Jesus tells his disciples after returning from a mission where they healed the sick, cast out demons and preached good news, to not rejoice in the results they got but to rejoice that their names were written in heaven. A message we still need to hear today. When the seventy returned from their mission, they […]

For years, from my mid 20’s to my late 30’s I was involved with a religious new testament based cult. One verse that got blasted from the pulpit more that any other was: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into

In the lectionary this week we are looking at a passage from Galatians 6 about building spiritual community “Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.”— Galatians 6:6 This one sentence has always puzzled me because it seemed to jump out of context. After reading it today, I

There’s a pattern in Scripture that has always been there, but I am just now seeing it with fresh eyes. A patter that reveals who God is—and who we are. We are the sheep. And we are always going astray. God is the shepherd always calling us back. Sometimes our straying as big as chasing

What exactly is “a double portion of your spirit”? The heart of the story in 2 Kings 2:1-14 Two Prophets, One Legacy 2 Kings 2:1–14 tells a vivid story full of symbolism, emotion, and divine mystery. We meet two prophets—Elijah and Elisha—on the day when Elijah will be taken up into heaven by a whirlwind.

What a strange story. Elijah, one of the most powerful prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures, meets Elisha, a plow-driving farmer—and rather than giving him a pep talk or a vision or even a heads-up, Elijah walks by and throws his cloak over him. That’s it. That’s the whole call. Elisha’s response? Burn the plows, slaughter

Isaiah 40:1–11 and the Compassionate Wake-Up Call of God “Comfort, O comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”— Isaiah 40:1–2 If you grew up

Are We Really Being Transformed by Christ? Psalm 112:1 opens with a declaration: “Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments.” That verse hit me hard. After all these years of following Christ—seeking truth, praying, trying to walk in His ways—why am I not happy? Why do I not delight

Thirsting for God in Trouble and Exile Psalm 42 | A Maskil of the sons of Korah As the deer pants for streams of water,so my soul pants for you, my God.My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.When can I go and meet with God? Wrestling Between Longing and Faith What I love