“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” – John 13 Maundy Thursday is my second favorite worship service of the church year (Christmas Eve being my favorite). Perhaps, like me, you took your first communion on Maundy Thursday. ThereContinue reading “Maundy Thursday”
Author Archives: Mark Ekstrom
Holy Monday
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. – Psalm 51:17 Last week I wrote that we were living through strange days. While that remains true, these days are more than just strange; they are heartbreaking. I know that my heart isContinue reading “Holy Monday”
Strange Days
Animal pictures – just because “What do you think we’ll learn from this?” That’s my wife’s question regarding the Coronavirus pandemic. And I think it’s a very good question. Since Jody is a nurse, she’s probably wondering if our society will learn to practice better hygiene, learn to stay home when we’re sick,Continue reading “Strange Days”
So It Goes
How are you feeling these days? I don’t mean physically, but emotionally. These are anxious times and we are all trying to adapt to the new normal as best we can. Take this morning, for instance. My wife was scheduled to have a partial knee replacement at 7:30 a.m. She should be in surgery asContinue reading “So It Goes”
Fear Not
I delayed my blog one day so that I could write this: Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Now, I understand if your response is: “what’s so happy about it?!” After all, there’s the Coronavirus crisis, the Stock Market crisis, the toilet paper crisis, etc., etc. It seems like every day there is nothing but bad newsContinue reading “Fear Not”
Just One Look
March 9, 2020 Romans 5:1-11 Last week I mentioned that I have been collecting stamps since I was young. I didn’t get into collecting because I’d given it a lot of thought or because I figured it might be a good investment. No. It was love at first sight. The stamps pictured above are partContinue reading “Just One Look”
Covered in Grace
March 2, 2020 Romans 4:1-7 “So, this is retirement: sitting next to me on the couch watching Dr. Phil.” Thankfully my wife was joking when she said this. I say thankfully because a) I watch very little television in general, b) I despise daytime television in particular, and c) I am not a fan ofContinue reading “Covered in Grace”
Dust
A poem for Ash Wednesday Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return The mark of death weighs heavy on my brow. A mere trace of ash and oil but it brings remembrance of sacrifice and loss, sin and atonement. Surely I was sinful at birth Make me your own, reach downContinue reading “Dust”
Movement or Monument
A couple of truly extraordinary things happened yesterday. To begin with, for the first time in over a dozen years my wife Jody and I were able to worship together. This was also the first time I had been in a church since retiring from the ministry. It was wonderful to be able to sitContinue reading “Movement or Monument”
Mountains and Sunsets
Transfiguration Sunday: Matthew 17:1-9 My apologies for not getting my blog post out last week and for getting this one out late – I have been in Florida enjoying a break from the cold weather. It was unseasonably warm while we were there, which we didn’t mind in the least. Neither did the alligatorsContinue reading “Mountains and Sunsets”
Divine Overtones 