Intertwined - faith • community • ecology

Why does God permit pain and suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? What happened to Job? Does the book of Job tell us why evil exists? "Words fall short" is a reflection based on Job 38:1-11. Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you shall declare...

Why was Jesus accused of conspiring with the ruler of the demons? What was his response to those accusations? What "strong man" did he plunder? Who are the strong men in our midst? Who was part of Jesus' family? "Jesus the Plunderer" is based on Mark 3:20-35. Then he went home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, th...

What is prophecy? When did Isaiah prophecy? What happened when Jesus talked to Nicodemus? What does prophecy look like today? When should we prophesy? “A word that no one wants to hear” is based on Isaiah 6:1-8 & John 3:1-17 Isaiah 6:1-8 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance a...

Who is the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit work in the world? How do you experience the Holy Spirt? What does witness look like? "Your Holy Spirit" is based on Acts 1:1-11. In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chose...

What did the author of John say about love? What is agape? What does agape look like in our time? What does the opposite of love look like? How does this relate to the climate catastrophe? "Love and its opposite" is a reflection based on 1 John 4:7-21 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does no...

What happened when Jesus gathered with his disciples after his resurrection? What did he say would happen next? How do you realize resurrection? How do we become empowered to fulfill our purpose? "Realizing Resurrection" is based on Luke 24:36b-48. Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a gh...

What was the resurrection of Jesus? Why is Mark's resurrection story so short? What might resurrection look like in our time? What can we learn from the resurrection? "Reading Resurrection" is a reflection based on Mark 16:1-8. When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the fi...

Why did Jesus compare himself to a grain of wheat? What does it mean to love your life? What does it mean to hate your life on earth? Who was Melchizedek? Why did Jesus have to die? What is eternal life? "Looking Beyond" is a reflection on John 12:20-33. Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and sa...

Is the gospel foolish? Did the wise recognize Jesus? What does foolishness look like today? Does the church need to have a rummage sale? “Foolishness” is a reflection based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.  For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the disc...

What happened after Jesus' baptism? Why was he tempted in the wilderness? Who tempted him? What does temptation look like today? "A human condition" is a reflection based on Mark 1:9-15. In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like...

Did Jesus perform exorcisms? What demons existed in his time? Do demons still exist now? If so, in what form? Can an entire culture be possessed? “'Demons,' and other words that matter" is a reflection based on Mark 1:29-39. As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they...

What did Paul mean when he wrote "the present form of this world is passing away"? What might that look like? What structures need to change? How can we change them? Did Jesus say the world is going to end? "Changing Structures" is a reflection based on 1 Corinthians 7:29-31. I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have...

Who were the wise men? Why is their part of the Christmas story important? What does their story tell us about worldly power? How does Herod compare to powerful people in our context? How will we champion truth in 2024? "The search for truth in '24" is a reflection based on Matthew 2:1-12. In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East...

How often do you think about the Roman Empire? How does that relate to the New Testament? How does the Roman Empire compare to our context? Do you feel overwhelmed at Christmastime? How do you win at Christmas? What does it mean to "just believe?" In what do you believe? "Winning Christmas" is a reflection based on Romans 16:25-27. Now to God who is able to strengthen you accor...

What can the book of Isaiah tell us about Christmas? How is prophecy sometimes misused? When is certainty a bad thing? When is certainty a good thing? Does the Bible tell us to celebrate Christmas? "A less-certain Christmas" is based on Isaiah 40:1-11. “Comfort, oh comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem, but also make it very clear That she has served...

What is Christ the King Sunday? Why might we be resistant to language about monarchy? What is the right way to grieve? Is it okay to grieve small things when there is so much tragedy in the world? "The sorrows of the universe and a tiny green bird" is a reflection based on Hebrews 1:1-9. Read it at https://intertwinedfc.medium.com. Many times and in many ways God spoke to our mothers and...

Why did Jesus become angry when he saw the vendors in the temple? What did his actions in the temple mean? What do our temples look like? Should churches own buildings? If so, what should that look like? Can you have a faith community without a building? "No building? No problem." - a reflection based on John 2:14-22. In the temple Jesus found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and...

When is certainty a bad thing? What consequences can result from certainty? What does certainty look like in faith communities? Of what should we be certain? What are our core beliefs? What should a faith gathering look like? "For sure?" is a reflection based on John 7:37-44. On the last, the great day, of the festival of Booths, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts...

What's it like to grow up in a small town? Was Jesus from a small town? What were his experiences like there? Why did the people from Nazareth not have faith in him? What role does faith play now? In what should we have faith? "It can't happen here?" is a reflection based on Mark 6:1-6. Now Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the s...

What doubts do people of faith face? What temptations might lead us astray? Should we adhere to the mainstream? What does it mean to follow Jesus? "Why bother(?)" is a reflection based on 2 Peter 3:1-13. Now this, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you all; in them I am trying to arouse your genuine understanding by reminding you all that you should remember the words spoken in t...

Have you ever been crushed, or filled with despair? Where did you turn when you felt that way? What did Paul mean when he said he was crushed and feared and internal sentence of death? Where did he look for hope? Where do you look for hope when facing struggles? Where do you find community? I explore these questions in "Crushing Despair," a reflection based on 2 Corinthians 1:8-11. Thank...

"Recognition, Regret, Repentance, Reconciliation," a reflection based on Luke 19:1-10.  Who was Zacchaeus? Why did Jesus spend time with him? What does it mean to repent? Should people feel guilty? Is repentance something that we do as individuals, or collectively? Why does repentance get a bad rap? Is repentance a step on the path to reconciliation? Luke 19:1-10  Now Jesus entered Jeric...

"Making Way," a reflection based on 1 Samuel 17:55-18:9 When is it time to make way for someone else to step into a position of authority? When is it time for you to step into a new role? How does is the story of Saul, David, and Jonathan relevant to our lives? What role does jealousy and pride play in our perceptions? 1 Samuel 17:55-18:9 When Saul saw David go out to meet the Philistine...

"The Path to Truth," a reflection based on Mark 6:14-29. Who was John the Baptist? How did he prepare a path for Jesus? Is the Bible true? How do you find truth? Mark 6:14-29 Now King Herod heard of [the teaching of Jesus], for Jesus's name had become known and some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead and that is why these powers work through him.&quot...

"Making Kings," a reflection based on 1 Samuel 8:1, 4-18 Why did Israel want a king? What consequences did that bring? Do we have kings now? What does it mean to make something a king? Does referring to God as a king resonate for you? What other names are there for God? Now it was that when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.  Then all the elders of Israel gathered t...