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Are you an undercover lover?
LECTIONARY REFLECTION FOR MAY 2, 2010
It’s easy to be a concealed Christian, an undercover lover, loving in ways that are comfortable for you and for me. It’s easy to sing the old hymn “I love to tell the Story†when everyone else knows the story and lukewarm is the temperature of the day. Jesus asks—no commands—more of his disciples.

So Tell Me, Do You Love Jesus?
In this week’s assigned Gospel reading, Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved him. Jesus’s responses to Peter’s affirmations tell a lot about the path of discipleship Jesus asks us to walk.

You Get What You Pay For – Sometimes More!
Your first idea for replacing a washer and dryer may be that high-end appliance store. But that’s only the first step on a journey to making purchase with economy, simplicity and justice, as SOLI editor and columnist Sharron R. Lucas found out.

Dawn of the Resurrected Dead
Why think of a 1970s horror film at Easter? We need to take a close look at how we script this story, especially for those who haven’t experienced the radical love and grace of our amazing God.

Why Stuff Sticks Around
Having pared down all of her family belongings to what would fit in two compact sedans and a couple boxes, SOLI editor and columnist Sharron R. Lucas has a pretty good idea why it’s hard to get rid of “stuff” in our lives. She shares her observations, which are spot-on.

Casting Call for Passion/Palm Sunday & Holy Week
The story of Christ’s passion is compelling, but all too often we hear it as just that—a story told on the Sunday before Easter, a mere blip on life’s radar screen somewhere between the hosannas and the Easter lamb with mint jelly. This year, make a dramatic improvement.

A ReNEWed Creation
Even though we’re still very much a consumer culture, nowadays it’s cool to recycle, reuse and re-value stuff others might throw away. Jesus did that with people. Jesus saw worth in everyone. He knew the truth that God created everything good. Of course quite predictably, he encountered resistance from members of polite society.

Understanding the Dynamics of Faith
“If stewardship is really a faith issue, how do we understand the dynamics of faith?” So begins Keith Mundy in this essay about different stages of a faith journey. The ELCA’s Assistant Director for Stewardship offers a good starting point for further exploration.