Changed By God To Make A Difference For God

We see King David, God's anointed king and the man after God's own heart, committing adultery and murder. If that happens to him, how can we ever possibly hope to live a life pleasing to God? We hear Paul's prayer for the Church to proclaim God's wisdom to the powers and authorities in the heavenly places and then we look at our own hearts. How can we possibly live up to that assignment? Talk about Mission Impossible! But there's more to the story than meets the eye. There's the breadth, height, length, and depth of God's love for us and our union with our Risen Savior. See what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are 2 Samuel 11.1-25; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3.14-21; John 6.1-21.

Why the biblical emphasis on sheep and shepherds? It's got more to do with the biblical writers living in an agrarian society. Sheep are natural flockers and subject to predators. Sheep therefore need a shepherd. But what kind of shepherd? See what Fr. Bowser has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are 2 Samuel 7.1-14a; Psalm 89.20-37; Ephesians 2.11-22; Mark 6.30-34, 53-56.

What are we to make of the sad story of John the Baptizer's beheading in our gospel lesson? Did the bad guys win once again? Where is the justice? Where was God in it all? John's faithfulness got him beheaded. What about us, especially those of us who want to follow Jesus faithfully? Is there any Good News to be had? There is more to the story than meets the eye. Just ask Paul in our epistle lesson! Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are 2 Samuel 6.1-5, 12b-19; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1.3-14; Mark 6.14-29.

In today's readings we have a contrast between two crowds and it's all about power. Why did Israel flock after David and generally reject Jesus? The short answer is that it's all about our perception of power. Hear what Fr. Sang has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are 2 Samuel 5.1-5, 9-10; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians 12.2-10; Mark 6.1-13.

Many of us wonder about the Kingdom of God. Where is it? Why doesn't it come? If God is so all-powerful, why doesn't God do something about all that is wrong in his world? We ask these questions, in part, because we use conventional power as the basis for our questioning. But the Kingdom of God operates on a different kind of power. To be sure, God's power can manifest itself in spectacular ways. But there's more to the kingdom than just the spectacular. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are 1 Samuel 17.1a,4-11,19-49; Psalm 9.9-20; 2 Corinthians 6.1-13; Mark 4.35-41.

Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is within us. But what does that mean? If God's kingdom is within us, why do we feel like isn't so much of the time? The short answer is this. Sometimes things aren't always as they seem! Check out what Fr. Bowser has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are 1 Samuel 15.34-16.13; Psalm 20; 2 Corinthians 5.6-17; Mark 4.26-34.

We live in a deeply ambiguous and uncertain world. Each day seems to bring new madness. How are we to live, especially those of us who call ourselves God's people in Jesus? What are we to do with the ambiguities and complexity of our lives and world? How can we be certain that God has not checked out on us? Is there any help in Scripture? Take hope and heart because the Bible offers a surprising and rich narrative to help us live faithfully. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today 1 Samuel 8.4-20; Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4.13-5.5; Mark 3.20-35.

Today we celebrate our one undivided God in three persons. Say what? God in three persons, better known as the Trinity, defies human explanation. Yet as Christians we believe in and worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So how to explain this? What difference does the Trinity make to us who are trying to live our lives faithfully? We can't just ignore the truth! Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 6.1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8.12-17; John 3.1-17.

Today we celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit on God's people in Jesus. But what does that mean for us who live today? What difference does it make if we have the Holy Spirit? Plenty. Check out what Fr. Feister has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Ezekiel 37.1-14, Acts 2.1-21; John 15.26-27, 16.4b-15.

Today we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus into God's space or heaven. But what is that all about? Why should we care? Why couldn't Jesus just continue to hang around like he did when he appeared to his disciples after God raised him from the dead? After all, wouldn't that be much more comforting to his followers then and now? All very good questions and worth some serious answers! Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Acts 1.15-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5.9-13; John 17.6-19.