There are times when peacemaking feels as easy as water flowing over a waterfall, and other times when it feels more smashing against the rocks at the bottom.  And yet, we are Christ’s representatives in the world, and Christ was the great peacemaker, so we are sent to be peacemakers. This is a time when the wisdom of God helps us with discernment.  How is the best way to build peace today?  We begin with prayer –  prayer for lives lost: civilians and soldiers on all sides; 

Lent has begun.  40 days of preparing for the great feast of Easter. Our Lenten season is modeled after the words of the prophet Amos.  Like most prophets, Amos railed against bad behavior, unfaithful behavior.  He goes after idolatry, oppression and injustice — especially injustice.  He gave us this amazing image of God’s grace & justice rolling down like waters. Waters are not pushed down a waterfall, they just roll down.  So we are not going for big will power this Lent, i

What is heaven like?  After the “is heaven real” question, the next one is what is it like?   Jesus spent a good portion of his ministry teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven, a kingdom where God’s will is done that is now but not yet. Heaven is like yeast, a lamp, treasure buried in a field. I think when people ask that question, they are really asking about what is next.  What happens after you die?  What happened to my loved-ones after they died and what will happen to me? 

The Christmas Eve service is always so moving to me, because following the Scriptures, we’re honest about darkness.  I love the idea that Christmas is “the happiest time of the year” but I’ve been an adult long enough to know it is just not true.  Christmas is wonderful and beautiful, but many of the pressures of daily life increase often making Christians the most stressful time of the year. So I love that we acknowledge darkness in the world.  I feel that darkness, and I am

In a world where we are pushed to exclude, ghost, estrange, and where many are afraid of their neighbors, our Christian faith calls us to include, make room, and love our neighbors.  That will be the joyful focus during this Advent & Christmas season.  God is all about making room in our hearts and our relationships, about making room when pressure is closing in and making room for hope.  God is been making room in the world for each of us and calls us to join in making room

It is so easy to spot bad behavior.  It always has been.  Remember when you were small and how it easy it was to spot rule breaking at school (even while breaking rules yourself!).  Social media’s made it that much easier for adults to do the same thing. Living as God’s people makes us different.  Our loyalty to God, our response to God’s salvation, makes bad behavior non-optional for us.  And then, ironically, our lives are freer, better, and more contented.  God has this fi

Have you noticed a pattern in the Ten Commandments? First it’s about God and then it’s about people.  Honor God & honor people.  Keep promises to God & keep promises to people.  Have integrity with God & have integrity with people. These Words of Life form us as human beings, so that our stance is the same with both God and people: honor, respect, promise-keeping.  It is an honest way to live, freeing us to be our true selves. This week we dig into “Do not commit adultery,” l

Freedom & Joy — not words we usually associate with the Ten Commandments, but that’s exactly what the “Ten Words” lead us to.  They are guard rails to the good life, a life of freedom to authentically be who we are (no, road road and overeating are not our most authentic selves)  Going to church (sabbath keeping), trusting in God (making no idols), promise-keeping (honoring God’s name) all lead to a richer, better life.  These rules to live by were given by a loving God who w

In the early church, you truly risked your life to go to church and to be a known Christian. So faith really mattered and it HAD to make...

This ancient bridge crossed the river into the town Melide at the end of our 3rd day. It was built over 800 years ago and has been used...

Some things we learn in the doing. The Letter of James was all about that in our faith life. We live our faith, not to prove anything to...

At Kuna Days one person asked where our church was. We pointed and said “one block that way.” They responded, “oh, you’re the original...

When God plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham steps forward—not to defend the guilty, but to plead for the innocent. This bold...

We are being re-shaped by God, again and again and again, each time into a more authentic version of ourselves. Left on our own, we...

God created us for change – yay! When the winds of life blow, we bend not break. In fact, when we jump onto this path of discipleship, of...

This Sunday we wrap up this sermon series with a focus on journey. The butterfly has emerged, unfolded, let go, and started flying. Now...

The spiritual journey always involves letting go, but often the loss is not a part of ourselves, but rather that which isn’t us. Every...

Emerging means we change. Richard Foster said, “We have real difficulty here because everyone thinks of changing the world, but where, oh...

Resurrection & butterflies. Emerge into a transformed life. Jesus conquered death, and gives that victory to us. It’s a victory that...

This Sunday we enter Holy Week, walking with the stories as they unfold in real time. This Sunday (Palm Sunday 10 a.m.), we celebrate...