We like to think that Jesus saves the good people. The church folks. Those who try really hard to be good. The thief on the cross next to Jesus on that fateful day is the proof that God doesn’t save people who deserve it. God saves people who don’t deserve it. Mainly, because none of us “deserve” salvation. This thief had nothing good to offer. Nothing to show that he was worth saving. Nothing to impress the “good people.” He’s the guy everyone...

Don Francisco’s ballad “He’s Alive,” moves me to tears. I can’t help it. Every time I listen to the song; I get all choked up. The song is about the Resurrection from Peter’s perspective. It starts with Peter being sleepless and fearful that Sunday morning when Mary came to the disciples. Breathlessly, she tells Peter and John, “the stone’s been rolled away, and now his body isn’t there! So, we both ran toward the garden, then John ran on...

If someone were to ask you “Hey! What do you believe?” … what do you think you’d say? Even way back in the early church, women and men were thinking, “You know, wouldn’t it be great if there were a simple and concise way we could explain what we believe? Words we could use to identify ourselves as Christians?” These sorts of questions led to the formation of the Apostle’s Creed. The Apostles Creed has been used in church services...

“It’s time for ‘We the Church’ to stand up to the voice of the mob.”  “In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him….  He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in...

When we think of schools, it’s easy to imagine grand institutions – towering lecture halls, quiet libraries, and secluded spaces dispensing wisdom to a select few. But in ancient times, learning was far more integrated into the rhythm of daily life. They learned trades at the sides of masters of the craft and through doing. The more formal learning occurred at schools of philosophy, but these so-called “schools” of ancient Athens weren’t...

“It’s critical we learn how to pray and ask for discernment when we are being called upon to help someone in need.” We’ve all had those times where we find ourselves in an uncomfortable situation – like somebody next to us in line at the store with multiple hair colorings. Or maybe it’s body piercings, huge holes in their ears with plugs, tattoos, nose rings, or sparse, revealing clothing…. After church this past Sunday, the cashier at the...