Intertwined - faith • community • ecology

What happened when Moses sent spies into Canaan? What might our promised land look like? What keeps us from reaching it?

"This is why we can't have nice things" is based on Numbers 14:13-24

But Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for in your might you brought up this people from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, for you, O LORD, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands ov...

Who did Jesus heal? How do we decide who to help? When do we need to reach out?

"Save the whales or save the seeds?" is based on Matthew 8:1-17

When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him, and there was a man with a skin disease who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be made clean!” Immediately his skin disease was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, “Se...

What does it mean to be humbled? What's good about being humble? Why is humility sometimes elusive?

"Being humbled or being humble?" is based on Numbers 12

While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had indeed married a Cushite woman), and they said, “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth. Suddenly the...

Did Jesus sometimes talk like a comedian? What happens when we judge? What is the "Golden Rule?"

"Did Jesus sound like Jerry Seinfeld?" is based on Matthew 7:1-14

Works Referenced

Atkin, Emily. "Air pollution denial is now EPA policy." Heated. January 13, 2026. https://heated.world/p/air-pollution-denial-is-now-epa-policy

Boring, M. Eugene. “The Gospel of Matthew.” In New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume VII. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015.

Case-Winters, Anna. Matthew: A Theological Commentary on the Bible (Belief: a Theological Commentary on the Bible). Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015. Kindle edition.

Castle...

Is our society fair? What would make it fair? What is a jubilee year? 

"Will 2026 offer you a reset?" is based on Leviticus 25:1-12

The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land shall observe a Sabbath for the LORD. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in their yield, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the lan...

Why talk about the teachings of Jesus at Christmastime? How do his teachings create stories? What stories are Jesus-followers writing in our community?

"No manger? No problem." is based on Matthew 6:14-24

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

“And whenever you fast, do not look somber, like the hypocrites, for they mark their faces to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when...

Is everything in the Bible equally relevant? Should we want to be holy? What does that mean?

"O Holy..." is based on Leviticus 19:1-19

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
“Speak to all the congregation of the Israelites and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. You shall each revere your mother and father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. Do not turn to idols or make cast images for yourselves: I am the LORD your God.
“When you offe...

What makes you trust someone? How should you react to someone abusing their authority? Is nonviolence more powerful than violence?

"That time Jesus said not to swear" is based on Matthew 5:1-16 

Works Referenced

Beelman, Maud. “U.S. contractors reap the windfalls of post-war reconstruction.” International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. May 7, 2012. https://www.icij.org/investigations/windfalls-war/us-contractors-reap-windfalls-post-war-reconstruction-0/ 

Case-Winters, Anna. Matthew: A Theological Commentary on the Bible (Belief: a Theological Commentary on the Bible). Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015. Kindle edition.

Comstock, Lori. “Why are flags at half-staff today? H...

What makes something sacred? What is a worship space for? How do you encounter the divine?

"Creating a sacred space together" is based on Exodus 35:30-36:7

Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; he has filled him with a divine spirit, with ability, intelligence, and knowledge, and with every kind of skill, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, in every kind of artistic cr...

What was the Sermon on the Mount? Are the Beatitudes commandments? Who was Jesus speaking to when he shared them?

"Jesus climbed a mountain, and you won't believe what happened next" is based on Matthew 5:1-16

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for the...

How many commandments are there in the Bible? Are the Ten Commandments more important than the others? What did Jesus say about the Ten Commandments?

"More than ten commandments" is based on Exodus 20:3-11.

You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your Go...

What did John the Baptist mean when he called people to repent? What is the rapture? What is the chaff that will be burned in "unquenchable fire?" Should we repent? If so, how?

"What does repentance look like?" is based on Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make...

How did the Israelites escape slavery in Egypt? What can we learn from violent scripture passages? When is it time to walk away from a harmful system?

"Taking a step toward dry ground" is based on Exodus 14:19-31

The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit...

Why was there a riot in Ephesus when Paul was there? What systems does the gospel threaten? Why is it hard to break out of societal and personal patterns?

"Imagining something else" - based on Acts 19:21-41

Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, “After I have gone there, I must also see Rome.” So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia...

What is the sabbath for? What does it look like when we recover the posture we were created to occupy? What breaches are we called to repair?

"Repairing and preparing" is based on Luke 13:10-17

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he l...

Did Aaron's staff turn into a serpent or a sea monster? Why did God turn the Nile River to blood? What happens when powerful people claim God's creation as a resource to be exploited?

"Sages, sorcerers, and sea monsters" is based on Exodus 7:8-25

Works Referenced

Brueggemann, Walter. “Exodus.” In New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume I. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015.

The Carbon Almanac. “A Lottery For A Visa Due To Climate Change.” The Daily Difference. July 31, 2025. https://thecarbonalmanac.org/a-lottery-for-a-visa-due-to-climate-change

Dozeman, Thomas B. Exodus. (Eerdmans Critical Commentary). Grand Rapi...

Why did Paul cast a spirit from a fortune teller? Why were he and Silas thrown in prison? What is the connection between the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit and the flooding in Texas? When is it time to speak up?

"Now is the exact right time to talk about this" is based on Acts 16:16-40

Works Referenced

Atkin, Emily. “He helped Microsoft build AI to help the climate. Then Microsoft sold it to Big Oil.” Heated. July 17, 2025. https://heated.world/p/he-helped-microsoft-build-ai-to-help 

Cann, Harrison. “Report: Pennsylvania ranked fourth nationally in greenho...

Why did God choose Moses to lead the Israelites from slavery? Was Moses a solid choice? What religion was Moses before the burning bush? By what name did the LORD choose to be called?

"An unlikely choice" is based on Exodus 3:1-15

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness and came to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was...

How was James the disciple killed? Why was Peter arrested by Herod? How should we decide where we place our loyalty?

"Be wary of who you serve" is based on Acts 12:1-19

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to...

How did the pharaoh "other" the Israelites? Who stopped the Hebrew babies from being killed? When is it okay to lie?

"An exodus from violence" is based on Exodus 1:8-22.

Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppr...

What were the economics of early Christians? Is anyone smited in the New Testament? What does it mean to hold things in common?

"Ideal Economics" is based on Acts 4:32-5:11

Works Referenced

Armas, Kat. "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others." National Catholic Reporter. February 1, 2025. https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/jd-vance-wrong-jesus-doesnt-ask-us-rank-our-love-others

Jenkins, Jack. "Shane Claiborne, Four Other Faith Activists Arrested While Protesting GOP Budget Bill." The Roys Report. May 6, 2025. https://julieroys.com/shane-claiborne-four-other-faith-activists-arrested-protesting-gop-budget-bill/

Jennings, Willie James. Acts. (BELIEF...

Who was Koheleth? Why did Ecclesiastes almost not make it into the Bible? How does Ecclesiastes address life's big questions?

"Koheleth and kairos" is based on Ecclesiastes 3:9-22

What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for...

When did Jesus make breakfast for his disciples? Does John's gospel have two endings? What was Jesus' last miracle? What is your call?

"Called to abundance" is based on John 21:1-14.

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and...

What is a proverb? Does wisdom change with time? Where does wisdom come from? Is wisdom more important than intelligence?

"A case for natural wisdom" is based on Proverbs 1

Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
Give heed to my reproof;
I will po...

Who is our Advocate? When should we go outside? What were Jesus' final words to his disciples? Did he ever stay inside?

"But sometimes we stay inside" is a reflection on John 14:15-31

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
“I will...

Who was Jacob? What happens when two master tricksters face off? Are relationships more important than being right? Where are you unwilling to compromise?

"White sticks, speckled sheep, and a pile of rocks" is a reflection based on Genesis 30:25-43.

Works Referenced

Brueggemann, Walter. Genesis. (Interpretation: a Bible commentary for teaching and preaching). Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1982.

De La Torre, Miguel A. Genesis. BELIEF: A Theological Commentary on the Bible). Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011. Kindle edition.

Fretheim, Terence E. “Genesis.” In New Interpreter’s Bibl...

What did Jesus write on the ground when some men were determined to stone a woman to death? What truth did Jesus want the people to know? What is the Enneagram? How does a Jesus follower stay committed in the face of discouragement?

"Why I rearrange the dishwasher (and when I shouldn’t)" is a reflection based on John 8.

John 8:31-38

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make...

How old is the concept of hospitality? When should we offer hospitality and to whom? Why were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? Who was Abraham?

"Father Abraham had seven sons . . . and a lot of issues" is based on Genesis 18:17-21.

The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the wa...

What is mercy? Why would someone have a problem with it? What happens when you invite Jesus to join you for a conversation?

"The problem with mercy" is a reflection on John 3:19-21.

And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it...

Which creation account came first? What is your creation story? What is our purpose in being here? How should we relate to God, to one another, and to the rest of creation? 

"What if Genesis 2 came first?" is based on Genesis 2:4b-9.

In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no vegetation of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to til...

How is Jesus the Word? How long has he been around? How much God could fit into the human body of Jesus? How much of God’s knowledge could Jesus hold in his human brain?

"How much God could Jesus hold?" is based on John 1:1-18.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, an...

Are we in a period of challenges? What makes you feel safe? Was the prophet Micah talking about Jesus? Do you see reason for hope, peace, joy, and love this season? 

"Peace, security, and shalom" is based on Micah 5:2-5a.

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
w...

Who among us sit in darkness? Against what backdrop do we live our lives? Why does cryptocurrency matter? How do we find our way to peace in this holiday season?

"Peace against a dark backdrop" is based on Luke 1:68-79

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us
in the house of his child David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be...

How do people in crisis find a way forward? What is an apocalypse? In what direction is the world headed? Does justice win in the end?

"Envisioning a path forward . . . for all times" is based on Daniel 7 & Revelation 1

Works Referenced

Carey, Greg. “Revelation.” NT100: Introduction to the New Testament (class lecture, Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA, February 7, 2020).

Carey, Greg. Ultimate Things: An Introduction to Jewish and Christian Apocalyptic Literature. St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press, 2005.

Corey, Benjamin L. “Could American Evangelicals Spot the Antichrist? Here Are the Biblical Predictions.” Formerly Fundie...

What did Jesus say about the widow who gave her last two coins? What did Jesus say about the scribes? Where should we focus our efforts toward positive change? How are people feeling about the presidential election?

"Giving all you have . . . to live on" is based on Mark 12:38-44.

As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for...

What or who do you think of when  you hear the word "priest"? Who were the high priests? Do we have a high priest? How should the role of pastor evolve today?

"Leveling (up) the priesthood" is based on Hebrews 7:23-28.

Furthermore, the former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For i...

"The thing that’s just within your reach" is based on Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 & Mark 10:17-31

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. You shall not defraud. Honor your father and mother.’ ” He said to him, “Teacher...

When is it okay to kill a lot of people? How do the stories we tell ourselves sometimes lead to violence? How can we work within broken systems to promote survival?

"The stories that help us kill" is based on Esther 7:1-10; 9:20-22.


References

Collins, John J. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible: Third Edition (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2018), Kindle edition.

Death Penalty Information Center. “Facts about the Death Penalty.” Accessed September 25, 2024. https://dpic-cdn.org/production/documents/pdf/FactSheet.pdf.

Fentress-Williams, Judy. “Esther.” In Fortress Commentary on the Bible: The Old Test...

Was Jesus a manly man? Does that matter? Is there a temptation to make Jesus who we want him to be? What does it mean to be ashamed of Jesus?

"Ashamed of Jesus?" is based on Mark 8:27-38

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You ar...

Where does generosity come from? Is there enough for everyone? Did James barely make it into the Bible? What do we know that Paul didn't?

"What James gets right and Paul gets wrong" is based on James 1:17-27.

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave birth to us by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of...