Pharisee or Tax Collector?

Pharisee or Tax Collector?

Pharisees get a bad rap, I think. They were not paid. They all had daytime jobs. Primarily they wanted to understand what a good relationship with God looked like. They knew the scriptures inside out. They lived according to a very strict set of rules. They did their...
The Canyon that Separates Us

The Canyon that Separates Us

One of my favorite theologians, Karl Barth, maintains that God chose to make God’s self known. I wonder if that is the reason every society has worshipped some sort of God figure?  This Sunday we hear a parable from Jesus about the separation between a rich man...
The Canyon that Separates Us

Take Me With You

The gospel this week is a familiar one. Jesus is sending his followers out two by two to spread news about the Kingdom of God. He has advised them to take virtually nothing with them. They weren’t even supposed to chat with people on the road as they traveled, a...
The Canyon that Separates Us

Feed My Sheep

This Sunday, we hear Jesus helping his disciples catch some fish. Then we will hear about Jesus feeding them when they come ashore. And, lastly, Jesus asks Peter to feed his sheep.    We are told this story is about Jesus appearing after his resurrection, and that is...
Trust is a Must

Trust is a Must

A few years ago, ok more than a few, I was a pretty good bowler. One of the sayings at the time was this. “Trust is a must or your game is a bust”. What was meant was to roll the ball with a natural arm swing and trust that it would do the work. What was...