Archive for June 2017

June 30, 2017 Daily Reading Galatians 5:2-12 Psalm 13 This week’s sermon text: Genesis 2:1-3 Field NotesFreedom is a fine Biblical word, and approaching July 4, we remember that a Bible verse about freedom is engraved inside our Liberty Bell, Leviticus 25:10. Galatians 5 begins with another verse we hear often, “For freedom Christ has…

June 29, 2017 Daily Reading Micah 7:18-20 Psalm 13 This week’s sermon text: Genesis 2:1-3 Field NotesWe know God first through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and we also know God as revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures. God sees and responds to our distress, and as with Hagar, God’s mercy reaches the outcast…

June 28, 2017 Daily ReadingMatthew 10:5-23Psalm 86:11-17This week’s sermon text:  Genesis 2:1-3 Field NotesThose of us who struggle to get our belongings in one carry-on for a flight will marvel at Jesus’ packing instructions for his disciples’ mission (v. 9-10). Excess baggage is not acceptable when someone is on a mission with Jesus! Jesus’ plan…

June 27, 2017 Daily ReadingRevelation 2:8-11Psalm 86:11-17This week’s sermon text:  Genesis 2:1-3 Field NotesMy good friend has some wise words for when we face tough situations in our lives that seem to have no solutions. She says, “You may have to change the way you look at this.” I’ve discovered that her good, practical advice…

June 26, 2017 Daily Reading  Genesis 16:1-15  Psalm 86:11-17  This week’s sermon text: Genesis 2:1-3 Field NotesThe story of Hagar and Ishmael is intriguing on many levels. For Muslims this story connects their faith to Abraham (some of us studied Bruce Feiler’s helpful book “Abraham”). For women it lifts up difficult issues related to patriarchy.…

June 24, 2017 Daily Reading Ezekiel 29:3-7 Luke 11:53-12:3 Psalm 86:1-12 This week’s sermon text: James 5:13-19 Field NotesAs we prepare for Sabbath, we’ll use an ancient frame for reading scripture, Lectio Divina. This particular format was published in “Companions in Christ” by Upper Room Ministries. It was adapted from an article written by Joe…

June 23, 2017 Daily Reading Genesis 35:1-4 Acts 5:17-26 Psalm 86:1-12 This week’s sermon text: James 5:13-19 Field Notes“The Psalms express the full range of states of the human heart: in the Psalms we find honest, sometimes brutal, expressions of the human heart. The Bible would not be valuable if it were a string of…

June 22, 2017 Daily Reading Exodus 12:43-49 Hebrews 2:5-9 Psalm 86:1-12 This week’s sermon text: James 5:13-19 Field Notes“So how should we read the Psalms with understanding? For one thing, we should read slowly and deliberately in order to take in the sights and sounds, taste, touch and smell in which the truth of God…

June 21, 2017 Daily Reading Nehemiah 9:1-8 Luke 6:12-19 Psalm 126 This week’s sermon text: James 5:13-19 Field NotesA psalm can be adapted as a way to tell our life experiences and as a way to offer prayer. Psalm 126 tells a story and offers a prayer. Here is the first draft of my adaptation…