Freedom and Responsibility

The people contended with Moses, exclaiming, “Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the Lord’s presence!  Why have you brought the Lord’s assembly into the desert where we and our livestock are dying?  Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place which has neither[read more]

Prayer and Transfiguration

Jesus , taking Peter and John and James, went up onto the mountain to pray.  As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzlingly white. Luke 9: 28-29 Yesterday I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts entitled Open Source.  It was a discussion of the Democratic[read more]

The Lord’s Work

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Matthew[read more]

Needing A Doctor

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call[read more]

To Promote the General Welfare

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with[read more]

Call and Compromise

A scribe approached and said to  him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky  have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”  Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” [read more]

A Broken Heart

The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will  heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly. Ezekiel 34: 16 The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has[read more]