I hope I am not violating any copyright or trademark protections with my title. I suppose I could have called it “real covenant hope.” Or I could have said “Covenant Promise.” But I believe I describe God Almighty’s covenant with Abraham correctly as being one of hope. The story from Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 is very important to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is a pivotal event. Everything we know of God’s faithfulness turns from here. St. Paul and James both... Read more
“Of course, war is entertaining” – Screwtape Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not entertainment for the people experiencing it. Ukrainian civilians and soldiers are being injured and killed. Russian soldiers are dying too. Politicians from the West are reassuring and arming NATO allies at an alarming rate. The truth takes a beating. The infotainment of 24 hour news and social media is reminds me of a Medieval feast. People engorge themselves with Misinformation, disinformation, and lies. They spew it all... Read more
Forgive me for approaching what many take as serious business lightly. What some people believe is a revolution is really nothing of the sort. It is not even a reformation. It is a tantrum. May 1st is International Labor Day. I remember the pictures of the annual parades displaying the Soviet arsenal. Unfortunately, Americans do not know the holiday comes from our own labor history. The Haymarket bombing and the show trial that followed are the stuff of tragic comedies.... Read more
The story is about the end of Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness. We are beginning the forty days of Lent. It can hardly seem like a time of fasting when family spring vacations are being planned. And when all sorts of goodies are on the shelves in the stores. If you like celebrating St. Patrick’s Day…well that’s always in Lent. We must make certain exceptions given how the employment and school times work together and against each other. A... Read more
It is easy to criticize. I know that all too well. Being a pastor makes me open to that sort of thing. Fear of criticism, though, paralyzes any positive actions that might be taken. But then we may fear criticism if those efforts fail. I promised four but sneaked in a fifth one here in the introductory paragraph. You’re welcome. What If They Do Not Need Us? Would the community notice if your church closed? Is that a fear? Most... Read more
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 NRSV) A colleague recently said our churches are tempted to become gated communities. I thought about that for a few days afterwards and realized that is the description Jesus gives of Hell. Biblical Hell The text quoted above describes “the gates of Hell.” Hell (Hades in Greek or Sheol in Hebrew) is... Read more
The leader began with the story. “There is evil abroad.” And the tale continued from there. There are two basic scenarios. The evil will soon be turned against us. Or the evil victimizes people like us. This was Putin against Ukraine. Bush-Cheney against Iraq. Hitler against Poland. Nicholas II against the Austria-Hungarian Empire. The justification for the Crusades. And so on and on. States with Christian backgrounds do what states have always done. They choose an enemy and go to... Read more
I will discuss the transition of a friend who I first knew as “Seth.” It is important the names are not real to protect her anonymity. So now she is called “Camille.” A friend who transitions presents an interesting situation. When any other member of the LGBTQ community comes out, their friends are learning about something they did not know about the person. When a person announces the decision to transition, it seems to many of their friends and family... Read more
Steve Jobs, it is said, woke up every morning to make some new piece of technology. For those of us who believe God wakes us up each morning, the challenges of technology are enormous. Jacques Ellul warned us that technology had an ideology with it. Artificial intelligence is the apex of that ideology. I am not a luddite. Nor am I a technophobe. I simply wish to be clear about what we are expecting. I do not believe we are... Read more
The truth will set you free. But only when we are ready to step up and accept it. The often misquoted Jesus statement cited above does have value. “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:3b-32) Such a statement will bring a response. John gives us one. “They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone.”... Read more
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