Luke 5:1-11 As human beings, do we remember that we are part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space? We often forget. Instead, we often experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of our consciousness. And this delusion […]
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Water is essential for life. Without water, we die. Without water, there is no life. Period. Look around the world right now and you’ll notice that there are far too many people who struggle to survive…because they don’t have access to drinking water. 844 million people don’t have clean water. (WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring […]
Mark 9:38-41; 49-50 The Message (MSG) 38 John spoke up, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.” 39-41 Jesus wasn’t pleased. “Don’t stop him. No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down. […]
Mark 8:27-32; 34-35 From time to time people may say things like: “Once you pass a certain age, you are who you are.” “People don’t change much after age ___….” “You can’t teach and old dog new tricks….” While most of the time we don’t mean any harm when we say such things, it does […]
Mark 5:24b-34 I would like to ask you a question. Simple, but it may seem the opposite. What is faith? Sure, perhaps you are thinking: Really? What is faith? Now that’s a loaded question. Are you referring to some kind of religious faith, or a faith in God or Jesus or Mohammad, or Buddha, or […]
Mark 1:29-34a 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, […]
Mark 1:21-39 Let’s talk demons, afflictions, identity and love. Cool with you? Okay, first, a story about Jesus of Nazareth. He’s making his way to Capernaum–perhaps the most important and well-connected community in the region of Galilee. There was a temple there, and Jesus was about to darken its door. Mark’s Gospel is the speed […]
Mark 1:14-20 Sometimes we see ourselves as only what others tell us, or what the world tells us. Are we just our jobs? Are we just defined by appearance? Are we meant to fit into other people’s boxes? Or, are we invited to be ourselves in a free-flowing, surprising way? Are we invited to follow […]
Matthew 16:13-20 So you’re at a party or social engagement of some sort. You don’t know everybody there. Whether introvert or extrovert, at some point in the evening you inevitably encounter someone you don’t know. You make eye contact. Let the social awkwardness begin! You: Hello. I’m _________ Person: Nice to meet you, I’m _______ […]
John 10:1-10 I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the intersection of religion and politics. Now before you run away after hearing this, please hear me out. I know some of us prefer to avoid that conversation, but I think it’s really important to address it. Religion and politics have been intertwined ever since human […]