The Nexus Podcast

We're At The Wrong Tree (S15 Episode19)

Folks, I have been both excited and nervous about this one for months. Finally, we arrive at Jesus' teaching and instructions around how we evaluate other people. “Do not judge” is one of Jesus’ most famous lines. But is it really that simple? I mean, a few verses later Jesus seems to contradict himself with talk of some people being like dogs, pigs, wolves, or sheep. It is time to get into the weeds with this one and it promises to be interesting. What does not “judging” others really mean?

Now, I think it goes without saying that when we consider judgmental people, resident curmudgeon and wordsmith, Glenn Pascoe, immediately comes to mind. And so, to showcase the pervasive temptation we all feel to cast judgment on others, I have asked Glenn to share about the many petty judgments that occupy his mind. I am sure that will be a treat for all of us, and no doubt take some of the pressure off.

From there, we are headed to the trees! It turns out that in considering what it means to evaluate others and discern wisely in life, Scripture provides us two modes of being by way of tree metaphor. And from what I can tell, we tend to spend much of our time at the wrong tree. Also, because I tend to be foolish, I then want to apply our learning by way of one of the most controversial topics of discussion happening today: transgender debates. Pray for me!

The Futility of Worry (S15 Episode18)

Friends, we have a bit of a different Sunday planned. St. Andrew's is hosting a Potato Soup Lunch at 11:30am in Iona Hall. We are invited to join them. It is a fundraiser for Presbyterian World Service & Development. You can learn more about the lunch below. But this means Iona Hall will be set up with tables and chairs for our service. This should be fun and afford us an opportunity to do things a little differently for one Sunday.

We are continuing through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and the focus of attention turns to worry. According to the American Psychological Association, around 1 in 3 adults are habitual worriers. So, what can Jesus offer us around our propensity to worry?

The Seductive Power Of Mammon (S15 Episode17)

A few weeks ago, after my sermon on generosity, a visitor asked me if Nexus was a health and wealth gospel church. I confess, the question left me stunned and embarrassed. How horrible am I at communicating if someone walked away from Nexus thinking that? But, as luck would have it, Jesus returns to money in his Sermon on the Mount, so I have been gifted an opportunity to make it abundantly clear that Nexus is NOT a health and wealth gospel church.

You see, we have entered a new section of Jesus’ most famous sermon. It begins with talk about storing up treasures and why you can’t serve God and Mammon. I can’t wait to get into it, though, the journey will take us on an unexpected course.

So, we will begin by defining our relationship with money, before confronting the three questions no one has ever asked you. Then, we will need to talk sports app gambling, why the actor Jim Carey seems to have lost his marbles, Black Swan Events, a Dragons Den deal made on September 5, 2001, why one particular question at Chats & Chocolate seemed to stump everyone, why I feel the need to make a defense on behalf of the rich, and of course three practices for resisting the Mammon god. Phew, should be a fun, and I hope thoughtful, exploration of our relationship with money. 

The Secrets We Keep (S15 Episode16)

In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has instructed us on how to pursue the flourishing life by way of properly practicing our virtues. This Sunday, Jesus gives instructions around fasting.

Now, it isn’t immediately obvious to the most casual observer how fasting contributes to spiritual formation. Which means of course, we will need to unlock this riddle by way of contemplation on the nature of dogs. So, that will be something.

But beyond the actual fasting question, there is something amidst Jesus’ instructions that is easy to miss. In terms of giving, prayer, and fasting, Jesus commends doing them all, in SECRET. Strange.

Secrets are a fascinating thing. I am going to need your help on Sunday unravelling a true mystery. When someone says to you, “I need to tell you a secret, but you can’t tell anyone,” does anyone truly mean ANYONE? Turns out, the nature of secrecy just might help us unlock a deeper layer of meaning in Jesus’ advice for finding the Good Life.

We are going to need to talk about secrets, why having a dog taught me about fasting, and, of course, why Sponge Bob SquarePants may hold the secret to secrets.

Lord's Prayer Expanded

Jake - Lord's Prayer Song

Why Pray? It's Not What You Think (S15 Episode15)

The Lord’s Prayer is so ubiquitous in Western culture that the average person on the street could probably recite at least parts of it. In fact, the Lord’s prayer was only taken out of Canadian schools in 1988. That isn’t so long ago…wait…actually, that is. That is 37 years ago. Sheesh, where does the time go, eh?

Anywho, Jesus gives us a simple recipe for prayer. Before that, he cautions about using prayer as a publicity stunt or to barter with God. But here is the thing, those two things aren’t our challenge with prayer. Mostly our struggle with prayer is we don’t know WHY we should pray. Does it have utilitarian value? Should that even be the benchmark? We don’t know WHY we should pray, therefore we often don’t know HOW to pray. I hope to offer something of value on this front.

Christmas Eve Reflections

Another Road Home (S15 Episode13)

Well, it is our final Sunday before Christmas and that means lots of great stuff for this Sunday. We are having a “Sweet Sunday” so we are hoping everyone might be willing to bring in some Christmas cookies or things of that nature. The kids will be presenting us with a Christmas pageant, which of course means a whole lot of chaotic cuteness. And then there is music and another Advent reflection on top of that.

For my part, I want to reflect on the Magi who are warned in a dream to return home by a different road. I find a deep resonance with this story, and I think you will as well. 

Angels Working Overtime (S15 Episode13)

The Advent/Christmas season is upon us which means it is time for some stranger things. This fall we have been laser focused on the ethical aspects of the Jesus Path. For this season though, we are going to need to explore some seriously weird ideas. The Christmas story is so familiar to us, it is easy to miss that every aspect of the Christmas story includes a most quizzical character - angels. Why are they so prevalent in this part of Scripture?

Fair warning, this Sunday will be stranger than most. I will need to tell you some peculiar stories, like the one about the guy who stared me straight in the eye while claiming to have encountered a Sasquatch, or the hitchhiker prone to seizures, how on the side of an Ohio road I met an angel with alcohol on his breath, and of course the one time I was able to role play an angel in disguise. When you are trying to speak of the Jesus Path as a reasonable way of life, angels don’t get mentioned much. But sometimes the weird stuff is exactly what we need in times like these.