brian shivers

photo credit: nimble Activity: What are you listening to? What voices fill your head? What narratives to you hear? What could you listen to that reminds you of your core identity? What do you hear that can bring you life? Scripture: Mark 7:31-37 31 Then he (Jesus) returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "

Activity: What is your favorite song? Play it, sing it, listen to it, dance to it, live it. Scripture: Psalm 149 1    Praise the Lord!       Sing to the Lord a new song,            his praise in the assembly of the faithful.  2    Let Israel be glad in its Maker;            let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.  3    Let them praise his name with dancing,            making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.  4    For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;            he adorns the humble with victory.  5    Let the faithful exult in glory;            let them sing for joy on their couches.  6    Let the high praises of God be in their throats            and two-edged swords in their hands,  7    to execute vengeance on the nations            and punishment on the peoples,  8    to bind their kings with fetters            and their nobles with chains of iron,  9    to execute on them the judgment decreed.            This is glory for all his faithful ones.       Praise the

Activity: Make a list of the things for which you eagerly wait. Scripture: Psalm 130 1    Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.  2        Lord, hear my voice!       Let your ears be attentive            to the voice of my supplications! 3    If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,            Lord, who could stand?  4    But there is forgiveness with you,            so that you may be revered. 5    I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,            and in his word I hope;  6    my soul waits for the Lord            more than those who watch for the morning,            more than those who watch for the morning. 7    O Israel, hope in the LORD!            For with the LORD there is steadfast love,            and with him is great power to redeem.  8    It is he who will redeem Israel            from all its iniquities. Sign up for daily text messages by texting LENT to 95577.View the Lenten Spire by clicking  here .

Photo credit: JESSICA RINALDI FOR THE GLOBE Activity: Find a way today to "share your lunch." Scripture Reading: Mark 6:31-44 31 (Jesus) said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; 36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat." 37 But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They s

Activity: Take a moment... stop... breathe... breathe... breathe... Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 1 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; 3 but anyone who loves God is known by him. 4 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one." 5 Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth - as in fact there are many gods and many lords - 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 7 It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered

Activity: Take a moment to consider the story you are living. When was God's presence most evident in your story?  Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15 1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Send everyone away from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come closer to me." And they came closer. He said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in w

Day 17 Activity: Today, speak something aloud that fills you with fear - not a phobia.  May this be our prayer, "Do not fear, only believe." Scripture: Mark 5:21-43 21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." 24 So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will

Throughout the season of Lent a suggested activity for the day as well as a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Day 16 Activity : Silence.  Scripture : Marl 5:1-20 1They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. 3He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; 4for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; 7and he shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you

Throughout the season of Lent a suggested activity for the day as well as a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Day 14 Activity: Consider faith. Who is an example of faith for you? Scripture : Mark 4:21-34 21He said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? 22For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light.23Let anyone with ears to hear listen!" 24And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 25For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away." 26He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27and would sleep and rise night and day, and the see

On Sunday, March 2, eight students from Second Presbyterian Church shared their testimonies in the morning worship services. Please follow the links to hear their messages. It was an amazing day! 8:15 Service - Dr. Galloway, Anna Savery, and John Scheil 9:30 Service - Dr. Galloway, Maddie Downs, Thomas Baldwin, and Maddie Higgins 11:00 Service - fast forward to 33:20 to see Dr. Galloway, Claudia Benz, Grant Chaddock, and Anna Funke

Throughout the season of Lent a suggested activity for the day as well as a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Activity: Where is it that you find rest and refuge from the busyness and distractions of the world? Go there. Rest. Day 12 Scripture: Psalm 91 [1]   You who live in the shelter of the Most High,           who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, [2]   will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress;           my God, in whom I trust." [3]   For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler           and from the deadly pestilence; [4]   he will cover you with his pinions,           and under his wings you will find refuge;           his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. [5]   You will not fear the terror of the night,           or the arrow that flies by day, [6]   or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,           or the destruction that

Throughout the season of Lent a suggested activity for the day as well as a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Day 11 Activity: Make a list of some of the ways in which you have been blessed by the presence of others. Pray your list. Scripture: Genesis 41:46-57 [46]Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went through all the land of Egypt. [47]During the seven plenteous years the earth produced abundantly. [48]He gathered up all the food of the seven years when there was plenty in the land of Egypt, and stored up food in the cities; he stored up in every city the food from the fields around it. [49]So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance - like the sand of the sea - that he stopped measuring it; it was beyond measure.  [50]Before the years of famine came, Joseph h

Throughout the season of Lent a suggested activity for the day as well as a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Day 10 Activity: "What do you have that you did not receive?" What gifts have you received? Give thanks.  Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 [1]Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries. [2]Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. [3]But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. [4]I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who  judges me. [5]Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the  Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will  disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation  from God.   [6]I have a

Throughout the season of Lent a suggested activity for the day as well as a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Day 9 Activity: Consider the "tax collectors and sinners" who are often cast aside by and not welcome in our faith communities. How might we welcome them as Christ welcomed them? Scripture: Mark 2:13-22 13 Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them.  14 As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. 15 And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples - for there were many who followed him.  16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Wh

Throughout the season of Lent a suggested activity for the day as well as a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Would love to hear your thoughts as we journey together. Day 8 Activity: Take a moment today to write a note to someone who supports and encourages you. Scripture: Mark 2:1-12 1 When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3 Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Now some of the scri

Throughout the season of Lent a suggested activity for the day as well as a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Would love to hear your thoughts as we journey together. Day 7 Activity: Today, pray for your enemies. Scripture: Mark 1:35-45 [35]In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. [36]And Simon and his companions hunted for him. [37]When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." [38]He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." [39]And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. [40]A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." [41]Moved with pity, Jesus stretc

Throughout the season of Lent a suggested activity for the day as well as a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Would love to hear your thoughts as we journey together. Day 6 Activity: Make your favorite cup of tea or coffee and sit in silence for 10 minutes. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 [20]Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [21]For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. [22]For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, [23]but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, [24]but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [25]For God's foolishness is wiser than

Throughout the season of Lent a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here as well as a suggested activity for the day that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Would love to hear your thoughts as we journey together. Day 5 Scripture: Psalm 121 [1]  I lift up my eyes to the hills --              from where will my help come?    [2]   My help comes from the LORD,              who made heaven and earth. [3]   He will not let your foot be moved;              he who keeps you will not slumber.    [4]   He who keeps Israel              will neither slumber nor sleep. [5]   The LORD is your keeper;              the LORD is your shade at your right hand.    [6]   The sun shall not strike you by day,              nor the moon by night. [7]   The LORD will keep you from all evil;              he will keep your life.    [8]   The LORD will keep              your going out and your coming in              from this time on

Throughout the season of Lent a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary will be posted here as well as a suggested activity for the day that will hopefully help set these 40 days apart. Enjoy. Would love to hear your thoughts as we journey together. Day 4 Scripture: John 17:20-26 20 "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the

Each day throughout the season of Lent you will find a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary and a suggested activity for the day that will hopefully help set these days apart (this is not an original idea - a post on the website of The House for All Sinners and Saints has inspired this approach to Lent). Would love to hear your thoughts as we journey together. Day 3 Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9 [1]Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.  [2]I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. [3]Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.  [4]Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. [5]Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. [6]Do not worry about anything, but in eve

Each day throughout the season of Lent you will find a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary and a suggested activity for the day that will hopefully help set these days apart (this is not an original idea - a post on the website of The House for All Sinners and Saints has inspired this approach to Lent). Would love to hear your thoughts as we journey together. Day 2 Scripture: Habakuk 3:1-10 (11-15) 16-18 [1]A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk according to Shigionoth.  [2]O LORD, I have heard of your renown,  and I stand in awe, O LORD, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy. [3]God came from Teman,  the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. [4]The brightness was like the sun;  rays came forth from his hand, where his power lay hidden. [5]Before him went pestilence,  and plague followed close behind. [6]He stopped and sh

Today is Ash Wednesday. This is the day that marks the beginning of a 40 day journey of contemplation, prayer, and fasting. It is on this day that we receive communion and the imposition of ashes reminding us that we are dust and to dust we will return. This day begins the season of Lent, the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter (excluding the Sundays). The Directory of Worship for the Presbyterian Church USA says that Lent is "a season of spiritual discipline and preparation, beginning with Ash Wednesday, anticipating the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ." I would like to invite us all to be intentional about our journey this season. May our hearts be open, our minds be clear, our spirits challenged, and our lives renewed as we walk these 40 days together. Each day throughout the season of Lent I will post a short passage of scripture from the daily lectionary (different than the passages posted on the 3 Minute Experiment ) and a suggested