Invited to the Banquet

Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. In the preceding verses the master of the house instructs his servants to, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in …

Reaching the Margins

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of site to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lords favour. The tyranny of …

The Great Commission

Then Jesus came to [the disciples] and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. …

God-given gifts, released!

But quite the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are [absolutely] necessary; and as for those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, we treat these with greater honor. (AMP) As we take a final look at Paul’s analogy on the body and its many unique parts, [did …

Exploring ideas of stigma Part 2:  Inclusion & Wholeness

The Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? In this passage …

Exploring ideas of stigma Part 1: Sin and healing

As he [Jesus] walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’  “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in [through] him. I come from a …

What is ‘normal’ anyway?

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (for Jews don’t associate with Samaritans). Jesus replied, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would …

Inclusion is a matter of justice, not charity

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to [Mephibosheth], “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” David’s benevolence does beg the question, would he have shown this kindness …