When things are going well, it is all but taken for granted. It is not in the forefront of our minds. It almost seems to lie dormant until necessary. Seldom spoken of…often times ignored. It is a gift. It was free. It cost us nothing. Some people long for it, while others deny its very […]
The disciples make their plea directly to Jesus: “Increase our faith,” they say. There is always so much to do. There are seemingly so many problems. “Increase our faith.” Help us out here, please! There are so many challenges in our lives and in our world. There are so many needs. And of course, this […]
Who do you listen to? Do “we” really listen to anyone today? If so, “who” are they? Can you identify them? Can you name – names? The prophet Amos was one of the Twelve Minor Prophets. The minor prophet’s writings – were relatively small compared to that of the major prophets. Therefore, their designation as […]
Jesus is at it again! I tell you – he changes everything! And usually with a simple story. Before us, we have a story of “contrasting characters.” As we have discussed before, Luke tells us more about money and wealth than any other Gospel writer. Jesus is exposing the problems that lie behind “the love […]
With some stories you expect to know the outcome from the get-go. It is, as if you are set up in advance. You think ahead. You figure it out. You are certain of the outcome. And there can be no deviation. “You get it”- totally! This was the way – with the story that Jesus […]
First let me tell you – that you will only find this parable in Luke. Then allow me to tell you that for 2,000 years – preachers have found this text difficult (at best) to preach upon. It obviously has a “stewardship theme” to it. It obviously is making a “wisdom” kind of statement. It […]
Based on Luke 14. 1-10 Has anyone here ever misplaced anything? Glasses? Remote? Keys? Maybe even money? Purse or wallet? I knew where it was just a minute ago…as a matter of fact I had it right here in my hand, and now it’s gone! I was looking for my Social Security Card just this […]
I know that you are Biblically smart and intelligent. I know that many of you will recognize immediately this gospel text as being a “Lucan pair of stories”…bookends if you will. You know that Luke likes to pair stories of men and women together…and this is another one of those pairings…lost sheep – lost coin […]
The way ahead is going to be hard…not magical. Some days are more tell-tale than others, some days your vision is clearer. Some days, your thoughts seemingly all come together. This is where it started. The road ahead once so spirit filled and so spirit led – now seems darker. Much darker. Like a sixth […]
This is tough guy talk. This is uncomfortable talk. This is the junk you do not want to hear on a Labor Day weekend. Instead you want rah-rah-sis-cum-bah life is great and another election season is almost over – yay God! You expect to see flags-a- flying. And Labor Day parades! The very least the […]