A Podcast about Living Freely in a World Given Back to Us
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Our God is a God of order. Our God is a God of peace, that is, shalom. Shalom is the way things are supposed to be. Sin is the way things are not supposed to be. Sin is disorder, that is, things aren’t right. Things aren’t the way they are supposed to be. We sinners are disordered. Things aren’t right with us. Continue reading “Rightly Ordered in Peace”
Isaiah 6:1-8 and Luke 5:1-11
What a story Isaiah had to tell. The story of a vision from God and a vision of God. And he was terrified. Why so scared? You heard him – I’m unclean; I am sin. Sin and holy don’t mix. Think of a sinner dressed in coveralls that have been doused in gasoline. Think of God as a blazing torch – mix the two and the sinner would be ruined, burned, consumed. Isaiah was out of place near the presence and power of God Almighty.
That’s how it is. The closer one comes to God’s power, the more that soul becomes aware of just how unworthy and out of place it is. Isaiah was frightened to death. Continue reading “Go away from me, Lord, I am a sinner…”
Exodus 32 and 33
Do you remember the account of the golden calf? The ugliness of the human heart! To take gold and fashion it into an idol is one thing; but then to bow down and praise it as the one who had delivered them out of Egypt, isn’t that an entirely different level? And do you remember, Moses comes down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments in his hand, and smashes the two stone tablets in righteous anger? And what about the calf? He burns in the fire and grinds it to powder, scattering it on the water and making them to drink it? Drink your sin! Continue reading “The Lord’s Glory in Grace”
Numbers 27:12-23
(focusing on 15-18)
Moses said to the LORD, “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in who is the spirit and lay your hand on him.” Continue reading “Sheep without Shepherds”
1 Kings 17:9-16
I asked a dead man to mow my lawn and a week later it was overgrown. I asked a blind man to drive me to the airport, and we crashed. I asked my enemy to come for dinner and he never showed up. It’s not a surprise. Dead. Blind. Enemy. Continue reading “Elijah and the Widow”
Psalm 56; Jeremiah 1:11-19; Luke 19:41-44
No one wants to be the bearer of bad news. To be the one who has to knock on the door and inform someone that their loved one has just died, to have to sit down with a patient and deliver the diagnosis of cancer, to serve as the advisor who explains that plans have not met expectations and futures look bleak. Who is up for such tasks? And who gladly does them? Continue reading “Bearers of Bad News”
Luke 2:21-40
On the fortieth day of the incarnation Mary and Joseph, as a faithful Jewish couple, presented their firstborn Son at the temple and “bought” him back with a sacrifice of a two small birds. This is known as the “Presentation of Our Lord” and is celebrated in the church on February 2nd. It deserves more than one day. So we continue our contemplation on this sacred event we started a few days ago. Continue reading “Presentation of Our Lord, Part Five”
Luke 2:21-40
On the fortieth day of the incarnation Mary and Joseph, as a faithful Jewish couple, presented their firstborn Son at the temple and “bought” him back with a sacrifice of a two small birds. This is known as the “Presentation of Our Lord” and is celebrated in the church on February 2nd. It deserves more than one day. So we continue our contemplation on this sacred event we started a few days ago. Continue reading “Presentation of Our Lord, Part Four”
