We seek and shelter spiritual refugees, rally health for all who come, and fortify every tender soul with the strength to follow Jesus into a life of world-changing service.
Flying from LA to NY, can you ever really say, "Now I'm in Kansas"?
So Job says he wants to talk to God, argue it out. His insistence on not settling for the easy answer is... admirable? lunatic? You decide. Job 22 and 23.
Lance Pape, a professor at Brite Divinity School (TCU) and our pastor's spouse, helps us think about how the world really works in God's care. Is it fair? Is it good? Is it simple? Hm. Psalm 1 and Psalm 73 are the two texts you need to get started. (These four lessons are like a mini-series -- you need to hear this one before you hear the next one, etc.)
"Maybe All is Not Lost" -- an album of worship music by our worship architect Paul Demer -- debuted last Sunday in worship. But it wasn't a concert; it was worship. So we talked about Jesus, natch. Luke 4:13-30.
We're starting off 2016 talking about vipers and fire. Happy new year, y'all!
There are persons, and there are systems... and there are good persons in bad systems... and John the Baptist seems to think Jesus can do something about that. What do you think? Luke 3:1-38.
A guest preacher! Dr. Lance Pape, Assistant Professor of Homiletics at Brite Divinity School (and spouse of our pastor), says Christianity is not so much about believing the right things, but about what we find beautiful. Amen.
HIS NAME IS JOHN CE-wait, wrong John. My bad, y'all.
Luke 1:57-80, it's Zechariah's turn for an aria in this parental prequel to the nativity. "His name is John" is the least crazy thing this dad has to say about his son. What do your parents say about you?
She's a rebel, she's a saint, she's the salt of the earth, and she's dangerous... Whatshername, Green Day, and Mary the mother of Jesus have more in common than you might think.
Luke 1:26-56 -- a teenaged, unmarried, pregnant girl/woman is the one God chooses to save the whole freakin' world. God's always doing stuff like that. Thanks be to God.
We're on to the gospel of Luke now, for the back story to Jesus's birth. First we meet Elizabeth, and remember her ancestor Hannah, women who were shamed for not conforming to the gendered role of "mother." Could we stop with the shaming, please? Luke 1:1-25.
The Llangernyw Yew: one of the oldest life forms on our planet.
Lifespan: we've all got one. We live as long as we're useful. Jesus, the fig tree, the scribe balancing on one foot, our church -- how long will we last? Mark 12:1-34.
Mark 10:32-52: the Son of Man, the Sons of Zebedee, the Son of Timaeus, the Son of David. And a critical question Jesus asks twice: "What do you want me to do for you?" Not easily answered, at least for me.
Jess kept us moving forward with this exploration of Mark 9:30-50, wherein Jesus predicts that we will all be "salted with fire." Which sounds painful. To which Jess can attest.