faultlines

How We're Built

2011-08-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

Genesis 37:2-11, 18-282 This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a

Mustard Trees

2011-07-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

31He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."33He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed

Get Out.

2011-05-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

John 10:1-10"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the

That's Worship Too

2011-01-22T17:44:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 58:1-12 Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. 3“Why do we

The Canaanite Woman's Dogged Faith (Sorry, I couldn't help myself...)

2010-10-14T06:51:00.000-07:00

Matthew 15:21-28:Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24He answered, “I was

grace from the System

2010-05-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

Acts 16:16-34 16One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." 18She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and

2010-05-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Jonah – On your 8th month birthday, here are some things I want you to know, or things I want to remember:· Even though you’re crying and you feel alone up there in your crib, I hear you, and I’m on my way. Or, I hear you, and I’m waiting to see if you can figure it out, but the whole time I’m wishing I could just

2010-04-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

The Annoyance of Jeremiah 29:11“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope…”Okay, great, God, YOU know the plans you’ve made for me. I’m SO GLAD. Now, would you mind sharing them a bit with me? I mean, I don’t need to know every

2010-04-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

The Humility of Metaphor: Catherine Keller’s Process Theology in Response to James K.A. Smith’s Radical OrthodoxyFive months after my son was born, I was finally able to fit into my jeans. I’ve officially returned to my “pre-pregnancy weight,” and some would say that I’ve “got my body back.” But things aren’t all the

Another Beginner's Sermon...

2010-01-30T18:04:00.000-08:00

Seam Allowances.We continue our reading with the Gospel of Luke, chapter 4, verses 22 through 30. This continues directly from our reading from last week, where Jesus is in the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, and has claimed that he is the one Isaiah is speaking about: That he is the one to bring good news to the

a beginner's sermon

2009-11-22T18:07:00.000-08:00

John 18:33-37"Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him 'Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered, 'Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?' Pilate religed, 'I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?' Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were

2009-11-09T21:38:00.000-08:00

Mark 12:38-44“As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched

The Weight of the Earth

2009-10-22T10:53:00.000-07:00

Matthew 14:22-33Just after the miracle of feeding five thousand, “Immediately, he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was

A Reflection from Confirmation Sunday

2009-10-14T18:17:00.000-07:00

God’s Faith, Our FaithHave you ever read the Sermon on the Mount all the way through, in one sitting? It’s not long, only a few chapters in Matthew. The first time I read it with sincere attention, I found myself suddenly wondering if I was a Christian at all. The demands seemed too great. The requirements to be a true follower of Christ seemed impossible.Jesus has brought his disciples high

2009-09-30T09:39:00.000-07:00

A "low Sunday" reflection from 12/28/08

2009-09-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I’m one of eight kids. I’m third in the line, but that just means that there are four or five of us who all suffer from “middle child syndrome.” I was the kind of middle child, though, who tried to get her attention from always doing things right. I was always trying to gain praise by being good. This, however, backfired. Whenever I got an A on a test, ran a tough race, or

Airlifted...

2009-09-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

Things always seem a little more manageable when you can sleep in your own bed. Sure, it doesn’t have the convenience of a call button or the ability to prop you up to just the right angle, but it’s your bed, and its curves and dents fit your form just right.The birth of my first child did not go as planned. Yes, I know that when having children, all your plans get thrown out the window, and

The protective power of a colander

2009-08-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:10-20"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly

Seeing in the Dark.

2009-08-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 5:15-20 - "Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people, but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody for the Lord

Children and Spirituality

2009-07-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

So I'm the Director of Children and Youth Ministry at a small but growing progressive urban church in Pittsburgh. I had no intention of pursuing this kind of position two plus years ago, but here I am, working with children and youth and striving to do the best I can with what God has thrown in front of me, or rather, what God has thrown me in front of.I spend a lot of time getting adults to