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The vision of hope is grounded in love
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:7-8, NRSVue) I want to turn from exhaustion to hope. That is the way of love.
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Victory isn’t through the sword
John 12:20-36 is our Gospel for the Fifth Sunday in Lent. The hour for Jesus’ suffering is upon him. He could ask to be delivered from this hour, but he knows this is why he came. What lies ahead is necessary and when Jesus is finished, the Father is glorified and the kingdoms of this world will fall. Here is…
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The spiritual feast of the Word of God
I have been slow on my book reading/listening this year. Very slow. And they’ve all been re-reads/listens.
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A vision of hope
If there is any word that best describes my feeling in this election year it’s this: Exhaustion
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Dealing with our current American Church culture
“Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither…
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We need a new “Confessing Church”
There are times of decision and we’ve been in a decade of choice… and somehow still refuse to make the one away from worldly power. Still, there are many who realize the moment in which we live and maybe there is a ripple of movement for a new “Confessing Church” of some sort. “If you board the wrong train, it…
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Jesus won’t be king like you want
15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (Jn. 6:15, NIV)
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It is time for a new “Confessing Church”
“Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness, and pride of power and with its defense for the weak… Christianity has adjusted itself much too easily to the worship of power. It should give much more offense, more shock to the world than it is doing. Christianity should take a much more definite stand for the weak…
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Here I am
Genesis 22:1-14 is a frightening passage at face value. Over the years, as I have walked with Abraham and his example in Genesis, I understand the place in life where this happens for Abraham. This was after decades, and probably a century, of Abraham walking with God. He knew the voice of the Lord.
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Wise words from a seasoned pastor
As our country seems to be spiraling down into madness — I earnestly hope we’ll yet see a wonderful turn-around — but if the madness prevails, two things. One, I hope, by God’s grace, to retain my integrity. And I hope my dissent is publicly obvious. I want to stand as a calm, cheerful, wise, restrained, fearless, steady, inspiring Christian…
