Stub
Whose children?
Today’s Gospel lesson, though not a traditional baptismal text, embodies the spirit of the sacrament: the ones bringing the children to Jesus are not necessarily parents; they are “people” moved to care for these little ones. This choice of language leads us to ask, if the adults bringing the children to Jesus are not their parents, then who are they? Why do these men and women stand up to the disciples for the sake of children that are not biologically theirs?
Jesus meets the Buddha
Ever since Westerners discovered Asian cultures they have been intrigued by possible relationships between Christianity and Buddhism.
Neglecting James
I don’t know about you, but I find it challenging to preach on non-narrative texts. It’s easy to make a good story from the Gospels or the Old Testament come alive in a sermon. It’s a lot harder to do that with a theological treatise, so I tend to neglect preaching on the epistles.
Gun madness
The Peaceable Kingdom pricks my conscience every time I see it because of the enormous gap between its vision and the world's reality.
Perpetual shalom: Elisha's gift to Naaman
The general was insulted by the piddling, muddy Jordan. But he entered the water—and was healed! Then it was time to pay the bill.
Wary of Morsi
Is Egypt's president fighting for democracy against a military regime? Or is he trying to institute an Islamist takeover?
Apocalyptic visions
Elaine Pagels's book repeats a winning formula: contrast the canon's controversial parts with more appealing Gnostic selections.
Animals in the kingdom
I am confident that the new creation will include animals. I hope that it will include Merle, my deceased smooth-coat collie.
by Rodney Clapp
Dignity and choice
How do we move from Jesus' core ethical mandate to the complex issues we face in the modern world?
Foodie nation
Late in life, my mother confessed that she never enjoyed cooking. "But," she said, "I did take satisfaction in serving simple meals to my family." Well, there's no such thing as a simple meal anymore.
Faithful reinvention: Ministry in the 21st century
"Religious commitments are no longer taken for granted as part of North American people's lives," says Scott Kershner of Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat center in Washington State. "So space opens up to ask very basic and interesting questions."
Pearl of great price: A girl claims her faith
On Sundays, my mother stayed home and read the paper. Yet she insisted that we kids go to church.
Gifts already received
Patience is not one of my virtues, as those closest to me know. I want answers now, clarity now, unresolved issues settled now, anxiety lifted now.
Freedom and accountability
Every pastor needs to address the issue of freedom and accountability. It's part of the pastor's role in nurturing a church community: neither a laissez-faire atmosphere nor a judicial one helps people grow as disciples.
In the meantime: Christians in public life
Several years ago I met in D.C. with a group of young evangelical professionals. While certainly not world-fleeing fundamentalists, they were not theocrats either. They were seeking an alternative approach.
Martha’s problem: What is the ‘better part’?
"Mary has chosen the better part," says Jesus, "and it will not be taken away from her." This is not what Jesus is supposed to say.
Sunday, October 10, 2010: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c; 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19
The lepers all received healing. What a happy shock that must've been! But only one, a Samaritan, returned and thanked Jesus.
by Paul Stroble