The framework for original sin that most of us are familiar with comes from a bad interpretation of a bad translation of one verse in one letter from Pual. Unfortunately, however, it has all kinds of implications for we think about ourselves and God. So let's talk about it.
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” –Mahatma Ghandi Doesn’t it feel like there’s a shortage of true happiness? Whether the news—or our own experience—or a string of rainy afternoons, we can find ourselves wondering why the world always seems to be frowning. Which is why—this summer—we’re striking out in search of some real, wholesome, happy-face-emoji moments. And in this series, we’re gathering individuals and stories from our community to answer th...
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” –Mahatma Ghandi Doesn’t it feel like there’s a shortage of true happiness? Whether the news—or our own experience—or a string of rainy afternoons, we can find ourselves wondering why the world always seems to be frowning. Which is why—this summer—we’re striking out in search of some real, wholesome, happy-face-emoji moments. And in this series, we’re gathering individuals and stories from our community to answer th...
There are times in life when either/or decisions are super important. Life-saving, even. Is this food good for me or bad? Is this relationship what I want or isn’t it? Do I believe this thing about God or don’t I? The answers to these questions may serve us well for a time. Maybe even a long time. But there are some questions that aren’t settled with either/or answers. Contemplative thinkers even insist that an either/or posture to the world is antithetical to human life. After all, we know ours...
There are times in life when either/or decisions are super important. Life-saving, even. Is this food good for me or bad? Is this relationship what I want or isn’t it? Do I believe this thing about God or don’t I? The answers to these questions may serve us well for a time. Maybe even a long time. But there are some questions that aren’t settled with either/or answers. Contemplative thinkers even insist that an either/or posture to the world is antithetical to human life. After all, we know ours...
There are times in life when either/or decisions are super important. Life-saving, even. Is this food good for me or bad? Is this relationship what I want or isn’t it? Do I believe this thing about God or don’t I? The answers to these questions may serve us well for a time. Maybe even a long time. But there are some questions that aren’t settled with either/or answers. Contemplative thinkers even insist that an either/or posture to the world is antithetical to human life. After all, we know ours...
There are times in life when either/or decisions are super important. Life-saving, even. Is this food good for me or bad? Is this relationship what I want or isn’t it? Do I believe this thing about God or don’t I? The answers to these questions may serve us well for a time. Maybe even a long time. But there are some questions that aren’t settled with either/or answers. Contemplative thinkers even insist that an either/or posture to the world is antithetical to human life. After all, we know ours...
There are times in life when either/or decisions are super important. Life-saving, even. Is this food good for me or bad? Is this relationship what I want or isn’t it? Do I believe this thing about God or don’t I? The answers to these questions may serve us well for a time. Maybe even a long time. But there are some questions that aren’t settled with either/or answers. Contemplative thinkers even insist that an either/or posture to the world is antithetical to human life. After all, we know ours...
What feelings grip us when everything is awful? Resentment. Fear. Isolation. Loss. In those moments, such words of encouragement as “do not be anxious about anything” or “I can do everything in him who gives me strength” may sound almost glib. Except...when they come from a friend who’s been though awful and does not sidestep it. Writing to his friends in Philippi, Paul speaks words of comfort. Clear, simple words about Christ as a way of life. Life anchored in joy. Joy that defies prison chains...
What feelings grip us when everything is awful? Resentment. Fear. Isolation. Loss. In those moments, such words of encouragement as “do not be anxious about anything” or “I can do everything in him who gives me strength” may sound almost glib. Except...when they come from a friend who’s been though awful and does not sidestep it. Writing to his friends in Philippi, Paul speaks words of comfort. Clear, simple words about Christ as a way of life. Life anchored in joy. Joy that defies prison chains...
What feelings grip us when everything is awful? Resentment. Fear. Isolation. Loss. In those moments, such words of encouragement as “do not be anxious about anything” or “I can do everything in him who gives me strength” may sound almost glib. Except...when they come from a friend who’s been though awful and does not sidestep it. Writing to his friends in Philippi, Paul speaks words of comfort. Clear, simple words about Christ as a way of life. Life anchored in joy. Joy that defies prison chains...
What feelings grip us when everything is awful? Resentment. Fear. Isolation. Loss. In those moments, such words of encouragement as “do not be anxious about anything” or “I can do everything in him who gives me strength” may sound almost glib. Except...when they come from a friend who’s been though awful and does not sidestep it. Writing to his friends in Philippi, Paul speaks words of comfort. Clear, simple words about Christ as a way of life. Life anchored in joy. Joy that defies prison chains...
What feelings grip us when everything is awful? Resentment. Fear. Isolation. Loss. In those moments, such words of encouragement as “do not be anxious about anything” or “I can do everything in him who gives me strength” may sound almost glib. Except...when they come from a friend who’s been though awful and does not sidestep it. Writing to his friends in Philippi, Paul speaks words of comfort. Clear, simple words about Christ as a way of life. Life anchored in joy. Joy that defies prison chains...
What feelings grip us when everything is awful? Resentment. Fear. Isolation. Loss. In those moments, such words of encouragement as “do not be anxious about anything” or “I can do everything in him who gives me strength” may sound almost glib. Except...when they come from a friend who’s been though awful and does not sidestep it. Writing to his friends in Philippi, Paul speaks words of comfort. Clear, simple words about Christ as a way of life. Life anchored in joy. Joy that defies prison chains...
What feelings grip us when everything is awful? Resentment. Fear. Isolation. Loss. In those moments, such words of encouragement as “do not be anxious about anything” or “I can do everything in him who gives me strength” may sound almost glib. Except...when they come from a friend who’s been though awful and does not sidestep it. Writing to his friends in Philippi, Paul speaks words of comfort. Clear, simple words about Christ as a way of life. Life anchored in joy. Joy that defies prison chains...
What feelings grip us when everything is awful? Resentment. Fear. Isolation. Loss. In those moments, such words of encouragement as “do not be anxious about anything” or “I can do everything in him who gives me strength” may sound almost glib. Except...when they come from a friend who’s been though awful and does not sidestep it. Writing to his friends in Philippi, Paul speaks words of comfort. Clear, simple words about Christ as a way of life. Life anchored in joy. Joy that defies prison chains...
The legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the times we are outnumbered but aren’t ruined, bullied but not overwhelmed, pushed to the sidelines only t...
The legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the times we are outnumbered but aren’t ruined, bullied but not overwhelmed, pushed to the sidelines only t...
The legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the times we are outnumbered but aren’t ruined, bullied but not overwhelmed, pushed to the sidelines only t...
The legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the times we are outnumbered but aren’t ruined, bullied but not overwhelmed, pushed to the sidelines only t...
The legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the times we are outnumbered but aren’t ruined, bullied but not overwhelmed, pushed to the sidelines only t...
Easter Sunday is here. We have arrived. This morning, we woke up knowing that this is not the end of the story. On Easter Sunday we hear this resounding response: “Love is always stronger than death, and unto love you have now returned.” So, welcome to Easter! To the Feast of Feasts! The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world. Feel it, savour it, allow it to renew you too. Hear God sing over you: “I order you, o sleeper, to awake! I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise ...
In the narrative of Palm Sunday , the crowds surround Jesus as he enters Jerusalem. There’s so much enthusiasm for a new kind of king. Could it be that their liberator is finally here? The crowd shouts, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” It’s a cry for salvation from Psalm 118. It’s a cry to be saved. The Palm Sunday celebration is an ancient tradition. Just a few centuries after Jesus’ death and resurrection, pilgrims made their way to Jerusalem to rehearse Jesus’ entry into the city. The Palm procession mean...
A travelogue is an account of a journey. It can be written with either factual details or as a narrative story but the interplay between the movement through the world and the transformation within the writer presents a unique opportunity. The writer of Luke takes full advantage of this in his Gospel as Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and begins his journey. And Jesus walked. He wandered hills, traveled highways, strode across fields, and meandered streets of towns and cities. And as he walked ...
A travelogue is an account of a journey. It can be written with either factual details or as a narrative story but the interplay between the movement through the world and the transformation within the writer presents a unique opportunity. The writer of Luke takes full advantage of this in his Gospel as Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and begins his journey. And Jesus walked. He wandered hills, traveled highways, strode across fields, and meandered streets of towns and cities. And as he walked ...
A travelogue is an account of a journey. It can be written with either factual details or as a narrative story but the interplay between the movement through the world and the transformation within the writer presents a unique opportunity. The writer of Luke takes full advantage of this in his Gospel as Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and begins his journey. And Jesus walked. He wandered hills, travelled highways, strode across fields, and meandered streets of towns and cities. And as he walked...
A travelogue is an account of a journey. It can be written with either factual details or as a narrative story but the interplay between the movement through the world and the transformation within the writer presents a unique opportunity. The writer of Luke takes full advantage of this in his Gospel as Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and begins his journey. And Jesus walked. He wandered hills, travelled highways, strode across fields, and meandered streets of towns and cities. And as he walked...
A travelogue is an account of a journey. It can be written with either factual details or as a narrative story but the interplay between the movement through the world and the transformation within the writer presents a unique opportunity. The writer of Luke takes full advantage of this in his Gospel as Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and begins his journey. And Jesus walked. He wandered hills, travelled highways, strode across fields, and meandered streets of towns and cities. And as he walked...
We’ve talked about ritual before— the rhythms of life, and faith, and practice that ground us in the Christian tradition. And one of the reasons we keep coming back to these conversations is because— well—that’s what ritual requires of us. We don’t ever outgrow the need for persistent daily patterns. We don’t ever get beyond having to build better habits for our good. We don’t ever discover the best of rituals by neglecting the care they require. So, we’re excited for how a return to old ideas a...
We’ve talked about ritual before— the rhythms of life, and faith, and practice that ground us in the Christian tradition. And one of the reasons we keep coming back to these conversations is because— well—that’s what ritual requires of us. We don’t ever outgrow the need for persistent daily patterns. We don’t ever get beyond having to build better habits for our good. We don’t ever discover the best of rituals by neglecting the care they require. So, we’re excited for how a return to old ideas a...
