"Come over... and help us." - The Holy Spirit in Acts 16:9

If we ignore the little nudges of the Holy Spirit, we risk losing our awareness of God's mission. What does he want us to do today? Our agenda or His? In a few weeks it will be Pentecost. One of the things we rarely talk about is the most common experience of the Holy Spirit. Not fire and wind, but little tugs on our heart.

For: 
May 22, 2022
Acts 16:9-15
Easter 6
She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.

Each of us have been blessed by people who day after day did "good works and acts of charity." Shall I name Margaret? Shall I name Suzy Q? These people live on in our memories. They also live, which is the point of the story of Dorcas, because of the power of Christ's resurrection over death.

For: 
May 8, 2022
Acts 9:36-43
Luke 10:38-42
Easter 4
Mother's Day
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." - The voice Saul of Tarsus heard.

“A church is like a green house. Different plants growing under the same roof. If you go into ministry, you’ll have to learn how to give each plant what it needs.”  What my mentor in ministry, Dick Arnold, said to me.

For: 
May 1, 2022
Acts 9:1-6
Easter 3
"We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." - the good thief

This is the nature of systemic injustice. Everyone knows, but they each accept their given role in the shared lie.

For: 
April 24, 2022
Luke 23:41
Easter 2
Good Friday
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb...

We receive on Easter morning the blessing that Jesus spoke to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen, but believe.” Reflect upon all that you see. Come to faith... 

For: 
April 17, 2022
John 20:1-18
Easter Morning
As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice

Palm and Passion Sunday are not in opposition. They are two acts in the same drama. The story of Palm Sunday provides two of the five reasons for Jesus going to the cross.

For: 
April 10, 2022
Luke 19:28-40
Lent 6
Palm Sunday

This Psalm talks about planting seeds. Sowing with the expectation that God bringing about the harvest. Verse 5 says that sometimes you sow those seeds with tears in your eyes.

For: 
April 3, 2022
Psalm 126
Lent 5
"For this son of mine was dead and is alive again..." -- a father choosing to forgive his son

Young people grow into an ever-widening circle of people for whom they must show love and compassion. First it is their siblings and parents, then their playmates, then the people at school, especially those who are being bullied or ostracized. As we enter into adulthood, our calling to compassion must extend to those who are poor, or subject to abuse.

For: 
March 27, 2022
Luke 15:11-32
Psalm 32
Lent 4
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish - Jesus

In Luke 13, Jesus is blunt. We must accept the total unavoidability of life’s traumas. Whether you are a good person, who never misses church, or a bad person, who sneers at God, a school shooter may terrorize your kids, or bully like Puttin invade your country.

For: 
March 20, 2022
Luke 13:1-9
Lent 3
"While Jesus was praying, his appearance changed, and his clothes became dazzling white." Luke's account of the transfiguration

We have each learned our own techniques for putting a veil over our face and diminishing the good that should come from our mountain top spiritual experiences. Are you ready for an inflection point in your spiritual adventure?

For: 
February 27, 2022
Luke 9:28-36
Epiphany 8
Transfiguration Sunday
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" - Jesus

This is how Christianity is defined. Not by theology, but by compassion. This is how Jesus is honored, not by merely holding clerical office, but by following.

For: 
February 13, 2022
Luke 6:17-26
Epiphany 7
"Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people."

Jesus saw hidden potential in the people he invited to follow him. Sometimes so well hidden that even those he called didn't see it. There was something beneath the surface of Peter, James, and John. There is also something hidden in each of us that Jesus knows how to use.

For: 
February 6, 2022
Luke 5:1-11
Epiphany 5
"See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms" - God's calling of Jeremiah

Jeremiah was called to preach a message that would change nations. In Jesus’ first sermon, he reversed the “our nation first” rhetoric of his day’s leaders by reminding the faithful that Elijah did his greatest miracle on the wrong side of the border, and that Elisha is known for bringing healing to the enemy of Israel. What does God want from our political leaders? Justice, mercy, the fair treatment of prisoners, and a hand up (or hope) for those in poverty.

For: 
January 30, 2022
Luke 4:21-30
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Easter 4
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor..." - Jesus & Isaiah

We both envy and hate the people who leave town and make it big. Bob Dylan hasn’t been back to Hibbing, Minnesota other than for his tenth high school reunion, where he got into a fight at the local Moose lodge.

For: 
January 23, 2022
Luke 4:14-21
Isaiah 61
Epiphany 3
Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee - John 2:11

Mary wants there to be wine. Jesus is at the beginning of a ministry that will lead him to the cross. He will, at the end of that painful road, bring to us the new wine of eternal life and the Holy Spirit.

For: 
January 16, 2022
John 2:1-11
Epiphany 2

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