A week ago, Connie and I woke up every morning and walked to the Ocean to watch the sunrise. If you sit still and listen, the waves resound like a meditation tape, and the pinks, blues, and yellows dance over the wet sand and waves like Monet’s, Renoir’s and Cassatt’s. Silently focussed on the horizon, […]
On Tuesday, when we met for worship planning, Matt asked a routine question, “where are you going with the text?” I shared about the tension, the frustration, the blaming, the distress and anger in Psalm 13. I was excited to preach about voicing our anger in prayer! How long will you forget me, Lord? Forever?How […]
The CEB translates the first line in the Bible, “When God began to create…” I love the implications behind “When God began to create…” an affirmation that God “is still making all things new”. (2 Corinthians 5) When God began to create, God created light, land, sun, seas, sky, moon, stars, mountains, seeds, trees, bats, […]
Do you believe that God created your imagination? Do you believe that God gives you songs, dreams and inspiration? Do you believe that God speaks from the experiences of your life, as God spoke through the experiences of our spiritual ancestors like Abraham, Sara, Paul and Silas? Jesus invites us to our imaginations: Consider the […]
On a dance floor, I usually feel self-conscious, awkward, and out of place. Maybe some of you can relate. I think growing up in a denomination officially opposed to dancing didn’t help my confidence. One of our youth directors tracked the school dances and quizzed us about our plans, warning us dancing was a gateway […]
Before the clouds carried Jesus away, the disciples asked, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” Lord, are you going to send the Roman colonizers back to Italy? Jesus, are you going to permanently kick the money changers out of the Temple? God, when will we find the high […]
Last week, as soon as the 8:10am service ended, I raced across the chancel to speak to Phil, Anna, Mary Kay and Louis before they could get away. Did I run over to rejoice “with exceedingly great joy” that our campaign was going so well? (Matthew 2) Did I rush over to make a point […]
Growing up in Kentucky our family watched our Wildcats with a religious exuberance never displayed at church. If the game grew tighter we drew closer to the TV. If a player was shooting crucial free throws, my mom rubbed her folded hands together in a circular prayer-like motion and repeated “come on baby, come on… […]
Our passage follows Pentecost, where “they” were all together in one place”, when suddenly a sound from heaven, like the rush of violent wind, shook the place and something like tongues of fire rested on each person, “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” and began to speak in other languages: Parthians, Medes, […]
“After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.” We need healing reunions, rituals. And reconciliations. We need to light candles, lay flowers, call friends, and keep the sabbath. There is healing in risking rejoining community. Mary and Magdalene share their […]
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