What Kind Of Reward Are You Seeking?  Good Morning Friends,  The ability to calm the soul and wait for God is one of the most difficult things in a Christian life. It seems that it is so much easier to worry than it is to worship, to be restless and even reckless than to rest in … Continue reading What Kind Of Reward Are You Seeking? →

When Is A Good Time Not To Fast?  Good Morning Friends,  Today's scripture is about changing traditions. We see it in the story of Jacob claiming Esau's blessing and birthright and in Jesus and the disciples not keeping traditional fasts while others felt so obliged. There is a fairness issue the arises out of both … Continue reading When Is A Good Time Not To Fast? →

Are You Willing To Follow In Love With A Relationship Of Promise?  Good Morning Friends,  The setting for the passage from Matthew is the call of Matthew and a dinner with sinners. The passage from Genesis today has the passing of one generation to another as the setting but it is really about the story … Continue reading Are You Willing To Follow In Love With A Relationship Of Promise? →

So, Is This Why We Ask For Less Than God Is Willing To Provide?  Good Morning Friends,  Today we continue to look at lectionary scripture from Matthew and frankly I am amazed at the close textual connection between this Gospel and the book of Genesis which we have also been reading. There is an order in the history and the … Continue reading So, Is This Why We Ask For Less Than God Is Willing To Provide? →

Who Wants to be Free?  Good Morning Friends,  This morning in the text from Genesis we have the story of the expulsion of Hagar, the Egyptian slave woman who had given birth to Abraham's first son Ishmael. The story has drama because Sarah became pregnant and she gave birth to a son, and Abraham named … Continue reading Who Wants to be Free? →

Where Do We Go From Here?  Good Morning Friends,  Here it is the Fourth of July, Independence Day. And I ask you to join me in contemplating our lectionary scripture on the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the story of Jesus controlling the weather, with the history of our nation as … Continue reading Where Do We Go From Here? →

Where Do You Bring Your Doubts?  Good Morning Friends,  Well there is a lot we just do not know about Thomas the Apostle. He was called the twin but that could have been metaphorical for he had a believing side and a not believing side to his character. The stories about him though are interesting. … Continue reading Where Do You Bring Your Doubts? →

How Are You Helping The Cause of Christ?  Good Morning Friends,  After many stern warnings and instructions to His disciple makers, Jesus closes a focused discourse on mission work with a simply amazing promise from today's text. Jesus had instructed His disciples to stay in homes and towns where they were welcomed. Now He promises … Continue reading How Are You Helping The Cause of Christ? →

Is The Universe Friendly?  Good Morning Friends,  I do not know about you but I need wisdom and affirmation on my faith walk. In the lectionary readings from Matthew we see that the Centurion had a measure of faith and he also had a deep concern for his servant. So too in our reading from … Continue reading Is The Universe Friendly? →

How Are You At Keeping Your Promises?  Good Morning Friends,    After healing a man of leprosy Jesus instructed the man to go to the priest, as was required by Jewish law, but with a warning not to say anything about the miracle to anyone on the way. To our way of thinking, Jesus would … Continue reading How Are You At Keeping Your Promises? →