Jesus is walking the borderlands—the space between Samaria and Galilee—when ten men appear. They do not approach. They cannot. They stand at a distance, bodies marked, voices raised, shouting the only prayer they have left:“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” The village is unnamed, but it does not need a name. It may have been … Continue reading Go Your Way
The rich man and Lazarus is about compassion, mercy, the afterlife, reaping and sowing, wealth and repentance. The rich man was not able to secure a place in heaven through his ancestry or his wealth. The Pharisees were known for their love of money, pride, and status. Jesus draws a direct comparison between the rich … Continue reading The Rich Man and Lazarus
Jesus begins with a severe warning: “Woe to the one who causes others to stumble. It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and be thrown into the sea.” He immediately follows with a demanding command: “If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.” At first … Continue reading The Mulberry Tree Parable (Luke 17)
The parable of the prodigal son has been retold countless times, often as a story about wayward sinners returning to God. But in its original context, it is primarily a message to the Pharisees and religious leaders—a challenge to their understanding of devotion, righteousness, and compassion. Jesus tells a series of parables in succession (Luke … Continue reading The Prodigal: A Story for the Religious
In Luke 13:10 Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day and healed a woman. A synagogue during the time of Jesus was a place of worship, torah reading, prayer and community life. These houses of worship were not the Temple where sacrifices were made instead they were like houses which … Continue reading The Synagogue Official
A man in the crowd asks Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Instead of arbitrating, Jesus uses the moment to expose a deeper issue: not merely greed, but a profound lack of trust in God’s provision. Jesus warns, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life … Continue reading A Call to Trust
It’s no secret that the Bible instructs us to love one another. This may be one of the most quoted and well-known teachings in all of Scripture. Perhaps that’s why Luke 12:1 caught my attention: “Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, … Continue reading Stepping on One Another
There is a quiet irony in prophetic utterance. Throughout history, God has spoken words to mankind and we call it prophecy, yet prophecy is not dependent on words alone. From the opening chapters of Genesis, God speaks creation into being—forming the world, life, and order through voice and sound. God chooses speech as a vessel … Continue reading Silent Witness
Where does lasting significance come from ?
The other night we visited a Catholic shrine decorated with Christmas lights, where people stroll and sip hot cocoa. At the center of the path stood a hill with a large cross, and beneath it a small cave holding a nativity scene.“Let’s go see baby Jesus,” I said to my husband. Mary knelt. Joseph leaned … Continue reading Losing Jesus
Are we born free? If so, it is only after first knowing constraint—emerging from the narrow walls of the womb, shaped by forces beyond our control. Freedom is learned through limits. What prepares the soul to desire freedom but bondage?What prepares us to repent before the cross but the harsh reality of sin?What makes us … Continue reading This is Lent
When we talk about contending for our faith, we are talking about fighting a battle. In every battle we have to know who the enemies are, we must be fighting against the enemy; not God. We are fighting to stay with Jesus to believe what he says.
This is the place where everything is magically okay. Where just for a moment in time and space I can forget the world around me and yet at the same time the world is all around me.
What are the rocks in your life? Maybe God calls us to work at removing obstacles in life like rocks in a garden and he wants us to do it ourselves; maybe He wants us to fight against things that are buried in our hearts and past, which prevent growth and life from springing up.
I like to start here in the beginning the place where we always forget to start. And I like to see God as the One who made all the beauty around me. And just sit there for a while.
Peter implores those who have faith to, "Supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self control, steadfastness, godliness and brotherly affection and love." What exactly is he saying? One thing we know for certain is that these seven qualities are within our power and control, and we know this must be true because Peter says, "for this very reason make every effort.
1 peter 5:6-12 Peter ends his letter by telling us how we are to relate to God and the devil. Before God we humble ourselves, before the devil we resist. "Humble thyself therefore under the hand of God so that he may exalt you at the proper time.” one way we can humble ourselves before … Continue reading The end of the letter
My natural instinct is to ask God to take away suffering, ease it, remove it. Why would God want to see his children suffer? Why would he not deliver us at all costs? But here peter suggests we are expected to live with it and keep doing good and that for some that is the exact road God has planned and purposed for them.
1 peter 4:9-16 We should all show hospitality to one another without grumbling. We should all love one another, be sober minded and self-controlled. This is a tall order indeed and without grumbling we are to do these things. Without grumbling is the hardest part. Hospitality can be exhausting and stir feelings of resentment and … Continue reading Gifts and Grumbling
There are a lot of questions in this portion. It feels like a hodgepodge of scripture. What did Christ proclaim to the spirits in prison and who were these spirits and what prison does he speak of- hell?
We have to know how to preach the gospel to ourselves when we are losing hope and discouraged first before we know how to give an answer to anyone else.
As Christians and people of faith our conduct is far more important than our words.
God did not choose Israel because they were mighty and God does not choose me because I am good and talented. I believe God makes his choices about who will be His long before we have done anything good or bad, big or small, right or wrong, He made his choices before he made the world .
From the moment I was born; I was odd. The cord was wrapped, not once but twice around my neck, “the devil tried to kill you, he did not want you to be born, there was definitely an assignment on your life" Mom comments. "Mom, that seems dramatic, why would the devil care about me?"
we are now to love the brothers with that new pure heart and put away malice deceit etc...because we are now able to we have fresh power, fresh new start, clean and new.
From the beginning of time Jesus has been God plan of redemption.
How would my life change if I lived as if my faith is not for temporary things like health money or a second house, in other words the things we wish for here, but rather in the things to come after we die.
God has been teaching me that I did nothing to earn a place in his kingdom. I can fully rest knowing he has chosen me. It is not my work, job, responsibility or obligation to maintain or gather his love and favor. I can rest.
In 21 days Passover is celebrated by thousands of Christians and Jews all over the world. Those who celebrate have about 20 days to 'prepare' themselves. But what does that mean exactly, ,how does one "prepare" themselves and this question i pose to Christians who observe Passover. We may have an inkling as to how … Continue reading Passover
The tabernacle is constructed in the exact order as God instructed Moses. The very last task to be completed is making the garments the priests must wear to minister to God in the Holy Place. They are not to appear before either in filthy garments or naked. As in the garden God clothed Adam and … Continue reading Exodus 39
The people sinned with the golden calf, Moses intercedes God seems to pardon the people and renew the covenant by rewriting the commandments on new tablets that Moses cut for himself.
The people of Israel are impatient. They have not learned from their forefather Abraham the lesson of waiting upon the Lord.
I believe, Jesus but I still need supper. Jesus is not talking of actual food, but is using food and water as a metaphor, in this passage. What spurred Jesus to say these things?
The final plague was actually the first to be foretold to Moses as a result of Pharaoh killing Hebrews babies.
Only in the Land of Goshen Israel was protected by God’s hand of mercy, even as Egypt was afflicted by it. The only “claim” they had to God’s allegiance was being the seed of Jacob, who was the seed of Isaac, who was the seed of Abraham, whom God made a promise. God covenanted with … Continue reading Exodus 9
Egypt is known to have had upwards of 1500 different gods.
God sometimes hardens hearts for his greater purposes.
In Ancient Egypt the children of Israel made mud bricks to build cities for Pharaoh. According to archeological sources, mud-bricks are made with organic material such as silt, sand, top soil and wheat chaff.
God equips Moses for the task of going to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh. He gives him power to perform signs and wonders, three in particular: he gives him the power to turn his staff into a serpent, restore a leprous hand to health and turn water into blood. God also equips Moses in other ways
At Mount Horeb, we don’t see Jesus on a cross, though Moses does encounter the angel of the Lord and God does say he will stretch out his hand. We don’t see Jesus healing people although God does promise deliverance through miracles.
Moses was a man without a land. He was homeless, but not godless. He was a man without a country, but not without a king. Although Moses didn’t choose his life of wandering, God used it to reveal Moses’ faithfulness to follow God.
What is happening in the opening scene of Exodus? We are introduced to one overarching, painful reality. The descendants of Joseph are being afflicted.
Jesus Christ, the perfect spotless lamb of God, the salvation and Love of God was foreknown.
The tiny islands of Bermuda are actually made up of more than 100 islands, formed by extensive volcanic activity. The island is known and loved for its white sand, pink beaches and turquoise waters. I find it interesting that something as ruinous as a volcano could produce one of the world’s favorite tourist attractions.
Going through boxes in the basement that have been there for twenty years untouched, unremembered and sorely neglected is no small task, but it must be done. The things of the past must be sorted. In the sorting we find ourselves again. We uncover parts of ourselves that have been lost, delayed, and sorely in … Continue reading Re-Written
Maya's life inspires me and it truly should inspire us all.
it was during Harry S. Truman's presidency that Israel became a Jewish State.
This poem is for any parent who ever felt their work was not good enough.
There is a man I used to know, I think his name is, Jesus He walked upon the land and sea I think his name is Jesus he spoke with words of God and man and healed the blind and lame He fed the sheep with his own hand and called each one by name … Continue reading His Name is Jesus
The future choices we must make Before time steals our youth Before order and innocence Has been swallowed by truth, What is this prison? These invisible bars A cell of indecision A night without stars Trapped by fear The unknown the unseen The answers are rare Beyond my reach Overwhelmed by volume, shadows and tides … Continue reading Decisions
My Faith Place 