Jesus was actively engaged in Temple life. He asked questions, challenging ideas, and listened to the rabbis.
He wanted to learn and grow.
Faith is about questions and doubts. It is about listening to those who have studied and experienced beyond our circle.
Even in his tweens, Jesus understood this.
Open your hearts and minds to God. Accept that our growth and learning require discomfort. Be willing to let go of and add-on to the way you thought it was.
God beckons us along a new path. Let us grow and follow, follow, and grow. Amen.
Tim strives to share God’s extravagant love for all–no matter what & without strings. Seeking to follow the lure of the Spirit, Tim writes about what it means to be a follower of Jesus in an era where Christianity has come to be associated with hatred and political wedge issues. “Heinous things have been said & done (& still are) in the name of the One who breathed in the Divine,” notes Tim, “but Jesus shows us that God loves extravagantly.” Following the teachings and life of Jesus is about inclusion not exclusion. It is about compassion, grace, and admitting no one has all the answers. It is about responding lovingly to the best of our human ability. It is about people not institutions. It is about social justice. It is about caring for creation. It is about being who we were each created to be. Tim is a former early childhood educator, a runner, a hiker, a devoted husband, father of two adult children and their spouses, and a grandfather of four perfect grandchildren. Tim serves as Lead Pastor of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Albany, Oregon. He writes from home, from the coffee shop, and wherever the trail leads him.
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