Touchpoint Archive (Page 10)

Touchpoint Archive (Page 10)

Catch up on Touchpoints from Spirit in the Desert faith mentor, Rev. “Bro. Jim” Hanson.

The Messiah of All Touchpoint

Cliff Hanger

Grace and peace from the Mystery in whom we live and move and have our being. The Messiah of all. They got up, drove him out of town, and led him up to the brow of a hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.” Luke 4: 14-30 Why do I get the feeling this Touchpoint isn’t going to end well? Sometimes I wonder about the people who came up with the…
Christ is all and in all ~ Touchpoint

The Heresy of Individualism

“Now you know why Luther was mocked when he insisted on the Real Presence of the Christ in this meal. People laughed at him and said, “If Christ is really present in the bread and wine than you might as well say he is present in the cabbage soup at the local pub.” To which Luther supposedly replied, “Yes, exactly.”
Poured out for you Touchpoint

God’s Wedding Reception

“This miracle story isn’t about celebrating the marriage of two people. It is a celebration of the marriage of God, the Divine, the Mystery, with humanity, with you and me. There are no roads that lead to God because God has come to be with us. God has come to marry us. Unite with us. Become one with us.”
I Am Please with You Touchpoint

Therefore, Be It Resolved

“Make no mistake about it. This is a reversal from how God is often portrayed, talked about, pictured. We always think we have to do something first. We have to act first, and then, God as judge, will decide after we are all done whether to accept us or not. But this baptism story, and where it is placed in Luke’s Gospel is a reminder that we have it all backwards. It’s only Chapter 3 and Jesus has done nothing at this point in the Gospel of Luke to warrant God’s love and delight.”
They Did Not Understand Touchpoint

Treasured

“Perhaps that is why this meal is so important to me. In the night in which he was betrayed, the Christ –who was treasured by no one this night – took bread and wine and said to his disciples, “You are my treasure… This is my body and blood given and shed because I treasure you and ALL PEOPLE.” Here in this meal I experience a Jesus who is all grown up… who has grown bigger than my expectations and understanding… who treasures the untreasurable, forgives the unforgiveable, and loves the unlovable.”
The light shines in the darkness

The Light

“You know, we think that it is on Good Friday, on the cross, that God sacrifices God’s self. But actually, it’s at Christmas, in the incarnation, that the Divine is sacrificed. Think of the words we most often use to describe God. All-knowing, All-powerful, All-present. But here, at Christmas, in the incarnation, God sacrifices all of that to be at-one with us. God sacrifices it all to live and dwell amongst us. God sacrifices it all to bring the light to us.”
Touchpoint Wednesday Respite Two Women Meet

Two Women

“On the one hand, I am fully aware that I am not among the 1% and so I kind of like the idea of bringing the mighty and powerful down, but I don’t have to drive more than a few minutes from here to realize that to a great many people, I am the proud, the powerful, and the rich.”
Baptism of water and fire

John the Baptist’s Hot Sauce

“And so, I need that unquenchable fire to burn in me. To burn away the chaff in me so that I can bear fruit that befits repentance. What I need is a continual baptism of water and fire. Though frankly, I would just prefer the water.”
John the Baptist - The Word of God Comes

Frankly, I Prefer the Baby

“And yet, even in my denial, betrayal and taking flight, “THE WORD OF GOD CAME,” the Christ comes to me in my denial and betrayal, and like a good shepherd pursues me in my flight away from him.”
Crown of Thorns illustrates Jesus' Kingdom is not of this world

A Different Kingdom

“resources cut. It’s present whenever the homeless are sheltered, rather than demonized. It’s there whenever children are welcomed, rather than put in cages.”
Touchpoint Life is a gift not a possession

Happy Birthday!

“You see, creation never stops. Life and death and birth are a continuous reality in our lives and the life of the world. Life is a gift, not a possession, and it’s given daily.”
The home of God is among mortals

God’s Homecoming

“The parable of the ‘lost sheep’ isn’t about a sheep that wanders off to find God so he can slap a sticker on his bumper that says, “I Found It!” No, it’s about a Christ that comes to us—not only when we are staying safely within the fold—but one that comes searching for us even as we wander off.”