Faith, Grace, and Hope

The other week in the Thursday Bible study, the question of why bad things happen came up. As often happens when this issue arises, no one had a satisfactory answer. From the time we are toddlers to our years as elders, “I don’t know” is the least comforting answer to the question, “Why?” The problem with “why” is not in the asking; sometimes it is in the idea that the question has an answer we can know in this life. As Jesus and his disciples walk along, they encounter a man who has been blind from birth. For the disciples, his blindness is a puzzle to be solved. He isn't a person to them yet; he is a theological case study. "Rabbi," they ask, "who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" It is such a tidy question. It assumes a universe that functions like a vending machine: you put in a certain amount of sin, and you get out a certain amount of suffering. If you can just find the cause, you can justify the effect. This is the snare in the pur...

“Here is what I would say to you if it wouldn’t hurt your feelings.” This is a popular construct right now in social media posts and in short-form publishing. The set-up is usually a specialist from a medical field or an expert in a given research field, appealing to the viewer to consider an idea or ideas in a different light. “Here is what I would say if it wouldn’t hurt your feelings.” The posts are an effort to counteract “general wisdom” or “accepted knowledge” and to present additional information and research that may lead to a better health outcomes or improved quality of life. Each time I see it, I consider what my video would be. How would I complete the premise, “Here is what I would say if it wouldn’t hurt your feelings.” Contrary to popular belief, I do try to be gentle in teaching and, most of the time, in preaching. Harshness gains no ground for the gospel. I do pull some punches. So, should I do it? Should I say the thing that I desperately want you to hear? To understa...

Dear Pastor- At our next Bible study, could you say a little something about your understanding of "God-breathed" and the relationship of that phrase to scripture? - Inquiring Minds Want to Know Dear IMWTK- Firstly, it's unlikely that I'll ever say a "little" something regarding anything related to the Bible, but I will try to contain myself. When I look to the word theopneustos , I find the word and the concept awe-inspiring. Theo for God and  pneustos  for breathed means a vision of how God moves and exists that includes bringing creation into existence. Theopneustos  makes me think of the Spirit, as the Breath of God, moving over the void at the beginning of all things. Out of disorder and emptiness, creation was birthed and shaped. God's whole self poured out in breath (Spirit) and then in Word ("Let there be..."). Thus, the reality of theopneustos  has existed since before any human was present to interpret it. That being said...

Maybe you have a question about one of these topics?  I would like to emphasize how much I appreciate questions. As a pastor, questions help me to know how people are thinking around me. They point me to information that I might have that I could share. They provide a path for me to encourage discernment by and wisdom gathering in others. I have previously answered questions here and here . These aren't two "good" questions. They were genuine questions that people asked of me and gave me time to ponder my answer. Recently I did "Ask a Pastor Anything" or "Pastor in the Hot Seat" with a confirmation class. The group of 11-14 year (and a couple adults) asked the following questions: - Were there any conflicts between people who believe in religion and people who believe in science? If so, what happened? - What is theodicy? - Could God have said things much differently and we misunderstood his teaching or mistranslated his ideas and, therefo...

Question :  I'm stuck thinking about prayer because the logic doesn't seem to work. If God does not inflict illnesses or accidents, why do we pray for Him to keep us safe or to heal a loved one. Yet we pray for healing or recovery or safe travels all the time at church. If we are not saying “don't pick me with a life-altering disaster” or “skip us with cancer,” is it proper to pray “keep us safe”? Because it seems like I'm asking, “Don't let/make bad things happen to me” . . . and God doesn't cause bad things to happen to us which is where I started. Or is the only correct supplication, “Be with us when the inevitable terrors of life and death come”? What am I missing? Thank you. Dear Child of God-  This question about prayer is excellent, thoughtful, and something to which I can greatly relate. We end up in a very tough spot when we try to make our faith or faith actions logical. There is a certain amount of reason that is absolutely nec...

I'm currently at the Collegeville Institute in Minnesota for a writing workshop week. We are using building that once was called the Ecumenical Institute, where work to unite churches and faithful people was done with earnestness and great hope. Today is also the Feast Day for St. Columba, among others, who helped to bring the Christian faith and establish its roots in Scotland (and elsewhere in Britain). I have been to Iona Abbey, one of the monasteries associated with Columba. The pictures here are from Iona. Listening to crickets chirping, loons calling, and seeing an actual sunset out my window (doesn't happen in AK this time of year), I am thinking of those whose faithfulness makes our lives possible. God's provision for the future through the faithful is moving and provocative. What am I doing on a daily or even semi-regular basis that God may use to improve lives in the future? The reality is I may never know. But I remain committed to sharing the gospel, to ...

In preparing for our church's booth for Anchorage Pridefest, we made this sign. It was meant to be more tongue-in-cheek than fundraiser. We laughed and even the church visitors who saw it chuckled. Once it was out of the church building, though, it didn't get many laughs. In fact, it received a lot of frowns. "I have a question," one guy said. "But I don't want to pay."  It occurred to me that many people who are outside of the church often assume the main motive of the church is to make money. We weren't winning friends here; we were ending conversations before they started. I covered the "pricing" with paper and tape. Once all that could be seen was "Ask a Pastor Anything", the questions flowed.  Today, I listened to the following questions, some accompanying stories, and did my best to represent a flawed institution and a perfect God. What does faith mean to you? What's a pastor? Do I have to...

Today I knew about a barbecue within my circle of friends. A couple people mentioned it to me yesterday (Thursday). My Fourth of July plans, as of this morning- July 4, consisted of playing with my kids and waiting for my husband to return from a two day hike. I wanted to celebrate and be with other people, but I didn't want to put anyone out or show up where I (or my kids) wasn't (weren't) wanted. So... to call or not to call and ask about the party. Even with all the ways we have to contact one another these days, I am surprised how often people seem unwilling to ask other people for help. I know several people in the congregation who don't want to ask others for assistance during difficult times because they don't want to "put anybody out". I recently had a conversation with a woman regarding a basic situation of church grounds maintenance (weeding) that she believed needed to be done, but was a bit beyond her. "Why don't you call a few...

Yesterday, I rearranged the chairs in the church sanctuary. Since the second Sunday in the Easter season (the 1 st Sunday after Easter), we’d been sitting in a circle with the altar inside the circle. Many people loved this arrangement. An smaller number of people hated it and there were a minority with no [expressed] opinion. In an effort to be more visitor-oriented for the summer (our biggest visitor season), we moved the chairs back into their neat little rows. I did not put out as many rows as we had previously because we just don’t need that many chairs. We have moveable chairs and fixed pews. I arranged five rows of six chairs each on two sides (60 chairs). We also have four pews on each side, which could easily accommodate 5-6 people each. Let’s say 5. Thus, we easily have seating for 40 people in the pews. Sixty plus forty is one hundred (100). We have available seating this Sunday for 100 people. Last Sunday, at our regular service, we had 37 people. ...

Luke 13:1-9, 31-35              Why do bad things happen to good people? Conversely, why do good things happen to people who seem evil? Why should a murderer have joy? Why should a gracious person experience deep grief? This is the question Jesus is confronted with in today’s reading. People want to know why God allowed the faithful Galileans to be killed.             Jesus responds by asking if the people who were killed in the accidental falling of a tower were worse sinners and deserved to die. The questions that are being raised go all the way back to Job and beyond. We want to know why there is suffering in the world. We want to know why it comes to us and to those we love and to those we deem innocent.             So, Jesus, ever helpful, answers these deep, heartfelt questions with a ...

This week's reading from Joshua includes the famous verse:  "Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amories in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, well will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)  When I think of this verse, I consider the truth that we're never really choosing if  we are going to have a god, we're constantly choosing what we will worship as god. Will we choose the God of creation, who has chosen us, or we will choose any number of lesser gods- whose glittering promises of health, wealth, and power are played like siren calls from all corners of the world?  Whom will we serve?  I keep hearing the words of the prophet, Bob Dylan, singing, "You gotta serve somebody..." It's not that we've gotta, it's that we're gonna... so whom will you choose?  "Gotta ...

On the second Sunday in Easter, our church observed Bright Sunday (or Holy Humor Sunday)- extending our resurrection celebration. In addition to kazoos, jokes, and laughter, we had an interview with the apostle, Thomas. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining me today on Theology in the Morning with…Pastor Julia! We’ll have a special food giveaway later this hour, but right now let’s meet our special guest. You may know him as the Eeyore of the disciples or the famous doubter, but let’s welcome… Thomas the Apostle! Thank you so much for coming today. How do I address you? None of you apostles seemed to come with a last name. Thomas is fine. Thank you for that. Well, let’s get to it. I think the first question we’d all like an answer to is: Where were you when Jesus showed up that first time? You know, Pastor Julia. If I’m willing to do the time and space travel it takes to come here and answer questions for you and these other fine folks tod...