Weekly Word

I'm feeling very ambivalent about this photo of me playing laser tag. Because I am a pacifist follower of Jesus and yet feel the appeal of weapons in movies. What would it have been like if Luke would have given in to Darth Vader at their first encounter? Instead of fighting, struggling, and suffering through not one, not two, but three feature length movies, until finally destroying the emperor and almost killing his own father? What if the villains and heroes of our time and place would come together, be honest, and instead of investigating and denying would use their resources and talents for good? Could corrupt politicians, abusive priests, or totalitarian nations change their ways, admit their wrongs, and make amends? And, would we forgive them? Word Jesus proposes a life based on virtues that are counter-intuitive. Virtues like forgiveness, tolerance and charity. Jesus commends to his disciples in the sermon on the plain: “Do not judge, and you will not be judg

The Matrix movies explored religious themes like alternate realities or salvation through a sacrificial hero. I like watching movies that entertain me, and touch on religious themes. For example Star Wars, the Matrix, or Gravity because I like Science Fiction, and also because they explore the reality of the supernatural while entertaining me. Do you remember the TV show “Touched by an Angel”? According to the late author Phyllis Tickle, it brought religion to TV and made faith accessible to a wider audience. It also showed that there is a desire for getting in touch with the divine in our lives. Word People flocked to Jesus to hear him and touch him. They came to hear him, and touch him to access his power that healed people. Getting in touch with Jesus shows us and connects us with the God’s goodness, possibility of life in harmony, and way to be blessed. Jesus declared that life with God transcends even adversity: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom

Jesus may not call you on the phone. But he calls you to be his follower and messenger just the same. My call from Jesus came at a summer camp. I heard Jesus call me to follow him in life and service, through counselors who took God’s call to share faith seriously. When Jesus calls you to live with him, to share the good news for him, and to die for him, what’s your decision, how will you answer? Word Most Christians don’t think of themselves as capable of seeing, hearing, and doing what great people of the Bible did. You just may not feel as equipped to know, or be convincing, or passionate enough for bringing others to Christ like the prophets or apostles. It is really unfortunate, a scandal, and tragedy, when Christians feel that there’s only a few special people who are called, or able to answer to call to serve God. We forget that we are no different than the likes of Isaiah, Peter or Paul. To the contrary, their life, faith, and witness to others serve as example

This is a childhood photo of myself. I learned about love from my parents. God wants everyone to share love with others. Do you realize that you are commissioned to be God’s messenger of good news, and an instrument for sharing the experience of love? Word The prophet Jeremiah is told there are no excuses not to spread God’s message of love, “I appointed you a prophet to the nations ...” And, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you ...” That is, everyone is chosen to speak and show love to everyone. Jesus announced his mission to bring good news of God’s life changing love. But he did not stop there. He went on to renew people’s lives by setting them free from guilt of sins, suffering with disease, and loneliness from exclusion. Connection Church experience can be comforting like a cozy quilt. You got your friends, the familiar words and hymns of worship, or the comfort that comes from the feel and look of the place. But God wants o