A Simple Word for Complex People

Tragic circumstances prompt painful prayers, but our pain is often hidden away in secret. In the aftermath of the terror attacks on American soil in 2001, we saw the power that comes with sharing our pain. From the rubble of catastrophe and unimaginable suffering, God brought community. God's still doing that today.

At the foot of God's holy mountain, the people chose to worship the blessing, rather than wait for the Blesser. Can we learn from their misstep?

Jesus never wanted to be popular. He waved off spectators and lookie-loos who wanted to feel part of something without contributing to it. Jesus calls His people to action, and that action happens most effectively when His people engage in it together. God's ministry needs a church, and that church needs its people to recognize their gifts and engage them! Let's talk about it!

We put our hope, our faith, and our trust in so many broken cisterns -- "vessels" that seem able to meet our needs, only to leave us empty time and again. Aren't you tired of chasing after things that won't fill your real needs? Let's talk about it!

God created Jeremiah with just the right mix of gifts to be His prophet when the time was right -- but Jeremiah didn't feel prepared to do it. God says, "Can you just be willing?" Let's talk about it!

Isaiah addressed people whose hands hampered the helpless. Injustice in the world mutes any act of worship we engage. Justice in the world, God says, is true worship in the heavens. Injustice was Sodom's sin, and maybe it's our sin too. Let's talk about it!

Have you ever been obsessed with anything? Obsession can be intrusive, and even crippling, in you and I. But with God, obsession is the only helpful English word to understand the depth and tenacity of holy love. Let's talk about it!

Authenticity seems to be in short supply. Hosea was authentic, even at a significant personal price. So was Jesus. Can we be? NOTE: We had a member who is wearing a health-monitoring device that periodically beeped today. A nurse in our fellowship checked on him, and I took a brief moment as she did to address the issue. I'm so grateful to Marcia O'Rourke for her willingness to help! The gentleman is doing ok.

I'm not sure the picture of Mary literally sitting at Jesus' feet is the right image, given important interpretive nuances. Martha and Mary are engaged in ministry, just like the fellas. But, they approach things very differently. Bottom line: Quit trying to do everything! Let's talk about it!

Jesus "set His face to go to Jerusalem," and He wasn't entertaining distractions. He told those who wanted to follow Him that they needed to do the same. That's still true. Are you all in? Let's talk about it!