Resources

Abraham, “father” of three great world religions  – Jewish, Muslim and Christian – made a tragic decision in a place called Gerar.

I’d like to suggest a bucket list for this year. Not exactly random acts of kindness, my list focuses more specifically on kind words, random and deliberate, both spoken or written.

“In life it isn’t what you’ve lost; it’s what you’ve got left that counts.” — Hubert H. Humphrey

Each day we are getting older. We must accept this life fact and develop an aging plan for our older adult years.

There are inspired ways to share the Good News, but there are other faith-based efforts that are less noteworthy and often head-scratching. I have a secret suspicion that the cause can be attributed to a bad burrito and a good case of indigestion, thus these annual Bad Burrito Awards from the past year.

The “servant” image connected to Jesus appears first in the Old Testament writings, not as a form of bondage, but as a position of joy

John's Gospel does not begin with the Bethlehem narrative, instead laying a theological foundation reminiscent of the creation poetry found in Genesis 1:1-2:3. John understands that Jesus' appearance on earth is the continuation of God's original plan to love and bless the human race.

The problem with Christmas is we know the story too well. We have seen the lavish details year after year in movies, on concert stages and in magnificent works of art. But once in a while we catch the real magic of that moment in Bethlehem when eternity and this physical world witnessed the incomparable act of God.

Ezekiel and John the Baptizer are two of the most colorful characters in the Bible. Ezekiel was a dramatic visionary who never minced his words about God's judgment and Israel's sins, experienced bizarre visions and declared God's unbroken love for his people. John the Baptizer was also a mysterious and colorful person who appeared out of the Dead Sea wilderness, condemning the Jews' devotion to rules and rituals in the place of submission to the God who loved them, and powerfully calling them to the Messiah who could bring them back to God.

As I write this lesson, it is the first week of November, yet the retailers already have their Christmas decorations up, television shows are offering Christmas cooking segments, and schools are practicing for holiday concerts. I still have leaves to rake, a family event to plan, and the distractions of unsettling news stories.

The situations of our world can distract us from what is of greatest importance. When least expected, we may encounter heartache or situations that disrupt life and challenge the normal.

When people are desperate for hope they often gravitate to any person who seems to promise what they want. Our study compares and contrasts two biblical texts about the same redemption of God event, but positioned in a different context.