The whole point of today is to remind us that God shows up in our world and in our lives - and not just in long lists and immaculately wrapped presents; not just in the big, festive holidays we get stressed out over, no. God gives love now.

The Parable of the Sower always gives those listening a dirty mind.

Jesus sounds like a grumpy old man!

…there is one specific thing that Jesus mentions to pull us out of the unfocused, generic “welcome.” And that is a cup of cold water.

Today we hear the list of the Twelve disciples. And when we hear those names read aloud, we may wonder how in the world we fit into all this.

One of the best things about reading through Paul’s letter to the Romans for the past few weeks is that we see exactly how deep and robust the Christian faith is.

God has Cat Grace.

“Through faith, for faith.”

As we pick up the story here in chapter 10, many of you may be thinking, “what in the world does that mean?”

Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

And, might I say, it’s about time.