RoboPreacher

that i will see the light       Jesus'words in the Gospel this week are certainly demanding...   When the rich landowner asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life, Jesus tells this man to give everything away to the poor (who, presumably, he defrauded to build his wealth). Interpretations upon this pericope abound... (I paraphrase) Maybe when Jesus says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a wealthy person to enter G-d's reign alludes to a gate in Jerusalem called "eye of the needle." Supposedly this gate (which has absolutely no archeological evidence) required that the camel unload everything to get through the gate. Or Perhaps this call to sell everything and give it to the poor only applies to this man. Jesus' categorical demand is that people leave whatever it is that keeps them from following.   And so on.   While neither of the two examples are particularly true to Je...

In General; of preaching: This "In General; of preaching," is a series I hope to continue. In these posts I want to talk broadly about the craft, art of the sermon. Look for more. I appreciate any added questions or insights into this new pursuit. Of Function and Content: I remember growing up, and asserting myself more and more as an individual. As I did this I questioned many of the traditions, assumptions and worldviews my family and friends had given to me. I remember thinking about worshiping Jesus; there was this absurd claim about a god-man being born, and killed, and raised… Somehow that faith in me stuck. As I wrestled with faith, though, I encountered even more absurd claims! (Rev. Jay Carlson provides a wonderful Advent devotional about the absurd claims faith makes.) One night in the library I remember physically experiencing a sense of vertigo. This particular night I was thinking about how topsy-turvey many of the assumptions of worshiping Jesus are. F...