The Rev. Harry Stock shares a powerful personal story and insights what "born again" means to him - and it does not divide who's-in from who's-out. John 3:1-12
But Will God Indeed Dwell on the Earth?
While dedicating the Temple at a holy "national convention", King Solomon shouts aloud that grounded question. In this turbulent election season, is that hope for us real - i.e., unconditional of political events transpiring 'round us? 1 Kings 8 (excerpts)
What Is Your Ask?
"Ask what I should give you," God said to Solomon. The Rev. Pat Jackson walks us through his hometown of Groningen, The Netherlands to imagine with him what we might want from God. Could it be compassion? Vision? A world of beauty, or an appreciation of uniqueness?
Do Not Depend on the Hope of Results
Part 5 of 5, "Being Fearless This Election Year". For centuries, Romans 13:1-7 has proven a passage of choice for authoritarians everywhere. What if we were to read it as Paul perhaps intended it: as a way to detach our spiritual health from the hope of getting certain civic results?
Feeding the 5000: When You Haven't Got Enough
Part IV, "Being Fearless This Election Year". We worship productivity; Jesus emphasizes distribution. With open distribution of what we have, can God's providence make our not-enoughness - enough? Mark 6:30-44
From the Prayer of Words to Prayerful Action
Part III, "Bearing Fearless This Election Year". Mark's Gospel was written in a chaotic time - when words were cheap, and inhumanity great. And so, their faith was based more on the detachment of prayerful love and less on attachment to framed beliefs. How to detach with compassion, with the stress of this season upon us? Mark 6:30-34, 53-56.
The Verdict of History
Part II: "Being Faithful This Election Season". Why is John - an eccentric desert prophet - remembered so warmly 20 centuries on? Through the actions of prophets facing down the Herods over the centuries, let's consider the verdict of history.
From Division, Detachment
Summer Series, Part 1: "Being Faithful This Election Season". Jesus' homecoming was not well-received - much like some of our political discussions. He offers clues how to detach with love: perhaps the first step we may need to take before engaging The Divider before us ...
The Priority and Power of the Poor
Rev. Chuck unearths twin biblical truths that Jesus' two healings in Mark 5:21-43 highlight: that what's good for the least (his priority for some) is good for the whole (his power for us all).
Pride Message: "It's No Joke!"
In his response to insults and injuries he's received as a gay man, the Rev. Harry Stock knows that Jesus' teaching to love the enemy is no laughing matter. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-19, Matthew 5:38-48.
Let It Be: A Coming Out Story
Elder Jesy Littlejohn testifies to God's grace a la Psalm 20 and their story of accepting themselves for who and Whose they are.
No More Messiahs
In a world searching for strongmen - Presidents even - to save us: What could Samuel and Jesus teach us? 1 Samuel 8:4-20
The Gift of Receiving
Samuel to God: "Speak, for your servant is listening." How, through listening, can we practice what Henri Nouwen calls "the gift of receiving"? 1 Samuel 3:1-11
From Solving the Problem to Living the Mystery (Trinity Sunday)
The priest Nicodemus and the rabbi Jesus dialogue. Nicodemus: "How can I solve that problem?" Jesus: "Enjoy the Spirit's mystery - and enter the kingdom." How to enter into that mystery - when we cannot understand it? John 3:1-10.
Pentecost: From the Corporate to the Communal
The explosion of the Spirit! A megachurch's delight? What appears to be a story of immensity is grounded most of all in intimacy. Acts 2:1-12.
Love In Action II: What the Maternal Can Teach Us
Mother's Day message. Love maternally expressed can be disingenuous (Exodus 1:15-21, Romans 12:9-21). Does that diminish the love in any way?
Jesus' Love Commandment: Love Is Action
To know what we believe ... we see what we do. John 15:12-17
April 28: "What's To Stop Us From ______?"
Guest Message: Rev. Pat Jackson. Getting from A to B: How did we ever do that without GPS and smart phones? But getting from A to B isn’t just a geographic consideration, it’s a life consideration. How do we find our way today? Scripture: Acts 8:27-31, 35-28
April 21: Psalm 23: "I Have Everything I Need?"
Psalm 23 counsels that "The Lord is our shepherd, I shall not want" - another translation: "I have everything I need." How can we begin to know that?
April 14 - Easter: More Than "He Died for Our Sins"
Did Jesus die for our sins? Or did he die because of our sins - and our resurrection task is to tend to his broken body? Luke 24:36b-48
