The Lutheran Podcast

When Jesus praises a dishonest manager, it brings about an uncomfortable moment that challenges the idea that Jesus brings morality — or at least a morality we understand.  This is a chance to reconsider what true currency is, what a proper relationship to wealth, and who God really favors.  Support the show

“What in the world are you doing?!?” are words we often hear during times of trouble. Less frequently, we hear the question, “why?”. It doesn’t end there though, because too often we react to what happens rather than ask with true curiosity why someone might have done it, affording them the best of intentions.  Moving from what to why is the act of rehumanizing “them” AND us in order to learn what...

When we hurt, it’s human nature to shy away, to blame, to react defensively. What we see through the witness of God through Christ, in the account of God’s people worshiping another God, from the example of David who engaged in deep repentance is that it’s only by turning into what hurts us with an open heart and mind that we can heal.  Support the show

 Wherever there are people, there will be disagreements. One of the most unhealthy habits any community can exhibit is letting mean and hurtful comments in community spaces go unchallenged. Safe, loving space means the calling to let the consequences of hurtful words or actions rest on the one who say or do them, because to do otherwise is to comfort the offender while telling the wounded that it’...

When God shows up, it doesn’t happen at convenient moments. In every instance of God appearing is an interruption.  The call to living a life of faith is also a call to be interruptible. We are called to be open to the concept of Sabbath that tells us not to be so concerned South what we want to do that we don’t miss what God is calling us to do.  Support the show

Roberts was 51, and I never met him but his family made me feel like I’ve known him for years.  They wanted something less traditional for music, so we settled on me playing Imagine and Hallelujah For the prelude, Amazing Grace as a hymn, and Three Little Birds as closing hymn.  This will be a funeral and family thatI carry for a long time. Thanks be to God for the chance to carry this with me.  S...

We hear words of challenge, and often stop listening when it becomes uncomfortable. Jesus says that he brings fire, but it’s a fire that heals and makes whole.  How do we encounter and embrace the wholeness that comes from what scares us and recognize the dangers of what it, on its face, comforting? Support the show

This passage begins with a word of comforting hope, but concludes with a  warning to remain watchful. Even so, this warning was a word of hope.  Where does your hope reside in times of Covidian crap or the griefs that mark every life? In the community of God’s presence and calling. God is most fully experienced together.  Support the show

Today is the anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub massacre. June 17 is the anniversary of the murder and martyrdom of the Emanuel 9.  Human evil is ambitious in its reach, yet even so, God’s Breath of Life continues to inspire and resurrect what is lost to good purpose. What makes it love isn’t that God jumps into action, but the promise to dwell with us as we heal.  Support the show

Uvalde and Buffalo are points of great pain.  The disappointing failure of Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to name as racist the actions of the bishop and leadership of the Sierra Pacific Synod.  The joys and sorrows of change.  Healing grief requires attention, intention, and community.  Support the show

“Love one another”. It’s simple but hard.  How do we love like God loves when it feels so foreign to us? Support the show

It’s okay not to be okay, and where we’re together in God’s love, just because we aren’t okay doesn’t mean we aren’t alright.  Support the show

Whatever we do leaves its scent in the nostrils of those around us. Sometimes it's pleasing, sometimes not. As people of faith, how can we leave God's aroma wherever we go? Support the show

Sometimes what's missing is louder to us than what's present. This Sunday, we have the parable often called The Prodigal Son. What I often remember is the insistence of the Father, the looseness of the son, and the hardness of the older brother. This time around, I noticed the absence of the mother, the father's wife.  Lent is a time of exploration of mysteries. Today we explore the...

Since this is a manuscript sermon, the text is too long to paste in here. So this is a link to the manuscript in Google Docs! This sermon is my attempt to communicate the most important parts of being the Church together, and address some of the things that hold us up along the way. Support the show

The next few weeks we'll be dealing with John 6, which is called the Bread of Life series by pastors. In John 6, Jesus feeds five thousand people and drama ensues. Jesus wrestles with what he's really called to do - are the signs and miracles the point, or is it something else? If it isn't the signs that are important, what really is? The disciples wrestle with their exhaustion, the...

Here we are again: are we coming to the end of COVID or another beginning?  This isn't fun, and I'm done with it. But here we are again in a space of not knowing and wrestling with the anxiety, fear, and anger that go with it.  People are struggling. Now what? Support the show

Where were you twelve years ago? Today we hear the story of two daughters who each were in much different positions twelve years ago. One is a daughter of an important temple official, who is twelve years old and dies by the end of the story. The other is a woman who has dealt with hemorrhaging for twelve long years, whose faith makes her well. At the center of all of this appears to be Jesus, but...

Jesus leaves the wilderness and comes to the city to declare, "Time's up! The kingdom of God has come near, so repent and believe the good news!".  But the good news about what? What's so good about this news, anyway, in a world beset by greed, anger, violence, death, and all the things that scare us? The good news is that when we recognize the voice of our Creator calling out...

Can anything good come out of this place? Can anything good come out of me? Jesus answers by inviting us into the heart and mind of God so we can see in us what God sees. Support the show

A different Gospel for this day because this text grew on me this week. All Saints is a day when we commemorate the joyous hope of the resurrection, remember those we love and have lost, and ponder the mystery that God is present at all times and places. Support the show

Jesus held a coin struck with the face of the Emperor and an impossible questions from the good church folks, who knew that whatever he answered would get him in trouble: either with the the crowds who resented spending a dime in taxes to their Roman oppressors, or with the Roman authority who made it very clear that they expected people to pay them whether they wanted to or not.  Paul found himse...

We hear a story of Ezekiel, who found himself brought to a valley of dry bones by the Spirit of the Lord and asked the question, "mortal, can these bones live?". We hear of the death of Lazarus, and witness Jesus meeting Martha and then Mary in the road to abide with them in their grief.  Throughout Scripture, joy and sorrow messily mingle, yet we see that God doesn't hurry either o...

Phil, Sergey, & Pastor Eric gathered for worship this morning. This is for those who aren’t able to attend worship in person.  What do we do when everything is crazy and we don't know which way to turn?  We give thanks that even when everything has changed around us, God is with us. Scriptures: Psalm 23 John Chapter 9 (all of it) Support the show

Phil, Sergey, & Pastor Eric gathered for worship Sunday morning. This is for those who aren’t able to attend worship in person. Please sing along, pray along, and worship along with us! Scriptures: Psalm 23 John Chapter 9 (all of it) Music: Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone Precious Lord, Take My Hand Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross Join us in giving thanks to God in worship, trusting in God’s me...