tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32006050858773485902024-03-13T10:41:41.010-07:00The Radical ReformerImportant but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life.Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-7182153918535475102019-07-29T17:11:00.000-07:002019-07-29T17:11:01.151-07:00Bad Faith
Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.
“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-25132543571033699982019-07-26T16:00:00.000-07:002019-07-26T16:00:12.826-07:00More Faith-ful Than Thou
i.
Arius was a teacher in Alexandria, Egypt in the third and fourth centuries. The centuries of persecution of Christians just ended which gave him the opportunity to really focus on what he really loved: He loved to really dig into Christian theology and work out the logical ideas. But he wasn’t too enamored of the influence of Greek philosophy in Christianity and he would warnSteve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-74072827277535127252019-07-24T15:36:00.000-07:002019-07-24T15:36:13.682-07:00If Faith were a Song, What Would It Sound Like (please, not George Michael)
A word does not have a meaning. I mean they do, but sometimes the meaning of a word is vague, fuzzy, or it hits many things. Linguists do not usually speak of a “definition” of a word, but of a “range of meanings.” A word is like a nebula. Sure, it is an entity, but what exactly is it? It has a lot of Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-11613580764442915112019-04-18T20:49:00.000-07:002019-04-18T20:49:01.389-07:00Exalting Oneself
“A man planted a vineyard.He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant to them; they struck Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-71130966026797320492019-04-10T12:30:00.000-07:002019-04-15T20:22:35.235-07:00The Tree of Sustenance
Suppose you were watching a movie with a lot of cultural reference jokes. Let’s say, Shrek.
You are watching Shrek except that you never have read a single fairy tale. So the whole movie
references fairy tale after fairy tale, children’s story after children’s story. They make a Pinocchio joke,
a Snow White reference, characters from the three little pigs, and you don’t get any Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-33870387608577581152019-01-14T21:19:00.000-08:002019-01-14T21:19:01.629-08:00Was Jesus Racist?
Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-63098632721887812322019-01-10T21:04:00.000-08:002019-01-10T21:04:12.014-08:00Salvation in Ancient Times (and today)
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. Isaiah 61:1-2
One of the main hopes that Isaiah gives us is freedom from this oppression. Over time, when oppression became suchSteve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-91847038507911676912019-01-07T20:58:00.000-08:002019-01-07T20:58:41.128-08:00The Four Spiritual Laws of Moses
Let’s talk about the four spiritual laws.
Not Bill Bright’s four spiritual laws. He’s one of those people who are guilty of spiritualizing real issues people deal with every day. No, I’m going to talk about Moses’ four spiritual laws. These spiritual laws are what forms the backbone of most of the Bible, including the teaching of Jesus. So let’s get to them and you’ll see Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-30678685253772166142018-12-16T16:37:00.000-08:002018-12-16T16:37:10.611-08:00Jesus Doing Politics
Once upon a time there was a nation at war. They killed many children and many others were injured with disabilities that they would suffer from all of their lives. Some would have cancer, some were physically disabled, others were to live with trauma haunting their memories, others would commit suicide because of all they have lost. Tired of living this way, the children Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-23175018854142020972018-12-12T16:19:00.000-08:002018-12-12T16:19:04.375-08:00The Politics of Baptism
Nelson Mandela of South Africa spent 18 years in prison on Robben Island. Robben, isn’t Dutch for Robbers, but for “seal” because before they built a prison there, the island was covered with seals. When Mandela was released from that prison, that meant a new opportunity for himself and for South Africa, a new future. To symbolize that event, there is a swim that happens every Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-42505887782573761332018-12-09T16:11:00.000-08:002018-12-09T16:11:03.092-08:00Jesus' Political Theory (in Context)
“After John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15
I just want to let you know, before I begin on this story, that I’m not really a fan of sports and especially not boxing. But here goes, anyway.
In the 18th centurySteve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-16323049520407598932018-12-05T15:57:00.000-08:002018-12-05T15:57:16.184-08:00Lepers: Jesus the Outreach Worker
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-49955064596992990532018-09-15T20:03:00.000-07:002018-09-15T20:03:09.756-07:00Jesus the Outreach Worker
If we are going to understand something, we have to know the context.If we use the word "bear" does it mean "to carry" or does it mean "a large hairy beast that wants to eat your face off"? It's important to understand which meaning. And we understand by the context around the word.In the ancient world there was a group of proto-monks called "the desert fathers and mothers" who lived in Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-72988067273338348532018-09-12T19:30:00.003-07:002018-09-12T19:30:49.544-07:00Saving the Bible
1. Don't Break the Sabbath
Once upon a time there were people who took the ten commandments really seriously. So seriously, in fact, they not only didn't want people to disobey these laws, they didn't want them to get close to breaking these laws. So they created laws which made the laws bigger. And they created laws around those so they wouldn't break those laws, just in Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-35158298560176642812018-09-02T08:38:00.000-07:002018-09-02T08:38:00.730-07:00The Discarded Bottle
This is the first morning I awoke in my new community. I am in the process of moving from Portland Oregon to Eugene Oregon, to be pastor in a new congregation. I'm nervous, because for the last twenty years I've been the pastor of a homeless congregation with middle class people in it and now I am a pastor of a middle class congregation that will (hopefully) have homeless folks in Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-8926934843576096992018-08-22T16:11:00.004-07:002018-08-22T16:11:37.827-07:00A Crisis of Authority
Jesus was anti-authoritarian.
His policy on leadership is well known."You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.  Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-82537768126515843962018-08-19T12:11:00.000-07:002018-08-19T12:11:35.246-07:00Welcoming the Homeless: A Practical Guide
It's easy to find verses about welcoming the homeless.It was common practice in the ancient Mediterranean World to invite strangers into their home and to welcome immigrants to live on a property.Jesus said that to welcome on of the "least of these" into our home is to be welcoming him.Hebrews, John and James all recommend taking in people without a home and "show hospitality" which means Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-24428225439398726642018-08-03T10:24:00.000-07:002018-08-03T10:24:05.250-07:00A Note About My Family's Work
My family is leaving Portland, Oregon after working here for the last quarter century with folks on the street. This month, I will be switching my focus to another city in Oregon, but I've been taking a time to reflect. I want to summarize the work we've done so those reading this blog understand a bit of the background that creates the thoughts that make this blog.
My family has been Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-84725836701903818272018-08-02T08:54:00.000-07:002018-08-02T08:54:08.136-07:00A Tale of Two Angels
It
begins with two spiritual beings, walking down a dusty road. Their bellies are full, their souls happy
from having spend the afternoon with Abraham, known for his generous
hospitality. But they head to Sodom,
which is rumored not to be as gregarious.
After a half day of walking, they enter the city, to coincidentally meet
Abraham’s nephew, Lot, who urges them… desperately urgesSteve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-64162758278455046072018-07-30T08:51:00.000-07:002018-07-30T08:51:29.231-07:00Whatever Happened to Sodom?
There
are some less-than-subtle preachers telling us that God hates homosexuals so
much that he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah to give us a permanent example of
what God does to societies that accept homosexuality.
Hmm, let’s examine this.
The story of Sodom in Genesis 19 really begins in the previous chapter when
three angels (one of them the angel of the Lord) strolls by Abraham’s
tent. Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-61613061443266963642018-07-27T08:48:00.001-07:002018-07-27T08:48:47.783-07:00Compassion Begins With Empathy
I love those brave souls who decide to spend a night or two
homeless so they can understand what they go through. I was one myself. I had my houseless friend take me out, get me
a place to camp out, and I didn’t sleep well, I walked a lot and hung out in
soup kitchens with a lot of folks that made me uncomfortable. And I must apologize to my old self and all
who decide to Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-74692598157232415042018-05-30T14:13:00.001-07:002018-05-30T14:13:13.682-07:00Human Sovereignty
I love the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis. In those three volumes, he allows us to explore ideas of how God might rule in other worlds, and how they might speculatively affect our broken world. Especially the first, Out of the Silent Planet, plays with the idea of how a world might look if there was no divide between the creature and the Creator, between the physical and spiritual.&Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-20850809577570241822018-05-22T13:45:00.001-07:002018-05-22T13:45:53.128-07:00Envy and Class Isolationism
I guess I'm some kind of lecture junkie. I signed up to Audible and at my cleaning job instead of listening to novels, I'm mostly listening to audio versions of The Great Courses. My favorite one so far is the one on Worldwide Mythology, but the ones on neuroscience and philosophy also are favorites.So I'm listening to one on the philosophy of emotions, and I'm nodding my head (Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-8919223226684354902018-04-03T12:53:00.000-07:002018-04-03T12:53:17.149-07:00The Problem With Christian Holidays
Whew.The roller coaster of the Christian calendar is over. It's a lot of work, especially if you are in church leadership. You get prepped for Advent, work hard through Christmas, get a month or so of planning for the next season and then it's Lent and Holy Week and the big event, Easter. It's pretty exhausting.
If you are exhausted, please take a deep breath. You Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3200605085877348590.post-34999853472842424222018-01-01T17:01:00.002-08:002018-01-01T17:01:21.870-08:00White Jesus
There are many Jesus' that people worship. But the one I hear about most frequently is the Jesus of most American churches, the one that is followed by the majority of White American Christians. I heard Aisha Harris call him "White Jesus" on Code Switch the other day.
White Jesus loves his enemies and then kills them.
White Jesus
seeks to obtain and stabilize power, making Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.com0