Reflexion, A Spiritual Community
Episodes
459 episodes
Learning to Listen - Part 6
I’m not going to give a Labor Day talk, but that’s where we’ll startLast year I felt it was important that I read Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations– Smith is sometimes referred to as the Father of Capitalism• he explore...
Learning to Listen Part 5
The Book of Isaiah begins with God’s frustration over Israel; for instance:“Children have I reared and brought up,but they have rebelled against me . . . .Ah, sinful nation,a people laden with i...
John Chapman Shares
Sharing on oppressed lives of Latin Americans
Learning to Listen Part 4
Psalm 25This psalm does not track a central themeWhat I mean, is that we cannot say, “This is a psalm of praise,”- or “Psalm of confession,” or “thanksgiving psalm,” or “supplication psalm”• this doesn’t mean the structure...
Learning to Listen - Part 3
The last two weeks I’ve been encouraging you to listen for God’s voiceNow, today, using this spectacular episode of Isaiah’s life is neither practical nor fair– he was chosen by God to be a prophet,• and the prophet’s calling is ...
Learning to Listen - Part 2
About six years before my dad died,For some reason, that I don’t remember,- I got the idea that it was really important for him to tell his life’s story• there were already a lot of fictional stories regarding his life,◦ and ...
Learning to Listen - Part 1
What are we witnessing in this archetypal story?First, why do I refer to the story as “archetypal”?– archetypes have to do with basic themes planted in the human mind• familiar themes are revealed in the heroes, heroines, and vil...
Competing Stories
Romans 14• A deep story describes a collective, emotionally rooted narrative that individuals and groups use to make sense of their lives and the world, prioritizing feelings and metaphors over cold facts or moral judgments.• The ...
What Is Lexio Divina?
Some time ago, I took a course in speed-readingWe were required to practice every day for at least an hour- the only drawback–I chose to read books that didn’t interest me, so I wouldn't get distracted by their content• but going...
Jude 24-25 06/14/2026
Here we are, after several weeks, at the end of JudeThere’s not another letter in the New Testament exactly like it- a small bit of 2 Peter incorporates some of the same lines• but the overall structure and content of Jude are un...
Jude 17-23
My friend, Clint Freeman, sent me an article this weekIt has to do with Artificial Intelligence and I added it to my “weird news” fileDarin White, “Four in ten Gen-Z and millennial adults say spiritual advice from AI is just a...
Jude
A couple weeks ago I got a phone callThe number looked familiar, so I answered – “Hello”- a man’s voice asked, “Is this Charles?”• at that point it was obvious he didn’t know me• so I said, “Maybe”- there are too many sca...
Job 8-11
I have been reading a book by Bill Elliot, who is a therapistBut it’s not about psychology – it has the unlikely title, Falling Into the Face of God– it’s an autobiography of sorts• Bill felt called by God’s Spirit...
Mark 14:22-25 The Lord's Supper
We’re going to reenact the story- this is what Jesus meant for us to do“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26)• in this ritual, there is the ...
Jude 5-8
There have been songs, that I loved the first time I heard themThere are others that I had to hear several times to appreciate- but the ones that I've loved at first sight had two qualities:• the sound of music (instruments and v...
Jude 1-4
On the days I spend with three of my grandchildren,I sometimes say to my thirteen year old grandson,“I’m going for a walk, do you want to go with me?”- he has never said, “Sure, Grandpa, let’s go” – never• and I know why – he...
Genesis 12:1-9
Prior to this moment, Abram was merely a name on a listNow he becomes a person; he’s given an identity- he emerges from the genealogy into space and time• he has a history and he is given a destinywhere he is from and where ...
Jesus and Peter - John 21:15–17
What was the primary responsibility Jesus gave to Peter?- if you’re not sure, then listen to what I’m about to read,• because Jesus makes Peter’s assignment absolutely clearWhen they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simo...