Jesus is baptized then, “he is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness.” His baptism gift was knowing he was God’s own and God was pleased in him. The best part of his baptism gift was the gift he found in his wilderness. Wildernesses come to all of us....
The Pilgrims came from England for “The New World” in 1620. In 1619, “…20 and odd Negroes….” arrived in what would become Virginia. Abducted, enslaved and transported they were brought to the “The New World” from their homeland of Angola. Captain William...
When we gather on Sunday we say to each other, “Peace be with you.” Because that phrase demands action, we reach out for one another. Hands offered. Smiling. Sometimes hugging. In that moment we’re responding to God’s ongoing peace initiative. In that moment we’re...
Standing on a “level” piece of ground, maybe Jesus thought about how God levels things. You remember, “…hills and mountains will be brought down and valleys will be brought up.” God chooses to be a God that brings things to a level. So Jesus said, “the...
“Leave the shallows and go to the deep,” Jesus told his friends. The big fish are out there in the deep. This was a life teaching not just fishing. Out in the deep is abundance and wisdom and love and healing and peace. Some people don’t catch these things because...
First, they were amazed at Jesus’ “gracious words.” A few verses later, they wanted to “hurl him over a cliff.” What happened? Jesus started off preaching but he got-to-meddling! Here’s what he said: 1.) The message and messengers of God are only welcome when they...
Back with “power” comes Jesus, Luke says. Power for the return to familiar surroundings as different. Power to be among people who raised you, only transformed. Power to teach where you formerly learned. Power to read the holy book differently–power to see yourself in...
“Some choose to be the forgetful community rather than the Beloved community. The forgetful community argues that if we keep a blind eye and choose mass amnesia, then in some distant future, that we have not worked for and do not deserve, all the brutality and blood...
When the bible finishes its story, we are left with an image. It’s a gathering of people, a family reunion. Every nation, language and tribe. We’ve all got on long white robes, and palm branches in our hands. And we’re singing, all of us. Singing, “thanksgiving, power...
Let’s begin at the beginning: God is the ultimate reality. This is dramatically made clear when God and Moses defeat the Egyptians–even clearer when God, through Jesus of Nazareth, defeats death. God is free and purposeful and relentless for the cause of love, because...
