Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

 Romans 14 • A deep story describes a collective, emotionally rooted narrative that individuals and groups use to make sense of their lives and the world, prioritizing feelings and metaphors over cold facts or moral judgments. • The concept was developed by Arlie Russell Hochschild, a sociologist and we will talk about her more in a bit. • Today we will be considering how competing "deep stor...

Some time ago, I took a course in speed-reading We were required to practice every day for at least an hour - the only drawback–I chose to read books that didn’t interest me, so I wouldn't get distracted by their content • but going fast, I got nothing at all from them – I wasn’t reading, but just looking at words - later on I was exposed to a method of slow-reading • the purpose: to get as m...

Here we are, after several weeks, at the end of Jude There’s not another letter in the New Testament exactly like it - a small bit of 2 Peter incorporates some of the same lines • but the overall structure and content of Jude are unusual, ◦ and his quotations from two non-biblical books is unique • but coming to the end, he closes with a familiar prayer ◦ it’s not his exact words that are familiar...

My friend, Clint Freeman, sent me an article this week It has to do with Artificial Intelligence and I added it to my “weird news” file Darin White, “Four in ten Gen-Z and millennial adults say spiritual advice from AI is just as trustworthy as advice from a pastor. One-third of teenagers have talked to an AI companion rather than a human being about serious, personal issues. Thirty-nine percent o...

A couple weeks ago I got a phone call The number looked familiar, so I answered – “Hello” - a man’s voice asked, “Is this Charles?” • at that point it was obvious he didn’t know me • so I said, “Maybe” - there are too many scams running in our world for me to take chances • if you respond to a text or call, a fake offer, a warning, ◦ or a simple “click” and next thing you discover is that your ban...

 I have been reading a book by Bill Elliot, who is a therapist But it’s not about psychology – it has the unlikely title, Falling Into the Face of God – it’s an autobiography of sorts • Bill felt called by God’s Spirit to go to the Judean desert • and , to spend forty days there like Jesus, only without fasting – on day 17, he was meditating on Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness • then his though...

 We’re going to reenact the story - this is what Jesus meant for us to do “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26) • in this ritual, there is the potential of a profound encounter • he has given us something: ◦ for our eyes to see ◦ for our ears to hear ◦ for our hands to touch ◦ for our mouths to taste ◦ for our minds to c...

There have been songs, that I loved the first time I heard them There are others that I had to hear several times to appreciate - but the ones that I've loved at first sight had two qualities: • the sound of music (instruments and vocals) and the lyrics ◦ psychologists refer to this response to music as “emotional resonance” ◦ the sound waves and meaning of the music find a string that vibrat...

On the days I spend with three of my grandchildren, I sometimes say to my thirteen year old grandson, “I’m going for a walk, do you want to go with me?” - he has never said, “Sure, Grandpa, let’s go” – never • and I know why – he’s convinced it won’t be fun ◦ he’d have to get unnecessary exercise, and ◦ it’d be difficult to stay on trail with eyes glued to his cell phone • this morning I’m invitin...

Prior to this moment, Abram was merely a name on a list Now he becomes a person; he’s given an identity - he emerges from the genealogy into space and time • he has a history and he is given a destiny where he is from and where he is going is what has defined him ◦ where he is from: “your birthplace and your father’s house” ◦ where he is going: “to the land that I will show you” • God is in the pr...

What was the primary responsibility Jesus gave to Peter? - if you’re not sure, then listen to what I’m about to read, • because Jesus makes Peter’s assignment absolutely clear When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a seco...

I am going to take a risk this morning Aside from whatever ways I’m supposed to help others, - my own life in God has been driven by one passion • that is, to experience everything Jesus promised his disciples • my primary rationale is to take Jesus at his word ◦ to be more specific: - what is on the table for me is not that I work miracles • at least, not extraordinary miracles, I’m okay with ord...

Every week I spend two days in Scotty’s home I’ve been doing this for years–making meals for my grandchildren: - one breakfast for Calum (and afternoon snacks), one lunch for Adrianna, and three dinners • I’m still taking two of them to and from school • in the lull, while they’re at school, I’ve been taking walks around the undeveloped land near their neighborhood ◦ it’s been a good time to pract...

 We’re told this large crowd “had come to the feast” I take that to mean they were not locals, but most likely from the Galilee region where they had followed Jesus' ministry - being visitors to Jerusalem, they “camped” on the mountains around the city • and especially the Mount of Olives, ◦ staying in tents, a lean-to, or sleeping under the open sky - a rumor shuttled through the crowd – Jes...

Passage: Galatians 5 The Big Question: When did faith become more about the lines we draw than the love we live? We all do the internal calculus: • Can I be friends with someone who voted differently? • Can I worship with people who read scripture differently? • Can I belong here with my doubts, questions, and messy parts? • Can I still call myself a Christian if I don’t fit the mold? “For freedom...

Samuel enters the Scriptures during a chaotic period of history The best way to understand it, is found in a line repeated in Judges “In those days there was no king in Israel” (Jdg. 18:1 and 19:1) - and again at the very end of Judges, with an added explanation “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Jdg. 21:25) - I have a friend who wrote a book...

This morning, we’re going to explore a crucial question: What are we doing here, for heaven’s sake? - answers are scattered through the New Testament, • and it's the focus of Paul’s entire first letter to Timothy • he intended to go over this in person ◦ but here he provides only a summary statement Paul explains how we “ought to behave” “Ought” is not one of my favorite words - Christian pre...

 I’m not convinced we’ve ever truly understood Jesus At least not as deeply or fully as he intended - not “as deeply,” because we tend to stay on the surface • we read the words and verses without penetrating their depth • we grab at interpretations that make immediate sense ◦ and we settle for simplistic "commentary" explanations - I don’t think Jesus taught in riddles – sometimes, perh...

 I’ll finish reading the verse in a moment, but first we will pause here - every morning when I open my Bible, I don’t jump into it • but at the entrance to the Scriptures, I take a moment to slow my breath, and focus my attention ◦ I bring awareness to God’s presence and let myself hear him say, “at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you to speak to you th...

Friday morning, near the end of a long walk,I passed by a mother and her toddler son - he was on a small four-wheel bike, perfectly fitted to him • he was poised to move from asphalt to a dirt slope ◦ I said, “Looks like you’re about to go off-roading,” ◦ more for his mom’s sake than his • he looked at me with the most engaging smile ◦ it was the loveliest moment of my morning - I kept walking, bu...

As we make our way back into Hosea this morning, Let’s remember the passion running through the entire book - it isn’t what we’re likely to feel when reading the bare words • what it sounds like, is the ranting of an enraged deity ◦ but that is not the correct tone of voice • if God were like one of the pagan deities of mid mid-east or Greece, ◦ he wouldn’t bother to rage at his rebellious people,...

Imagine you're walking through an art gallery, and standing nearby is the artist whose work you admiring. So you point to an object in one corner of an especially beautiful painting, and ask the artist, "Why did you put this right here? What does it mean?" The artist--if a true artist answers, "Well, if I could explain it, I would not have had to paint it." You would get a...

We are returning to Hosea this morning The prophet who had to experience in his own life, with his wife, what God had experienced with Israel – a people who were unfaithful to him, not only by adultery, • but prostituting themselves with other gods • you may have guessed that I’m not comfortable with Hosea ◦ I’d rather be with Jesus in the New Testament, loving and rescuing sinners ◦ instead, Hose...

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read 1 and 2 Timothy Still, it was only a few years ago that two words snagged me - here in this passage, Paul refers to the Hebrew Scriptures as “the sacred writings” • I had always believed this regarding the Bible, but never in those precise words • the effect they had was to motivate me to meditate on them ◦ eventually, I spent nine weeks sharing with you...

 The Advent theme for today is LOVE I’ve never heard anyone argue whether that theme is appropriate - the words of the previous themes– hope, peace, and joy –are all found in the biblical text • but love doesn’t appear in the details of the Christmas story ◦ it feels right that love should be another theme, but is it right? • does love add a sentimental tone that wasn’t there? ◦ our culture is cer...