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing What song’s playing for you right now? Nine verses long, this next Easter song in our hymnal tells of both the empty tomb…

They crucified my Savior, and nailed Him to the cross Then Joseph begged his body and laid it it in the tomb Sister Mary she came running, a-looking for my Lord An angel came from heaven and rolled the stone away And the Lord will bear my spirit home. CHORUS: He rose, He rose, He…

“‘Tis the spring of souls today; Christ hath burst his prison, and from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen; all the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying from his light, to whom we give laud and praise undying.” —verse 2 of Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain It’s over.…

“I’d stay in the garden with him Though the night around me be falling, but he bids me go; through the voice of woe his voice to me is calling.” —verse 3 of In the Garden My most recent blog entry was about a line from one of Vincent van Gogh’s letters.  There I wrote…

“Life here is a kind of sowing time,” begins a sentence he wrote. It’s included in another movie at this year’s Roger Ebert Film Festival, The Life and Death of Vincent van Gogh. Richly evocative, this documentary features actor John Hurt reading from Vincent’s letters to his brother as the voice-over.  The camera explores the backstories…

Three powerful, poignant films today at The Roger Ebert Film Festival in Champaign, Illinois. The opener, Oslo, August 31st had this line: “They taught me that religion is a weakness.  I’m not sure I agree.” Spoken of his parents, by a man about to finish a substance abuse residential rehab. If he were your friend, how…