Intertwined - faith • community • ecology

How did the pharaoh "other" the Israelites? Who stopped the Hebrew babies from being killed? When is it okay to lie? "An exodus from violence" is based on Exodus 1:8-22. Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increa...

What were the economics of early Christians? Is anyone smited in the New Testament? What does it mean to hold things in common? "Ideal Economics" is based on Acts 4:32-5:11 Works Referenced Armas, Kat. "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others." National Catholic Reporter . February 1, 2025. https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/jd-vance...

Who was Koheleth? Why did Ecclesiastes almost not make it into the Bible? How does Ecclesiastes address life's big questions? "Koheleth and kairos" is based on Ecclesiastes 3:9-22 What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and f...

When did Jesus make breakfast for his disciples? Does John's gospel have two endings? What was Jesus' last miracle? What is your call? "Called to abundance" is based on John 21:1-14. After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons o...

What is a proverb? Does wisdom change with time? Where does wisdom come from? Is wisdom more important than intelligence? "A case for natural wisdom" is based on Proverbs 1 Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice. At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long wi...

Who is our Advocate? When should we go outside? What were Jesus' final words to his disciples? Did he ever stay inside? "But sometimes we stay inside" is a reflection on John 14:15-31 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive beca...

Who was Jacob? What happens when two master tricksters face off? Are relationships more important than being right? Where are you unwilling to compromise? "White sticks, speckled sheep, and a pile of rocks" is a reflection based on Genesis 30:25-43 . Works Referenced Brueggemann, Walter. Genesis. (Interpretation: a Bible commentary for teaching and preaching). Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox...

What did Jesus write on the ground when some men were determined to stone a woman to death? What truth did Jesus want the people to know? What is the Enneagram? How does a Jesus follower stay committed in the face of discouragement? "Why I rearrange the dishwasher (and when I shouldn’t)" is a reflection based on John 8. John 8:31-38 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “I...

How old is the concept of hospitality? When should we offer hospitality and to whom? Why were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? Who was Abraham? "Father Abraham had seven sons . . . and a lot of issues" is based on Genesis 18:17-21. The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth sha...

What is mercy? Why would someone have a problem with it? What happens when you invite Jesus to join you for a conversation? "The problem with mercy" is a reflection on John 3:19-21. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so...

Which creation account came first? What is your creation story? What is our purpose in being here? How should we relate to God, to one another, and to the rest of creation?  "What if Genesis 2 came first?" is based on Genesis 2:4b-9. In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no vegetation of the field had yet sprung u...

How is Jesus the Word? How long has he been around? How much God could fit into the human body of Jesus? How much of God’s knowledge could Jesus hold in his human brain? "How much God could Jesus hold?" is based on John 1:1-18. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and with...

Are we in a period of challenges? What makes you feel safe? Was the prophet Micah talking about Jesus? Do you see reason for hope, peace, joy, and love this season?  "Peace, security, and shalom" is based on Micah 5:2-5a. But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old,...

Who among us sit in darkness? Against what backdrop do we live our lives? Why does cryptocurrency matter? How do we find our way to peace in this holiday season? "Peace against a dark backdrop" is based on Luke 1:68-79 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his child David, a...

How do people in crisis find a way forward? What is an apocalypse? In what direction is the world headed? Does justice win in the end? "Envisioning a path forward . . . for all times" is based on Daniel 7 & Revelation 1 Works Referenced Carey, Greg. “Revelation.” NT100: Introduction to the New Testament (class lecture, Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA, February 7, 2020)....

What did Jesus say about the widow who gave her last two coins? What did Jesus say about the scribes? Where should we focus our efforts toward positive change? How are people feeling about the presidential election? "Giving all you have . . . to live on" is based on Mark 12:38-44. As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with...

What or who do you think of when  you hear the word "priest"? Who were the high priests? Do we have a high priest? How should the role of pastor evolve today? "Leveling (up) the priesthood" is based on Hebrews 7:23-28. Furthermore, the former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently becau...

"The thing that’s just within your reach" is based on Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 & Mark 10:17-31 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. Y...

When is it okay to kill a lot of people? How do the stories we tell ourselves sometimes lead to violence? How can we work within broken systems to promote survival? "The stories that help us kill" is based on Esther 7:1-10; 9:20-22 . References Collins, John J. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible: Third Edition (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2018), Kindle edition. Death Penalty Information C...

Was Jesus a manly man? Does that matter? Is there a temptation to make Jesus who we want him to be? What does it mean to be ashamed of Jesus? "Ashamed of Jesus?" is based on Mark 8:27-38 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah;...

Where does generosity come from? Is there enough for everyone? Did James barely make it into the Bible? What do we know that Paul didn't? "What James gets right and Paul gets wrong" is based on James 1:17-27. Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfill...

What gift did King Solomon have? Was he a perfect king? What is wisdom? Which Bible verses are most important? "Oh, by the way..." is based on 1 Kings 2 & 3 Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the thron...

What is the bread of heaven? Do we need to chase what truly sustains us? How can we be misled into adopting a way of living that harms our neighbors and ourselves? "Chasing sustenance" is based on Exodus 16 & John 6 *** Works Referenced “1993 World Trade Center bombing.” Wikipedia. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_World_Trade_Center_bombing Alter, Robert. Th...

When is political violence okay? Should we only look at the scripture passages we like? What does justice, kindness, and humility look like in our culture? How should a person of faith act during a contentious election season? "Picking cherries" is based on Micah 6:6-16 Works Referenced Ben Zvi, Ehud. “Micah.” In The Jewish Study Bible: Second Edition , edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zv...

What was Paul's thorn? How did Paul find strength in weakness? Are there super apostles today? Is Christian Nationalism Christian? "Thorny reminders" is based on 2 Corinthians 12:2-10. I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person—whether in the body or...