Touchpoints
Touchpoint is a reflection on where God’s story touches our life story. It is a short homily based on a biblical story of people in the Old and New Testaments and their relationship with God. Our spiritual ancestors’ experience of God’s grace connects with our lives in the present and our relationship with the Divine.
From Breakdown to break through
Luke 24:13-35 NRSVUE 13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles [a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They…
Worst week, best life
Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message 12 1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we are in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put…
Servant of servants
Isaiah 50:4-9NRSVUE 4 The Lord GOD has given mea trained tongue,[a]that I may know how to sustainthe weary with a word.Morning by morning he wakens,wakens my earto listen as those who are taught.5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear,and I was not rebellious;I did not turn backward.6 I gave my back to those who struck meand my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;I did not hide my facefrom insult and spitting.7 The Lord GOD helps me;therefore I…
Breathe Life
The Breath of Resurrection Ezekiel 37:1-14 37 The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spiritof the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” 4 Then he…
To See and Be Seen
Increase our faith.
Who Knew
Increase our faith.
Scandalous Imagination
3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus [a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” [b] 4 Nicodemus said…
Who Cares!
27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died…
When You’re Up A Tree
1Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. 2 There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. 3 He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. 4 So, he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by. 5 When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus,…
The Remedy for Cloudy Vision
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But…
Jacob’s Main Event
22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as…
Big Problems, Tiny Seeds
Increase our faith.