Last month, in this post, I mentioned blind spots and double standards. What are blind spots and double standards? And who cares? Everyone should care about blind spots and double standards because they make us antagonistic toward each other, especially toward the people we want to love. A blind spot is an area of life … Continue reading Blind Spots and Double Standards

While serving as a parish pastor for 15 years I was called for help by parents who suffered a miscarriage. Helping couples work through their grief prompted me to share God's good message for those who grieve thus with the whole congregation (see below a page from our baptismal certificate). After I spoke to the … Continue reading Grieving a Miscarriage

How often and in what way do you hear the word "praise"?  Most of the time I hear the word praise as an imperative: "Praise the Lord" (which is English for the Hebrew "Hallelujah!"). Psalm 78:4 explains that "praise" means to tell the wonderful things that God has done. Thus we know that the imperative … Continue reading How do we praise the Lord?

How many religions are there? There are 4 answers? First, there are as many religions as there are people because every person has his/her own ideas about what governs his/her life. Second, there are 9 world religions, recognized for their age, size, and significance; “Christianity” is one of them. Third, there are just 2. “You … Continue reading On Religions

Podcast episode 75 considers Jesus’ observation that the multitudes were like sheep without a shepherd and that the fields were ripe for harvest. Then Jesus commands us to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest. At least two important topics here; prayer and laboring in the harvest. Prayer? God … Continue reading Prayer & Laboring in the Harvest

Jesus reminds us that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath and that it is perfectly lawful to do good on the Sabbath. What day is the Sabbath following Jesus’ fulfilling of all the law? Is it still Saturday? Is it Sunday? Is it no more … or is it everyday? … Continue reading You Can’t Have To

“Moreover it is required of a steward that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:3). What is the trouble with thinking of ourselves as owners and possessors: I – my – mine? It is hard and ill-advised to walk with your eyes focused on your own feet. I asked a student if she was the source … Continue reading Owners or Stewards?

This past Sunday was the third Sunday in Lent (the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, not counting Sundays). The gospel lesson for that Sunday records Jesus cleansing the temple at the beginning of John’s gospel, soon after we are told that the Word became flesh and tabernacle among us. What happens when the … Continue reading Third Sunday in Lent

After “functionally atheist,” what is likely the next most critical problem for Christians? How about self-righteousness? There are three main problems, dire threats, having to do with self-righteousness. One, self-righteousness is a determination of the corruption in our human nature; pride makes us self-righteous. Two, we are greedy because we have an intense sense that … Continue reading Self-Righteousness?