John the baptist Archives - LiftUpYourHearts

Torn and Together

Where do we find hope these days? In things torn down, or in things raised up? According to Matthew, the answer is yes… and yes. There’s nothing—nothing—beyond God’s redemptive reach. But the lessons we read in church during Advent seem so divisive, and the stakes seem so high, that I sometimes find it nearly impossible to see past … Read the rest

Not the Light

Advent 3B

When my kids were younger, our family had a tradition of inviting the neighborhood kids over—most of whom were not Christian—to help decorate our Christmas tree. We served sweet treats rather like we’re doing at Trinity today, and invited them to make some crafts to decorate the tree with or take back to their own homes. It was … Read the rest

Message from the Margin

Advent 2B

Until a few years ago, my family owned a primitive cabin in the Redwoods near the Russian River. The site was green and romantic and beautiful, but the cabin was not an easy place to maintain. The overstory cast a deep shade, and moisture so permeated the ecosystem such that everything seemed to compost overnight. Including the nylon … Read the rest

The Baptist and the Burning Man

Advent 2A

Where do we find hope these days? In things torn down, or in things raised up? According to Matthew, yes, and yes. The lessons of Advent seem so divisive, and the stakes seem so high, that I sometimes find it nearly impossible to see past the messages of judgment to the tender compassion of our God. And yet, … Read the rest

A Wilderness of Discomfort

Advent 2B

Until last year, my family owned a primitive cabin in the Redwoods near the Russian River. The site was green and romantic and beautiful, but the cabin was not an easy place to maintain. The overstory cast a deep shade, and moisture so permeated the ecosystem such that everything seemed to compost overnight. Including nylon mesh, which I … Read the rest

Are You The One?

Advent 3A

“Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” That question simply breaks my heart. Dear wild-eyed John the Baptist, eating bugs and baptizing by the river and generally exacting a harsh sentence upon himself in order to make straight the way of the Lord. But even if his self-discipline was severe, … Read the rest

Dressed in Truth

Advent 2A

In this, the second Sunday of Advent, the church traditionally remembers the prophets. Scripture names them and records their words—in this case, Isaiah and John and Baptist—but they’re really prophets because people recognized their wisdom to challenge the status quo. You probably know this, but it’s worth repeating: Biblical prophecy is not so much about predicting the future … Read the rest

Loving, Liberating, Life-Giving

Proper 10B
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I bring you greetings from the nearly 10,000 Episcopalians who have gathered in Austin Texas for the past two weeks, for the 79^th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church has an historic relationship with the Anglican Church of Mexico, as we were partners in its birth in the 1860’s. And now … Read the rest