Important vs Essential

 

June 26, 2022

Brushing teeth — and many other things in life — are important.  However, it is not essential.  

Often the important things in life (and things more important than brushing teeth!) — our work, our activities, our politics — become more than ‘important.’  We confuse them for essential.  We allow them to have the first place in our heart.  The real challenge of discipleship often isn’t avoiding terrible and dark sins; rather, the challenge is making sure that as we do good things, we avoid getting ourselves confused as to what is important vs what essential, namely, our relationship with God in Christ.

A reflection on Jesus’ hard words in Luke 9:51-62 and the distinction between the important and the essential.

To cure it, you gotta name it!

 June 19, 2022

We all have been there — waiting for medical test results.  So much energy is put into testing in medicine.  Why?  Because in order to cure someone of a disease, you have to correctly identify the problem.

The is true socially, emotionally and spiritually as well.  Until we can name the issue we cannot possibly begin to cure it.  To put it more spiritual language, until we name the evil (or demon), we cannot exorcise it.  In Luke 8, Jesus does exorcise a demon, but only after getting the demon to say its name.

After some background about how evil is identified in the Bible, Pastor Rob reflects on the connection of naming, curing and loving.

Hope vs Optimism

 

June 12, 2022 (Holy Trinity Sunday)

In his letter to the Romans (5:1-5) St. Paul offers “a hope that does not disappoint.”  Pastor Rob reflects on the difference between hope and optimism.  Optimism involves outcomes; hope is about purpose.  In life, we can’t always be optimistic, but we have been given glorious hope.

Each heard in their own language

 

Pentecost 2022 (June 5, 2022)

Do you have any other family members that speak the variety of English called “Star Wars Lego English”?  If you want to be in relationship with them, you need to speak their language.  

On the first Pentecost, the people gathered from around the world can hear the disciples speaking in their own language.  In so doing, God chose to make relationship possible by speaking in our language.

This is a miracle in itself, but points to a deeper mystery, if not itself a miracle:  God lets God’s message be heard in people’s native languages. 

Each language of the world is so different, with some limitations and other possibilities.  These difference can shape how we imagine God.

This further suggests that God is okay with human limitations; our limitations do not stop God!!

It also suggests that God is open to the possibilities that every language, every culture and every person can create.