We are constantly exposed in our culture to subtle and not so subtle messages meant to dehumanize others and to make us less empathic toward the suffering of others. These messages are a basic part of our culture because our culture, unfortunately, is deeply rooted in war, domination, and racism. In the United States, ourContinueContinue reading “The Work of Dehumanization and the Gospel Challenge”
Tag Archives: justice
Sidewalk Flowers: Doughnut Holes and Hippopotami
Reflections for Lent – Day 10 Okay, first of all, I can’t believe how easy it was to find pictures of hippos and doughnuts together. The internet is a strange and wondrous place… So, back to the reflection at hand. This week, I’ve gotten to do chapel with our preschool kids. It’s always an interestingContinueContinue reading “Sidewalk Flowers: Doughnut Holes and Hippopotami”
The Persistent God
The texts for Sunday, February 19, 2017: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; Psalm 119:33-40; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23; and Matthew 5:38-48 Well, this morning, we are sure confronted in the texts with an awful lot of “to dos” commandments to follow. Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Give to those that beg from you. DoContinueContinue reading “The Persistent God”
A Voice Crying Out || Spoken Word
The texts for Sunday, December 7, 2014 (Advent 2B): Isaiah 40:1–11; Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13; 2 Peter 3:8–15a; and Mark 1:1–8. The audio of the sermon: Advent 2B Here is my first ever attempt at Spoken Word (a form of poetry, for those unfamiliar). Please be kind. Also, learn more about Spoken Word and hear some of the best at TED here: https://www.ted.com/topics/spoken+wordContinueContinue reading “A Voice Crying Out || Spoken Word”
God Tearing Open the Heavens
The texts for Sunday, November 30, 2014 (Advent 1B): Isaiah 64:1–9; Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19; 1 Corinthians 1:3–9; and Mark 13:24–37 Audio of sermon: Sermon Advent 1B … In the demonstrations and riots and commentaries in the articles about systemic racism and the militarization of the police Even in the heart-touching stories of those who do care and rise up toContinueContinue reading “God Tearing Open the Heavens”
We (Will) Rise
The texts for Sunday, November 10, 2013 (Lectionary 32): Job 19:23–27a; Psalm 17:1–9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–5, 13–17; and Luke 20:27–38. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God” – Job 19: 25-26 This is a textContinueContinue reading “We (Will) Rise”
Lamed Vavniks
The texts Sunday, July 28, 2013 (lectionary 17): Genesis 18:20-32; Psalm 138; Colossians 2:6-15 [16-19]; and Luke 11:1-13 “Then Abraham came near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who areContinueContinue reading “Lamed Vavniks”
The Use of Power
The texts for Sunday, June 16,2013 (Lectionary 11C): 2 Samuel 11:26—12:10; 12:13–15; Psalm 32; Galatians 2:15–21; and Luke 7:36—8:3 “Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel…” – 2 Samuel 12:7 At pericope study on Tuesday, I heard something about this story ofContinueContinue reading “The Use of Power”
The Way of the Cross
The texts for Sunday September 16, 2012 (Lection 24): Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 116:1–9; James 3:1–12; and Mark 8:27–38. “He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save theirContinueContinue reading “The Way of the Cross”
about: power
The texts for Sunday, March 25, 2012: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; and John 12:20-33 The ability to dominate, to control, to destroy, to hurt, to kill is often perceived as power. As real strength. We certainly measure the strength of our country this way: the strength of our military might the strength it has to kill others,ContinueContinue reading “about: power”
Taking Up Your Cross
The texts for Sunday, March 4, 2012: Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16; Psalm 22:23–31; Romans 4:13–25; Mark 8:31–38. I confess that I cringe when I read this gospel text. I’ve rarely heard a piece of scripture that is more frequently misused than this passage. And worse— these words are said to come straight from Jesus and seemContinueContinue reading “Taking Up Your Cross”
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”
Mary: The Child Bride
The texts for Sunday, December 18, 2011: 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16; Psalm 89:1–4, 19–26; Romans 16:25–27; and Luke 1:26–38. She might have been 12 or 13 or maybe 15 at the oldest. I think it is interesting that we have all these wonderings about Mary about the state of her virginity about the truth ofContinueContinue reading “Mary: The Child Bride”
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”
Context is Everything
The texts for Sunday, November 13, 2011: Zephaniah 1:7, 12–18; Psalm 90:1–12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; and Matthew 25:14–30 “The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there.” – Zephaniah 1:14 It is hard to hear these textsContinueContinue reading “Context is Everything”
The Heart of God’s Law
The texts for Sunday, October 23, 2011 are: Leviticus 19:1–2, 15–18; Psalm 1; 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8; and Matthew 22:34–46 “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” – Matthew 22:44 Love the Lord your God … Love your neighbor as your self … It’s interesting to me that central to these twoContinueContinue reading “The Heart of God’s Law”
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”
Jabbok Dawn 