Hello my friends, This is being sent out on December 28th, so I hope your Christmas season has been filled with peace and encouragement. I know this can also be a difficult time for meany. Grief, hardship, and loss can make the holidays difficult to endure. I hope you receive an extra measure of peace and joy as time goes on. You are seen and loved. I don't have any recommended resources for you today. I just want to leave you with this reflection on Matthew 2:13-23. As you read, keep the...
11 days ago • 6 min read
Hello my friends, Today I want to focus on the mercy at the heart of the "Christmas story" and what it says about the nature of God and the way we are called to live in our world today. All through the lens of Joseph's interior life and the prophecy of Isaiah in Matthew 1:18-25. I hope it is an encouragement to your heart. Recommended Resources This season can be complicated for many. Grieving church community we once had. Wondering where Christianity fits in your life and if you are a...
18 days ago • 7 min read
Hello my friends, As we continue our journey through advent, I wanted to explore the intersection between doubt and faith with you today through the lens of Matthew 11:2-11 where we hear John the Baptist ask a deeply vulnerable question of Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” When we remember that John is the one who baptized Jesus, heard the voice of God declaring Jesus as God's son, and the spirit descending on Jesus like a dove, and yet still asks this...
25 days ago • 10 min read
Hello my friends, Today I want to look at Matthew 3:1-12 with you and explore the themes of repentance, fruit, and the prophetic task within it and how they might shape our perspectives today. Recommended Resources -The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann This little book has had a profound impact on my perspective of the biblical prophets and the message they came to proclaim. I highly recommend it if you haven't read it yet. -Falling Upward, Revised and Updated: A Spirituality for...
about 1 month ago • 8 min read
Hello my friends, I wanted to begin today with a gentle reminder to be kind to yourself. In the midst of the way our world is today, especially during the holiday season, we can spend so much time serving and advocating for others that we can neglect ourselves. In fact, for many of us, we can even be tremendously hard on ourselves for not doing "enough." This is deeply disruptive, not only to our sense of self, but to the very goal of caring for others. When we do not show up for ourselves,...
about 1 month ago • 8 min read
Hello my friends, Today is, all over the world, Christians will gather to acknowledge "Christ The King Sunday." In our world today, where phrases like "Christ Is King" have been co-opted by political movements, it is important to stop and consider what the gospel writers and the church has long meant when it calls Christ "king." So let's look at this together. Recommended Resources. Advent begins next Sunday and I have written a new daily devotional for that season that concludes on Christmas...
about 2 months ago • 8 min read
Hello my friends, In our time where trillion dollar deals are made and glamorous ballrooms are being built by the powerful, all while millions face food and health insecurity, I couldn't help but think of the profound parallels, critique, and message found in Luke 21:5-19. So, I'd like to walk with you through the similarities of the first century world in which this passage came to life and what it might mean for us today. Recommended Resources. -My New Advent Devotional. I'm excited to...
about 2 months ago • 10 min read
Hello my friends, Today, I want to take a sober look at an issue that continues to influence our culture and the church. After the election results came back from across the country, I again painfully noticed anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, and even racist commentary shape public discourse, even among some who claim to follow Jesus. I believe this stems from something we as followers of Jesus need to take deeply seriously and confront, especially in the days ahead. I hope you find what you read...
about 2 months ago • 16 min read
Hello my friends, As one who follows the Revised Common Lectionary for preaching, I am always so inspired and amazed at how the assigned scripture readings for each Sunday are so timely and speak directly into our moment. The lectionary assigned gospel reading for All Saints Sunday (November 2nd) is Luke 6:20-31. More commonly known as Jesus' "sermon on the plain." He speaks directly about those who are poor and hungry as well as delivers stern warnings to the rich and comfortable. With...
2 months ago • 14 min read