I was 10 when I first needed glasses. I was a little bit nearsighted, nothing unusual or significant. That is, until I first wore my glasses in school. Then I was teased relentlessly. I learned to only put on my glasses for reading the blackboard or watching a movie. That was good for a couple… Read More
RCL: Eager Disciples Edition
“Are you able to be like me and do what I do?” “Yes, we are!” I get the impression that James and John are imagining that they will receive Jesus’ miraculous power to heal, or will see the Holy Spirit as he did at his baptism. They seem excited to be like him, and eager… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Mouthful
What is in your mouth? What words, what complaints, what praises, what bitterness? This Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary texts offer quite a mouthful: Job’s mouth is unapologetically filled with complaints and arguments, as he rages, “Oh, that I knew where I might find God in order to make my case!” (Job 23:3-4) A rich man… Read More
RCL: Love, Marriage, Children
“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10 is a text that has been used against divorce and against gay and lesbian marriage, there is a kernel here that really needs to be focused on. This is one of those “clobber” texts, weaponized to fight against beliefs different from one’s own.… Read More
RCL: Turning Sorrow into Gladness
I don’t know about you, but it has been increasingly difficult to remain positive and hopeful amidst the political chaos that seems to have free reign over the U.S. (and other parts of the world for sure). People come and ask what it means to be Christian in the face of such chaos. The response… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Role Reversal
In a previous life, I helped lead retreats for schoolchildren from Christian schools. A class of kids, usually age 8-10, would come for a week at a time during the school year with their teachers, and we would be responsible for activities, worship, and meals every day. At that age, kids tend to be somewhat… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Identity Crisis
Who am I? Who are you? Who is Jesus? Who do people say Jesus is? We are followers. We are deniers. We are Satan. We are also teachers. We are fire. We are fruit. We are the criers. We are the delivered. We are the unashamed. We are the helped. We are the wayward and… Read More
RCL: Jesus Sighed
There is a lot to related to in Mark 7:24-37. Its not often that I feel like Jesus, but I can related to the Son of Man wishing to take a break from the hustle and bustle (I say that as I stretch between the gap between camps and school beginning, thus finding myself working… Read More
RCL: Trying to Abide in God’s Tent
After reading the texts this week, my first thought was can we please have more bread? The return to Mark is rather jarring. Many U.S. pastors are on vacation this weekend, some are concluding summer sermon series, and the rest might be right with me in wishing for more bread. Then, without further delay, let’s… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Carb Overload
This week’s Revised Common Lectionary Gospel lesson is the fifth, and blessedly final, installment of the Bread of Life series. Next week we return to Mark, where there are still conversations about food, but in a totally different context. No matter how much you love John, or bread, if you’ve preached on the Bread of… Read More
