Parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:19-31) and Jesus telling us to forgive (Matt 18:21-25) and how hard is it when God makes a way for us, but we don't always want to take it.  However, we are promised some amazing hope this week, and given practical tools to live out that hope in our congregation and our lives. 

How does Jesus ask us to communicate in churches? Does prayer matter?  Find out in this sermon based on Matthew 18:15-20.  

The cross is hard.  Sometimes I don't want to take it up and follow Jesus.  Sometimes I don't want to lose my life and gain it.  Often, I don't even know what that means.  Listen for stories of people who did just that throughout history.  Sermon based on Matthew 16: 21-28.  Comment below with your thoughts.  Are you able to be a disciple of Jesus and take up a cross?  What will be hard about that, and how can work through those hard parts?  Let me know!  

What does the Gospel reading from Matthew 16:13-20 have to do with Blueberries?  Where are you at on this chart?  Let us know in the comments!

How do we ghost out Jesus?  What does it mean to seek the real Jesus?  Find out below.  Based on Matthew 14:22-33.  Why are we as Christians called to do something about the sin of white supremacy?  

If after listening to this, you need to do something, here are some options:
1.  Join Safety Pin Box
2. Give to Black Women Being
​3.Support the Black women and femmes on this site who are hurting the most because of white supremacy and the intersections of oppressions.  Can you sponsor one of them?  
4. Read a book by a Person of Color.
5. Learn something about racism: Read, Listen, Attend.
6. Ask me for more!   
7.  Try to move your guilt, reactions, surprise, and whatever other white feels you have into materially improving the lives of those most affected, learning more, and staying in the fight against white supremacy for the long haul.  This has been going on for generations, and while it feels new to many of us, we couldn't see or know it before.  You can help and learn.  Do it!
I'm headed out to a vigil, feel free to add more in the comments.  
8. SupportBlack Lives Matter Charolettesville
9. Support the Black man brutally beaten by the white supremacists on hisfunding link.  The white lady who died, Heather, already has over 6 figures for her family.  You show up against hate by having equal sympathy and equally resourcing the Black man who got beaten.  

If you do something, please write that here in the comments.

Also, feel free to comment on these questions:

Also, feel free to answer this question: Had you ever thought about the effect of turning Jesus into a ghost before, making him translucent, whitewashing him?  What does it mean that the people in Charlottesville called themselves Christians?  Could our pictures of our white Jesus' in our church be a small part of the problem?  What if we had spoken up when those people were kids who sitting next to us in our pews?  How does Jesus provide hope for us as disciples?  How are we forgiven and make it better?  

Remember, that a White American Terrorist group mostly made up of Christians killed and injured people in Charlottesville.  So unless you are going to hate all white people, all Christians, or all Americans from now on and harass them on the subways and call out slurs in the streets, you can't do it to Muslim terrorists, either.  Terrorists are terrorists and extremists are extremists, and they don't speak for all of their group.  

How understanding our place, Jacob's place, and Jesus' place all leads us to become better disciples and to trust ourselves, each other, and God.  Based on Matthew 14:13-21 and Genesis 32:22-3.

Where do you find God?  Where can we find God?  What do weeds have to do with this?  I also comment on what and who church is for in this sermon.  Are you part of the community of God? Where do you need to grow?

Two twins are fighting the the room, and their Mom asks, "Why, God?"  God answers her.  Listen here to find out how, and how it applies to the life of the church today.  Is there room for everyone?  Preached at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church on 7-16-17 on Genesis 25:19-34 bracketed by the words of Jesus in ​Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23.

Sermon preached on Genesis 24:24-38, 42-49, 58-67, including Matthew 11.16-18, 25-30
Yes, I am posting this a week late.  Pastors are human!  Stay tuned on facebook for more sermons.