An Alternative to Bad Religion

 July 23, 2023

Bad religion makes us divide the world into people who are wheat and weeds (that is, good and bad; see Matthew 13)

Martin Luther, instead of seeing the world in terms of good and bad people, offered that each of us has wheat and weed in our lives — we are “Simul justus et peaccator” (saint and sinner).

Pastor Rob does not simply offer a history lesson, but offers a way for us prayerfully to wrestle with the weeds within and opens our hearts to glorify God for the wheat in our lives.  This practice, in turn, can open us up to find common ground with the people whom we likely consider weeds.

The image is actual a decal you can purchase:

DECAL: Simul Justus et Peccator

The Patient Sower, A Supernova and Kneelers

 July 16, 2023

This Sunday we heard Jesus offer the parable of the Sower (Matthew 13).   This is a parable that speaks two hard truths:

First, that evil is at work in our world.

Second, that God is also at work in our world; but God works on a different time horizon than we do.

A call to patience (where the kneelers come in) and the promise of God’s patience (where the supernova comes in)

Yokes, Ted Lasso and Anti-Heros

 

July 9, 2023

“Come to me, all you are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul” ~ Jesus, in the Gospel of Matthew (11:28-29)

Jesus offers us profound words of comfort today.  To explore the power of these words, Pastor Rob reflects on the difference between a burden — something we are dealing with in our lives that is hard — and a yoke — something that is like a burden, but it emerges from our past and drives us into the future.

A friend can help us with a burden; but to deal with a yoke, we need a savior.  Why?  Because to deal with a yoke requires wrestling with demons and forgiveness.  This savior is Jesus, who toke our yoke upon himself in the cross.

A Cup of Cold Water…produces ripples

 July 2, 2023

Freedom in the world means “I am free to do whatever I want.”

Freedom in the Bible means “I am free to do what Jesus wants”

And what does Jesus want?  This week we hear Jesus commanding us to give a cup of cold water to people who are in need.   

A reflection on how Christ frees us from the forces of cynicism and fatalism and frees us for generosity and hope.

What Does New Life Look Like?

 June 25, 2023

What does “New Life” look like? 

We are promised new life in Baptism.  The whole life of the believer then, is one of experiencing new life.  How can that be when we are older?  A reflection on how the crucified and risen Lord shows up in our lives, again and again, to put to death the old life and bring about the new life!

The image comes from a website “New Life Requires A New Lifestyle“

You too are Medical Missionaries!

 

June 18, 2023

Pastor Rob returned from his trip to Tanzania, where he visited the medical missionaries, Jodi and Stephen Swanson.  They are a nurse and doctor who work with children in pediatrics and neonatology.

In the Gospel this week (Matthew 9:34-10:8), Jesus sends out medical missionaries.  It was powerful for Pastor Rob to see this same ministry of healing, inaugurated nearly two millennia ago, continue on in the ministry the Swansons do.

Pastor Rob also commissioned the congregation today, reminding them that all who are baptized are also medical missionaries.  Well, sort of; not that we all go back to medical school, but we are all participants in God’s mission of healing the body, mind and soul of others.  With this commissioning comes the assurance and discover of two things: The cross and the resurrection.

The above picture is of Dr. Stephen Swanson.  The picture here is of Jodi ministering to a child in the NICU.

A cup of coffee served with dynamite

 

Pentecost 2023 (May 28)

What do coffee and dynamite have to do with each other?  

Funny you should ask.  Pastor Rob preaches a sermon on confirmation Sunday about the limits of parents and the unlimited power of prayer.  The image Pastor Rob offers of God inviting us to prayer is a grandmother with a cup of coffee in one hand and a stick of dynamite in the other.

(What is confirmation?  When a child is baptized, their parents, along with godparents and the congregation, make promises to raise the child in faith.   As a child grows within a home and community of faith, their faith becomes more deeply connected to the faith of others.  They start understanding more personally, learning how to live faith in daily life.  Confirmation is a rite, typically following a period of instruction in the basics of the faith, in which youth or adults publicly confess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, affirming the promises God made them in Baptism.  It is not an end point in the journey of faith, but it is a key point in embracing the life of a disciple.  Confirmation invites the whole congregation to affirm the faith of the confirmands.)