Kill Evil With Good Kill Evil With Good is a simple thought Lectionary reflection on the way in which Christians should respond to evildoers. November 2, 2015 Year B There is a famous phrase: “kill them with kindness.” The phrase means that you can change a person by being kind. The inclination for many people is to repay evil with evil. Take vengeance on a person. Do to them what they have done to you. Yet the Bible teaches that... Read more
The Force Awakens There has been much discussion about the use of the Force in the Star Wars saga. Throughout the film series, a group of people use this Force. These Force-sensitive people have special powers that help them do good or bad. The question has been raised: “What is this Force, and how does it relate to faith?” Many people have mentioned comparisons to Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and even Islam. George Lucas spoke about why he put the... Read more
Show Respect Show respect is a simple thought Lectionary reflection on the way the Bible teaches that we should treat different neighbors. October 30, 2015 Year B Respect is earned. That is why one learns to show respect to others. The Bible teaches that one of the ways you love another person is by the way you give respect. You rise to greet the elderly (Leviticus 19:32). In the same way, you show how you respect God (Leviticus 19:32). You... Read more
Strange Glory by Charles Marsh Strange Glory by Charles Marsh, is a unique biography of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Marsh recounts the events of Bonhoeffer’s life with a flare for experiential narrative. By that I mean that Marsh is able to give us the human experience behind the events in Bonhoeffer’s life. Taking us through the early years of Bonhoeffer’s life to his studies, Marsh guides us through the personal experiences in Bonhoeffer’s life which affected... Read more
Bitter or BetterOctober 29, 2015 Year B Life can make one bitter or better. It depends upon your outlook. In this scene, Naomi returns to Jerusalem with her daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi and Ruth had spent time in Moab (modern-day Jordan) because Naomi’s husband and sons had died and there was a famine. They spent ten years in this foreign land. It has been a hard experience. It has been so hard that Naomi encouraged both of her daughters-in-law to... Read more
Four Ways God Can Bring Judgment on a Nation October 28, 2015 Year B When you look at the news today, it seems like our world is turning again into chaos. China and the United States have a quarrel over an incident in the China Sea. The President is considering putting troops on the ground in Syria, where there are alreaady other troops from Russia, China, Syria, as well as the Islamic State terrorists. One would think that judgment... Read more
Healing As a Witnessing Tool Healing As a Witnessing Tool is a simple thought Lectionary reflection on how a Christian can use a personal healing experience as a witnessing tool. October 27, 2015 Year B Acts 9:32-35 Jesus commanded His people to be a witness (Acts 1:8). There are a variety of ways to witness to others about Jesus Christ. One such way is through healing. Peter came to a man who had been paralyzed named Aeneas. Peter heals him... Read more
Leadership Excuses We Give God Leadership Excuses We Give God is a simple thought Lectionary reflection on the excuses we give God not to lead other people that He called us to. October 26, 2015 Year B Exodus 4:1-17 There are many people whom God is asking to lead others in His work. God draws people whom He thinks are qualified to lead others. Whether it be a church planter, Sunday School teacher, pastor, or ministry leader, God seeks out... Read more
October 24, 2015 Year B Jeremiah 29:24-32 There are times when people get out of control in the church. These rebels preach a message that God did not speak and work contrary to the leaders God has appointed in the church. These “rebel scum” work in complete opposition to the Lord’s purposes. They preach a prosperity Gospel that says that Christians won’t suffer (Jeremiah 29:30), though they live in captivity. They don’t accept God’s will as it is, but say... Read more
A New (and Better) Hope A New (and Better) Hope is a simple thought reflection from the Hebrews 7:11-12 about how Jesus is a new (and better) hope than Star Wars. October 23, 2015 Year B Hebrews 7:11-12 In the Star Wars saga, the fourth episode of the series (but the first one aired) is entitled “A New Hope.” The premise was that unlike the previous hope – Anakin Skywalker, there is now a new hope in Luke Skywalker, his... Read more
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