Thomas Jefferson, third president of the US, was a severe critic of what he called "the selfish spirit of commerce [that] knows no country, and feels no passion or principle but that of gain.” In t… — John Nichols
by Ken Sehested
Introduction: To “steal away to Jesus” is not submission to injustice or passivity in the face of evil. Rather, it represents a strategic retreat to gather the weapons of the Spirit needed to reengage enemies in ways they fail to fathom and ultimately cannot thwart. Enemies are destroyed, by and by, when enmity itself is swallowed in death.
§ § §
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
It is with careless ease that we say, “Bless God, for all life is good,” when the sun shines during our outings, when no strain threatens our budget.
It’s easy, when life is blessed with children and our ancient ones live long and die in peace.
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
All of you with voices, sing out! All who lack melodic
tongue, raise the roof with joyful noise! If you have
hands, clap them. Feet, tap them. Fingers, snap them.
Let even your eyelids blink out praise to the One whose
delight drenches earth and every creature.
by Ken Sehested
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
By that Word were all things breathed to life from the breathless dark, knit into comely shape from nether and nil.
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
Call to Worship
Come to the place where horizons expand, and the gulf between earth and sky shrinks. Here covenants unfold and confrontations are staged.
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
Let the room be filled with laud and laughter, oh people of Mercy. Fill the air with music and merriment, with the sound of delight annulling the wail of indigence.
Praise your Maker, you wind and wave. Sun and moon and Bethlehem’s star, shout in exultation!
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
Worthy, worthy the One who conceived the earth and gave birth to bears and basil and beatitudes alike.
We extol you, Heaven’s Delight and Earth’s Repose!
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
In the beginning the Verdant One saw everything that was made, and behold, it was lavish and delightful. (Genesis 1:31)
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of God’s greening hand. (Psalm 104:13)
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
Discard your reluctance, you saints and you sinners:
Shout vowels of praise, sing consonants of delight.
On you, Dear Beloved, have I cast my care and
entrusted my fare. Let none rejoice over my sorrow;
let none reprise my grief.
by Ken Sehested
Leader: Let all that breathes declare the good news.
Children (arms raised): Christ has risen!
Read more ›Subscribers receive full access to the entire prayer&politiks site. It’s free. Each week you will receive an automated email with a link to the new edition of the Signs of the Times column. All you provide is you name, email address and city, state or province, and country. This information is never shared with any other party. The only other agreement you make is to receive two solicitation letters per year, one in the spring, the other in the fall. (Which you are free to ignore. Your subscription is still free, and you may “unsubscribe” at any time.) This is our modern begging-bowl. Contributions are our sole source of support.