Blog, Blog PI 4, Blog Prophetically Incorrect
Last week, I wrote about a little situation I had with a toxic relationship. Then through discussion and this week’s episode, I learned that my situation has a title: systemic evil. I’m not sure if it was Rev. Alexander, Dr. Elnes (drink) or the DWB honorary Dr....
Blog, Blog PI 4, Blog Prophetically Incorrect
“Then the LORD said, ‘See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I (the LORD) will never again pass them by…I (the LORD) will rise against the house of Jeroboam'” Amos 7. 8-9 What does it mean to be a person of “good...
Blog, Blog PI 4, Blog Prophetically Incorrect
I. The Plumb Line Our focus this week in Amos (Amos 7:7-13) concerns the use of a particular tool that isn’t commonly used these days: a plumb line. When we were discussing the passage in the Darkwood Brew planning team meeting this week, someone asked if a plumb...
Blog, Blog PI 3, Blog Prophetically Incorrect
In Dr. Elnes’ sermon this week, he retold the story of some car mechanics back in Phoenix, Simba’s Automotive. If you haven’t heard the story, ask him about it. I’ve heard it before, and I love it. I’m about to ruin the end of it for you, feel free to skip ahead to...
Blog, Blog PI 3, Blog Prophetically Incorrect
An integral part of my sabbatical exploration has been seeking to find other members of my different herds. Using the grand tool of connectivity, social media, I have done advanced planning to find and connect with birders, soccer fans, rock climbers and, of course,...
Blog, Blog PI 3, Blog Prophetically Incorrect
This passage in Amos has always resonated for me. It’s incredibly poetic, and really captures the imagination. Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. It brings to mind Jesus calling himself the living water, and the water...
Blog, Blog PI 3, Blog Prophetically Incorrect
“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” Amos 5.24 Amos climaxes his argument here in chapter 5. The point of having God is not so that you can do religious things, but rather so you can treat your neighbor,...
Blog, Blog PI 3, Blog Prophetically Incorrect
I. Who Do You Worship? If you attend worship each week, do you go to worship God or the Flying Spaghetti Monster? This may sound like a ridiculous question, but it’s likely a question Amos would ask us if he were to stand before us today, as we’ll soon find out. And...
Blog, Blog PI 2, Blog Prophetically Incorrect
I. “You Only Have I Known …” In the 8th C BCE, Israel experienced an extended period of peace and economic prosperity. The middle class became wealthy, and the wealthy became super wealthy. It was a time full of optimism and hope. To draw on an analogy from last...
Blog, Blog PI 2, Blog Prophetically Incorrect
This week the prophets (both Amos and Frank) challenged us to consider our identity. There is no denying that we inherently desire connections to form our identity. Some of us feel that more strongly than others, very often due to our upbringing. Some families...
