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 […]
Tag Archives: god
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 […]
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… […]
There was no fast fashion, no jumbo pack of tube socks at the Dollar Tree, nor Tshirt vendors hawking Passover Festival 33AD hoodies. In the ancient world, everything was handmade and many people owned only what they were wearing and little more. The law told a lender they could not hold a cloak overnight as […]
Early in the morning Jesus returned to the Temple Mount. It is about a two mile walk from the Mount of Olives to the Temple, down a few hundred feet and then back up. Perhaps Jesus entered through the beautiful eastern or Golden Gate. I picture Jesus strolling through gardens or sitting up on an […]
Last week, our benediction came from Ephesians 3: Now to the one who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Judaism, Christianity, […]
When Jesus heard the news of John’s death, Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place. (Matthew 14) The Gospel of Luke begins in the Temple with John the Baptist’s Father, Zechariah, standing before the altar making that day’s incense offering for the nation. As the fragrant smoke fills the Temple, Zechariah has a […]
Belmont orders our calendar around the rhythms of Christian Year and today is the first Sunday of Lent. As Advent prepares us for Christmas, Lent readies us for Easter. Lent is often about subtraction: self-denial, sacrifice, giving something up, and stepping out of the ordinary. Lent arrives unadorned. Do you have a box of Lenten […]
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