Author: Bill Carroll

Where is Jesus’ parable of the dishonest steward taking us?

Because of his baptism, water is forevermore a sign of his death and resurrection, of forgiveness, of discipleship, and of the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Truly, when we are washed in the font, Jesus himself baptizes us, with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Every birth—especially that of Jesus—is also a kind of death.  The arrival of a child disrupts our plans and ambitions and rearranges our priorities.  It shows us our need for each other.  It also shows us the true nature of power and authority, which is love.

Christians have no monopoly on Truth.  And yet we do have a true testimony to the One who is the Truth.  For us, the Truth is not a rule book, nor a set of true doctrines, but a Person.

But vestments mean more than looking pretty, don’t they?  The beauty of our worship is meant to invite us to share in the beauty of God.  As the Psalm says, we are to “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” 

I am convinced that we are all exiles (one way or another).  And so, we need GOD to show us the Way home.

We ask God to help us overcome everything within us that divides us from God and each other—yes, even from our own true selves. 

The truth may not matter much to us—but it does matter to Jesus, who is himself the Truth.  And so, everyone who “belongs to the truth listens to his voice.”

There are spiritual forces of wickedness at work in the world today:  racism, xenophobia, hatred, division, violence, and despair, to name a few.  All of them are stronger than we are–or at least stronger than any us acting alone. But none is more powerful than GOD. 

Christianity is about more than just being forgiven. When Jesus raises us from sin and death and makes us his friends, this is only the beginning of our lifelong journey into holiness and freedom.