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This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

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February 12, 2021 | Leave a Comment

Invisible us

Remember Indiana Jones?  “Professor of Archaeology, expert on the occult, and how does one say it… obtainer of rare antiquities”? 

I grew up watching those silly movies. For way too long, I wanted to be an archaeologist. Then I took an archaeology class in college. It only took half a semester to figure out that archaeological excavation is tedious, thankless, and (mostly) completely lacking in the adventure depicted in the films. I struggled even to stay awake in class as the professor showed slide after slide of pot shards. I was finished.

Those wistful days of archaeological naps came back to me recently, as watched the new Netflix film The Dig. The Dig tells the story of the discovery, in 1939, of the Sutton Hoo. No, not a creature in a Dr. Seuss book, the Sutton Hoo was a burial site in rural England where, among other archaeological finds, were the remains of a burial ship, loaded with gold and other artifacts, from Anglo Saxons of the early medieval times. It was one of the most important historical discoveries of the 20th century, as it showed the world that the people of the 7th and 8th centuries were incredibly sophisticated artisans and ship builders. As Charles Phillips of the British Museum remarks in the film, “The dark ages are no longer dark.”

As the film remembers, the person responsible for the discovery was a man named Basil Brown. Despite the enormity of his discovery, though, Brown was left almost unrecognized for his achievement. The Sutton Hoo artifacts went on display a decade after their excavation with no mention of their excavator. Only in recent years was his name included in the vast exhibit space given to the artifacts within the British Museum. One website goes so far as to dub him “the invisible archaeologist.”
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Discipleship, Fear, Legacy Tagged: archaeology, history, Indiana Jones, legacy, rich young ruler, The Dig


September 19, 2020 | 1 Comment

This black swan event

Halloween, 2019.  I had the collar, I had the robe, why not? Of course, I outweighed her by thrice, but, you know, I pulled my hair back and did my best.  RBG.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death is heartache for her family and many Americans.  It’s a cause for celebration for a handful of others.  

More to the point, her death is being called a black swan event. That was a new term to me.  I googled.  A black swan event is “an unpredictable event that is beyond what is normally expected of a situation and has potentially severe consequences (Jim Chappelow, “Black swan,” https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/blackswan.asp).  Is any death really that unpredictable?  No.  Was RBG’s death unpredictable, given her long battle with cancer?  Not at all.  

Yet, does her death have potentially severe consequences?  I fear, yes.  I fear it will unleash even further vitriol, during a season of such meanness and spite within America as I have not witnessed in my lifetime.  I fear that ugly things I will hear and read out of people whom I have, until now, known to be kind of soul and demeanor.

I wonder if, instead, this black swan event may in fact be an opportunity for us as people of faith to walk our talk.  Love your enemy (Matthew 5:44).  Practice mercy (Luke 6:36). Love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:30). 

My prayer for followers of Jesus in America is this:

  • That we followers of Jesus will put our allegiance to Him above party loyalty
  • That, out of that allegiance, we will recognize that every person–even those with whom we profoundly disagree–is a child of God, made in His image
  • That, out of that recognition, we will commit to stopping the name-calling and mud-slinging and yet be brave to speak the truth in love without fear of public shaming
  • That, out of that commitment, we will witness to the goodness and grace of our Savior and His hope

I invite others to join in this prayer, this allegiance, this recognition, and this commitment, so that Jesus will be glorified indeed.

Courage, Discipleship, Evangelism, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Truth Tagged: black swan event, prayer, RBG


March 26, 2020 | Leave a Comment

Shelter in place

Thursday, March 26, 2020

So much, so fast. Today begins the shelter in place order for our state.

“For in the day of trouble, he will keep me safe in his dwelling. He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent And set me high upon a rock.”  (Psalm 27:5)

As I woke up this morning and sat down in my corner couch spot for prayer, it felt so much like a day so completely like any other day. And yet, it’s not like any other day any of us have ever known.

And yet still…God is our shelter, our true shelter and strength

And still…Christ goes ahead of us—is already here with us—as we wake today

And always…the Spirit supplies us with all the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that we need, not only to survive this coronavirus but to thrive—

To silence more and more the voice of fear in our heads

To grow in our practice of prayer

To draw closer to our families

To strengthen our trust in God to provide for our needs

And for some to turn to Him for healing if we or someone we love grows sick.

Because we are people of God and followers of Jesus, we have the toolkit—everything we need—to endure. Believe it, live it, pray it.

Be well, friends, and stay in touch.

.

Courage, Discipleship, Fear, Jesus Christ Tagged: COVID 19, home, shelter in place


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This is the day that
the Lord has made;
let us rejoice
and be glad in it.

– Psalm 118:24

Rev. Dr. MJ Romano

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Bible Verse of the Day

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:35
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