PEACE: What Is It?

Isaiah 11:1-10 I thought that there was no better way to start a message and conversation about peace than to hear from the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who died at the age of 95 this past Thursday, December 5th. His life and work are a testimony to what real peacemaking looks like. And that is […]

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God Is Still Wrestling…

Genesis 32:24-31   NRSV Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day […]

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Love that Arises from Gratitude

Luke 17:11-19 11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus* was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered a village, ten lepers* approached him. Keeping their distance, 13they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ 14When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And […]

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The Giving in ForGIVING

Luke 16:1-13 This story is often called the parable of the unjust steward. There are many different interpretations. It is referred to as one of the hard sayings of Jesus. Why? Because it’s hard to figure out! Okay, so let me ask you. What is confusing about this parable? What questions do you have? It […]

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Doors and Prayers

Luke 11:1-13 During my travels in Europe, I was treated to an array of incredible architecture. Some of the oldest basilicas, cathedrals, and synagogues were feasts for my eyes. Like this building in Salamanca, Spain:                                     Or these […]

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Forgiveness is Everything

Luke 7:36 – 8:3 The movie Pay it Forward is about a young boy named Trevor McKinney [played by Haley Joel Osment]. Trevor is troubled by his mother’s alcoholism and is afraid of his abusive and absent father. But something happens in school that changes his life and the lives of many others. One of […]

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Remembering to Heal

Luke 7:11-17 In 1991 Terry Gilliam wrote and directed a movie called The Fisher King. I actually did not see it until later on when I was older, but when I did, I was mesmerized by it. The Fisher King tells the story of Jack Lucas (played by actor Jeff Bridges), a cynical, arrogant talk […]

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Healing from Every Angle

Luke 7:1-10 Two weeks ago I was asked to be a part of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Disparities in Health Care Symposium. My role was to find members of particular religious traditions who had medical experience to participate in a panel. The symposium’s purpose was to educate medical students about minority health disparities in cancer […]

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A Spirit Perspective on Life

John 16:12-15 Our perceptions are incredibly important. How we see the world—our perspectives—determines how we react to things in life and also how we interpret the t hings we experience. So let’s do some activities to reinforce that idea. What do you see? You may see a lakeview with a tree and two people standing. […]

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Real Love, Really Possible!

John 13:31-35 One [Lyrics by Bono; Music by U2] Love is a temple, Love a higher law Love is a temple, Love the higher law One love, One blood One life, You got to do what you should One life, With each other Sisters, Brothers One life But we’re not the same We get to […]

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