To love someone, we must hear them. In this event, Simon can only see this woman’s behavior, but does not listen to her life. Jesus listens to her more deeply, and blesses her. How can we do the same for those around us?

We speak to God in prayer. How much time and effort do we spend listening? We strive to serve God. Do we charge ahead, or ask God for direction? We want an abundant life. Do we stop to listen for what God wants to transform in our lives? Do we believe life would be best if we surrender our will, and listen?

Life contains mystery, and we live in the mystery by faith. For life’s greatest mysteries, we have faith in God. This is not blind faith. It is founded faith—founded in love, founded in flesh, founded in Christ, founded together, and founded for a purpose.

What is the "church"? What does it mean to be part of the church? What does it mean to be "the body of Christ"?

God is restoring creation, and we can be part of it. If we only focus on getting into heaven, the big question is, "who gets in?" If we focus on God's plan to restore creation, then the question is, "what does God want to restore?"

It's one thing to say God love you, but Jesus did far more: he embodied God's love. We call this miracle incarnation -- God in the flesh.

Who is God? What is God like? And how can we really know?

Popular today is “Build-a-Bear” Christianity: "I can believe what I want about God." God has revealed God’s own self to us. We don’t get to choose what is true about God; God has revealed what is true. We choose whether we surrender to this reality, in gratitude, so we can live our calling.

Do you realize how beloved you are? God gave himself, no strings attached. We see this on Christmas.