Mark 11:1-11 – A Donkey and Palm Sunday

/
Mark 11:1-11 – A Donkey and Palm Sunday

One of my favorite ways to approach stories like this is to put myself into each character’s role and ponder how I might have felt or reacted in the moment. Today’s short story gives us several options. I invite you to ask yourselves the same questions I’ve been pondering this week.

As we end our season of Lent, as we spend the next five days traveling with Jesus to the cross, let us wait on God. And as God leads us, may we step bravely, one dusty hoof in front of the other, forward with hope.

Read More

Mark 8:27-30 – “Who do you say I am?”

/
Mark 8:27-30 – “Who do you say I am?”

As modern-day disciples of Jesus continuing 2,000 years of the Christian tradition, our faith calls us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Once we have our answer – individually and as a church – to Jesus’ question, then our bodies (and our church as the Body of Christ) open ourselves afresh to God’s Spirit moving within us and through us. Once we have our answer, we have the foundation required to survive life’s storms and launch new ministries. Like the disciples, once we have our answer, nothing can stop us from being Jesus’ hands and feet, sharing God’s love with a broken, hurting, waiting world. This is how the Kingdom of Heaven becomes a living, breathing, life-giving reality around us.

Read More

Mark 5:21-43 – “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

/
Mark 5:21-43 – “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

The beauty of the Good News of God’s love is that Jesus shared it so freely and in so many different ways. The Kingdom of God is not about increasing what we have, not even for the church we love. The Kingdom of God is about being present, with ourselves and with others, and helping others connect with and experience God’s creative, loving, healing presence. When we’re able to create those moments, everyone can celebrate renewed life.

Read More

Seedlings in the Kingdom of God – Mark 4:24-41

/
Seedlings in the Kingdom of God – Mark 4:24-41

Whether it’s within you, in your home, your office, your classroom, or anywhere else, know that each one of you is an important part of God’s active and ongoing creation. We all have our own roles to play in God’s garden. We can take great relief knowing that – by design – we do not have total control and success does not depend on any one of us. Thank God! And we can take great joy knowing that God is working alongside us as we, together, help the Kingdom of God grow in magnificent ways that bless us and the people in our community.

It may be cold today, but spring is coming, and I hope that you, like me, are looking forward to seeing what God grows around us.

Read More

An Open Table for All – Matthew 21:1-11 and Matthew 26:14-56

/
An Open Table for All – Matthew 21:1-11 and Matthew 26:14-56

Through His words and actions, Jesus challenges us to empathize with the hurts and angers of others so that we can find ways to share God’s blessings. Actively look for ways you can share God’s love – especially with people you may find challenging to befriend. Because the people who are the most hurt, the most angry, the most depressed, are also the people most in need of God’s love.

Read More