What does the word “lent” actually mean? Isn’t that funny? I’ve been “lenting” (yes, I made up a word) for almost 45 years, and I have no idea the origin of the word “lent.” My curiosity led me to ask Google. (It’s crazy how quickly we can find answers today.) Let me share what I discovered.  The original meaning of the word “lent” comes from the Old English word lencten , which means “springtime” or “lengthening,” referring to the time of year when days begin to get longer. It has no initial...

Alan Kreider wrote a marvelous history of the early church titled The Patient Ferment of the Early Church: The Improbable Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire , released in 2016. In the book, Kreider documents how patience, possibly unlike any other virtue, shaped the rise of Christianity.  It is a thick but accessible read. I highly commend it for those who would like to delve deeper into how the early church exploded in growth. Kreider documents four “angles” for explaining the growth...

This day should not be. What should be is air in lungs for eternity walking and talking with the Author of days for eternity in what should be but ceased to be when we usurped the Author to linger and listen to the Liar what could be no—what should be broken by a bite. And dusty days began. Dusty days between dusty days  leads to this day the dustiest of days. I’m one preaching prophet  telling anyone with ears to hear, “Your animated spirit will cease your animated breath will slow your...