Author Archive

At first reading, the end of the Book of Job seems to negate all we’ve been working through these last 3 weeks. It sure looks like the good get rewarded. That doing the right thing by simply following the rules is what results in Job’s being restored to even better than before the wager between God and the Satan. Prosperity Gospel here we come.

But you know -and I know – that can’t be right- or at least it can’t be ...

“Because I said so” has never been a very acceptable response in my life. “Because I am the Mom” follows close behind. Questions arise because something has happened- something has aroused my curiosity- or something hurtful has happened that makes me sad, confused, bewildered, uncertain. Answers are important in helping me make sense of the world I live in. And how I am to go on with my life.

Like most of you, I suspect, I like a world that is ...

Is there Good News in the Book of Job? Why is this scripture included in our Canon? Question after question – and so few answers. It almost makes me want to ignore the text as being too removed from my life. Not relevant. Maybe back then but not today.

Most of us, if not all of us, gathered here today have had a pretty good life. Sure, we have had our troubles. We have had our sorrows. We’ve smiled when things ...

Each Sunday in October we read from the Book of Job. In the Episcopal Church, because we use the Revised Common Lectionary as the source for our readings from Scripture, we do not often preach a “sermon series.” The Book of Job offers us this opportunity to take some time to consider a text in greater detail. Unfortunately, though, the selections for the four Sundays are not the whole book – and so we will need to fill in a ...

The words: “The Lord is on our side” sometimes make me shiver. How often have you heard this or a similar phrase used to justify violence against another? We’re right and you’re wrong. Either/or. Win/lose. A narrowing of world view to my way or the highway. This is the kind of mindset that led to the Crusades and other horrors throughout history. I’m right and you’re wrong. God is on my side- you’re dammed.

There’s an old joke about lawyers. If ...

The lead-in sentence of a blog reads: So, in the ongoing soap opera of Jesus archaeology, we have now found a manuscript that says, “Jesus said to them, ‘My wife…’”[1] Ongoing soap opera of Jesus archaeology, indeed. If anyone thinks God does not have a sense of humor, perhaps they should reconsider.

This week we have the announcement with respect to a scrap of papyrus that might indicate Jesus had a wife.[2] At the same time, our reading ...