I serve as the pastor of a church with an old building that is constantly in need of attention. This becomes all the more important because we house several free clinics. We’ve been having sewer issues. It’s a combination of old sewer lines that are addressed in piecemeal fashion, a limited pool of resources that prevents us from completely gutting and replacing everything, and people with various capacities and knowledge of appropriate use of bathroom facilities. This week we had a blockage in our pipes which came about from someone stuffing paper towel (and probably other items) down the toi ..read more

Ah, the comment section. Does it really matter where? It could be on an article on a news website. It could be on a post on social media. It could be anywhere else for that matter. The comment section is often proof enough for why we can’t have nice things. It’s often proof enough for why we need to have pride parades and festivals in communities. It’s proof for why we need to stand with both Islamic and Jewish faith communities. It’s proof for why women would choose the bear over a man in the woods. It’s proof for why proclamation of Good News is so very necessary. Because the comment section ..read more

Based on Matthew 13:44-50 This week we’re going to focus on the idea that some things are worth investing in.  All too often churches are afraid to talk about money.  It can be uncomfortable.  It can make people nervous.  It can make people feel all sorts of things.  From a faith perspective, money is a spiritual issue as much as it is a material thing.  Our relationship with money is complicated.  Add in money in church, and we are often in stormy waters.   And throw in the idea of investing – wow.  It’s ..read more

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-r3eud-1621b55 How do we read the Bible?  There are helpful and unhelpful ways.  It helps to start with knowing some things about the Bible.  Just after 21:30 into the podcast I offer a direct example of reading Scripture in light of shootings around the church.  The sermon is based on 2 Timothy 3:10-17.   The post How to Read the Bible appeared first on ..read more

Based on 2 Timothy 3:10—17 With Pentecost occurring, we reached the end of the year for the Narrative Lectionary.  Throughout the summer, the lectionary offers suggestions on what scripture and themes to focus on.  I chose to set aside the suggestion for four weeks and explore topics of interest.  This coming Sunday, we’ll be focusing on how to read the Bible.  This topic alone could be its own four-week series, but I think focusing on it for one week is a good start.   I chose 2 Timothy 3:10-17 because it talks directly about what scripture is ..read more

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-axtns-1618c6b The Holy Spirit gives us gifts and draws us together.  We are given unique gifts to build up the body of Christ, to serve, to love, to live – in community.  It’s a miracle.  The sermon is based on Acts 2:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-13.   The post The Pentecost Miracle appeared first on ..read more

I think one way of expressing the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus, is summed up in the phrase “It doesn’t have to be this way.” It’s the idea that what we currently experience isn’t the only option and things are not set in stone. There are other ways, often better ways. But we, for some reason or reasons, choose not to take on a different way. Maybe we’ve gotten lazy. Or we are stubborn. Or maybe we’re tired. Or maybe we don’t have the capacity of envision how the situation could be different. Or maybe we don’t even know that it’s a possibility. Maybe we get the phrase, but think it only appli ..read more

Based on 1 Corinthians 15:1-26, 51-57 Chapter 15 of this first letter to the Corinthians is near the end of the letter.  Which means Paul is summarizing and making a conclusion to his arguments that he has been presenting throughout the letter.  And it’s important to remember that the church in Corinth is deeply divided and disunified.  Apparently resurrection is another sticking point in the church – is it spiritual or physical? The beginning portion of this chapter is Paul’s summary of how he came to learn of the Good News that he proclaims, starting with Jesus ..read more

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-g96hv-1605347 What is Love?  We can talk about it.  We can think about it.  We can experience it.  We can share in it.  What is the greatest?  The sermon is based on 1 Corinthians 13.   The post What is Love appeared first on ..read more

Based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 “Love is patient.  Love it kind…”.  If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you’ve probably heard this passage.  In fact, it’s a passage of Scripture that even non-church people have familiarity with because of its frequent use in weddings.  And while it makes for a nice wedding passage due to the message, Paul didn’t write it thinking about a wedding.   Paul wrote several letters to the church in Corinth.  The church was an example of the problems that churches would always face, because churches involve peop ..read more