Author: Norm

THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 43 “Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” (Psalm 43:3) This psalm continues Psalm 42 (some Hebrew manuscripts combine them). The psalmist still battles depression, wondering why God has rejected him! It’s important for us to see how God includes and inspires doubt in the bible. If anyone challenges you…

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Jesus will live, even though they die. Whoever lives by believing in Jesus will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26)

THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Samuel 14-17 “Wherever you go, if it means life or death, there will your servant be.” (2 Samuel 15:21) Our reading raises the issue of choosing sides, and what happens with that choice. By choosing to follow David, these people were sacrificing everything. Following David meant going into the wilderness. It meant being aliens…

THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Samuel 10-13 “Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a devastated woman.” (2 Samuel 13:20) Sin is not just about the bad things we do, but the devastation we cause. Every selfish action has a devastating impact on others, whether we realize it or not. We need to FEEL both the horror of Ammon’s…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:13-17 “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) Tax collectors were one of the kinds of people that the religious people avoided. Also prostitutes, lepers, zealots, Samaritans, Roman soldiers, non-practicing Jews. Who are the kinds of people that Christians avoid today? Muslims, LGBQT, Immigrants, Homeless, Prostitutes, non-church-goers?…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:1-12 “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Mark 2:10) The teachers of the law were partially right, only God can forgive sins… AND… those that God gives the authority to forgive for Him. In Genesis 1, God assigned His authority to Adam and Eve as His appointed rulers….