Category Archives: Messages

Lazarus was now alive but he was still bound, hands and feet, in the shrouds of death in which those who loved him most had wrapped him. “Unbind him, and let him go!” Jesus commands.
Does that continue to be our challenge, to finish the work of releasing from the constraints of the trappings of death those who Christ as brought back to life? Continue reading →

“Rabbi”, they ask, “who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” The students view that those with physical disabilities were being punished either for their own sin or the sin of their parents was a common understanding for their time. It was a fair academic question. Today most introductory classes in the sciences are quick to point out that, “correlation does not necessitate causation.” And perhaps the man’s parents were not the most exemplary human beings, we don’t know, but just because a man is born blind and his parents are sinners doesn’t mean that there is a direct cause and effect relationship between the two events. Continue reading →

If there is not joy flowing out of our lives and within the community of faith then there is a need for renewal and a new infusion of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps a genuine Pentecost for some would be an outpouring of the Joy of the Spirit of God in the midst of the people of God. Continue reading →

Coming to Jesus for the goodies, like the crowd, or trying to understand Jesus out of one’s religious tradition, or even following Jesus because he seems to have the best way to live life might all be first steps but unless the Spirit of God draws us we will find reasons for refusing the life giving invitation to life as intended for us by God. Continue reading →

Kitty Bendixen-park Worship Leader 2/9/2014 Friends, have you ever been flat out on your back, sick, and uncertain, paralyzed in fear, resigned in your depression? And who carried you then? Who picked you up in love and faith and ushered … Continue reading →

God wants a church which lives out the extraordinary integrity, temperament, wholeness, compassion, individuality, boldness, righteousness, earnestness, love, forgiveness, selflessness, and self giving faithfulness of Jesus Christ! Continue reading →

Ground Hog’s Day is the very depth of winter.  It is half way between the winter solstice, where we’ve place Christmas and the vernal equinox when we celebrate Easter.  It’s become nearly impossible for some of us to think about … Continue reading →

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these … Continue reading →

This passage from Isaiah tells us that joy and peace are a part of risking for God. Joy comes in going out. Peace is given in being led forth by God. God provides a way of joy and peace, not a way to joy and peace. Living in relation to Christ does not mean that we will lead safe, comfortable lives, but that we will risk, that we will step out in faith. Continue reading →

Imagine Jesus, the Word, as God’s love song, singing life into the world’s babble, chaos and anxiety. John’s description of Jesus in the Prologue is poetic, even lyrical speech. It is an echo of or response to God’s love song, which is Christ. Maybe you can hear the plain song hymn “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” as you meditate on John’s words. We might imagine the proclamation of the good news as a Christmas carol — more evocative than explanatory — because this is in keeping with the reading’s genre and because most of us as we approach Christmas aren’t thinking logically. It’s better to inspire than inform. Continue reading →