Still Listening

Letters on loss, healing, and the mystery of being alive —
from deep in the woods.

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Tag: Conflict

  • Parking under the wrong tree – Christmas Eve

      Luke 2:1-20 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,…

  • Jesus…who? (Feast of Christ The King)

    Luke23:35-43 (Click here to listen to this post as preached in Port Alfred South Africa on Nov 21 2010) And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming…

  • Feel the fear… and endure it. (Proper 28C / Ordinary 33C / Pentecost +25)

    Luke 21:5-19 Listen to the sermon as preached (Click here) When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown…

  • Camouflaged by shame

    Luke 19:1-10 To hear this sermon preached click here He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature.…

  • Danger! Crossing Ahead. (Season of Creation 3 – Storms)

    Listen to this sermon as it was preached on Archive.org Luke 8:22-25 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side of the lake.’ So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A gale swept down on…

  • Why am I so needy?

    Luke 12:22-31 He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn,…

  • Hidden in plain sight

    Luke 14:1-14 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “Is it lawful to cure…

  • The cost of values

    If this was a soap opera script it would begin as follows… “Last week on ‘Following Jesus‘” “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven,…

  • Heralding the reign of the Healing King

    Luke 10:1-12,17-20 The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off…

  • The loneliness of the God in our image.

    Luke 9:18-24 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that…