When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.” The house of Israel called it manna…
Toward Sunday
We continue our four-week worship series, Leadership | Follow Me, this Sunday. The series invites reflection on the current cultural focus on leadership and the call of Christians to follow. This week we focus on what it means to “Follow Followers.” You may want to view the video we have been seeing in worship. This week pay special attention to the final few moments when you see the crowds join the dance. Here is a link to the video (Leadership…
What Would Jesus Tweet?
Twitter only knows two categories: who are you following, and who are your followers. Twitter’s categorical imperative is one of followership, not leadership. Jesus’ category is “leader.” My fundamental category is “follower.” Even when Jesus calls me up to the front of the line, I still lead “from behind.” For the last fifty years the church has made a fetish of a word that is hard to find even once in the New Testament (“leader”) and has ignored a word…
Toward Sunday
Our reading for this week is from Mark 1.29-34 In this passage the writer of Mark records the abrupt call of 4 of Jesus’ First Followers. We also witness how a few of those First Followers brought to Jesus their loved ones and then people from all over who needed healing and restoration. In the biblical worldview, to be “sick” or “possessed by demons” meant to be exiled from community. When Jesus heals people, he restores them to life…
Followership
“To follow Jesus does not mean that you have all the answers. To follow Jesus does not mean that you are altogether personally. To follow Jesus does not mean that suddenly the shades go up, the light floods in, and the shadows disappear. It just means you keep on moving after the One who has chosen you, the One you’ve said yes to. And as you travel in his footsteps, things gradually – sometimes very gradually-get brighter.” (From I am…
Leaving the Nets
Among the clamoring voices in your littered marketplace, the shouting and hungers and choices, the complaints and the advice, the ones that cry, “You need this!” and “You must!” and “This is so,” you’ll only buy hurry and madness. Stay calm, and let them go. Walk down to the lake and the fishermen, and the light, and the bark of the gulls, and the sound of the waves again and again, and the water patting the hulls. Listen there for…
Toward Sunday
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. -Mark 1.16-18 The Gospel story, as recorded in the book of Mark lists this event as the first incident in Jesus’ public ministry. This passage introduces the reader to the Disciples.…
Reach in love lately?
Zaccheus was at the top of a tree when Jesus spotted him. “Zaccheus,” Jesus said, “get down out of there in a hurry. I’m spending tonight with YOU” (Luke 19:5) whereupon all Jericho snickered up their sleeves to think Jesus didn’t have better sense than to invite himself to the house of a man that nobody else would touch with a ten-foot pole. But Jesus knew what he was doing.” ( paraphrased from Peculiar treasures…
Toward Sunday
We conclude our three-week worship series this coming Sunday called A NEW YOU (in just 400,000 hours). The series invites reflection on practicing faith by rooting our lives in Grace, growing in faith, and reaching in love. Think of a time when you were reaching in love. What was the experience like for you? What was difficult? What was inspiring? What surprised you? What did you learn? Our reading for this week is from Luke 19.1-10. Here is a link to…
Who brought me to church?
I’m the one next to my dad. He’s the one wearing the collar. I was in 6th grade when this picture was taken in Berkeley, CA. I was really proud of that outfit and I loved my shoes. (me, 3rd from left) That’s me being Ordained in the United Methodist Church. My dad is the one in the red robe. Really, both my parents brought me to church. Not just my dad. Most every week of my life except for…
Toward Sunday
We continue our three-week worship series this coming Sunday called A NEW YOU (in just 400,000 hours). The series invites reflection on practicing faith by rooting our lives in Grace, growing in faith, and reaching in love. We will focus this week on growing in faith. Our reading for this week is from John 1.43-51. Here is a link to the text. Philip “finds” Nathanaell and invites him to “come and see” Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth. Who…
Who do you want to be?
Is who you are now, who you want to be now? Or are you someone, you don’t want to be? Is what you wanted, really what you wanted? Or is it nothing, like you dreamed? ~Mason Jennings (Tourist) My body has undergone many changes. For the longest time I never worried about my body. Then I got married…to someone who is a wonderful chef. I tasted real butter for the first time. I had to adjust. Then we…
Toward Sunday
We begin a new three-week worship series this coming Sunday called A NEW YOU (in just 400,000 hours). Our reading for Sunday is from Ephesians 2.1-10. Here is a link to the text. The author of Ephesians focuses on the immeasurable nature of Grace by examining the “before and after” of Christian life in this brief section. In his commentary on this passage Fred Craddock writes, What does it mean…to become a Christian?” The Ephesians text answers the question experientially. The…