Second Sunday of Lent: JOHN 14:1-7 A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story. John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20). But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its definition? A word we are more fond of – Beauty. Book of Beauty. As we make our Lenten journey – these f ..read more

First Sunday of Lent: JOHN 13:18-38 A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story. John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20). But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its definition? A word we are more fond of – Beauty. Book of Beauty. As we make our Lenten journey – these ..read more

Part 4 of 4. Today we talk about violence *** In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wrong but a misapprehension of the Bible’s role in the Christian faith.  On the first page of this year’s journal, we wrote, “we are completely fascinated by this complex and beautiful collection of texts we call the Bible—but ..read more

Part 3 of 4. Today we talk about atonement theory. *** In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wrong but a misapprehension of the Bible’s role in the Christian faith.  On the first page of this year’s journal, we wrote, “we are completely fascinated by this complex and beautiful collection of texts we call the ..read more

Part 2 of 4. Today we talk about the inspired vs inerrant Scriptures. *** In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wrong but a misapprehension of the Bible’s role in the Christian faith.  On the first page of this year’s journal, we wrote, “we are completely fascinated by this complex and beautiful collection of ..read more

Part 1 of 4. Today we talk about our definitions of God, the power of our images and how for us to see God we need to look at Jesus.  *** In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wrong but a misapprehension of the Bible’s role in the Christian faith.  On the first page of this year’s journal, we wrote, “we ..read more

Part 1 of 4. Today we talk about our definitions of God, the power of our images and how for us to see God we need to look at Jesus.  *** In studying the Bible, we have found it to be a trustworthy and beautiful guide for life. And yet, we also know the many ways this same profound text has been weaponized against others. Whether to marginalize, silence, or shame those who have dared to ask questions and chart a new path through the world, this is not only wrong but a misapprehension of the Bible’s role in the Christian faith.  On the first page of this year’s journal, we wrote, “we ..read more

Right now, more than any time we can remember, we are polarized, on edge, and ready to attack each other. That doesn't mean there aren't good reasons to be cautious. We all know people who engage in bad faith, intent not on dialogue but on manipulation or deceit. However, if we allow that caution to transform us into essentially uncurious persons, we will miss out on much of what God has available for us.  Being human is a limited experience of the world. And therefore, it is only when we open our perspective to the knowledge of the person beside us, and beside them, that we are able to p ..read more

The lead-up to Christmas is full of big feelings. You can think of feelings in two categories: feelings when your needs are unmet and feelings when your needs are met. When your needs are unmet, you might feel cranky or annoyed. When your needs are met, you might feel joyful or calm. All of those feelings are expressions of biology. We feel emotions in our bodies. So there’s a wonderful connection between feelings and Advent. Advent is the season of divine embodiment. The story of Jesus’ arrival starts with ordinary humans feeling big feelings.  Joseph is worried about stepping outside hi ..read more

The book of Revelation deals on a cosmic scale with good and evil, politics and empire, community and eternity. It has intrigued and frustrated readers for millennia. How do we make sense of John's prophetic vision of cosmic war in light of the nonviolence Jesus embodies in the gospels? What does John mean to tell us about Jesus, our world, and the fate of all things? As End Times conspiracy theories surge, it's more important than ever that we read the final book of the Bible without distorting the true message of Jesus. Based on the book Upside-Down Apocalypse, but with the benefit of or who ..read more