Home & Blog | Lynne Baab

Psalm 96: A call to prayer for the nations

Lynne Baab • Wednesday October 21 2020

Back in the 1990s, I used to teach for a program called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. I was assigned one of the 15 lessons, and I travelled to different churches around the Northwest to teach my lesson. When I would tell friends the title of my lesson – “the biblical basis of mission in the Old Testament” – they would often say, “What? There’s mission in the Old Testament?”

To help my students get beyond that perspective, I would begin the class session by reading them Psalm 96, asking them to count the references to the whole world. They came...

Read full article »

Spiritual diary of sheltering in place: The lifeline of God’s distant future

Lynne Baab • Wednesday May 27 2020

I have always loved the passages in the Bible where the whole creation is encouraged to praise God. Psalm 96:11-12 is one example:

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD.”

If I were writing these words at this time, I would add something like “because you, beautiful creation, have become a lifeline for so many people during this pandemic. You reflect God’s creativity and beauty. You speak to us of timelessness and of...

Read full article »

Spiritual diary of sheltering in place: The lifeline of nature

Lynne Baab • Thursday April 23 2020

Last week I was talking with a friend in New Zealand about the huge soothing power of nature in these strange days. Because the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing fall right now, she talked about the joy of trees with red and yellow leaves. I raved about the yellow and white tulips in our yard that we have been bringing inside to enjoy.

Our local newspaper had an article a few days ago entitled, “Here’s a mental health tip to get you through coronavirus quarantine: Find tranquility in nature.” The subhead of the paper edition said, “To get past this crisis, tap into...

Read full article »

Important anniversaries in 2020: The first Earth Day in 1970

Lynne Baab • Friday March 6 2020

When I think of what has happened in the 50 years since the first Earth Day, I feel deep gratitude and profound grief. And when I think of this gorgeous fragile earth which reflects the beauty of its Creator, I also feel deep gratitude and profound grief.

I am grateful for Rachel Carson, whose 1962 book Silent Spring alerted the world to the dangers of synthetic pesticides. Silent Spring was one of the triggers for the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. I’m grateful that the first Earth Day was supported by both Democrats and Republicans, and more than 20 million...

Read full article »

<< Newer | Older >>