June 7, 2017 Water = Life Daily ReadingJohn 7:37-39Psalm 104:24-34This week’s sermon text: James 5:1-6 Field NotesOne of the most powerful and enduring biblical images is the image of water. During the first moments of creation, we hear of God’s Spirit sweeping across the formless waters (Genesis 1:2). As the Hebrew people wander through the…

June 6, 2017 The Deepest Prayer Daily ReadingRomans 8:26-27Psalm 104:24-34This week’s sermon text: James 5:1-6 Field NotesOften, in our prayer lives, we seek to fill space. We add flourishes or big 10-cent theological words we heard in a sermon once. We’re pretty sure God likes big words. Or, we think our own words are lacking and…

June 5, 2017All of Creation Daily Reading Romans 8:18-24Psalm 104:24-34This week’s sermon text: James 5:1-6 Field NotesAll creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing, O praise ye! Alleluia! O brother sun with golden beam, O sister moon with silver gleam! O praise ye! O praise ye! Alleluia! Alleluia!…

May 29, 2017 Live for God Daily Reading 1 Peter 4:1-6 Psalm 99 This week’s sermon text: Acts 2 Field Notes From The Voice translation:“Since the Anointed suffered in the flesh, prepare yourselves to do the same – anyone who has suffered in the flesh for the Lord is no longer in the grip of…

May 27, 2017Choice Daily ReadingJohn 8:21-30Psalm 93This week’s sermon text: James 4:13-17 Field NotesIn the preceding text, Jesus has forgiven a woman caught in adultery and says, “I am the light of the world.” People continued to ask questions about his identity and what his words meant. He is an enigma, as someone once said,…

May 26, 2017A Lovely Scolding! Daily ReadingEphesians 2:1-10Psalm 93This week’s sermon text: James 4:13-17 Field NotesEugene Peterson in The Message has done such a pointed paraphrase of today’s text that it needs to be shared fully. As long as I am getting a scolding (the same one Paul gave the Ephesians so long ago), it…

May 25, 2017The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord Daily ReadingActs 1:1-11Psalm 93This week’s sermon text: James 4:13-17 Field NotesOn the 40th day after Easter, Jesus “ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty” (Apostles’ Creed). The day traditionally commemorates the mystery of the incarnation and the…

May 24, 2017That’s Life Daily ReadingJohn 16:16-24Psalm 93This week’s sermon text: James 4:13-17 Field NotesThe disciples are concerned in two ways by what they hear Jesus saying. They do not understand the references to leaving and returning, and they surely must have felt fear, apprehension, and sadness at the thought of losing Jesus. They have…