Faith in the Cracks
Just like new plants sprout in the cracks of the sidewalk, faith can grow and develop in the cracks of our lives. Whether the cracks are cracks of time in our daily schedule or cracks in our lives from changes, pressure, or life in general, when we allow God's word to seep into the cracks, new things can blossom.
Episodes
118 episodes
Ananias
Ananias appears in the story of the conversion of Saul to Paul. He gets forgotten for his role. He is the one who welcomes Saul even though he is afraid. He is a faithful servant and follows the call of God. Who has acted like Ananias in your l...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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5:46
Agents of LIfe
Peter is one of my favorite disciples. He is bold and brash yet doesn't always understand what he says. He is the one who says he would die for Jesus yet denies Christ three times. Jesus reconciles him on the shore after the resurrection and th...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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6:10
God's Grace at your Left Elbow
A pastor once said this in a sermon. "God's grace is always at your left elbow." Years later that has stuck with me. It was with me through 2 surgeries, I have used it in meeting with others. I pondered this with a couple of people in my congre...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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5:14
The Light after the Darkness
As we arrive at Easter, we have come through the darkness of Holy Week. The tender moments in the upper room replaced with the fear and frenzy of the Passion on Good Friday, although Jesus remains calm. It reminded me of Psalm 23 and that as we...
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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4:19
Holy Week
We have entered Holy Week. The palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna" have faded, and if we rush directly to Easter and "Hallelujah!" we miss so much of the story. Holy Week is hard. In the Gospel of Luke the Triumphal Entry is in chapter 19 and...
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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7:23
Do, Love, Walk
In Micah 6:8 the question is asked "What does the Lord require of you?" The answer is to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. I have met with people from 2 different organizations in my community. The way things a...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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6:33
Temptations in Luke
This Lenten season I have been preaching about temptations as found in Luke's gospel. Luke sends the disciples into a Samaritan village and when they are not welcomed they are ready to fight. Jesus turns anger into grace. At a meal and Jesus wa...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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6:37
Take a Deep Breath
I found out that FDR used to have "Children's Hour" which was a cocktail hour before dinner. It was for close family and friends. The big rule, no business talk. He used the time before dinner to take a deep breath and to relax a bit. We all ne...
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6:22
Fasting and Feasting
In many churches in the world, we are in the season of Lent. The time before Easter for self reflection. Many people give up something during Lent. Others might take on a devotional practice. William Arthur Ward created a litany called Fasting ...
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5:45
Being a Jedi
I once was thrown in to teach a Jr. High Sunday school class. They were studying the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. A Star Wars movie had recently been released so I asked them about the Sith and the Jedi. We agreed that the Fruits of the...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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7:45
Transfiguration
The Transfiguration of Jesus is the text that we read the Sunday before Lent begins. Jesus is changed into his glorified state. But they must come down the mountain and re-engage the world. We too have to re-engage the world, but how can we be ...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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6:09
Stop Signs
While sitting at a 4 way stop, I marveled at how simple and easy they can be when everyone does their part. You come to a stop, wait your turn, then go on your way. No one has to keep watch most of the time, we just stop, wait, then go again. B...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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5:21
Leveling
The Gospel of Luke is about making things level. Jesus meets us where we are. Mary sings a song of resistance that the mighty will be made low. And in Chapter 6 we have the Sermon on the Plain. Jesus speaks about the Kingdom of God being a plac...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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7:02
Soup
Yesterday was the Super Bowl, however it was also The Souper Bowl of Caring. This event has been around for 35 years and has collected over $163 Million dollars. They are now Tackle Hunger, but this is a signature event. It started with a praye...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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7:02
Noisy Gong or Loud Voice
1 Corinthians 13 is often called the love chapter. Part of it is read at weddings. Love is patient, love is kind...but Paul also says that if we speak and have not love we are noisy gong or clanging cymbal. What determines which we are? Does it...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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7:24
The Choices we Make
We all make choices in life. What we choose has consequences. Things happen because of our actions or inactions. Director Jon Chu said in an interview that part 1 of Wicked was about choices and the 2nd part which will be released later in 2025...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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7:39
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
As we celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let us think about what he was calling us to do and to be. He was a prolific speaker and writer. One speech, "The Transformed Non Conformist" caught my attention as to what he was calling Chr...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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7:06
Wildfires
The California Wildfires continue to be deadly and devastating. God is not the cause of the fires. People have been quick to point fingers and assign blame. Everything from government mismanagement, DEI hires, and even the wrath of God. GOD DID...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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7:00
Looking Ahead
The New Year begins in a few days. I am not one for resolutions, but I do think it is wise to reflect on the previous year and what is ahead. I am grateful for all who have journeyed with me and looked for Faith in the Cracks. For me, I want to...
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Season 2
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Episode 51
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4:12
Be Gentle with yourself
This is a busy time of year. It is also a time of year when grief can surface. Take time for yourself. In the midst of the busy-ness of the holidays, take time to listen to yourself. Grieve that which you have lost. Sit with dreams that have go...
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Season 2
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Episode 50
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4:30
Favor with God
In Luke 1, Gabriel visits Zechariah and Mary 6 months apart. Zechariah is filled with terror and he doubts Gabriel tells him. Mary however is perplexed when Gabriel says "Greetings Favored One." She asks questions that show curiosity. The diffe...
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Season 2
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Episode 49
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6:52
Waiting
We are a society of instant gratification. We don't like to wait. I am okay with planned waiting where I know I have an hour or something like that and I can read or play games or whatever. But the long, expectant waiting of Advent is not what ...
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Season 2
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Episode 48
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6:22
What is God up to?
The season of Advent is a time of waiting as we listen once again to the stories surrounding the birth of Jesus. This year I am preaching a series called On the Way to Bethlehem, which is written by Dr. Marcia McFee and based on a devotional bo...
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Season 2
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Episode 47
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5:12