Israel's winning streak continues Something of note, even though Jesus affirms the one who returned with gratitude, he doesn’t revoke the healing of the other 9.  There’s still grace and mercy.  The end - message - be ready.  That’s the core of it.   Psalm 83 - “My soul longs…indeed it faints…” - I love this - like the deepest joy and wonder and awe.  When have you experienced somethign like this?...  Read More

more of the same.  SMH This story of the rich man and Lazarus…tempting to read it literally but could be just another parable.  It is to speak to the humility, simplicity, and letting go of so much that the rich man was unable to do, but Lazarus (not the same Lazarus) has been forced into that by life.  17:1-4 - the need for and power of forgiveness Psalm 83 - Seems like a Psalm fitting for the th...  Read More

Good afternoon friends!  Earler this week we celebrated Earth Day and as Scout and I walked several times that day, I gave thanks for this beautiful world that we all share.  That morning, one of our page a day calendars had this reminder of one dog's thoughts on Earth Day.  A cute and simple but profound reminder of all of our responsibilities towards being stewards of this planet. Tonight is our...  Read More

8:24 - Ugh - when Israel had finished slaughtering all the inhabitants of Ai…ughNot much to say here other than - ugh One of the hardest parables to understand / interpret.  I understand the ending concept (you can’t serve God and wealth) but have a hard time getting to there from the parablev18 feels like it just got added here - does not seem like it fits with what comes before.  But this is one...  Read More

The cessation of the manna - they’re really thereJoshua has his own holy ground momentIs the utter destruction what God really wanted?Once again the utter message is “absolute faithfulness to YHWH” The lost parables - my favorite chapter in the whole of the Bible - says so much about who God is and how we are to be.  See my sermon from a few weeks ago on this Psalm 81 - A very different sense of G...  Read More

Another miraculous crossingThe marking of the crossing - I love this story as I am one who also tends to be one who "marks moments" Open the tableIs the cost of discipleship teaching here connected to this call to a bigger table?  Sure seems to fit Psalm 80 - This refrain, "Restore us, O God ofHosts; let your face shine that we might be saved..." so beautiful and so rich Proverbs 12:27-28 - v27 - ...  Read More

Thank you MosesJoshua 1:5 and following - Be strong and courageous multiple timesBecause of God's promiseBecause of faithful livingBecause of God's presence2:1ff - Rahab - she is in Jesus' geneaology... how amazing is that? 22-31 - Jesus doesn't answer the question but instead puts it to faithful living.  Don't worry about the end but about the present14:1-6 - Jesus seems a combination of fiesty a...  Read More

Just reading these got me thinking about what kinds of blessings we offer to others.  John O’Donohue writes about the “lost art of blessing” - what would it be if we did offer blessings to one another? Jesus responding to the question of why bad things happen - he shares that they “just happen.”  Yes there’s the warning in there but connected to it is that “just happens”Fig Tree - can read it in e...  Read More

See yesterday...I still struggle w/ God's punishment of Moses When we are burdened w/ stuff...it is hard to be "ready for anything."  The simpler our life, the easier it is to follow Jesus?49-53 - How do you hear this?56 - Are we being honest with the signs of today? Psalm 78:56-64 - A pretty drastic shift at the end to God's tender, guiding hand... Proverbs 12:24 - Not only spiritually but practi...  Read More

31:7-8 - What a powerful charge and blessing.  "Do not fear or be dismayed"Read the message annually - Bible in a year?32 - a Psalm in Deuteronomy.  I was this was more of an affirmation though See yesterday re 8-1213-21 - How am I controlled by my possessions?  Goodness knows I amHow to live out this "do not worry" message? Psalm 78:32-56 - This Psalm feels like the one in Deut.  God did all this...  Read More

30:15 - Its all before you - choose life, not death Jesus is not being a good dinner guest.  How do you feel about what Jesus did here?Hypocricy is like yeast - grows and enlargesBlaspheme the Spirit - speaking against God's work?  Something more?  Less? Psalm 78:1-31 - A Psalm of truth telling - of God's work but also Israel/Judah's story and their faithfulness and their faithlessness Proverbs 12...  Read More

I love 28:6Literally mirror images with blessings and curses but there are a lot more curses...wow What in this first part speaks of us - nation divided against itself...Is v28 a rebuke to what the woman said?  Jesus' response feels like "Look ahead and not back"Sign of Jonah - proclamation toward changeSermon on the Mount snippet - 33-36 Psalm 77 - Feels like a part 2 to PSalm 76.  Love love love...  Read More