Does the encouragement to “serve God” from the Jesus and Biblical tradition mean we’re meant to approach God like the servants from Downton Abbey approaching the Crawley family? It seems not, according to the picture the Gospel of Luke that paints about “serving God”. According to Jesus, God is himself a servant, so, in some way, to serve God is to let God serve us…
Read MoreDrawing from the story of Jesus activating the generosity of Zacchaues the tax collector, Vince offers some ideas from his own experience of Jesus helping him move past me-centered thinking — ranging from interpersonal resentments to engagement with public policy and politics.
Read MoreNo one can do life alone. Vince shares some examples of how people care for each other in this community, but also shares about the reality that, like most good things, a community of care doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intentionality, effort, overcoming obstacles, and above all, considering how the flow of love into us (from God and from others) is linked to the flow of love out of us.
Read MoreStories of redemption tap into something deep in the human heart. Easter Sunday is all about redemption after regret, resurrection after death. Kyle shares what it has meant for him to experience not just healing from past hurts, brokennesses, or failures, but to experience those hurts, brokennesses, and failures be miraculously redeemed and actually bring good into the world.
Read MoreIf you grew up religious, the image of Jesus dying on the Cross may have been used as a tool to emotionally manipulate you into begrudging commitment or painful gratitude. Kyle’s journey of faith has helped him leave behind those feelings of manipulation when it comes to Jesus’ death the Cross, and find instead a God showing his heart to connect with all people and all cultures.
Read MoreOn the weekend we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Vince takes us to a Central American interpretation of Jesus' Parable of the Talents (or Minas or Pounds, depending on your translation). In it, Jesus suggests the God of the Universe is the God who resists injustice. So how might God be calling us to join in that?
Read MoreWe visit the prayer of Mary the mother of Jesus — the Magnificat — every year during Advent, because it so perfectly captures faith for us. Kyle explains why, this year, it makes him think of a scene from the pilot of The Marvelous Ms. Maisel, and suggests a way we can experience how powerful it is to move from power to weakness.
Read MoreWe've come to feel super helped by the Bible. But when is it appropriate to apply something from the Bible to life today? And when is it inappropriate? How do we know one way or the other? Kyle takes us to a statement from Jesus that proves incredibly useful...
Read MoreTo mark Father’s Day this year, Kyle reads some reflections from men in our community on fathers and fatherhood, and shares his own, helping us to consider the image of Father for God as something that isn’t so much about gender, but rather about inheritance, identity, and belonging.
Read MoreMore Bible, more better? More Bible, more problems? At BLV, neither of these seem right to us. History has proven that “more Bible” is not always better if we’re talking about uninformed, irresponsible readings of the Bible that don’t consider culture and context. But throwing it out as antiquated and worthless leaves on the table the Bible’s unique ability to connect people with the God Jesus showed humanity. Kyle helps us find a middle ground by teaching us about the differences between modern American culture and the cultures of the Bible.
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