July 3, 2022
This is a story about acceptance. About belonging. About being loved, just as you are. Being accepted and loved even though you are imperfect and your life is a hot mess. And we’re talking about the younger son, right? It seems clear he is the black sheep here, right? But really, he’s… Read More »
June 12, 2022
It doesn’t matter how old we get…we still have labels….Conservative….Liberal. Democrat… Republican. Pro-life….Pro-choice. Black lives matter….Blue lives matter. Patriot…Protestor. Socialist….Capitalist. Pro government….Anti government. Individualist (my rights)….Community minded (common good). Christian….Atheist. Anti gun…Pro gun.. BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) ….White. It’s pride month — LGBTQ ….Straight.. And we tend to assume… Read More »
May 15, 2022
Paul has been traveling with Timothy and Silas throughout the Greek area of the Roman Empire.The response he has gotten has been, shall we say, “mixed”. Many have come to believe in Jesus…but many others have reacted to his message with anger and have stirred up mobs to beat him, arrest him and run him… Read More »
May 8, 2022
Quite frankly, in our story today, Paul doesn’t start out looking too great. Basically, he loses his temper at a young girl…a young girl who is both a slave and has a spirit of divination. Think about it, in almost every way, she is at the mercy of others. As a slave, she has no… Read More »
May 1, 2022
The first line caught me in our reading today. Sau..l breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. What an image. Threats and murder are the very air Saul breathes….they are what gives him a reason to live. His hatred consumes him entirely…his desire to destroy….to to do violence. You’ll notice, he is… Read More »
April 17, 2022
In the wee hours of the morning, before it was even light….Mary has gone to Jesus’ tomb. She was at his side as he was crucified, stood watch with him as he suffered. And now, she comes to be near him again…to grieve the one she loved. Mary’s heart is broken. She is devastated. … Read More »
April 10, 2022
So there is a parade….and people are clamoring to see Jesus. The crowds are in Jerusalem for the Passover and word has gotten around about Lazarus…that Jesus could raise the dead three days after they’d been put in a tomb. And now they dare to dream that Jesus is the Messiah..the king Israel they… Read More »
March 30, 2022
Some of you have heard of the infamous “Pax Romana”….the Peace of Rome. It was one of the catchphrases of the Roman Empire…the Emperor prided himself on his reign of “peace”. Of course, it was a twisted version of “peace”….peace through strength, as some might say. It was a Peace established through military power in… Read More »
March 13, 2022
So….how many of you are uncomfortable with the idea of someone else washing your feet? Or washing someone else’s? For some people there is an “ick” factor. After all, feet can be ugly or smelly….they may be swollen, or have bunions or deformed toenails. A lot of us have feet like that. But even if… Read More »
March 6, 2022
Jesus didn’t show up. They asked Jesus to come…and Jesus didn’t show up when they needed him. That’s the gist of this story, really. That’s where Mary and Martha are at….that’s where their friends are at. Lazarus, their beloved brother and friend, was so very sick…and they desperately wanted Jesus to come and… Read More »