God’s reward system is curious. The reward for faithfulness is never a shiny new Mercedes, or even a Prius, just the gift of deeper work to do. The gift exchange for following God turns out to be…more of God. Answering Josiah’s remorse over Israel’s faithlessness, God promises him a peaceful death, and to be spared… Read More
Friday Festival: Dawn and Dusk
Shorter days are coming in some parts of the world, while others are finding longer, sunnier days. In the U.S., I find this time of year hard, as the dark and the cold take a mental toll. I found sustenance in our bloggers’ reflections on light, new dawns, and the beauty of twilight. A new… Read More
Friday Festival: Connections, Broken and Whole
Our bloggers are guiding our minds to the connections of the heart this week. Turning from weariness to gratitude, Kristin Berkey-Abbott notices a parallel between herself and the living things in the garden, “The milkweed is blooming this week–these are plants that have been eaten back to bare stalks several times since I bought them… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: The Other Side of History (2 Samuel 5:1-5, 6:1-5)
Reading through the stories about David is like flipping through a photo album and watching a family member age over time. Here, we meet a mature David, a man of accomplishment but not yet the callous king who wreaks so much havoc to satisfy his own whims. This is no longer the impulsive boy who… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Mixed Martial Arts [Genesis 32:[9-13] 22-30]
Our physical bodies so often reveal our emotional tensions. The person who is carrying the weight of the world has shoulders that slump inward, bowed by an invisible, deeply felt burden. The person who is all bent out of shape emotionally also has mysterious aches and pains. The one who can’t stand something develops pain… Read More
Friday Festival: Relationships Reconsidered
With honesty and tenderness, our bloggers are considering relationships this week – with God, with Jesus, with our stuff and with a lamented mother, who has just died. The hard work of stopping the rush of her life has Sally Coleman thinking about where God is inviting her to sing a new song. “I have… Read More
Friday Festival: Hot and Cold Running Wisdom
Sitting in front of fans and air conditioning units, our bloggers are digging deep within for wisdom. While many of us want to flop on the couch with beach books, or are now finding ourselves in mid-winter, depending on where we live, our bloggers are mining the depths for unexpected gems of wisdom. The body… Read More
Preacher Party: Pigs and Prejudices
Is it time to start pulling our hair out yet, preachers? Are you preaching from the Revised Common Lectionary this coming Sunday? If so, are you riveted again by Luke’s story of Jesus and the man possessed by so many spirits that they name themselves “Legion”? I can’t hear the story without thinking about… Read More
Friday Festival
Need a boost as this week ends? Our bloggers are offering help of all kinds, from the practical to the reflective. There are ways to get support for a knee or give love after an immense loss, ideas for an ending or a beginning, wisdom for a health challenge or an offer of a way… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Hoping Against Hope (Romans 5:1-11)
When my daughter was young, I would often say, “Hmmm…” as I thought about something. “What hmmm?” she would demand, wondering what I was pondering. We have the same reaction to Paul, as the reading begins with “therefore…” “What therefore?” we wonder. Read the Narrative Lectionary Commentary here. Read the scripture here. With his adept… Read More
