Monthly Archives: January 2017

Speak Out

Out of the Ash By Rebecca Lindsay   A blast, a catastrophic splintering that snapped titan trunks like asparagus in a cook’s hand— On that fateful day living wood shattered screaming as it fell, radiating outward from the epicenter of a mountain gone mad. Ash snowed, reigned, sifted into pockets, crevices, creating instant desolation that… Read more »

Writing from the margins

Lectionary passages and local politics Writing with a not-so-colonized mind By Antonio “Tony” Aja Theologian Karl Barth is quoted as saying that preachers need to have the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Of course, the reason is that we need to be attentive to what is happening in our communities and… Read more »

justleros: more than nonsense / más que disparates

Beatitudes for today A resource for Sunday’s liturgy based on Matthew 5:1-12 by Magdalena I. García “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” —Matthew 5:7 Happy are those who abandon the politics of division and fanaticism, and instead promote policies of unity and tolerance. Happy are those who reject promises of grandeur and… Read more »

justleros: more than nonsense / más que disparates

Entanglements A resource for Sunday’s liturgy based on Matthew 4:12-23 by Magdalena I. García And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed him. – Matthew 4:19-20 You call us to follow you, but we want to be the center of attention…. Read more »

Small matters

God says GO! Uh, who me? By Sue Washburn A few years ago I was getting ready to preach a real, live sermon. I was about halfway through my seminary internship at a church and the pastor told me I’d be preaching the Sunday after Christmas. Me! Preaching! I started researching right away. It was… Read more »

Unglued church

When saying what’s true isn’t enough Faithfully moving forward By Sarah Robbins   It’s not enough to say what’s true. Every night before our 11 month old goes to bed, my husband and I tell him what’s true. We list like a litany all the people and categories of folks who love him and pray… Read more »

justleros: more than nonsense / más que disparates

Come and see… A resource for Sunday’s liturgy based on John 1:29-42 by Magdalena I. García When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” – John 1:38-39a It’s… Read more »

Wisdom Journey

Short speech. Short temper? Texts and tweets are better for expressing contempt, not compassion By N. Graham Standish Efficient conversation often elicits conflict. Compassionate conversation often compels companionship and cooperation. The question is whether we have the patience for compassion.   We are increasingly communicating in efficient ways. That seems to be the thrust of… Read more »

Speak out

Genesis to Revelation in 90 hours Kentucky’s Bible-reading marathon crosses finish line for the second consecutive year By Tammy Warren   It was the voice of my friend Ed, reading Scriptures about the Bible character Job, that touched me most. Ed is battling cancer, and yet he braved the cold wind and rain to join… Read more »

justleros: more than nonsense / más que disparates

Remember the water A resource for Sunday’s liturgy based on Acts 10:34-43 by Magdalena I. García “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Acts 10:38 Water… separated to make life… Read more »