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snatching victory from the jaws of unlikelihood
“Finding of Moses”, Giovanni Battista (1696 – 1770) National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh Exodus 1:8 – 2:10 For Sunday, August 24, 2014 Proper 16 (11th Sunday after Pentecost) God has a habit of...
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“I am who I am”
Exodus 3:1-15 For Sunday, August 31, 2014 Proper 17 (12th Sunday After Pentecost) We lived in Russia (Irkutsk, Siberia) during the tumultuous transition from Yeltsin to Putin during Putin’s first...
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The Exodus: merely a charter myth?
“Departure of the Israelites”, by David Roberts, 1829 Exodus 14:19-31 For Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014 14th Sunday After Pentecost The Wikipedia article on the Exodus begins, “The Exodus is the charter myth...
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Does our performance match our profession?
The parable of the talents, as depicted in a 1712 woodcut. The lazy servant searches for his buried talent, while the two other servants present their earnings to their master (1). Matthew 25:14-30 For...
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The First Thanksgiving
My friend Fred Beuttler has a wonderful tribute to Thanksgiving here. President Washington said in his original proclamation: Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of...
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making straight paths for Messiah
For Sunday, December 7, 2014 2nd Sunday of Advent In introducing his gospel and the coming of Messiah the Apostle Mark says, “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight” (v.3). I’ve read...
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2014 in review
WordPress offers bloggers an Annual Report. Below is mine. This blog was viewed 18,000 times in 2014 throughout 121 countries. That’s exciting. I remember a conversation with Stuart Briscoe, one of...
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a vision for redemptive family
What do I want to be about this coming year? What do I want my family to be about? What do I want my organization to be about? These are good questions to ask on New Year’s Day. For Christmas I...
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The mighty tempest of God’s intention
“Transfiguration” by Raphael, 1518 – 1520. Vatican City, Direzione generale dei musei. For Sunday, February 15, 2015 Psalm 50:1-6 Sometimes under the cloud of injustice we sometimes experience in the...
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The problem with cut and paste
Jean II Restout : Pentecôte Psalm 104:24-34, 35b For Pentecost Sunday Sunday, May 24, 2015 I love most things about the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). Following the annual church calendar is a...
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Commendable faith
Mark 7:24-37 For Sunday, September 6, 2015 Year B, Proper 18 Why did Jesus go to Tyre (modern day Lebanon)? Mark hints at an answer in saying “He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he...
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What marriage is supposed to be
Mark 10:2-16 For Sunday, October 4, 2015 Year B, Proper 22 “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (Mark 10:2). When is divorce okay? That was the question on everyone’s mind then as it still is...
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Inheriting the good life
Sergey Brin, a rich young man who co-founded Google Mark 10:17-31 For Sunday, October 11, 2015 Year B, Proper 23 A rich young man, who by virtue of being rich at a young age may well have been the 1st...
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Preview of readings for Sunday, November 15, 2015
My normal posting rhythm is to read and pray through the passages for the given week and then post a key concluding reflection. I want to keep doing this but also want to start posting a preview....
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Representing the Kingdom of Heaven
Nikolai Ge, “What is Truth?”, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia, 1890. John 18:33-38 For Sunday, November 22, 2015 Reign of Christ (Proper 29) Today’s post is dedicated to the citizens of Paris. Thank...
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Preview for Sunday, November 29, 2015
What a momentous week. We move from Pentecost of Year B to Advent of Year C. The lectionary has years A,B, and C so as to take us through the entire Bible every three years. It also contains an...
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Soul check
Psalm 25:1-10 For Sunday, November 29, 2015 Year C, First Sunday of Advent “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul” (v. 1). This act is the essence of a transformed life. How often is it that I forget or...
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Preview of readings for Thanksgiving, 2015
Joel 2:21-27 Thanksgiving is a great time to step back and ask ourselves from whence our blessings flow and to where our lives are going. The answer to both questions ought to be the same source: God...
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Brood of Vipers
John the Baptist Announcing the Messiah, Cappella Palatina di Palermo, Palermo, Italy (mid 12th century) Luke 3:7-18 For Sunday, December 13, 2015 3rd Sunday of Advent Crowds were willing to journey...
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Reclaiming the Joy of the Lord
Scroll of Isaiah from Qumran (Muzeʼon Yiśraʼel (Jerusalem)) Nehemiah 8:1-10 For Sunday, January 24, 2016 Third Sunday After the Ephiphany This passage is wholly appropriate for the season of Epiphany...
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