Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

Beatitudes

  • I don’t know what the disciples expected when they followed Jesus up the mountain. Maybe a great wisdom. They hadn’t been following him long. They visited a few cities in the region. So they were just getting to know the man. And he goes up the mountain. They follow. And he unveils the very dream…

  • For our darkest hours Jesus gives us a vision of the Kingdom of GOD and the blessed community. When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the…

  • We finally made it to Wild Goose. After the last four years saying “I really wish we could go,” which became “let’s give it a try,” which became “we’ll go next year.” It finally became “we’re going!” We just got back from the Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs, North Carolina this weekend. Rose and I…

  • Or why I might not remember your name Stress is not a blessing Something we’ve inherited from our Protestant ancestors is an anachronistic attachment to labor, stress, and a propensity to die early. Probably from a heart attack. Last I looked, there are only nine Beatitudes. I wouldn’t be surprised if some used book shoppe…

  • Priorities

    a Homily for Thanksgiving Text: Matthew 6:25-33  An Unthankul Story Tonight we’ve gathered to give thanks. More specifically, to give thanks to GOD for all of our blessings and all that we have to be thankful for. To give thanks to a GOD for so much wonderful stuff. But we know not everyone feels that…

  • My sermon for Epiphany 5A is up here.  The topic is Jesus’s preaching on freedom, law, and Kingdom-life.  It followed the previous week’s discussion of the Beatitudes, called “Blessed“. This week continues the Sermon on the Mount and will be posted next week.  Look for a teaser soon.