Mary said, “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Luke 1:49 It is one thing to name God in our lives. It is another to describe…to turn that into a story. That is what Mary does in this text. Mary acknowledges the greatness of God, calling God “The … More See & Tell
When I think of Christmas, I often think of car trips. I think of packing up suitcases and sleeping bags. I think of laundry baskets full of Christmas presents for the cousins, that go into the station wagon. I think of my brothers and I, loading into the back, rear-facing seat of the Ford Country Squire (complete with … More Where Heaven Meets Earth
I’ve read these scripture passages, probably hundreds of times. This week, I noticed something new. This week, I noticed that when the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary, to tell her about her upcoming pregnancy, the scriptures say that Mary was “shaken” by the angel’s words. Other translations use the word “perplexed.” Mary is shaken not by the presence of … More You are Favored
“Get up and go.” If you were to ask me to quote some of the most important phrases in the Bible…these words would definitely be in my top five. Some version of “arise and go,” “get up and go,” or just “go” is spoken by God in just about every book of the Bible. They are … More Get Up and Go
The scriptures say: “But Mary treasured these words…and pondered them in her heart.” When I hear this familiar part of our Christmas story…an image comes to my mind. I picture Mary, holding the baby Jesus, rocking him. It is so peaceful…she’s smiling… reflecting on this new life in her arms…contemplating the words of the angels … More Ponder These Things
He is risen! He is risen indeed! On a normal Easter Sunday, before the worship begins, the pastors and the choir would be gathered at the back doors, the lights would be darkened. There would be a brass fanfare in the balcony and then I would shout out the words that Christians have been saying … More Not Your Average Easter
I am not, by nature, a patient person. I’m not impatient in an “angry” kind way, like getting mad if someone cuts me off on the freeway…that’s not what I’m talking about. No, it’s more the kind of impatience where I don’t like to wait for things. If I decide to do something, I don’t … More In God’s Good Time
We often associate Christmas, with dreams. We hear the old song, “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…just like the ones we used to know,” or “I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams. I don’t know why… maybe it’s because Christmas is an event we so look forward to…because as children, we would … More Christmas Dreams
“Faith is moving forward.” “God has a plan for us.” “Let’s go.” Now, these words are from a drama. They are not actually found in the scriptures. The truth is, we wonder, but we don’t know exactly what Mary and Joseph talked about on that journey to Bethlehem. But there had to be some anxiety…apprehension…maybe … More Rethinking Judgment
When was the last time that you were really surprised? When was the last time that you were caught by the unexpected? Was it an unannounced guest, or a visitor? Did you get a phone call you didn’t expect? Maybe you were the subject of a “surprise party.” Maybe you received good news…or perhaps bad … More The Unexpected Jesus
Test Driving Theology 