Recounting the story once again - know your storyAnd make your choices of who you will follow in faithAnd marking the covenant once again Picks up with after the message about the religious leaders - compared to the widowThen things shift to looking pretty bleak - faith is not always a simple or easy road Psalm 89:38-52 -Even after all the disorder in this Psalm it ends with a reordering - blessed...  Read More

Interesting that then and now, we humans have a tendency to shoot first rather than talk or seek understandingThen later, we come to Joshua's charge - sounds a lot like Moses - be strong and courageous These stories honestly feel like there's an element of Jesus just trying to provoke Psalm 89:14-37 - v14 - the Mt Rushmore of God - sedek, mishpat, hesed, and hemet - the four hebrew words for the a...  Read More

Good morning friends! There was so much happening at RJC on Thursday! It was our day hosting the 513 Relief Bus and we had people everywhere in the building. People were sharing, receiving, learning, helping, serving, and so much more. So many different groups and organizations were here to provide resources for people and the energy and spirit was so wonderful. Scout, the church dog, was also her...  Read More

Divisions already starting - sighAssumption of wrongdoing on the part of those complaining about the altar.  How often do we do the same when soemone does something we don't expect or understand? Like in the other gospels, we come to a place of the tough, somewhat angry Jesus Psalm 89 - Such a contrast to 88 - a triumphant song of praise to God Proverbs 13:15-16 - More just pure commonsense wisdom...  Read More

Same as yesterday...until the endInteresting that the "Cities of refuge" return Was it strangers or just Jesus' followers who were shouting and lining the road?Luke is the only gospel that has both of the scenes after the entry - the weeping over the city and the cleansing of the temple.  How do they connect?   Psalm 88 - Where do we turn when it feels like everything is falling apart?  Also, how ...  Read More

Same thing as yesterday - whose land? I love that Jesus invites himself over to Zacchaeus’ house.  How does the parable of the 10 pounds tie in with Zachaeus?  It seems Jesus (or the writer of Luke) intended to connect.  Is Zachaeus one who has “invested” well?  But who are those Jesus is speaking of who have “buried” their pounds? Psalm 87 - Interesting reading this Psalm in connection to the rea...  Read More

I read this and cannot help but think about the ways in which this land is still under so much dispute today.  This goes back millennia but also those who were in the land before and after.  Whose land is it? As I shared in my sermon from a few weeks ago, who is the ruler over the rich young ruler’s life?  His money?  How power?  His status?  His ego?  Jesus tells him what he needs to let go ofBe ...  Read More

How I long for that last verse in 14 to be a reality for these stories but also for our life - “And the land had rest from war…” Lord in your mercy hear our prayer This is apparently the “what the?” parable sectionWhat I hear in this is “don’t give up” Next parable - humility at the heart.  Convicting parable for me becuase I know I can act more like the pharisee too oftenthe part with the childre...  Read More

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