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“Lord of the Dance”
By Jennifer Lynn Woodruff He was the Word, a wild and dancing Word, before the world began; he danced in flame, and galaxies were born, and songs became the sinew of our bones, and he was Lord. He danced in bread and wine, and in the bright blue fountains of the Water of our birth, and all the bells rang, and along the earth the incense of a prayer rose, fresh and light. He danced in speech, in names that had a power, in dreams with symbols vibrant and unknown, and all that was and is and is to come was whole in grace and worship in that hour. But we…
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Jonah and the Gentiles
Jonah means “dove.” The dove in the Bible can be a symbol of hope as in the story of Noah’s Ark. It can also be a symbol of thoughtlessness. “Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless— now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.” (Hosea 7:11) The book was probably written in the 8th century BC by the same circle of prophets who wrote down the deeds of Elijah and Elisha in 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles. This is not fiction, it is an inspired report of the prophet Jonah’s experiences in Nineveh of the Assyrians. Historical Background Jonah was a prophet during the…
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The Meaning of Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian celebrates Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, which occurs about a week before His Resurrection. It is mentioned in all 4 gospels, which makes it a very big deal indeed according to the Bible. Many churches across all Christian traditions celebrate the Triumphal Entry with palm leaves, sometimes tied into the shape of a cross. Churches without easy access to palm leaves may use other types of native trees as well leading to the occasional “Yew Sunday” or even “Branch Sunday.” Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. The city was crowded with Passover pilgrims and the people lining the route lay down their cloaks and small…