The texts for Sunday, July 24, 2011 are: 1 Kings 3:5–12; Psalm 119:129–136; Romans 8:26–39; and Matthew 13:31–33, 44–52. Audio of sermon: Pentecost-L17A.2011 Teach us the wisdom of your holy nonsense, O Lord, and teach us the nonsense of our human wisdom. Amen.
Dancing
In a dance, one person leads and one person follows...or at least in a beautiful, smooth, natural dance. At least, I think that's how it is supposed to work. I've never learned to dance ... it's not from a lack of attempts to teach me, mind you. My Grandpa tried to teach me once afterContinue reading "Dancing"
Groans
The texts for Sunday, July 24, 2011 are: 1 Kings 3:5–12; Psalm 119:129–136; Romans 8:26–39; and Matthew 13:31–33, 44–52. "for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words" -Romans 8:26b Words. It might come as a surprise to some, but words doContinue reading "Groans"
Mixed Up.
The texts for Sunday, July 17, 2011 are: Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16–19; Psalm 86:11–17; Romans 8:12–25; and Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 Audio of sermon: Pentecost-L16A.2011-1 ... God tends our lives as though they were wheat fields without any weeds. so that the evil, the sin, the death-dealing parts of our lives do not destroy what isContinue reading "Mixed Up."
simul wheat and weeds?
The texts for Sunday, July 17, 2011 are: Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16–19; Psalm 86:11–17; Romans 8:12–25; and Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 "the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one" - Matthew 13:38b "For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for allContinue reading "simul wheat and weeds?"
Awesome (Sur)pr(a)ise
Text: Isaiah 55:10–13 I love it when I get surprised by God. (Okay, sometime I don't love it in the moment, but I've gotten better at loving it) I especially love it when I'm in the middle of worship and I get surprised, because I'm generally distracted from the moment by what is going toContinue reading "Awesome (Sur)pr(a)ise"
The Parable of the Seeds
Texts for Sunday, July 10, 2011: Isaiah 55:10–13; Psalm 65:1–13; Romans 8:1–11; and Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23 ... Perhaps that is why Jesus speaks to us in parables. No simple, easily understood rules and teachings to follow can, like seeds, settle silently into our hearts, allow us to ponder deeply, and rejoice in surprise whenContinue reading "The Parable of the Seeds"
The body is good, sarx, on the other hand …
Texts for Sunday, July 10, 2011: Isaiah 55:10–13; Psalm 65:1–13; Romans 8:1–11; and Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23 "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ... If the SpiritContinue reading "The body is good, sarx, on the other hand …"
It’s not all about you
Texts for June 26, 2011: Jeremiah 28:5–9; Psalm 89:1–4, 15–18; Romans 6:12–23; and Matthew 10:40–42 Audio of sermon: Pentecost-L14A.2011 "...I think that the ultimate victory that sin could possibly have in a life in any life would be to make us forget the truth that it isn't all about us. That somehow God wasn't strong enough toContinue reading "It’s not all about you"
I get it! … but I don’t get it!
Texts for Sunday, July 3: Zechariah 9:9-12, Psalm 145:8-1, Romans 7:15-25a, and Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 In these texts we hear some ideas and hopes and dreams that are very counter to our understanding of the world: texts that lift up power as humility and peacefulness, texts that suggest that God's wisdom is not meant for the wise,Continue reading "I get it! … but I don’t get it!"
Tumblings
Tumbling is an action that has many causes. One could tumble because one is wrestling with someone else. One could tumble because they trip over something or down the stairs. One could tumble intentionally in dancing or in acrobatics. Tumbling can be gracious and beautiful as much as it can be klutzy. Perhaps tumbling before GodContinue reading "Tumblings"
Free to Stumble
Texts for June 26, 2011: Jeremiah 28:5–9; Psalm 89:1–4, 15–18; Romans 6:12–23; and Matthew 10:40–42 "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteousContinue reading "Free to Stumble"
Incomplete Alone: A Sermon for Trinity Sunday
Audio of sermon: Trinity Sunday The texts for Trinity Sunday: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11–13; and Matthew 28:16–20 "... In our brokenness, in our separateness; in our striving to be the "self-made man" at the top of the pile we will never be like God. But in community — even in broken community — brokenContinue reading "Incomplete Alone: A Sermon for Trinity Sunday"
Fingerprints
Texts for Sunday, June 19, 2011: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11–13; and Matthew 28:16–20 "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set in their courses, what are mere mortals that you should be mindful of them, human beings that you should care for them?"Continue reading "Fingerprints"
You, Prophet!
Texts for June 12, 2011: Numbers 11:24–30, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, Acts 2:1-21, John 20:19-23 "Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!" - Numbers 11:29b The incredible thing about Pentecost is that God pours out God's Spirit on all of God's people: the young, theContinue reading "You, Prophet!"
Gentle Evangelism?
Texts for Sunday, May 29, 2011: Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:8-20, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21. "Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence." - 1Peter 3:15b-16a I've been thinking about evangelism a good bit theseContinue reading "Gentle Evangelism?"
There ain’t anything you can’t say to God
2 Chronicles 7.14: if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 1 Thessalonians 5.12a, 16-22: But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters ... Rejoice always, prayContinue reading "There ain’t anything you can’t say to God"
The Perfect Community
Texts for February 13, 2011: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; and Matthew 5:21-37 What do you envision the perfect community would be like? Throughout the biblical texts, the people struggle with this vision: with their ideals of a perfect community, with God's idea of a perfect community, and how the current community, whatever itsContinue reading "The Perfect Community"
Jabbok Dawn 