Episodes
Friday May 10, 2024
The Paradox of God's Will (Luke 10, revisited)
Friday May 10, 2024
Friday May 10, 2024
Text for discussion: Luke 10.
This week in church life we celebrate the Ascension of Christ. The opening readings are the readings we are using this week, and the prayers are for students and teachers at the end of the school year.
The message is about Luke 10: There are many paradoxes to the way God operates in this world. The rich and powerful will struggle to see God’s Work in this world, and indeed may willfully disobey it. They may succeed on this earth, but eternity is a different thing than earthly success. It is the meek, the innocent, the poor in spirit for whom God’s Kingdom and ways will most clearly come into focus. When we set aside worldly attitudes, different priorities come into focus.
Friday May 03, 2024
The Power of Blood
Friday May 03, 2024
Friday May 03, 2024
Leviticus 17.
Throughout Scripture, the idea that the life is in the blood is consistent. We have been ultimately saved through the blood of Christ.
Hymns: Lamb of God, Pure and Holy, and Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
Photo: The Lewis Chessmen. Viking art. Public domain by xennex.
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Send Out the Goat
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Text for discussion: Leviticus 16
These days, G.O.A.T. has been used as an acronym to indicate the "greatest of all time." Because of His atoning work, Jesus is the g.o.a.t but He also is serving the function of the goat-an atoning function.
The hymn: The King of Love My Shepherd Is - public domain.
Painting: Christ in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoy, 1872. Public domain.
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Salt and Life: Luke 14 Revisited
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Text: Luke 14.
This week is an opportunity for the listener to catch up, and for me to complete research on a future podcast.
This is an episode from January 19 of this year entitled: Salt and Life
Jesus was constantly being scrutinized by the Pharisees. For us, following Him will not be easy. It may put us at odds with family and friends. It may mean persecution. Being salt is not easy. What does this mean?
The hymn: Savior Again, To Thy Dear Name we Raise
Painting: Christ Weeping over Jerusalem by Ary Scheffer, 1849. Public domain.
Friday Apr 12, 2024
The Best Way to Save a Life
Friday Apr 12, 2024
Friday Apr 12, 2024
Text for discussion: Leviticus 15.
In ancient times as well as more modern times, infection can lead to worsening disease and death. In the U.S. Civil War, often amputation saved lives, as drastic as it seemed. Many returned home because of it, not in spite of it. The sinful nature needs a cure too-and it turns out the remedy was also a drastic one.
The hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy
The image: surgical instruments. Creator: War Dept. US Sanitary Commission, 1861-1865. (Public domain).
Friday Apr 05, 2024
A Sacrifice was Given In Your Place Too
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Friday Apr 05, 2024
The text for discussion: Genesis 22.
The sacrifice of Isaac was a type of a greater thing to come, fulfilled when Christ took the place of humanity upon the cross.
Because Christ lives, we will see God face to face, even after our skin has been destroyed (as God's servant Job once said thousands of years ago).
Hymns: Jesus Lives! The Victory's Won, Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee, Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us, All Depends on Our Possessing.
Painting: The Sacrifice of Isaac by Juan de Valdes Leal, 1659. Public domain.
Friday Mar 29, 2024
The Way of the Cross Service for Good Friday
Friday Mar 29, 2024
Friday Mar 29, 2024
I encourage you to observe one of your congregation's Good Friday services, but I invite you to share in this one, especially, if you are not able to make it to a service on Good Friday.
Recorded in 2021, here we observe Good Friday with the Stations of the Cross Service . . . . May this service be a blessing to you as you remember how our Lord died upon the cross to atone for our sins. Our Lord Jesus Christ is now risen . . . . Let us hear God's word together and recall how Jesus, the lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world . . . .
The painting: Behold the Man by Antonio Ciseri, 1871.
Friday Mar 29, 2024
From Garden to Table
Friday Mar 29, 2024
Friday Mar 29, 2024
Texts for discussion: Exodus 24:3-11 and Mark 14:12-26
In Exodus, Moses and the Elders, beheld God and ate and drank with Him at table. Mark 14 repeats the event, and both look forward to the Heavenly Feast to come.
The Last Supper, by da Vinci. Public domain.
Friday Mar 22, 2024
Impossible Things
Friday Mar 22, 2024
Friday Mar 22, 2024
Text for discussion: Mark 10:17-31.
When we reflect on our lives, we would all like to think that we are good. When we try to justify ourselves, a reflection on our deeds and our lives will remind us forcefully that we fall short. In understanding this, Jesus shows us how to do the impossible: thread a camel through the eye of a needle.
Hymn: Built on the Rock (public domain).
Pictured: The Rich Young Ruler by Alexandre Bida (public domain)
Friday Mar 15, 2024
The Eyes of Faith See Different Things
Friday Mar 15, 2024
Friday Mar 15, 2024
Text for discussion from Mark 8:22-30.
When we look at the world's problems and troubles, the solutions we seek are worldly solutions. Through the eyes of faith in Christ we see different problems and different solutions.
Hymn: On My Heart Imprint Your Image. (Public domain).
Painting: Christ Healing the Blind Man, Gioacchino Assereto, circa 1640. (Public domain).