I am sure I have posted about this before, but this insight from N.T. Wright on this passage well worth repeating!
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Matt. 21:12-13)
Continue reading “My house shall be a house of prayer”7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Continue reading “Feast of Michael”My reading today took me through Matthew 20:17-21. It is about disciples who just don’t “get” what discipleship is about.
Jesus has just finished talking about his suffering, death, and resurrection and here comes a mom asking about her boys. (As moms tend to do.)
Continue reading “The tone deaf church”Psalm 73
There are times throughout my life where I’ve felt rage against “the system” or “evil empires” or just plain city hall. The injustices bother me, even to this day.
About the time I have this internal boiling point hit maximum level, Psalm 73 comes across my path. It is a constant reminder of God’s rule and reign and my need to trust him.
Continue reading “Perspective in divisive times”Authentic Human Sexuality, 3rd Edition, by Judith K. Balswick and Jack O. Balswick
“Sex pervades our culture, going far beyond the confines of the bedroom into the workplace, the church, and the media. Yet despite all the attention and even obsession devoted to sex, human sexuality remains confusing and even foreboding. What, after all, is authentic human sexuality?”
Continue reading “Let’s talk about sex”A head scratching parable for me is found in Luke 16. It is the parable of the “shrewd manager”. It’s such an odd passage that most commentaries will simply state it’s an odd passage and difficult to interpret.
Continue reading “Being validated in our lostness”17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17-19, NIV)
Continue reading “The community of Christ is being built”