Reflexion, A Spiritual Community
Episodes
468 episodes
Joel 4:1-7
In our passage, there will be two parts to Joel’s prophecyHe first delivers a brief message regarding his people – a promise- but then his word turns to a threat on “all the nations”• specifically those that have ransack...
Joel 3:1-5
This is one of the most remarkable passages in all the BibleFor me, it is second only to John’s introduction of Jesus“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh...
Joel 2:15-17
Thirty years ago Reba McEntire released a song, “If I Had Only Known”It is a typically “country” tear jerkerIf I had only knownIt was the last walk in the rainI’d keep you out for hours in the stormI would hold your hand<...
Joel 2:1-14
Have you ever received an Amber Alert on cell your phone?It’s so loud and annoying, there’s no way you can ignore it- this is the sort of attention-getter Joel calls for in verse 1“Blow the ram’s horn in Zion,&nb...
Joel 1:1-4
Friday our nation observed the tragedies of “9/11" and those we lostMany of us remember the very moment when we first heart of it- for several hours we could hardly breathe• we watched endless reruns of two airliners, smash...
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...