Loving God, Loving Others, Right here.
Reflection Read, again: Micah 3:5 – 4:5 Some of you may remember that Sojourners – the Washington, D.C., Christian-community-based magazine – offered an adult education curriculum in the run-up to the 2008 election. The discussion guides and promotion materials featured the tagline “God is not a Republican . . . or a Democrat.” The congregation […]
Preparation Read Micah 3:5-4:5 We don’t agree on much in the current political environment, but almost everyone believes that the amount of money spent on campaigns has become excessive, even grotesque. Again this election year – even in the midst of a COVID-19 crisis and an economic recession – campaign spending will set new records. For a few decades just before and after the turn of this century,our legislative […]
ReflectionTuesday, October 27 Read again: Matthew 7:13-29 . . . and if you have time, read the whole Sermon on the Mount in one sitting (Matthew 5:1 – 7:29). In his commentary on Matthew,* Dale Bruner offers a breezy overview of the ways the Sermon on the Mount (SotM) has been interpreted over the centuries: […]
PREPARATIONRead: Matthew 7:13-29 In the sturdy Christian Reformed Church of my youth, we didn’t do “altar calls” – those end-of-service appeals for sinners to come forward, stand or kneel, and thereby declare their decision to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin and the Lord of their lives. No, that wasn’t us. Because altar […]
ReflectionOctober 20, 2020 Read, again: Matthew 7:1-12 Matthew 7:6 records one of my least favorite words from Jesus – “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Later in his ministry, a […]
Preparation Read: Matthew 7:1-14 This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee has been holding hearings on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U. S. Supreme Court. You know the drill: The Senators interrogate Judge Barrett about her judicial philosophy, based on her legal writings and rulings in the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit . . . […]
Reflection10.13.20 Read, again: Matthew 6:19-34 I have a friend who named his real estate development and property management business the ‘633 Group.’ Although not part of his company’s public branding, if asked he will tell anyone that the name is derived from Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to […]
10.08.20Preparation Read: Matthew 6:19-34I remember, at the turn of the new year this past January, a certain televangelist touted 2020 as the “Year of New Vision.” 20/20 vision . . . get it?He clearly did not envision this. A few months into the pandemic this meme circulated: “Turns out nobody had 2020 vision.”In this part […]
ReflectionRead, again: Matthew 6:1-18We sense Jesus’ disdain for “theatrical righteousness” (Dale Bruner) or the “pious performances” (that’s my description) of the religious leaders of his day. Their giving, praying and fasting were all designed to impress others; none of it impressed God. Jesus wants his followers to “keep it real,” to be authentic. I’m sure […]
PreparationRead: Psalms 120 and 130 (Matthew 6:1-18)We are not better than this. This is who we are. I’m writing on the day after the first Presidential Debate. It really doesn’t matter who you support in the upcoming election . . . this is a ‘none-of-the-above’ kind of day. The most charitable critics called the debate […]