As a culture, there are many things that we have just accepted as part of our society. We don't fight them. Oftentimes, we don't even think about them, unless they affect us directly. We've merely accepted these things are okay with us. Or at least, not worth trying to change. 

This week, all over the news and social media we have seen the devastating fires in LA. We have also seen the devastating response of some Christians in our country. I haven’t quite figured out which is more heartbreaking.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s a lot of really WEIRD stuff in the Bible. Personally, I like that it’s included in there because I think it makes the Bible more trustworthy. No one who was making stuff up to make God or God’s people look good would include these stories! Therefore, I can only conclude that they are true.

Many of us recall the #metoo movement of 2017. Women all over the globe chimed in to social media to declare they had been victims of sexual harassment and/or assault. Some men participated also. Has anything changed since the movement started?

This photo makes me thirsty for a glass of milk...

Many years ago, I worked in refugee resettlement. The agency I worked with received refugees from all over the world and helped them to settle into new lives here in the United States. There was an incredible diversity in the people we welcomed - from their language and culture, to their education and economic status previous to becoming a refugee, to their mood and level of excitement - or not - about coming to the U.S.

For those who have been baptized, do you remember that day?

‘But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.’

This semester I’ve been studying the history of the early church. A key value of the early church, starting from the days of the disciples and Paul, was that of unity. The church believed they needed to be unified in all major beliefs or doctrines and in practice. Threats to this unity were dealt with swiftly. It didn't always work - and eventually it all fell apart - but in the beginning, they worked diligently to keep everyone on the same page.

"When the gospel has become bad news to the poor, to the oppressed, to the broken-hearted and imprisoned, and good news to the proud, self-righteous and privileged instead, it is no longer the gospel of Jesus." - Beth Moore

Those of you in my generation or older will understand this reference perhaps better than the younger folk: When the first Matrix movie with Keanu Reeves came out in 1999, there was a lot of talk about the Christ imagery contained in the film. Reeves plays Tom Anderson, also known as "Neo". He is rumored to be the chosen one. Near the end of the movie, Neo dies. Yet, after encouragement from his girlfriend, named interestingly, Trinity, he comes back to life. His "resurrection" and saving of his team are often what people point to with this Christ-imagery.