It’s a little later than usual for the Sunday Night Update, but it’s been an extra busy Sunday. So if you’re reading on Monday morning, the information is just as vital and intriguing as it always is. (Yes, I’m smiling!) Welcome new subscribers, all four of you! I’m vain enough to look, so I’ll share that we have 396 subscribers to Hope Remains - and four more would make it a fun 400. I’ll show you how easy it is:
That’s as easy as I can make it folks! Of course, if any of you unsubscribe during the week, well … let’s not think about that.
March is on its way by the end of the week. I’m ready to start planting some seeds. I have a ton of Purple Bean Hyacinth Vine seeds that came from a very hearty vine this past year. If you’re local I’d be happy to share some with you. If you are at a distance, I’d be willing to send you some but I’d need you to pay the postage. Message me if you’d like some! March has some interesting holidays. What’s your favorite? (I’m not including Easter on purpose … calling it a ‘holiday’ just doesn’t seem right to me.
I did some backyard birding this week and have a few that I’ve shared in social media, but not here. One a cardinal molting and windblown, the other a hawk scoping out his next meal, and the third one is the dreaded gumball tree that is not in my yard, but reaches over it dropping spiky bombs that hurt my dog’s feet.
I saw lots of pictures of alligators out sunning at Black Bayou Lake NWR, but I had some things to do that kept me from visiting out there for the past several days.
TODAY AT FORSYTHE I concluded my series of messages called Keys to Courageous Faith. From here we move into the last week of Jesus’ life, which will carry us through the rest of Mark’s Gospel, concluding on Easter Sunday. In addition to that we had a funeral this afternoon and a GriefShare gathering. Our topic for GriefShare this week was ‘Regrets’. Anyone who has suffered a loss understands the significance of that subject. All of this activity leads to what I refer to as ‘a good kind of tired’.
Last week I mentioned the passing of one of our church members. His funeral service was today at Forsythe, and it was literally standing-room only. In the Sermons From Forsythe Substack, I posted my eulogy for Richard Myers along with a video link (HERE). Richard lived his life in such a way that writing his eulogy was a wonderful experience for me, and hopefully a healing moment for his family.
READING
I’m still continuing with The Cruelest Month, the third in Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series. I enjoy these so much I am in no hurry to finish! I finished Robert Bailey’s The Last Trial, which is the third in his four-part series featuring the fictional McMurtrie and Drake. The last in the series is called The Final Reckoning, and I have it loaded on my Kindle and Audible. I’m reading The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge. Rutledge is a punchy writer. More than once in the chapters I have read thus far she has caused me to sit up, highlight, underline, and contemplate. It’s not the simplest read, perhaps aimed more at a Seminary audience, but so rich. In my Bible reading plan, we will finish Leviticus (yay!) Tuesday and begin the letter to the Hebrews Wednesday, and finish it this week.
“…So much American Christianity today comes packaged as inspirational uplift - sunlit, backlit, or candlelit. Furthermore, we are so accustomed to seeing the cross functioning as a decoration that we can scarcely imagine it as an object of shame and scandal … There were many thousands of crucifixions in Roman times, but only the crucifixion of Jesus is remembered as having any significance at all, let alone world-transforming significance.” - Fleming Rutledge, The Crucifixion
WATCHING
The singing shows have started back. American Idol has had two episodes and The Voice airs tomorrow (Monday) night. I enjoy the performances. The Traitors has a few more weeks before finishing up, and I’m enjoying that as well. I watched some episodes of FBI: Most Wanted. It is currently in its fifth season, but I started at the beginning. I like the show, but this reflects my failure to find anything current that is of interest. Tonight I watched an episode of a show on Hulu called Death and Other Details starring the enjoyable Mandy Patinkin (whom I remember most from Homeland - a fabulous show starring Claire Danes that I should watch again). Unfortunately, Death and Other Details has smothered its weak storyline with tons of lazy profanity, wild parties, and sexual content - just in the first episode! I’m done with that one.
Sometimes while I’m reading or working on something not on the computer screen, I call up the Gettysburg Live Cam. I’ve had this bookmarked for years. No real surprise, it’s some birdfeeders and occasionally squirrels, deer, or other creatures in the background. If you need a peaceful moment sometime, give it a try!
In the past few days, I have encountered three people who expressed an interest in following Jesus with us at Forsythe Church. I’m always excited to see who God sends our way, and the opportunity to help them make the next steps of faith.
Well, I better get this posted or it will no longer be a Sunday night update! Thanks for the interactions, likes, and shares. Work hard, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you.
I was missing your Sunday night check in and was glad to see it this morning. Two thoughts: 1. Have you read or heard of a book by Ruth Hoppin called Priscilla’s Letter? She makes a compelling and scholarly case for the book of Hebrews being written by Priscilla. It might sound unbelievable but when you consider the book has gone without an author for all this time it kind of makes sense. I highly recommend. 2. I’m half way through the Louis Penny second book A Fatal Grace and I’m loving this series. I’m listening to it and finding the pleasure of escaping into her world. It has been a long time since I could really focus on a fictional story like this so it feels good. Like progress in my grief journey if you know what I mean. Have a good week 🤗
I wanted you to know what a fabulous job you did yesterday not only with your sermon, but also speaking at Richard’s memorial service. Kevin and I were so moved and inspired by each one. We are truly blessed to have you & Maggy here in our little community 🥰
I also especially enjoyed the picture of the female wind blown cardinal. I could relate to how she felt with the heavy winds we have had lately 😂