Jesus knows this is risky work, to proclaim a message of love and justice, to cast out the demons that possess the world is risky business. Might it be that the reign of God requires a bit of risky business.

Simeon and Anna, are a model for us and our experience of the gospel.

Mary and Joseph were just settling in to married life. Perhaps, they were finally getting excited about the baby. When out of the blue a Roman solider showed up in Nazareth and announced the census.

Mary is scared. She has just been told that she will give birth to the Christ child. She needs someone to confide in; someone who will understand. The Bible says she goes "with haste" to see Elizabeth.

Joseph was a humble carpenter who grew up living in the shadow of Herod's palace. Herod's legacy is one of self serving nastiness. Joseph's legacy is one of humble service to God.

Mary was from the small, insignificant, town of Nazareth. What does it tell us about God that God choose such an unknown town as the hometown of Jesus mother?

Giving to our church is not paying our dues. It is an act of worship. From the beginning, God's people have given offerings as a way to worship and thank God.

As we seek to use our finances wisely, we need to cultivate contentment, learn to give things away, to use things up before buying new items, and to use our money for the things we truly value.

The prodigal son was a careless consumer. Unlike him, we are called to spend our money with purpose.

Most of the time we think of salvation as “going to heaven when you die” but the biblical picture of salvation is much broader. Salvation is healing. It is movement from fragmentation to wholeness. It is like going from being blind to seeing.