Intersections

  What might we learn if we took the risk to listen? If we took the risk to let these holy ones of God become our traveling companions on our summer journey? We might be troubled, and we will be, but we might also be lifted up. We might be challenged, but we might find reasons for hope, or we might find a renewed vision that inspires us for all the journeys we make. So, what do you say? Are you up for a journey this summer, a journey to the edge of our faith? Then you’re ready for “Prophet Margins.” I understand that this is a play on the phrase "profit margins", which are a business assessment tool to determine what percentage of their income is, on average, more than their expenses. The higher a profit margin, the more a company can keep or reinvest in their business. Profitability is a good sign for the health of a company.  But how do we determine whether the church is profitable or not? Do we really have a good or service that we are “selling”? I’d like to think everyone...

  Happy New Year everyone! May our God of new beginnings refresh His mercies for you and your loved ones, and to the ends of the earth.  Well done… well done, my good and faithful one. These are lyrics from a song called “Well Done” by the Afters. I assume they are referring to the baptism of Jesus out of Luke when the sky opened, and there was a voice saying “Well done, my good and faithful servant;” to Jesus as he was baptized. We all want that greeting some day when it’s our turn at the gates of Heaven.  What does it mean to be a good and faithful servant? Is it just reading the Bible, and memorizing verses? Is it coming to church, and giving your offering every week? Yes, those help, but in addition, is to build relationships of faith. Our goal is to be disciples - to take the words of Jesus Christ to bring light to the darkness of this world. Hope is not just a catchphrase, it’s a lifestyle. As believers, we embody faith and hope to a world that just cannot und...