Author: Norm

About 10 years ago my children challenged me to participate in a triathlon.I was not fit for participating in a triathlon.This did not mean I could not do it, but I was not well-placed to do it.Not as I was, I needed to make some changes to do it.Thankfully with their encouragement, I eventually completed…

These words remind me of two songs I struggle to sing.‘I Surrender All’ and ‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus’.The ideas behind these songs are good.But do they reflect the reality of my heart?I am not being critical of this disciple who comes to Jesus.But does he know what he is saying?Do we know what…

(Trigger alert, I will be addressing politics, rulers, and christians who sell out the gospel to them). Today’s reading deserves special attention.I sense that evangelical christianity needs to hear this.The Samaritans were viewed as a cult, a twisted version of Judaism.Perhaps like Mormonism or the Jehovah Witnesses are viewed today.Or like Islam, with its different…

I want to spend more time with these words.As you may know, there are Christian groups that I do not identify with.To use the disciples’ words, ‘I am not one of them’.Conversely, they are not one of me and my ‘group’ either.Though I refuse to belong to a specific ‘group’, I still have my kind…

These verses show how the disciples themselves did not get Jesus.They did not understand His teaching about the cross (vv.43-45).They did not understand His teaching about humility and being a servant (vv.46-48).And they did not understand His gracious welcome and openness (vv.49-50).Each of these show their failure to comprehend God’s way of greatness.The disciples wanted…

These words of Jesus do not sound loving, patient, kind or gentle?Who is Jesus speaking about, the man or his son, or the disciples?In other versions of this story, Jesus explains why the disciples struggled. “His disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by…

My sense is that many Christians are like Peter in this story.Peter is sincere in his devotion to Moses, and Elijah, and Jesus.Peter was raised to honour Moses and Elijah as the greatest voices for God.Moses represented the Law, and Elijah represented the prophets.Both experienced the blinding glory of God on Mount Sinai.They shone with…

So when did some of the disciples see the kingdom of God?All of them saw the triumphal entry, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.Only some of them saw the transfiguration, the story that follows next.It was about eight days later, after Jesus said this, yet it is the next verse.Luke wants us to see this next story…

Yesterday I reflected on how I know and experience Jesus.For me, Jesus is the humble, gracious God of love as a human.In today’s reading we see that humble gracious love in action.In humility, for love, God puts Himself at the mercy of human violence. The God of love as a human must suffer many things.God…

I like to put myself into the Jesus stories.If Jesus asked me this question today, how would I answer it?Notice that Jesus is specifically asking for a personal answer.He knows that there are many opinions, and so do the disciples.But what about you? My ideas about Jesus have changed through the years.I have been shaped…