Romans 12 contains Paul's illustration of what he thinks it looks like to embody the grace we have received, leaving us with some of his most famous and memorable turns…
The Bible is peppered with stories of resistance, of people in the midst of oppression or suppression somehow finding ways to express some power. The book of Esther is one…
As the church and minister prepare to go on sabbatical, Paul exhorts us to be assured of God's love, because God loved us and came in the form of Jesus…
The history of the nativity is long, and the questions about its meaning began with the two versions of the story we get in Matthew and Luke (today and tomorrow).…
We practice an open table in Ankeny UCC, meaning, all are welcome to take communion. Why do we do that, when Paul seems to argue that we need to have…
Samuel was called from the household of Eli to preach God's word of reform to priests exploiting people in the temple. Millenia later, Martin Luther was called to reform the…
Sometimes, journeying with Jesus means listening, watching, and hearing how to respond to the need that is left even after healing.
Romans used the crucifix to remind people of the consequences of opposing the occupation. Fear of the crucifix, and of the ultimate consequences, kept people in line. Jesus sought to…
Esau and Jacob both have narratives that lead them into their conflict. How do we separate out our own aggrieved feelings from our understanding of the world around us?
