Mark Ekstrom

Expectations

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin diseaseContinue reading “Expectations”

A Time for Peace

“Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it toward others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world.” Etty Hillesum Hello everyone. How are you doing? I mean reallyContinue reading “A Time for Peace”

Agents of Mercy

God’s mercy can make even the driest land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones (cf. Ez 37:1-14). … Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy,Continue reading “Agents of Mercy”

Oh Mercy

“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender people in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives … and the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals” Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde to Donald Trump For judgement willContinue reading “Oh Mercy”

Reaping a Great Harvest

In this republican country, amid the fluctuating waves of our social life, somebody is always at the drowning-point. Nathaniel Hawthorne, The House of the Seven Gables If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place. Rescue the perishing; don’t hesitate to step in and help.If you say, “Hey, that’sContinue reading “Reaping a Great Harvest”

Aftermath

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5 “We are in the world now as Christs; in the mist of this storm…if we do notContinue reading “Aftermath”

The Calm Before the Storm

Hello everyone – It has been quite some time since I last wrote anything in this blog. I hope you are all doing well. My goal is to once again get into the routine of writing regular weekly posts. A number of things have prevented me from doing this the last few months. First, IContinue reading “The Calm Before the Storm”

Vulnerable

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the authorities, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.Continue reading “Vulnerable”

Re-Make/Re-Model Re-visited

I tried but I could not find a wayLooking back, all I did was look away Roxy Music Re-Make/Re-Model To come to an inner unity, totality and wholeness, every part of our self should be accepted and integrated. Christ represents the light in us. But Christ was crucified between two murderers and we cannot denyContinue reading “Re-Make/Re-Model Re-visited”

Bright Sadness

Es ist ein Ros entsprungenAus einer Wurzel zartWie uns die Alten sungenVon Jesse kam die Art Und hat ein Blümlein brachtMitten im kalten WinterWohl zu der halben Nacht Lo, how a Rose e’er bloomingFrom tender stem hath sprung!Of Jesse’s lineage coming,As men of old have sung.It came, a flow’ret bright,Amid the cold of winter,When halfContinue reading “Bright Sadness”