Hardship and suffering are to be avoided! The human survival instinct is a hard one to transform. Peter tells us how Jesus was able to face suffering in a transformational way. This way of suffering is a long game in…
On the very first Easter Sunday Jesus made many appearances. Two followers of Jesus were returning home after the stunning events surrounding Jesus' death. As they make their way, Jesus appears and opens their hearts and minds to a new…
Is being called a “Doubting Thomas” really fair? When Jesus first appears to the disciples, Thomas is not there. All he asks is to be included the same way his friends had been included. Doubt is an important and healthy…
Belief and faith are mysterious things. They grow and evolve in each of us as human beings. We can often mistake a “breakthrough” as a conclusion. The opposite is quite true. Breakthroughs of faith will lead us into new seasons…
It is not always easy to be yourself when it seems that everyone is watching you! Jesus' entrance in Jerusalem is a powerful moment of authenticity. Everyone had great expectations of what he would do and be. He remains faithful…
The notion of a final judgment often brings a sense of fear causing us to wonder what side of that judgement we may find ourselves. Jesus tells a story about judgement where all people are separated into two groups. Those…
We often wish for a big impact. The assumption often made is that a big impact comes from an equally big action. For the followers of Jesus, big impact usually begins with small actions done quietly. The true power of…
Many in American culture are educated to solve problems. Our impulse is to fix, repair, and create efficiency. It is hard to leave things alone. In this week's episode, we explore how evil works in the world and what we…
The parables of Jesus have ignited interest and debate for years. Jesus' teaching often require a sense of effort on our part to hear them and keep hearing them. The Parable of the Seeds is not different. In this week's…
So often our expectations about Jesus (and God for that matter) are born from our own broken lives. We certainly want the Jesus to come to us in the way we want. This story from Matthew's gospel opens us to…