Celtic Preacher

Shrewd Is Good

There is a tendency in people to allow money to influence us, lead us and ultimately dominate us. There is something about money that has a power of its own. Do you know how to handle this power? Jesus teaches us we need to be shrewd when managing money and our possessions otherwise money will surely dominate us. The Parable of the Shrewd Manager Gospel of Luke 16

How Did I End Up Here?

Jesus, on several occasions, teaches about the reality of finding ourselves lost. It's no surprise to God we find ourselves in situations and messes we cannot fix. We may feel spiritually lost, without a place to belong, and with people who don't know us. We may be in circumstances that cut us off from joy. Sometimes, we make choices that lead us in the wrong direction while at other times we have no idea how we ended up in a place we don't want to be. Jesus teaches two parables in this episode that remind us God is determined to show us we are not forgotten. Text Luke 15. The Lost Coin Parable  Pod 144

When Life Is Spinning Out Of Control

We are living in times of unprecedented change. Sometimes it feels like everything is spinning out of control. "Hold on to that image," Jeremiah the prophet would remind us, because the Divine Potter has a hand in all of this. Any kind of massive change may certainly feel out of our control but there is One shaping us and guiding us through it all.   Text Jeremiah 18.  Pod 143  

Do I Matter In The Grand Scheme Of Things?

We want to matter, be noticed, be liked, admired, and appreciated don't we? Surely, there is nothing wrong with that? Jesus' wisdom is, Yes, it can be problematic if we look to others for something we already have and yet are quite unaware of it.   Text. Gospel of Luke 14 Pod 142  

When Trouble Is Brewing

Trouble in the family or conflict at work or with friends? The division is necessary and expected. Jesus taught that if you are committed to living a life of integrity (wholeness) and being true to yourself you will divide away from anything or anyone that hinders you from moving ahead. Growth of any kind often causes division.  The text is Luke 12 Pod141

Where Did We Get The Idea We Have To Be Perfect?

Trusting God has nothing to do with being some kind of goodie-two shoes, Jesus teaches. Off course, you will make mistakes and sometimes they will be massive ones but that doesn't mean you are not a person of great faith. Trust moves ahead despite fears and mistakes and takes the next step. That's great faith. Hebrews 11. Pod 140

Greed In Disguise Of Need

Money is not the problem for most of us, Jesus teaches. Greed is the problem and we can be unaware of it. When we lack contentment and always want just a little bit more, when we spend our time and energy pursuing more, chances are, greed is urging us forward.   Today we look at Jesus' wisdom on money and possessions in the Parable of the Rich Fool. Pod 139 Luke 12:13-21

Questions About Prayer

Have you ever wondered if your prayers make any difference? Today, we look at Jesus' advice when he is asked by a student, "Teach us how to pray."  If we look at prayer as a way to guide God into acting, Jesus' corrects our understanding and reminds us God doesn't need help knowing what we need. Prayer isn't about encouraging God to do anything. Prayer is for our benefit, not God's. Luke 11 Pod 138 

Stress And Irritation Go Hand In Hand

Jesus uses life's daily irritations in his students' lives to encourage them to step into a new way of relating to people and each other. We can forget we have a choice, especially when certain situations, circumstances, and people ruffle our feathers. The text is Luke 10. Podcast 137

 

I Could Never Love You

Chances are, you don't need a teaching or a parable telling you that God desires you to love and care for people. We already know this, but do we know what to do when we can't love someone? Rather than rationalize and make excuses for ourselves, Jesus teaches another way to live when love is beyond us. 
Luke 10:25-37 Pod 136