8th Sunday After Pentecost

Helicopter Gardening

By Kristy Humphreys | July 22, 2023 |

In this week’s text, Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the weeds. Someone sows weeds in a field of wheat, and the workers are concerned, wanting to uproot the offending vegetation immediately. The Master, however, is surprisingly relaxed about the whole thing. Just wait, you guys. If you try to weed now, you’re gonna tear up the wheat too. Be patient. I’ve got this.

With Me or Against Me

By Joel Aguilar | July 29, 2022 |

A group of leaders in a Mayan urban community in Guatemala were very enthusiastic about the idea of running a program to combat teenage alcohol consumption — one of many issues negatively impacting young people in their community. They had great plans, but one question remained: where could they obtain the necessary resources to run a program like this?

Get Some Rest

By Pat Thompson | July 16, 2021 |

So did He ignore rest or is there something I am missing? I’m beginning to think that my own concept of rest must be sorely lacking as clearly, Jesus is modeling something that does not come naturally to me.

Giving up on Control

By Kristy Humphreys | August 1, 2019 |

In this week’s text, the Rich Fool thinks he can control and manage his life into a state of blissful completion. His land has been productive, and he has more than he knows what to do with. All he needs is a strategy, and he’ll have it made. “I know! I’ll just build bigger barns! Then I can relax and I’ll be happy.”

The Wheat And The Weeds

By Kris Rocke | July 21, 2017 |

There is a harvest of love happening in cities everywhere, if we can only see it. It’s an unusual harvest to be sure — one that sees good where we often see evil and reveals evil where we often see good. This harvest is the unveiling of reality. It is the work of the Spirit and God’s delight. When this liberating pattern is at work in our lives we not only suffer the humiliating shock of seeing things as they really are, we also discover the unspeakable joy of having gotten it all wrong.

The Mystery of Mercy

By Kris Rocke | July 8, 2016 |

We can manage moral purity from the “other side” of the road, but mercy “comes near” and gets involved in the mess of life.

Come Away

By Kris Rocke | July 17, 2015 |

Risking vulnerability through boundaries.