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Strangers and Foreigners
Lectionary Reflection for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, August 7, 2016
Everything in this world is transitory, a part of a larger whole, a dot on the map of eternity, but happy are those who put their faith in God, who are ready to pack their tents and journey on to the final destination God prepares. (Photo: Ben Christenson, Creative Commons)
Eating as Discipleship
“When we eat as members of creation, we learn to see creation not as mere fuel, but as a gift from God,” says author Jeffry Bilbro in a thoughtful review of Lisa Graham McMinn’s book “To the Table: A Spirituality of Food, Farming, and Community.” Bilbro’s essay addresses the importance of how we view and experience food and consumption. (Photo: Faith Goble, Creative Commons)
Vanity, Thy Name is Mortal
Lectionary Reflection for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, July 31, 2016
Let’s challenge one another to take up a countercultural course of action and drop the vanity that costs us so much and yields so very little. Let us seek our wealth in faith, in relationship, and in service to God and one another. In doing so, we will indeed have enough—and then some. (Photo: daily sunny, Creative Commons)
Bold
Lectionary Reflection for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, July 24, 2016
Dear friends, it’s time we get really bold in our conversations with God, time that we prayed like we believed it, time that we expect God to respond. The world needs the church to show up and start with bold prayer followed by faithful action. (Photo: lel4nd, Creative Commons)
Try a Vision-Based Budget Retreat
How about planning and leading a “vision-based budgeting retreat” this year? Here are some thoughts from David Putman and Todd McMichen of Auxano, as well as a link to a more in-depth resource. (Photo: taxcredits.net, creative commons, http://taxcredits.net/)
Dwelling in Christ
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, July 17, 2016
Like Mary, Martha’s culture-bending sister, we must choose the better part. We must choose to live in the moment, cast our hopes and fears and hurts on Jesus and trust him to guide us home to dwell in the house of God forever. (Photo: lululemon athletica, Creative Commons)
Encouraging Attitude Change in the Congregation
Why is it that lots of churches and their leaders work hard and pray fervently for a better future, yet never seem to get anywhere? The determining factor in congregational flourishing often comes down to attitudes. Change initiatives can grind to a halt when prevailing attitudes impede movement. But attitudes can change, and leaders who have an understanding of the anatomy of an attitude can help congregants reconsider and revise them. (Photo: Garry Knight, Creative Commons)
Emergency Mode: A New Strategy for the Climate Movement
The climate crisis is an unprecedented emergency. Humanity is careening towards the deaths of billions of people, millions of species, and the collapse of organized civilization. How we react to the climate crisis will shape centuries and millennia to come. Given the stakes, and the extremely short timetable, it is imperative that we strive to maximize the efficacy of our actions. We need to enter “emergency mode.†Faith-based organizations can help. (Photo:Takver, Creative Commons)
Faithful & Fruitful Folk
Lectionary Reflection for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, July 10
It is in this God-given, God-near faithfulness that we learn to be fruitful and are equipped to tend the vineyards and orchards of God’s good creation. By chewing on the Divine word and letting it shape our hearts for justice, mercy, and love, we do the works God calls us to, and we become neighbors. (Photo: d-olwen-dee, Creative Commons)
Interdependence Day
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, July 3, 2016
Even though our national holidays are certainly worth celebrating and the abundance and bounty of this land worth giving thanks for, we must never forget that celebrating our interdependence in Christ is far more important. (Photo: jqpubliq, Creative Commons)
