“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) The verse above is one which is often quoted. It can be found on bookmarks, as a framed picture, on the front of journals… Read More
Sunday Prayer: pledging allegiance
King of kings,
we bow before you,
pledging our loyalty,
and proclaiming your name … Read More
The Pastoral is Political: All Day, Everyday!
Warning…this may seem like a rant. However, I feel the need to share my recent experience as an example of why this particular blog space is so vital. Too often, many think of pastor OR prophet. Sometimes we even describe someone as both pastor AND prophet. I believe that the role and responsibility of prophet… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Time’s up!
Fearless Prophet,
you picked up the mantle of truth-telling
and went about the countryside
proclaiming “Time’s up!
The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Read More
Sunday Prayer: you are sovereign
King of kings,
hear our prayers of thanksgiving.
For your followers around the world,
we give you thanks.
For the deep love your children
have for you, … Read More
Pastoral is Political: Hypocrisy
Jesus, minister to the poor and the ill, welcomer of children and outcasts, had no time for hypocrisy. Matthew especially points it out. Matthew would be a good book to do a hypocrisy study on. Matthew 6, 7, 23 as well as Mark 7, Matthew 6 & 23 are just some of the places where… Read More
RCL: Praise and … Something Ugly
It must be Christmas 1, Year C because the dreaded “slaughter of the innocents” passage is the Gospel text this week. Of course, there are other options and most of us will choose one of them. Just in case you are feeling called away from God’s reclaiming of God’s people in Isaiah, or the joyful… Read More
RCL: Trusting God’s Promises (for real)
I don’t know about you, but I’m having some difficulty staying focused. There’s the Sunday School plans, the stewardship campaign, the funeral services, the special worship services, the Bible studies, and don’t forget Advent will soon be upon us. And have you completed your review of the draft budget? Oh, and what about sabbatical planning… Read More
RCL: Holy Ways and Entertaining Angels
I often write and speak about how God is waiting for us to choose God’s ways over our human ways. The texts this week invite us to evaluate where we are on the faith journey. Are we serving God or are we more self-absorbed? In the U.S. it is Labor Day weekend and we are… Read More
Friday Prayer
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” John 5:6 It’s a good question: Do I want to be made well? I don’t mean specifically of physical ailments. I mean: do I want all the things that… Read More