The scent of Holy

I opened my Bible this morning and found that the pages still smell like anointing oil from yesterday's baptism (frankincense and myrrh). 

...Holiness tends to linger, doesn't it?

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· Scriptural Images for anointing oil:

  Exodus 30:22-30 (God commands special oil for marking things as holy in the tabernacle)

·         Psalm 45:7, Hebrews 1:9 –Old testament and New testament image for anointing with “oil of gladness”

·         Psalm 23:5 -- who doesn’t love the 23^rd Psalm? There’s anointing here, too.

·         Luke 4:18, Isaiah 61:1 –Jesus Christ, the anointed one. Notice that he is anointed in order to do good works. Izzy will be anointed in order to participate in Christ’s work.

·         **2 Corinthians 1:21-22** This is the perfect image for baptismal anointing: God marks and seals us in Christ by the Spirit.
    (click here to read them online)

Blessed Are the Poured in Spirit

Then afterwards
   I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   your old men shall dream dreams,
   and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female slaves,
   in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 

~Joel 2:23-32

Art and Preaching Project

One of my contingencies assigned by the BOOM is to do an "independent study incorporating art and preaching." I'm still entirely sure what that means, but I have an incredible mentor to work with and I know that I need to get started. So....Inspired by The Painted Prayer Book, I've decided that one element of this project will be adding art to my exegetical process for sermon prep.  (total disclaimer: I'm more of a dabbler than an artist, so these pieces are more about exploration than expression).

Since starting, I've preached four sermons:

"Hydration" based on Jeremiah 2:4-13

 *for this sermon, I made sure to have a pitcher and glass of water....pausing to drink throughout.*

"99 Problems and a Sheep on the Run" based on Luke 15:1-10

"The More Excellent Way" c.f. 1 Timothy 6:6-12, 17-19

"Prayers for Babylon" Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7