Whether it is our own craziness or the craziness of other people, we do everythig we can to avoid it. but if we are willing to face it, we may be surprised at what we see.
The kingdom of God is at hand! This is what Jesus proclaims, this is what he teaches and this is what he shows us when he goes where no one has gone before.
When the people of Israel returned to Jerusalem and began rebuilding their beloved temple, we would expect there to be shouts of joy. What we do not expect there to be cries of grief. Yet both are precious to God.
Do you multi-task when you eat? Then maybe you are getting everything you can out of eating. Here are some suggestions to enhance your everyday eating experience:
Are you rushing through life not really ever arriving or finding what you are looking for? Maybe it's time to slow down and become aware of what is right in front of you.
How do we gain our lives? How do we experience joy for ourselves and those around us? It is only in giving up our lives, losing them for the sake of others.
Later in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus laments that people do not know the things that make for peace. Some soldiers from World War I and Jesus himself teach us how.
In order to introduce us to Jesus, Matthew gives us along genealogy. If we look closely, in the midst of all these unpronouncable names, there is good news.
Paul has no outward reason to be joyful. But his joy has nothing to do with his circumstances, because he continues serving Christ where he is. And that gives him joy!
When God speaks to Moses out of a burning bush, he takes off his shoes, as he is told. But Moses is not so crazy about the rest of the stuff God tells him to do.
Are you spiritual, but not religious? Are you religious, but not spiritual? Either way, you could use the gift of Christian community for the deepening of your faith.
What is God really like? And where is God exactly? And how do we live in relationship with God? This and more at the beginning of what we call the Lord's Prayer.
Knowing our expectations of others, especially outsiders, is more important than we realize. Good boundaries may keep things in good order, but may also keep us from seeing God and following the Spirit.
With the recurring themes of repentance and reversal, Jesus is letting us know that he has come to bring the joy of heaven to earth - and he is showing us how we can live in the same way.
We think of Samaritans as self-less and kind, models of compassion. But, in Jesus' day, they were thought the most unlikely to show love. How about you?
You might that the Son of God would be born in the center of action and power. But Jesus is born far from the limelight - not where he is expected, but where he is needed.
When the people of Israel return home to Jerusalem, there are many challenges. But they still have the covenant. And they are still called to be a blessing to all nations.
When the people of israel return home from exile, it's not what they expect. But then, it seems, they are not what God expects. What is the same is God's desire for them and God's love for them.
What do we do when the things we normally use to support our faith are taken from us? How do we stay connected to God in difficult times? Daniel provides us an example.
It doesn't take long for the children of Israel to begin behaving badly. When God is ready to put them in permanent time-out, Moses steps into the middle of the fight - and an amazing thing happens!
When there seem to be no other options, God still acts. God starts small with the end result far into the future. God calls Abraham and Sarah and, together, they seek a new future for the world.
When we read the Bible, we often ask, "Is it true?" by which we usually mean, "Did this really happen?" But the Bible is more interested in helping us understand who we are and how we are to live. And we can discover this truth when we seek to live out what it teaches us.
When Jesus comes for baptism, it is not what anyone expects. But, while Jesus is all about fulfillment, this is not the last time he does the unexpected.
We tend to think that God only calls people of great faith, impressive skills and impeccable moral credentials. But - no - over and over again God calls people as they are. And so it is with us!
As we begin to move away from Christmas, questions begin to emerge: Who is Jesus and what is he going to do? For Matthew, it begins with an understanding of the past.
