To Tend and Cultivate While there are a lot of things to discuss or debate about creation and the creation story, one thing that is not up for debate is what God thought about it all. Over and over we…

Direction of Reflection Exodus 32:7-14 The people grew restless. Frantically awaiting the return of their liberator and leader, wilderness weary and idle at the base of the mountain, the Israelites call upon Aaron to give them something tangible to believe…

The Despised Other Luke 10:30-37 Bloody Pass is the eighteen-mile stretch of treacherous road spiraling down from Jerusalem. The steep descent negotiates blind curves and blackened caves, a lawless desert where marauding bandits plot their next raid. Leaping from the…

The Poverty of Plenty Luke 12:13-21 Elbowing his way to the front of the crowd, a disgruntled onlooker makes demands of the Son of God. Third in line to his father’s inheritance and frustrated with the privilege of first born…

Working Class Matthew 20:1-15 With grapes swollen on the vine, the harvest isn’t going to pick itself. Determined, Jesus cranks on the ignition until his farm truck coughs to life. At first light, he drives to the pawnshop side of…

What Winning Looks Like Ephesians 6:10-20 You may be surprised to learn that I was a cheerleader in high school.  Of course that was over 40 years ago.  Cheerleading then was much different that it is today.  I had a…

Where the Lost Things Are Luke 15:1-7 Kicking off a trio of parables in response to critique from religious elites, Jesus appeals to the compassion of the humble shepherd. In the wake of miraculous healings, subversive guest lists, and the…

What does it mean to wrestle with God? I want to talk with you about Jacob today. I also want to talk to you about Israel. Israel is the “third Patriarch”, the namesake of a nation, a noble, bearded face,…

Jesus, the Weed Keeper Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus may have been level on the level as a carpenter, but he’s a terrible farmer. With over 70% of ancient Palestinians dependent on agronomy to feed their families, the local plow hands can’t…

Our Love Needs Our Grief 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Writing to a community fraught with division, ethical murkiness, and theological confusion, Paul addresses the church in Corinth. In the opening passages of 2 Corinthians, before he speaks of forgiveness and accountability,…

The Common Chalice “NO TRESPASSING,” the sign reads. With a clenched jaw, Jesus jumps the fence anyway, into the backyard of an enemy. Rather than take the expected detour avoiding Samaria, he opts for the contested route on his way…

Heart to Hungry Heart Luke 5:33-39 Often accused of being a glutton, it’s no small wonder why Jesus garnered this reputation: the man is constantly eating. The Gospels are filled with story after story of Jesus sitting down at tables,…

Trust God with the Multiplying Eulogy for Ms. Mary Ann Littlejohn Matthew 14:15-20 No one had eaten in three days. The starving masses, weakened by dehydration, began dissolving into the evening sand. Some, spiraling from vertigo, clutched limestone boulders to…

Sacred Scars John 20:24-29 After revealing the resurrection to Mary, the first Gospel preacher, Jesus appears to a huddled mass of disciples hiding behind a locked door for fear they might share the same fate as their Lord. Offering a…

Becoming Galileans Mark 16:1-8 “What a contrast,” said Flemming Rutledge, “to the photographs on the greeting cards! They are in soft focus; they are suffused with golden light… But what about an Easter card with a picture of panicky women…

Find Your Voice Luke 19:29-40 The boisterous crowd filled the air with cheers and chants. The excitement in the air was palpable. There was no riveting speech at the beginning, no pep rally to rev up the crowd; there was…

Disrupting Just Deserts John 9:1-12 Already in trouble with Jerusalem’s religious elite, Jesus boldly affirms his identity in a debate with a crowd of Jewish skeptics — blaspheming the patriarchs in claiming, “before Abraham was, I am,” (John 8:58). Not…

Dirty People Matthew 6:1-6 “Beware,” Jesus cautions, “doing good can wreck your spiritual life. Take, for example, displays of public piety. Don’t wait until rush hour to roll up on your camel waving a Christian flag. Only to dismount in…

A Kind and Gentle Lens Matthew 11:25-30 The snickering sneers and hushed judgments hurled towards the imprisoned desert eccentric begin to die down as Jesus addresses the crowd. An ode to the Baptist, Jesus praises John’s deeds as the messenger…

Getting In the Weeds Matthew 6:5-13 Like many of you I got a little bit of Spring fever last weekend. After so many days of bitter cold, suddenly, it felt like Spring. And I caught the bug. We have a…

Beyond Binaries Acts 8:26-38 “Once you arrive at the edge of the world,” the angel instructs Philip, “keep going.” “But we’ve never planted a church,” he responds, “beyond the old neighborhood.” “The Gospel doesn’t keep good boundaries,” the angel counters,…

Playful Wisdom Proverbs 8:22-31 “Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of…

The God Emotion John 15:1-11 Imminent death can make people long-winded. With precious few breaths left, with so many thoughts unspoken, the anxious tongue can’t rest. Confronted with the final silence, there’s often a pressing need to overwhelm the space…

Baptized in Belovedness Matthew 3:13-17 Crumbs of locusts and drops of honey fall from his mouth onto the tattered fabric of his camel’s hair tunic. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” John the Baptist proclaims. Amassing quite…

Fear Mongers, Skeptics, and Seekers Matthew 2:1-12 I have never auditioned for a play or anything else. We had a senior class play in Highlands, it was a pretty elaborate affair but we didn’t audition. There were only 25 in…

The Uncounted Luke 2:1-7 Joseph knew the statistics. Nearly one out of every two mothers died from childbirth in ancient Palestine. His wife-to-be was already at grave risk. Still, after hearing the imperial decree, he started packing for the eighty-mile…

Trusting in a Trusting God John 14:8-14 A “habit of the mind,” not only an act but “a virtue,” says Thomas Aquinas. The “living, daring confidence in God’s grace,” says Martin Luther. The “state of being ultimately concerned,” remarks Paul…

Gratefully Grieving Ezra 3:10-13 Spending decades in exile under the boot of the Babylonian Empire, the Jews return home by Persian decree and face the long road to reconstruction — the degree of decimation along Jerusalem’s rubble-ravaged streets enough to…

Household Salvation Luke 19:1-10 The long-haul truckers, running gold up from Arabia and volcanic glass down from Turkey, yanked on their air horns, frustrated by the idle line of freight. The local drivers, saddled on their camels, cussed the choke…

Know Thyself Romans 12:1-5 When I share with friends that I am preaching on Romans, I get a lot of interesting responses. Cringed faces, blank stares and reminders that there are four gospels so why would I ever want to…