1 Kings 3:16-28 NRSVUE 24 So the king said, “Bring me a sword,” and they brought a sword before the king. 25 The king said, “Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one and half to the other.” 26 But the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because compassion for her son burned…

Living the Resurrected Life By Pastor Iraida (This written piece is a revised version of “Living the Life,” from April 2014, written after a season of preparation for my interview with the Board of Ordained Ministry and learning that the Board affirmed me as an elder in full connection in the United Methodist Church for…

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane(Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42;Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1-3) Lent has begun (February 14, Ash Wednesday), and so has our journey through the wilderness, which will last for the remainder of March until Maundy Thursday.  What did you decide to let go, and what spiritual disciplines have you taken on that will help you…

“This is the kind of fast day I’m after…” Isaiah 58:6-9 MSG “6-9  “This is the kind of fast day I’m after:  to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts.  What I’m interested in seeing you do is:  sharing your food with the hungry, inviting…

“God is doing a new thing!” 16 This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea,    a path through the mighty waters,17 who drew out the chariots and horses,    the army and reinforcements together,and they lay there, never to rise again,    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:18 “Forget the former things;    do not dwell on the past.19 See, I am doing a…

“Come, let us adore Him.” 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will…

Only One Came Back 11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten men with a skin disease approached him.  Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the…

14-17 But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust?  And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted?  And how can they hear if nobody tells them?  And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to…

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;    I will be with him in trouble,    I will deliver him and honor him.16 With long life I will satisfy him    and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16 Have you ever had a busy…

The Least of These Among Us 10 As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them.  In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?  What…