Christ is the Lord of all creation, and that includes your pocketbook. But don't give because you feel guilty, give as a joyful response to the good news that Jesus, and no earthly power, is ruler of all.

You are signficant, but not in the way you normally think of yourself.

We know the greatest commandment that Jesus gives, but we actually live our own great commandments. Jesus tells us that our own rules are fine, but we need to move beyond them to love so that our lives may be properly ordered, or hung on the right two hinges: love of God and love of others.

What if you threw a party and no one showed up? Or what if people came to the party, what do you expect them to do once they do arrive? Faith is more than showing up, it is about falling in love with the groom and being changed. So wear the wedding robe!

We are often told "Be Grateful," but this is hard to do unless we understand that everything is a gift. When we do, gratitude becomes the key ingredient to a well-lived life. Gratitude enables us to be faithful and fruitful.

Lord knows there are always those who will be the "first murmurers," but God is looking for "first followers". First followers are those who help others connect to God. They make God's crazy ideas like drinking water from a rock seem a lot less crazy. Are you with me?

The Lord leads people out of slavery in Egypt but they soon find themselves hungry. God teaches them to depend upon their daily bread in the wilderness, rather than the memory of how well they ate as slaves. The result is that the people begin to learn to trust God alone. What daily bread is nourishing you to grow more faithful?

How best to show love and care for those who are suffering? Preached in the framework of the concept of "future stories," the teaching by Dr. Andrew Lester in his book Hope and Pastoral Care.

The story of Abram separating from Lot sets us down the path of self-giving, which we see most in Jesus. In a world that is so divided in politics and religion, the Better Way of Jesus gives us challenge and hope.

Our current political and religoius dialogue has diminished to shouting, standoffs and shootings. But the Word teaches us The Better Way, the command to love our enemies, turn the other cheek and sit and eat with our rivals.