The texts for Sunday, September 2, 2012 (Lectionary 22): Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9; Psalm 15; James 1:17–27; and Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23 “It wasn’t about the stained glass window. At least it wasn’t supposed to be,” Bobby thought as she looked at the swirling colors of shattered glass through her tear-filled eyes. She had wanted toContinueContinue reading “A Parable about “Pure” Religion”
Tag Archives: community
Religion of the Heart
The texts for Sunday, September 2, 2012 (Lectionary 22): Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9; Psalm 15; James 1:17–27; and Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23 “So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?'” – Mark 7:5 Every once in a while,ContinueContinue reading “Religion of the Heart”
They cast lots?
The texts for Sunday, May 20, 2012: Acts 1:15–17, 21–26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9–13; and John 17:6–19. “And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.” -Acts 1:26 I typed “leadership books” in Amazon and 85,792 books came up. Typing in “leading church”ContinueContinue reading “They cast lots?”
Vine-y God
The texts for Sunday, May 6, 2012: Acts 8:26–40; Psalm 22:25–31; 1 John 4:7–21; and John 15:1–8 …Vines are notorious for getting into places they don’t belong and become problems in gardens and yards and everywhere else I mean—if you’ve ever visited the southern United States you see what happens when a vine gets awayContinueContinue reading “Vine-y God”
The Beautiful Gate
The texts for Sunday, April 29,2012: Acts 4:5–12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16–24; and John 10:11–18 This sermon focuses most specifically on Acts 3:1 – 4:12 … In that moment, I can see that gate being beautiful. That gate that was closed suddenly open suddenly inviting suddenly a place of healing and wholeness where itContinueContinue reading “The Beautiful Gate”
Nicene Creed: Heart Words
A sermon/reflection from Wednesday, March 7th, 2012. Texts: John 12:37-43, Mark 12:28-34, The Nicene Creed Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Last Wednesday (if we hadn’t been snow/sleeted/iced out), we would have heard a different text, from Mark actually, that was to frame all of ourContinueContinue reading “Nicene Creed: Heart Words”
Contagious Wellness
The texts for Sunday, February 12, 2012: 2 Kings 5:1–14; Psalm 30; 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; and Mark 1:40–45. “But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to himContinueContinue reading “Contagious Wellness”
Reflections of the Manger
The texts for Christmas Day, 2011: Isaiah 52:7–10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1–12, and John 1:1–14 Christmas morning—thanks to inspiration from Nadia Bolz-Weber, the House For All Sinners and Saints, and Clayfire, as well as the texts themselves: “The Word became flesh…”—I didn’t preach a traditional sermon. Instead, I introduced the Gospel by restating exactly thatContinueContinue reading “Reflections of the Manger”
God’s Just Playfulness
The texts for November 20, 2011: Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24; Psalm 95:1–7a; Ephesians 1:15–23; and Matthew 25:31–46 “For the LORD is our God, and we are the people of God’s pasture and the sheep of God’s hand.” – Psalm 95: 7 I love this psalm. I think it is my favorite part of morning prayer, set beautifully to a singableContinueContinue reading “God’s Just Playfulness”
Beloved of God
The texts for Sunday, October 23, 2011 were: Leviticus 19:1–2, 15–18; Psalm 1; 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8; and Matthew 22:34–46 … God’s will, desire, dream expressed in the whole law and the prophets from Genesis to Leviticus to Jesus to Revelation to beyond God’s dream and prophetic cry is that all of God’s children flourish ThatContinueContinue reading “Beloved of God”
Ethics of Eating
It’s been almost a month ago now since I went off to a conference sponsored by ELCA World Hunger about the “Ethics of Eating.” At the conference, we talked about a whole lot of things surrounding food systems, the ethics of those systems, and how our faith influences our response to how we feed theContinueContinue reading “Ethics of Eating”
God’s Two Hands
The texts for Sunday, October 16, 2011 are: Isaiah 45:1–7; Psalm 96:1–13; 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10; and Matthew 22:15–22 “I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me, so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and fromContinueContinue reading “God’s Two Hands”
The Passionate Host
The texts for Sunday, October 9, 2011 were: Isaiah 25:1–9; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:1–9; and Matthew 22:1–14 … God has also prepared a banquet, according to Isaiah. A banquet to celebrate the end of old things and the beginning of new. A banquet that in itself is truly grace. Everyone is welcome there. There isContinueContinue reading “The Passionate Host”
Sunrise is coming…
The texts for Sunday, September 18, 2011 were: Jonah 3:10—4:11; Psalm 145:1–8; Philippians 1:21–30; and Matthew 20:1–16. “Sunrise is coming,” she said. That was the only response I got when I asked if it was worth it. If it was worth working through the night. If it was worth waiting in the long, painful hours—waitingContinueContinue reading “Sunrise is coming…”
A Continual Reminder…
The texts for Sunday, September 18, 2011 are: Jonah 3:10—4:11; Psalm 145:1–8; Philippians 1:21–30; and Matthew 20:1–16. “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” – Psalm 145: 8 “for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfastContinueContinue reading “A Continual Reminder…”
The Body Broken
The texts for Sunday, September 4, 2011 are: Ezekiel 33:7–11; Psalm 119:33–40; Romans 13:8–14; and Matthew 18:15–20. … No, we only encounter that God, that God embodied in Jesus when we live, serve, struggle in community. We only encounter that God embodied in Jesus when we look into the eyes of the person whom hasContinueContinue reading “The Body Broken”
Broken Community
The texts for Sunday, September 4, 2011 are: Ezekiel 33:7–11; Psalm 119:33–40; Romans 13:8–14; and Matthew 18:15–20. “If another member of the church sins against you…” – Matthew 18:15a The hardest thing about Christian community is other people. So often, people think that Christian communities should be these really great places where everyone loves themContinueContinue reading “Broken Community”
Jabbok Dawn 