The Parable of The Seed Sower. Jesus is the sower; we are the soil. Sounds easy enough, right? Let those who have ears, hear again. In a place and time surrounded by people and religion who were doing everything possible to miss the entire wonderful and life-giving movement that Jesus was ushering in, Jesus offers the call to hear. People were so certain they knew what the work of God should look like that they were missing the work of God in their very midst through Jesus. Are we any different? Jesus told a parable; sow what?

John the Baptist was having trouble "getting it" when it came to Jesus and what he was doing. Various Israelite towns were having trouble "getting it." Religious leaders were having trouble "getting it." Those of society in Jesus' day who were looked down upon, labeled sinful, and oppressed through injustice and elitism were the only ones actually understanding what Jesus was up to. Jesus breaks it down in a blunt and clear way in the Gospel of Matthew. Let's hear the words again and realize the invitation we are all offered through the grace of God revealed through Jesus.

Genesis 22:1-14 & Romans 6:12-23 Abraham is tested by God.  Abraham enters the scene trusting that God will provide, and his faith is proven. This seemingly barbaric story would not have shocked it's first audience. In a troubling time in Israel's history (having been exiled to Babylon), the people are in need of a story to remind them that God is different than other gods.  This God, The LORD, provides. God is not a demanding God who orders us to live in particular ways holding the carrot of eternal life ever before us.  No, this God provides and offers eternal life right here and right now. All we need to do is believe in God's providence. Paul explains it more eloquently in his letter to the church in Rome.  We are all devoted to something/someone.  True life and freedom comes when we devote ourselves to the God who eagerly provides us with all we need to have fullest life. God's grace cannot be earned; it is a gift to be received.

Genesis 21:8-12  &  Matthew 10:24-31 The story of Hagar and Ishmael is not commonly shared, but we can learn a great deal about God's grace and mercy through this scene. The parallels between Ishmael and Moses are hard to miss and, once again, God delivers slaves from death. We need to remember that God hears us in our darkest days. God fills us with hope and reveals the wellspring of life available to us all.

Genesis 18:1-15 & Matthew 9:35-10:23 & Romans 5:1-8 Abraham and Sarah...The Disciples...Paul and the churches in Rome...all believed in such a way that they were willing to be a source of love and grace for anyone and EVERYONE. Hospitality is an outward expression of our inward faith. The great leaders of our faith exercised extraordinary hospitality because they had faith in the possibility of the impossible through the power of God. Where Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) failed to offer hospitality so completely, where Gibeah (Judges 19) failed in the exact same way...we see a different response from the faithful. What about the acceptance of the impossibility possibility leads to a life of faith which is expressed through loving hospitality?

Genesis 1:1-2:4  &  2 Corinthians 13:11-13 Did God create in 7 literal days?  Was there a morning prior to the creation of the sun? These are the wrong questions that would not have entered the minds of the first readers of this ancient poem.  We often begin where WE are rather than where the story is. When we read this poem, we discover some pretty basic ideas.  They are monumental ideas in their own time, but they are basic nonetheless. God created and it was good.  The world as we know it was given order.  Then, God gave living beings power to continue the work.  Creating, multiplying, growing, changing, expanding, serving, working with and for, etc. We (the Church) have allowed our own ideas and desire for power to get in the way of our calling.  Division and disagreement have crippled us.  The church in Corinth was no different. Let us revisit the origins of this poem and understand the ongoing mission which Israel and Paul received from God. Their story is our story. We were created to be one.

Acts 2:1-21  &  John 7:37-39 The Holy Spirit came (like fire and wind) upon everyone in the whole house:  men, women, slaves, free, old, and young. The Spirit came and everything changed.  Boundaries were expanded, dialectic divisions were overcome, rituals were adjusted, people's hearts and lives were changed, and that was just the beginning. Have we really grasped the Holy Spirit? The book of Acts is a story about the expansion of the faith of Israel to all people of different cultures and practice.  Acts 15 features a council of decision-making to decide what to do with people who operated outside of the normal ways and rules. Do we really grasp the Holy Spirit?  Can we?  Should we? The work of the Spirit begins with each of us and comes to fruition when we gather together as one.  One people, many faces.  One body, many parts. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be the presence of God wherever and however we are. Let's remember our story once more. Prepare for the purifying presence of the Spirit. Ask for the Spirit. Then trust what comes.

John 17 Before the ministry of Jesus concludes and the passion story begins, we have a scene in the Johannine Gospel where Jesus prays directly to God for himself, his disciples, and his church. We need to read this prayer often to remember who and what we are called to be and by whom we are empowered to answer that call.

Dede Beedle brings us a message of God's blessings in our lives.

John 14:1-14  &  1 Peter 2:2-10 This passage is often misinterpreted to be related to what happens after we die, but Jesus offers us so much more. Jesus calls himself the Way, Truth, and Life.  What is he talking about?? The metaphor of a dwelling place is echoed in 14:10.  God dwells with Jesus as Jesus dwells with God.  We are invited into that same relationship. Jesus is the truth of God revealed. Jesus showed (shepherded) us the way of God; to love others. Jesus is the Gate into full life. Consider the life-giving, truth-filled, way of Jesus which turns our modern religious systems upside down just as they did the religious systems of Jesus' day. Hear again the good news, and be ready to spread the word.