What do you think of when you think demon possession? I no longer believe that demon possession looks like rolling eyes, spinning heads, or flying objects. Hollywood has distorted the truth and, in doing so, erased something far more dangerous: Satan’s subtlety. Scripture describes him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, an angel of light, […]
“As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable…”—Luke 19 That introduction matters. It grounds Jesus’ teaching in real life. Zacchaeus becomes the lens through which the parable of the minas is meant to be understood. In other words, “these things” give us context. What Were “These Things”? Moments before the parable, Jesus had a […]
In Luke 18, Jesus tells a series of short parables centered on prayer. Together, they form a striking contrast between those who ask for help and those who rely on themselves. The widow, the sinner, and the blind beggar receive what they ask for. The religious man and the rich man walk away—unjustified and sad. […]
The Pharisees ask a question that prompts Jesus’ teaching about his return: “When is the kingdom of God coming?” Without extensive study, it is difficult to know precisely how the Pharisees processed the kingdom of God. While we often think of the “kingdom” as a New Testament concept, its roots are deeply embedded in the […]
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 […]
My Faith Place 