Relating, Creating, Transforming
Malachi 3:1-3; 10 The Message [MSG] “Look! I’m sending my messenger on ahead to clear the way for me. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you’ve been looking for will enter his Temple—yes, the Messenger of the Covenant, the one you’ve been waiting for. Look! He’s on his way!” A Message from the mouth […]
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Luke 21:25-28 NRSV There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. […]
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Isaiah 60:1-5 (NRSV) Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up […]
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John 18:33-37, John 1 Thanksgiving is over. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have ceased. Giving Tuesday came to an end. Now what? Advent. Whaaaaat? Yes, the season of Advent began on November 29th for Western Christians. I have to say Western Christians, because the season of Advent is indeed a Western creation, and it would […]
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Mark 12:38-44 Ruth It’s important to recognize that all sacred books are grounded in a certain time and place. In the case of the Bible, it is also important to accept that the writers of the NT books and the Hebrew Scriptures were most likely all men. Women’s voices [and even their names] are not […]
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Mark 9:38-50 POPE-A-LOOZA Last Friday and Saturday, I had the opportunity to spend time with friends in Philadelphia while Pope Francis visited for the World Meeting of Families. I am fortunate to have a few friends in Center City who live in an apartment building right near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Art Museum […]
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John 6:24-35 Previously, in this chapter of John’s story, something like 5000 people were fed when there seemed to be a scarcity of food. A handful of loaves and fishes proved to be enough to feed everyone. After the event, Jesus and his disciples took a boat over to Capernaum, on the other side of […]
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Psalm 85:1-8; 10 I want to begin with a question. How many of you feel that your definition of who God is comes mostly from: What your parents or family raised you to believe? Or: From the Bible? Or: From a church? Or: From a spiritual or enlightening experience? Or: From personal life experience? Perhaps […]
Read MoreJohn 15:12-17 When I was a teenager, there was a song that I learned in a youth ministry program that stuck in my head. The song Draw Me Close by Kelly Robert Carpenter spoke to me on an emotional level. Draw me close to you Never let me go I lay it all down again […]
Read MoreMatthew 20:1-16 I have mentioned before that four-year-olds ask the most questions…and constantly. Their brains are built to ask questions, and so they do. As we get older, though, for some reason, we ask less questions. And sadly, many of us stop asking questions altogether. But let’s not do that as we read scripture. Let’s […]
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