Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
David Kalas
I was an Arminian in a Calvinist seminary. It was not a hostile relationship, and I was not in constant arguments. From time to time the underlying difference in outlook would percolate to the surface of some conversations, and I usually found the resulting dialogue most fruitful.
On one occasion, I engaged one of my theology professors on the subject of predestination. He was patient with me as I tried to explore for the first-time issues he had no doubt covered countless times. Along the way he offered a helpful, personal insight. "I like to think of predestination as a rearview mirror doctrine," he said. "God's sovereign choices may not be apparent at the time, but when you look back, you can't help but conclude that it was God who did it."
Salvation, election...
On one occasion, I engaged one of my theology professors on the subject of predestination. He was patient with me as I tried to explore for the first-time issues he had no doubt covered countless times. Along the way he offered a helpful, personal insight. "I like to think of predestination as a rearview mirror doctrine," he said. "God's sovereign choices may not be apparent at the time, but when you look back, you can't help but conclude that it was God who did it."
Salvation, election...
Sandra Herrmann
This is one of those weeks where all three of the scripture readings weave intricately together. Taken as a whole, there is a clear theme: the grace of God is for us. We have no need to impress God. We can do nothing to earn the gift of God. God simply reaches down, into the hearts of those who struggle to keep pace with God and God’s plans for us, and lifts us up, fills us with joy, sustains us when we are afraid. Which is a good deal of the time.
In these three passages, we see that faith is more a matter of holding on, wondering if we can “make it,” as we say. Whether we have brought on our bad situation ourselves or it has been visited on us despite our best efforts, God sees us all as we are -- all our flaws, our self-doubt, our puffery and lies,...
In these three passages, we see that faith is more a matter of holding on, wondering if we can “make it,” as we say. Whether we have brought on our bad situation ourselves or it has been visited on us despite our best efforts, God sees us all as we are -- all our flaws, our self-doubt, our puffery and lies,...
David Coffin
A person is a sincere Christian who prays for God’s will in their life at a young age. Now in the 50s of age, the person looks back at their life and sees one failure, set back and disappointment after another. Life has not gone smoothly. They have been alienated from family due to conflicts and distances of relocation. The only constant in their live is “change!” Now, the person feels alone and wonders, “Does God listen? Is faith in God’s word worth it? Where might God be active if there is no evidence of blessings being seen and experienced?”
All three of today’s texts address these universal questions that people of faith who try to be servants of the Lord have when they feel alone. It is as if God is silent and one wonders if God’s people really care? These texts provide...
All three of today’s texts address these universal questions that people of faith who try to be servants of the Lord have when they feel alone. It is as if God is silent and one wonders if God’s people really care? These texts provide...
David Kalas
I love Thanksgiving. I cherish the traditions, I love the quality of family reunion, and I enjoy the food. I have hundreds of fond memories of Thanksgiving holidays past, and I look forward to the Thanksgiving that is a few months away.
But it is a few months away. I may be looking forward to it, but that doesn’t mean that I am doing any grocery shopping for it yet. We all recognize that it would be premature for us to put the turkey in the oven this weekend in preparation for November’s Thanksgiving celebration.
In the ordinary stuff of life, you see, we understand the importance of timing. Wanting something in the future -- indeed, even planning on something for the future -- doesn’t necessarily mean that any action is required today. And in some cases, like...
But it is a few months away. I may be looking forward to it, but that doesn’t mean that I am doing any grocery shopping for it yet. We all recognize that it would be premature for us to put the turkey in the oven this weekend in preparation for November’s Thanksgiving celebration.
In the ordinary stuff of life, you see, we understand the importance of timing. Wanting something in the future -- indeed, even planning on something for the future -- doesn’t necessarily mean that any action is required today. And in some cases, like...
Schuyler Rhodes
In the movie Irreconcilable Differences, a ten-year-old girl sues her parents for divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. It seems that her ambitious and upwardly mobile parents would rather embrace their careers than embrace their daughter. So the daughter takes them to court, asking the judge to place her with the maid, where at least she will get some attention. This comedy explores family dynamics and conflicting agendas in a positive yet lighthearted way.
The term "irreconcilable differences" predates the movie and even today is used sometimes as a way out of working on the hard issues of relationships. Congregations, although not employing the term, also act at times in ways that would lead one to believe that irreconcilable differences is simply...
The term "irreconcilable differences" predates the movie and even today is used sometimes as a way out of working on the hard issues of relationships. Congregations, although not employing the term, also act at times in ways that would lead one to believe that irreconcilable differences is simply...
Wayne Brouwer
One dimension of religious life we have in common across faith traditions and
denominational lines is the incessant divisiveness that split our seemingly monolithic
communities into dozens of similar yet tenaciously varied subgroups. A Jewish professor
of psychology said of his tradition, "If there are ten Jewish males in a city we create a
synagogue. If there are eleven Jewish males we start thinking about creating a competing
synagogue."
A Baptist police officer had a similar tale. He said, "One Baptist family in a neighborhood witnesses until they bring another family to Christ. Then they form a church, and start witnessing to the rest of the community. When another family joins, they have a schism and form a rival church."
According to a...
A Baptist police officer had a similar tale. He said, "One Baptist family in a neighborhood witnesses until they bring another family to Christ. Then they form a church, and start witnessing to the rest of the community. When another family joins, they have a schism and form a rival church."
According to a...
Robert Frost begins his poem called "Mending Wall" with the line "Something there is that doesn't love a wall."
We see far too many walls in our day. While the famed Berlin Wall has indeed been torn down, many walls remain to divide people from one another. Walls of ethnic bricks have been all too obvious these recent years in the former Yugoslavia. Walls of racial stones still separate our country from suffering people in Africa in ways that are not evident in the northern hemisphere. Walls of religion block understandings of one another and lead people to justify their harsh actions as holy wars. Walls of ideological positions keep people from even hearing what people from the other side of the wall are saying.
Yet there is something that doesn't love a wall....
We see far too many walls in our day. While the famed Berlin Wall has indeed been torn down, many walls remain to divide people from one another. Walls of ethnic bricks have been all too obvious these recent years in the former Yugoslavia. Walls of racial stones still separate our country from suffering people in Africa in ways that are not evident in the northern hemisphere. Walls of religion block understandings of one another and lead people to justify their harsh actions as holy wars. Walls of ideological positions keep people from even hearing what people from the other side of the wall are saying.
Yet there is something that doesn't love a wall....
I am fascinated by the writings and television work of Dr. Carl Sagan, the American astronomer. Whenever my world gets too small, it's helpful to listen to his description of the awesome reaches of time and space. Earth -- "a mote of dust suspended on a moonbeam" -- seems overwhelmed by space. My awe, however, is sobered by Sagan's assertion that, in his judgment, creation "does not require a Designer. The significance of our lives ... is determined only by our own wisdom and courage. We are the custodians of life's meaning." (Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot; New York: Random House, 1994, pp. 8, 57.)
All three of our texts today speak an opposing word. Though life seems to overwhelm us at times, there is a design and purpose to it that is above our plans, our schemes, and,...
All three of our texts today speak an opposing word. Though life seems to overwhelm us at times, there is a design and purpose to it that is above our plans, our schemes, and,...
All of us are aware of the difference between real and false humility. There are always those with us who are trying to be last so that they will be made first. And there are those who love to be first but are always telling us how unfortunate it is that it has happened to them.
I am convinced that true humility can be seen in both the great and the small. There is no command in the Bible of which I am aware that requires us to be poor, powerless, and hopeless. I hear no command to be Caspar Milquetoasts in Christian garb. I have had my fill of those who put on "airs" that are meant to convince all of us just how pious and humble they are.
I am convinced that true humility can be seen in both the great and the small. There is no command in the Bible of which I am aware that requires us to be poor, powerless, and hopeless. I hear no command to be Caspar Milquetoasts in Christian garb. I have had my fill of those who put on "airs" that are meant to convince all of us just how pious and humble they are.
Did you ever have someone come to you when you were down in the mouth and ready to throw in the towel and suggest you ought to buck up, try harder, dig in, hang in there? It is good to be encouraged, of course, but sometimes one seems at the end of the rope and such a word is more frustrating, more aggravating, not what we want to hear.
Jeremiah is down, weary from his task.
Luke's people are beaten to a pulp and more -- the promised return of Jesus has not taken place. They seem to be without hope.
The writer of Hebrews addresses a people out of heart and needing a fresh understanding of their plight and what the future holds.
A part of the answer, of course, is a word of encouragement. But that alone is not enough.
All of us know we...
Jeremiah is down, weary from his task.
Luke's people are beaten to a pulp and more -- the promised return of Jesus has not taken place. They seem to be without hope.
The writer of Hebrews addresses a people out of heart and needing a fresh understanding of their plight and what the future holds.
A part of the answer, of course, is a word of encouragement. But that alone is not enough.
All of us know we...
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