As we mark ourselves with these ashes, we remind ourselves that no grief is solitary; that what has stricken you is also carried by me. We begin our Lenten journey together, reminding one another that we are those whose flesh grows back. We are those who remain. It is...
04052 – God’s New Temple
Those in whom the Spirit comes to live are God's new Temple. They are, individually and corporately, places where heaven and earth meet. from Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense
04040 – Politics Creating Idols
If I ever stand in a pulpit and insinuate that God's political views and mine are perfectly aligned, I can be very sure that I have downsized the Deity and shattered the second commandment, the pesky one about not creating idols.
04039 – Deterrent to Genuine Happiness
The greatest deterrent to genuine happiness - believing that if our circumstances were different, then we would be happy. Paradoxically, deep contentment finds us when we lay aside the pursuit of happiness for something more...loving God and others. May we be caught...
04036 – Saved from…..
Jesus didn't come to save you from an angry God, but to save you from believing He is.-------------------------------------------Gender-neutral version: Jesus didn't come to save you from an angry God, but to save you from believing God is.
04021 – Treasured Diversity
Ever present God, you called us to be in relationship with one another and promised to dwell wherever two or three are gathered. In our community, we are many different people; we come from many different places, have many different cultures. Open our hearts that we...
04007 – “God” in Other Languages
I am a Palestinian Christian. We also say: "Allahu Akbar," which is normally heard from a Muslim, as well as: "Inshaa Allah," "Ma Shaa Allah," and "Alhamdulillah." ...This is simply because Arabic is our language, and the Arabic word for "God" is "Allah," whether you...
04000 – It’s a Dangerous Thing…
It's a dangerous thing, though, to confuse the church with God. The church is not and never has been divine, even in the moments where it has been a channel for healing and hope and change. But while I stand by those words, the truth is that I have never been able to...
03999 – Keep Me Fiercely Kind
God, Keep my anger from becoming meanness. Keep my sorrow from collapsing into self-pity. Keep my heart soft enough to keep breaking. Keep my anger turned towards justice, not cruelty. Remind me that all of this, every bit of it, is for love. Keep me fiercely kind....
03995 – God Does Not…
God does not eliminate injustice from above by a show of power, but from below, by a show of love. God does not burst on the scene with limitless power, but descends to the narrow confines of our lives.