My wife and I just got our voting ballots in the mail yesterday. It’s just over two weeks before Election Day and unexpectedly, two simple fishermen have a word for us voters: James and John approach Jesus and say, Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory. Did you catch that? Right. Left. Right wing. Left wing. They’re interested in sharing power! Who’s ever heard of such a thing in our time! If we get nothing else out of today’s reading, maybe that’s enough … [Read more...]
The Voice of Your Soul
Before worship this morning a number of us gathered to begin what will be a series of opportunities to share our faith journeys. So it’s fitting that today’s gospel reading begins by telling us that Jesus was setting out on a journey. The story that follows speaks to us of the challenges and possibilities for our journeys. Before he could even begin his journey, a man ran up to Jesus and knelt before him. Here’s someone who has set high standards for himself; he wants to grow! He’s willing to … [Read more...]
The Law of Love
Last week Minjing and I watched a TV program called Half the Sky. The term “Half the Sky” refers to the traditional saying that women hold up “half the sky.” Men, of course, hold up the other half. But the TV program described the truth that, although women make up more than half the population, throughout the world they are abused, enslaved, forced into prostitution and subjected to horrifying traditional practices such as female circumcision. Some Pharisees came to test Jesus and they … [Read more...]
Follow the Leader
God’s Welcome 2
A few weeks ago I opened my e-mail and there was a question from one of you: What does the word “righteous” mean? you asked. Even after all these years, even though I know better, when I hear the word “righteous” I can’t help thinking “self-righteous.” But “righteous” as it’s used in the Bible means “right relationship.” So to be righteous means to be in right relationship with others. The word is used in today’s second reading, where James writes: But the wisdom from above is first pure, … [Read more...]
God’s Welcome 1
Having just heard two miracle stories from Mark’s gospel, here’s my question for you: How many of you have done in the past—or are able to do now—what you just heard Jesus do? No one? By the time we leave worship I’ll ask the question again and I predict—at least I hope!—that every hand will go up! As we’ve seen so many times in the four gospels, Jesus is on the road, making minds and bodies well. As the people in today’s reading proclaim, He has done everything well; he even makes the … [Read more...]
Patterns and Rituals
I have to admit that when Pat & Anna asked if we could celebrate Eleanor’s baptism this weekend I was skeptical. Labor Day weekend, the first Sunday in September, the 14th Sunday in Pentecost, is not one of those Sundays that the Lutheran church recommends as especially appropriate for baptisms. Sundays that celebrate the baptism of Jesus, or John the Baptist, and especially, Easter—these traditionally have been the Sundays to celebrate baptisms. But when I looked up the readings for … [Read more...]
Look Beyond the Weirdness
Even in the vast spaces of the American West, driving 1300 miles can seem like forever! So on my journey through Idaho and Eastern Washington a couple of weeks ago I brought along books on disk to listen to. It was a good move—I was able to finish two and a half books while driving! One of the books was The Year of Living Biblically; it made the best- seller list a few years back. The author, A.J. Jacobs, is a man who decided to live for an entire year as closely and as literally as possible … [Read more...]
Enough
One week ago today, at first light, I tossed my backpack and a duffle bag into the back of our car. Minjing and I then drove to Ballard where I met up with other climbers who would be my companions for three days as we attempted to summit Glacier Peak, one of Washington’s five volcanoes. But on the drive to Ballard I had the feeling I was missing something. I pulled off to the side of I-5 and checked; sure enough—I was missing one of my trekking poles. Later Minjing found it lying on our … [Read more...]
A Part of the Pattern
The phrase "I am the bread of life" starts a pattern of "I am..." statements which runs through the gospel of John. But these aren't the only "I am..." statements that God makes to us. They are part of a pattern that reaches all the way back to the prophet Moses and continues on with us today when Jesus speaks a unique "I am..." statement to each one of us. … [Read more...]
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