Shalom
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Making Peace
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9 min read
Jesus sends us out to proclaim peace. But some people we like don’t want to hear it.
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The Presence of Peace
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8 min read
The peace Jesus promises isn’t a passive thing done to us, or a weapon to enforce conformity. It is the very love of God and it is already here. God brings to life the peace that is already present. Easter 6C | John 14:23-29 Let’s talk about peace. I think we’re tempted to start with…
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An Embarrassment of Grace
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10 min read
Jesus sends his disciples out before they’re ready to do the work they don’t understand. A lot like us. Because that’s the work for us to do. Proper 6A | Matthew 9:35-10:23 Some time ago. A few years before seminary, before I preached my first sermon or proclaimed my first gospel, I was getting up…
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Respond – The Beatitudes bless us in seeing
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6 min read
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…
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GOD’s Greatest Gifts
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9 min read
This is the life Jesus talks about, the life GOD reveals, the life the Holy Spirit inspires us to live. A life of a revealed GOD and the presence of Shalom. A life of hope and opportunity to serve and be served; to love and be loved. A life of true living. How Jesus reveals…
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Christianity Is More Than Kindness
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8 min read
We aren’t supposed to be kind. We’re not. Jesus didn’t die for us to be kind. He also didn’t die for us to be dicks, either. Or to fight over land. Or call people names. But being kind, being nice, that isn’t it. Being a good person, a kind and generous person is a truly important thing.…