*This sermon was preached at Peace Mennonite Church on January 7, 2024. You can watch a video version on the church’s YouTube channel. My husband and I recently visited our daughter, who is studying abroad, in Chile. Her host family took us on a beach trip, and it was too cold to swim (at least…
*You can read the full text of the sermon here. The general principles of how we live together–principles of peace, of justice, of love–come from God. The specific laws and rules about how to live according to Godly principles are human creations–our best efforts to discern what specific actions will lead us to live out the peace…
As you may recall, Jesus previously put the chief priests and elders in a rather precarious position by asking them a question in front of a mixed crowd (Matthew 21:23-27). The religious leaders knew that one answer would upset one group while a different answer would upset a different group—so they said, “We don’t know.”…
The violence in this parable is startling. We can understand why people might decline an invitation, but to beat and murder the servants who extend the banquet invitation seems inexplicable. Likewise, we can understand the king being disappointed that those invited refused to come and angry about the mistreatment of his slaves—but to send his…
(Matthew 15:21-28) God, This story is not the one I have in mind when I pray to be more like Jesus.I am already good at ignoring things that threaten to throw off my carefully laid plans.I need no encouragement to try to control the focus of my work according to my vision—which I conveniently claim is yours.In…
I had a really great Easter this year. The weather for the sunrise service was spectacular, as was the food at our Easter breakfast. We had a full house for worship and sang one Hallelujah after another. I ate lunch (that I didn’t have to cook) with family and delighted in watching my nephews and…
These are some reflections on John 20: 24-29. They are excerpted from a longer sermon I preached several years ago. Believing is at the heart of John’s Gospel. It’s why the Gospel was written. It’s why God sent Jesus to us: “that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” And in…
Have you ever noticed how often Jesus is misunderstood? The religious leaders don’t understand him—they accuse him of false teachings and try to trap him into saying things he doesn’t mean so they can turn the people against him. The people don’t really understand him. Remember when Jesus asks his disciples: Who do people say…
(Second Sunday of Lent, 2023) During Lent, we often talk about the wilderness as a negative place—a place of deprivation, temptation, and wandering. But in this week’s reading from Genesis, God calls Abram into the wilderness: “Go from your country . . . to the land I will show you.” I imagine Abram was terrified—not to…
Just for fun, here are a few Valentine cards that might have been from Biblical characters. However you celebrate (or not), enjoy your day of love!
Spacious Faith 