22
Dec
Holy Dysfunction
God enters the world in infinite ways. For Christians, the most important way was through a blended, non-traditional family with very imperfect ancestors. Source link
21
Dec
Turn on the Lamps – United Church of Christ
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. – Psalm 80:3 (NRSV) I was a stay-at-home mom with a toddler when I first began paying attention to the length of days. After growing up in Virginia, I had moved to Maine, a state that by its location really ought to
20
Dec
With or From? – United Church of Christ
You brought a vine out of Egypt … and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. – Psalm 80:8-9 (NRSV) You probably know parsnip as a sweet root vegetable, good for roasting and stews. What you might not know is that it’s not native; it was
19
Dec
Delights of Discipline – United Church of Christ
Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. – Galatians 3:24-26 (NRSV) “Discipline” can be overused. It can mean “giving
18
Dec
Advent’s Thirst – United Church of Christ
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. – Psalm 42:1-2 (NRSV) The chorus of a popular Spanish carol, “Los Pesces en el Rio,” goes like this: “The fishes in the river are jumping and dancing,jumping and dancing because
17
Dec
Wherever This Water Flows – United Church of Christ
The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. – Ezekiel 47:8-9 (NLT) In the Spirit, the prophet Ezekiel was given a tour of the temple in Jerusalem. At every juncture along the
16
Dec
The Mother of the Forest
Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest? – Isaiah 29:17 (NRSV) In a rolling pine forest at about 5,000 feet on the western slope of the California Sierras, the Giant Sequoias thrive. They look like fantastically large mushrooms from an old
15
Dec
Bowling for Tyrants – United Church of Christ
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. – Luke 1:51-53 (NRSV) Have you gone bowling lately?
14
Dec
Grace – United Church of Christ
And all people will see God’s salvation. – Luke 3:6 (NIV) When I was 10 or 11, I had a phone fight with one of my best friends. I argued it was a sin to be gay, and she said it wasn’t. When she asked why I believed being gay was wrong, I paused and
13
Dec
Lights in the Darkness – United Church of Christ
First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?” – 2 Peter 3:3-4 (NRSV) Advent is a season but also a way of life. As a season, it is the weeks before Christmas, busy