Scripture: Romans 5:6-17 6 While we were still weak, at the right moment, Christ died for ungodly people. 7 It isn’t often that someone will die for a righteous person, though maybe someone might dare to die for a good person. 8 But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Transferring the Disease
Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-12 4 Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases,yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our... Continue Reading →
Finding Jesus in Fargo, Don’t Ya Know
I didn't expect to end my viewing of the fifth season of Fargo being brought to tears with a powerful illustration of the redemptive power of the Eucharist meal, but here we are. In the following artice, I will offer reflections and insights into the fifth season of Fargo, a TV series written by Noah... Continue Reading →
And Call Them to Repentance
Reading through a songbook I stumbled on the now dated chorus "Change My Heart Oh God", this started me thinking about other songs that mention metaphors of hardhearted, or heart of stone and our need for change to be like God. Then I started down the Twitter rabbit hole where I saw any number of... Continue Reading →
The Bible and Loans
President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan certainly has gotten people talking, especially on social media. Among this chatter many are using the Bible both to defend and to decry this policy, but I do not think this is the right approach. Let me begin by saying I am in favor of some form of student... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Spreading Peace
John 20:19-23 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and... Continue Reading →
Constantine and Forgiveness
I have been brushing up on some elements of Church history for a lecture I am giving Saturday (you can find more info here). I read about the Roman Emperor Constantine who, though "converting" to Christianity in 312, put off his baptism until near his death in 337. I confess I have not been much... Continue Reading →
Forgive like Jesus
I don't know how many people have followed the trial of Amber Guyger; I had not until today when I saw the reaction of Brandt Jean. For those who might not know Amber was convicted of killing Brandt's brother Botham. In a somewhat surprising move, and at the sentencing hearing, Brandt extended forgiveness and a... Continue Reading →
What is Forgiveness?
I think the best way to take questions of forgiveness is to begin by understanding the need for forgiveness. Forgiveness presupposes that two individuals have in the past had a relationship and that this relationship has been strained or broken. This principle holds true whether we talk of a relationship between humans or a relationship... Continue Reading →
Squinting in the Light 