We have reached the fifth and last part of our sermon series on the Joy of James, and find, in this final chapter of James, that the answer to everything is – wait for it – prayer!! Are you sick or suffering? Pray! Are you happy, full of joy? Pray!
The Joy of James: The Practice of Prayer Read More »
As I’ve been prepping for Sunday, my brain keeps transporting me back to the Intermediate Hebrew class I took during seminary. Perhaps a strange place to be, since we aren’t working with any Hebrew Bible texts this week?
The Joy of James: Drawing Near To God Read More »
How much peace have you made this week? What does it even mean to ‘make peace’? In the literal sense of the phrase, James is telling us that peace can be manufactured, constructed. But how?
The Joy of James: The Fruit of Justice Read More »
Remember Walkmans? Remember cassette tapes? Well in that same era, I have a distinct memory of “borrowing” my mother’s Jane Fonda workout tape and putting it into my walkman. I set off on a walk.
This week’s lectionary serves up some strange passages. The Gospel reading begins with Jesus saying, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them.” Just because we affirm this, do this, each communion Sunday doesn’t quite remove the ‘Ewww!’ factor in this passage!
Where Else Would I Be? Read More »
What if the writer of 1st Peter, a chaplain and pastor to refugees, displaced & unhoused, made a pastoral call on King David? Would David’s fears have been relieved? Would his last gasp for vengeance be stilled? (read 1 Peter 3:9-15 for some clues).
Must the Sword Devour Us Forever Read More »
Have you ever had to be a bearer of bad news? How did you feel or what did you do to prepare to give someone a word that you knew was going to be hard?
Messenger With No Name Read More »
Who’s been watching the Olympics this week? I confess, I’ve missed most of it so far, except for a few of the preliminary events in women’s gymnastics.
What is a miracle? I don’t know how I feel about miracles. On the one hand, I feel like most things that happen have a simple, logical explanation. On the other, I can’t picture moving through life without a constant feeling of wonder!
What Is a Miracle? Read More »
What a week! I don’t know about you, but I think I’m all about tired of saying and feeling this. Continued political strife and violence, failing infrastructure at the hands of our inability to be good stewards of our resources, it’s too darn hot/wet/windy…and on and on.
God Forgives, I Don’t Read More »