Ancient Near Eastern kings were responsible for bringing justice and peace to their people. Israelite rulers were mandated by God to secure justice and peace for their realms. Every messianic passage in the Hebrew Scriptures presents the longed-for king bringing justice and peace. In the Lord’s Prayer, we find the… Continue reading
Sociology and political professor Hartmut Rosa in a paper entitled “Two Versions of the Good Life and Two Forms of Fear” wrote the following: In a way, we moderns resemble a painter who is forever concerned about improving his materials—the colors and brushes, the air conditions and lighting, the canvas… Continue reading
(12 minutes) Intro: New Testament scholars unanimously agree that Jesus’ message and ministry were all about what he called “the Kingdom of God.” But what did Jesus mean by the Kingdom of God? As Christians we choose to be followers of Christ. How can we be his followers if we… Continue reading
(12 minutes) In an extraordinary interview with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel just weeks before he died, the great philosopher and biblical scholar said that religion must have validity more than mere relevance. Today, there are many calls to relevance. I’ve noticed that I have referred to the necessity of relevance… Continue reading
Wrath is not as cut and dry a concept as many of us have been taught. We see in the Hebrew Scriptures the priority and abiding nature of God’s loving kindness over God’s limited wrath. As Jesus teaches in Luke 15, God seeks the lost sheep and the lost coin until She finds them. And if we continue our rejection of love, goodness, and shalom, God gives us a free rein to continue our folly. But we see in Paul that even when God gives us over to our sin and consigns us to disobedience, Her mysterious plan finds a way to have mercy on each of us. Continue reading
(Please read this psalm, printed at the end of the blog entry, before reading the sermon.) In the movie How the West Was Won, there is a memorable scene. A groom rides from the prairie camp to thank God for his bride. While praying he hears a gunshot and returns… Continue reading
(10 minutes) The Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley is a Cherokee descendent, ordained pastor, activist, college professor, author, and farmer. For decades, he has been active in ongoing concerns that include Indigenous peoples, racism, eco-justice, social justice, sustainable and regenerative agriculture and earth practices, and inter-faith dialogue. In a lecture entitled… Continue reading
Two recent political events in our nation are particularly disturbing for anyone who cares about our democracy. Friday a week ago, the Republican National Committee officially described the January 6 attack on the Capitol as “legitimate political discourse.” When I initially heard this insane description, I thought it had been… Continue reading
All three of the Synoptic Gospels contain the story of the man who came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus reminded the man that he already knew the commandments of Judaism: “Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear… Continue reading
[The following is my version of a story other ministers have used over the past decades. I have no idea of the identity of the story’s original author. What follows is the version I crafted and told many years ago. I find it helpful and hopeful, especially in a time… Continue reading
