Monthly Archives: April 2020

a sacrificial poet

Posted on April 16, 2020 by jwfisch

    This is the logo for one of the open mic’s John attends. John wants to welcome any Chicago visitors to “The Catch,” and thank them for welcoming him into their community.     John Shirk is a missionary to … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Life, community, Friendship, grace turned outward, relationships | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Billy’s Cross

Posted on April 15, 2020 by jwfisch

This poem about Billy Graham was composed in 2013 by his brother-in-law, Leighton Ford, for Billy’s 95th birthday. Billy Graham died in February of 2018, nine months short of his 100th birthday. For almost a century, he was “America’s evangelist.” … Continue reading →

Posted in church, gospel of welcome | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

How Not-Enough gets a new name

Posted on April 14, 2020 by jwfisch

Okay, be honest now. How long did it take for you to figure out that the Face ID to open your phone is not going to recognize you with your mask on? And having realized that, how many more times … Continue reading →

Posted in giving, pandemic | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Are we hoarding or giving?

Posted on April 13, 2020 by jwfisch

We’ve got to take care of each other. Someone helped us this morning which enabled us to help someone else. That’s the way it goes. We’ve got to look out for one another.

Posted in giving, pandemic | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

A Good Friday Prayer in a Pandemic

Posted on April 10, 2020 by jwfisch

Our Father who art in heaven: Here on earth it’s gotten pretty rough. Your name is still hallowed, but we have lots of questions. It’s hard to find You when there’s so much suffering and death going on. We know … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter week, Facing death, forgiveness, pandemic | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

The Last Supper

Posted on April 9, 2020 by jwfisch

It had all been arranged. The first ones there had found everything just as he had said, so they prepared the Passover meal, but with an undercurrent of unrest.

Posted in Easter week, pandemic | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Take courage

Posted on April 8, 2020 by jwfisch

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Is it any surprise that we consistently seem to … Continue reading →

Posted in pandemic | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Masked men (and women)

Posted on April 7, 2020 by jwfisch

I went to the grocery store yesterday and after hearing the recommendation to cover your face coming from a number of different sources, I tried to wear a scarf. If we had listened to our son Chandler, we would have … Continue reading →

Posted in community, gospel of welcome, pandemic | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Do it now

Posted on April 6, 2020 by jwfisch

We’ve never been through anything like this before. This pandemic is testing our faith, our stamina, our patience, our confidence, our endurance, and what I’m especially thinking about this morning — our love. There appear to be no guarantees. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, pandemic, relationships | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Isolating the isolated

Posted on April 3, 2020 by jwfisch

One of the down sides of this pandemic that is affecting us all is the fact that we are all being forced into isolation. That might not necessarily be a problem if it weren’t for the fact that we are … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, pandemic, relationships | Tagged , , | 5 Comments