The Trouble with Jesus: Water becomes Wine and Wine becomes his blood. Only his blood could reverse that which would separate all who have breathed from the God who gives breath.

Here we are, the first full week of a new year, and do we ever need one. Sure, much has happened that we didn’t see coming, but we’re almost too familiar with that now. The thing is, are we willing to accept, buy into, focus on what that means? Will we have influence, impact, or at least be open to any newness of life in the coming months? Or again, will we passively accept what has been without resolution to change? Life must be positioned for change. Prepare to Pivot.

The Trouble with Jesus: Most of the world thinks religion is meant to tell people how to find God. No wonder it doesn’t ring true for most. Magi tell the other side of the story. God comes to find us in quiet, unseen or unexpected ways

The Trouble with Jesus: he comes as a God whose love will change and consume one’s soul to the point of being reborn.

We never get what we want for Christmas. That’s what we think God should do, and almost always, God never does...In a real way though, this is likely the closest to God’s Christmas we may ever know. If we are still as church mice on Christmas Night, we just might see a strange sight through the frosted windowpanes of our souls. God shows up, not how we want, not bringing us all we want. God’s plan is not to fix everything that is wrong in the world, but to meet all the wrong in the world with Love.

Well, isn’t this just jolly. No matter that we’re still trying to get around life and not be sidelined by mysterious drone sightings, people getting shot just walking down a street, or watching dictators fall only to create a vacuum for power. The world daily has some kind of crisis that needs attention. Noooo. People keep acting like they’ve got to get ready for the Big Day and all the festivities that cover for the stress of the season. For the love of God, give it up and tend to what really matters.

So, JTB, have you ever heard it said, Don’t kill the messenger? Sorry, desert-dweller, but if you keep up with this talk of “the ax of God” and “never-ending fire,” well, don’t say you weren’t warned. Somebody’s going to be gunning for you. So much for all this Good News you’re supposed to be shouting about. Geez, guy, the holidays are coming. Lighten up! Let’s clear this up right way. Good News doesn’t necessarily mean what you want to hear...

John’s proclamation though was not feel-good, you’re trying your best, and everything is going to be ok. Parroting the old scriptures with high energy may make for an emotional ride, but it doesn’t last. People need what they can hold close and carry away with them.

Jesus, we’ve said this before and still you just don’t get it. Here we are at the time of the year when we should be all bright and merry, and you come on with this end-of-the-world rant. Can’t you just join the party and make happy? We’ve had enough of bad news for too long.