Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ~ Ephesian 5:1-2 I'm not going to lie. I've never been a big fan of Jesus as "sacrifice" language. It made sense perhaps for the Jewish population of first century Jerusalem. But for 21st century Christians? I think it can cause us all kinds of complications and isn't really something I think we can easily wrap our min

Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to King Abimelech of the Philistines. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; settle in the land that I shall show you. Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I

Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands! ~ Psalm 90:12-17 I'm

God is the potter, we are the clay.

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. ~ Genesis 25:27 Jacob is one of the most interesting characters in the Old Testament for me. There certainly is a wealth of story to choose from with him: Jacob tricking Esau out of his birthright. Jacob trying to win Rachel's hand from Laban. Jacob's ladder. Jacob's favoritism of Joseph leading to tragic consequences for the family. It's what makes Jacob

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. ~ Jeremiah 18:1-4 When my daughter was in elementary school, she came home one day with a piece of pottery that she made in art class. After studyin

I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.” ~ Genesis 22:17-18 God's creation had begun in a garden, and with sin spread "east" of Eden. With further sin, God pulled the reins in and brought creation back to a

[Jesus said] Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.” ~ John 21:18-19 Today is the feast day of the Apostles Peter and Paul. How does that old sayin

What actually is God's love like?

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love. ~ Galatians 5:6 The only thing that counts is faith working through love. Say it with me one more time: the only thing that counts is faith working through love. Martin Luther wasn't a fan of the letter of James - partically because of how he saw James' stand on "works." "Faith without works is dead." He pitted him in a sense then against

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. ~ Luke 1:57-58 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he ap

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. ~ Psalm 86:15 Recently I read a story about how Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told a group of people that he was certain Senate Candidate James Talarico was going to hell. It certainly stopped me in my tracks. The first problem of Patrick's statement of course is that God, not Dan Patrick, is the judge of about final punishment or reward for any person. There's the who

Meanwhile, when the crowd had gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, [Jesus] began to speak first to his disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. ~ Luke 12:1 According to the Oxford Dictionary, yeast is a microscopic fungus. Brittanica says there are about 1500 fungi - some of whom are dangerous pathogens. Jesus used the metaphor more than once. In one parable, he likened the kingdom of God to yeast that turns flour

For something a little different. This week there was good advice - fro God and from a father to his child in Proverbs. It made me think of the speech of another father giving his son good advic - Polonius to Laertes. This scene is from the 1996 version of Hamlet. To thine own self be true!

Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. ~ Proverbs 4:10:13 In Proverbs, Wisdom is imagined as a woman. And for some, Wisdom is also viewed as being the same as the Holy Spirit. Now, that

[Jesus] came down with them and stood on a level place with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. ~ Luke 6:17-18 Matthew's version of the Beatitudes tends to be the one we have in mind when we hear the words. If you're like me, you can imagine Jesus standing on his mounta

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Dear Paul, or whomever wrote this letter, I'm not sure all traditions need to be held onto. Maybe even not all of yours. Maybe even not all of Martin Luther's. And yet... There are traditions that we should never let go of: the tradition to love our neighbor as ourself. The tradition to learn and to grow in our

No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall lead this people to possess the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. ~ Joshua 1:5-6 Who is the most courageous person you've ever known? Take a minute... What made them courageous? Were they always courageous? Or did they find themselves in a situation where courage was the on

On Monday, Psalm 40 told of God's deliverance from the pit and miry bog to give us steps that are secure and firm. "40" by U2 has always been a touchstone for me to remember that God's got me. Here is a slower, more meditative version of the song that I hope will be meaningful to you as it is to me.

And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put in your power, but I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. ~ Exodus 4:21 I don't know about you, but most of the time, I don't need God to harden my heart. I'm really good at doing it myself. So this passage troubled me for many years. Why would God harden Pharaoh's heart? What was the goal? It seemed awfully unfair to the Hebrew