Often it seems as if people like to make things complicated. A situation arises and we agonize over whether to respond with justice or with love. And yet, as creatures made in the image of God, we learn from classical orthodoxy, specifically the Doctrine of Divine Simplicity, that the love of God and the justice of God are identical and so they should be identical for us. Learning how to see love, justice, grace, mercy, peace, and so on, as identical to each other helps us live into what it mean...
Jun 17, 2018
Often it seems as if people like to make things complicated. A situation arises and we agonize over whether to respond with justice or with love. And yet, as creatures made in the image of God, we learn from classical orthodoxy, specifically the Doctrine of Divine Simplicity, that the love of God and the justice of God are identical and so they should be identical for us. Learning how to see love, justice, grace, mercy, peace, and so on, as identical to each other helps us live into what it mean...
Jun 17, 2018•26 min
Hope is a key component of what it means to be human and hope in God, calling to us from the fullness of time that all things are being made new, provides the catalyst for us to be about the transformation of the world through helping to usher in the Kingdom of God.
Jun 10, 2018
Hope is a key component of what it means to be human and hope in God, calling to us from the fullness of time that all things are being made new, provides the catalyst for us to be about the transformation of the world through helping to usher in the Kingdom of God.
Jun 10, 2018•19 min
What does it mean to be human? Can philosophers, scientists, theologians, authors, poets, movie makers, etc., etc. shed light on this question and is there a particularly Christocentric answer? We explore these questions and look to the role of faith in determining who we are and what we do.
Jun 03, 2018
What does it mean to be human? Can philosophers, scientists, theologians, authors, poets, movie makers, etc., etc. shed light on this question and is there a particularly Christocentric answer? We explore these questions and look to the role of faith in determining who we are and what we do.
Jun 03, 2018•31 min
On this Trinity Sunday we look at the Doctrine of the Trinity and how a Trinitarian understanding of God shapes what it means to be made in the image of God.
May 27, 2018
On this Trinity Sunday we look at the Doctrine of the Trinity and how a Trinitarian understanding of God shapes what it means to be made in the image of God.
May 27, 2018•32 min
On this Pentecost Sunday we look back to the events on one specific Pentecost long ago in the context of the celebrations underway and see how these events are described with symbols that refer back to the giving of the Decalogue to Moses on Sinai. The fulfillment of the giving of the law through the Holy Spirit empowers us in the church today to work towards the new life that Jesus made possible and ushered in through his life, death and resurrection.
May 20, 2018
On this Pentecost Sunday we look back to the events on one specific Pentecost long ago in the context of the celebrations underway and see how these events are described with symbols that refer back to the giving of the Decalogue to Moses on Sinai. The fulfillment of the giving of the law through the Holy Spirit empowers us in the church today to work towards the new life that Jesus made possible and ushered in through his life, death and resurrection.
May 20, 2018•36 min
In 1 John we find described the eternal quality of life that we can enter into through Christ Jesus when we "walk just as he walked" by paying attention to (i) Loving one another, (ii) Laying down our lives for one another, and (iii) Sharing our worldly goods with those in need.
May 13, 2018
In 1 John we find described the eternal quality of life that we can enter into through Christ Jesus when we "walk just as he walked" by paying attention to (i) Loving one another, (ii) Laying down our lives for one another, and (iii) Sharing our worldly goods with those in need.
May 13, 2018•28 min
As we look at the words of Jesus on love in John 15 we see that he is speaking of a love that is the fruit of a certain way of interacting with each other. Interacting not as master and slave but rather as friends. This seems to be a prerequisite for the type of love that Jesus has in mind and is a call for us to re-examine our own relationships with each other in all aspects of life.
May 06, 2018
As we look at the words of Jesus on love in John 15 we see that he is speaking of a love that is the fruit of a certain way of interacting with each other. Interacting not as master and slave but rather as friends. This seems to be a prerequisite for the type of love that Jesus has in mind and is a call for us to re-examine our own relationships with each other in all aspects of life.
May 06, 2018•20 min
With language that points to the person of Jesus as the embodiment of Israel as it was always intended to be, we see how fruitfulness by the disciples of Jesus is to be seen as the measure of faithfulness to the original command to Abraham to "be a blessing to the whole world."
Apr 29, 2018
With language that points to the person of Jesus as the embodiment of Israel as it was always intended to be, we see how fruitfulness by the disciples of Jesus is to be seen as the measure of faithfulness to the original command to Abraham to "be a blessing to the whole world."
Apr 29, 2018•32 min
Within the Easter Season we encounter John's description of Jesus describing the shepherd and the sheep and explaining the difference between a thief, a hired hand, and the good shepherd. Comparing and contrasting the three characters in his narrative, we see how the message embodied by Jesus reveals what the abundant life can be for each of us.
Apr 22, 2018
Within the Easter Season we encounter John's description of Jesus describing the shepherd and the sheep and explaining the difference between a thief, a hired hand, and the good shepherd. Comparing and contrasting the three characters in his narrative, we see how the message embodied by Jesus reveals what the abundant life can be for each of us.
Apr 22, 2018•29 min
In Luke's Gospel, Jesus shares words of peace with his disciples, speaks to help them through fear and doubt, and then asks them for something to eat! In this very human way, Jesus calls on the image of the feeding of the five thousand as representative of the type of new life that follows resurrection. He calls on his disciples to be witnesses and so, through the centuries, calls on us to live new lives shaped by his words and deeds.
Apr 15, 2018
In Luke's Gospel, Jesus shares words of peace with his disciples, speaks to help them through fear and doubt, and then asks them for something to eat! In this very human way, Jesus calls on the image of the feeding of the five thousand as representative of the type of new life that follows resurrection. He calls on his disciples to be witnesses and so, through the centuries, calls on us to live new lives shaped by his words and deeds.
Apr 15, 2018•32 min
In today's Gospel reading we once again encounter Thomas, famed throughout history as "Doubting Thomas", and examine the role of doubt in faith. Doubts and questions can be the engines that drive us to explore more deeply, engage more seriously, and live out our faith more effectively.
Apr 08, 2018
In today's Gospel reading we once again encounter Thomas, famed throughout history as "Doubting Thomas", and examine the role of doubt in faith. Doubts and questions can be the engines that drive us to explore more deeply, engage more seriously, and live out our faith more effectively.
Apr 08, 2018•30 min
On this Easter Sunday, we are reminded that the resurrection of Jesus is not simply a story about Jesus alone. It is also a story that invites us to resurrection and new life such that the love of God, mediated by the people of God, overcomes the sins of the world.
Apr 01, 2018
On this Easter Sunday, we are reminded that the resurrection of Jesus is not simply a story about Jesus alone. It is also a story that invites us to resurrection and new life such that the love of God, mediated by the people of God, overcomes the sins of the world.
Apr 01, 2018•25 min
From Mark's account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem we see signs and symbols that proclaim who Jesus is: Lord, King, Messiah, Liberator, Savior, Son of David. These signs help us interpret the Easter narrative and see how the Easter story invites us to participate in new creation.
Mar 25, 2018
From Mark's account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem we see signs and symbols that proclaim who Jesus is: Lord, King, Messiah, Liberator, Savior, Son of David. These signs help us interpret the Easter narrative and see how the Easter story invites us to participate in new creation.
Mar 25, 2018•26 min
In today's lectionary Gospel passage we see how Gentiles seek to encounter Jesus in Jerusalem, a sign to him that the time has come when the Son of Man is to be glorified. The words of Jesus, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself" speak to the call for all people to be drawn in to the redemptive love that he offers.
Mar 18, 2018
In today's lectionary Gospel passage we see how Gentiles seek to encounter Jesus in Jerusalem, a sign to him that the time has come when the Son of Man is to be glorified. The words of Jesus, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself" speak to the call for all people to be drawn in to the redemptive love that he offers.
Mar 18, 2018•27 min
In John's Gospel, we see Jesus explain to Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a "leader of the Jews," how to think about what he is accomplishing by reference to the Exodus from Egypt and freedom from slavery. Freedom from that which enslaves us provides a key for unlocking the meaning of the journey that Jesus takes to Jerusalem, to the cross and the empty tomb, that resonates across the centuries.
Mar 11, 2018
In John's Gospel, we see Jesus explain to Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a "leader of the Jews," how to think about what he is accomplishing by reference to the Exodus from Egypt and freedom from slavery. Freedom from that which enslaves us provides a key for unlocking the meaning of the journey that Jesus takes to Jerusalem, to the cross and the empty tomb, that resonates across the centuries.
Mar 11, 2018•32 min
