Category Archives: Messages

God does not speak from burning bushes in this book; nor does God divide the sea. Instead, God acts through circumstance, and through the faithfulness of ordinary human beings. Continue reading →

From the very beginning people within the community of faith have held contradictory beliefs. The reason the Gospel of John is so different from the synoptics is simply because people remember things differently. They use different words to describe their spirituality. That’s nothing new. But the lesson that I find beneath the nasty battle for orthodoxy in Ephesus is that despite the differences in our describing our faith experiences we are called to love each other. Continue reading →

“It was there all the time, from the beginning.” What an interesting way to start. It’s like saying ‘how could we have missed it?” It’s like Oracle Jones in the movie Hallelujah Trail “I see it. I see it now!” But now we see, we hear, we feel and we testify to that experience. “The Word of Life.” Continue reading →

Philo of Alexandria declared that “You shall not covet” is a central pillar of moral instruction. There is the individual aspect of this command which intends the spiritual education and elevation of an individual, but ultimately concludes that that significance of violation of this command on the family, the land and all of mankind can ultimately be destroyed as a result of unbridled desire. The command “You shall not covet” therefore has the potential to save the world. Continue reading →

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “ ’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
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It is almost audacious of God –imagine, suggesting that as a person of faith I might have to say “no” to some things in order to say “yes” to God. Why can’t I just believe in God and other things, too? Why do I have to turn away from other gods? In Japan I can be both a Buddhist and a Shinto. Can’t I trust free market economics and trust God? Continue reading →

Ten Words Exodus 19:1-6 On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of … Continue reading →

We live in a society dominated by rights-activism, permeated with the philosophy of “me first,” and molded by the corporate ideals of efficiency and success. The Church must be called to remember that demanding one’s rights and privileges may be popular but if it does so at the expense of Christian unity and love, it is not Christian! Continue reading →

The End of An Era – The Start of A New Era It’s pretty well accepted that Luke is the author of the Gospel which carries his name and the author of the Book of the Acts.  Luke wasn’t a … Continue reading →

This may be hard to imagine but according to the Gospel of John the very last words of Jesus is a rebuked of Peter and of us to the extent we are like Peter. “…what is that to you?” Jesus said. “Follow me!” It was none of Peter’s business. Your business, Jesus told him, is to follow me, not meddle in the lives of others. Continue reading →