The Nexus Podcast

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.

Reaching Out in Solitude (S15 Episode12)

Last week, we dared to face our loneliness.

We had a great follow-up discussion Tuesday night, sharing times when we have felt the most lonely, and we talked about what helps us feel less lonely. In the sermon this week, we’re considering how our loneliness can serve as a doorway into something that might not sound much better: Solitude. Even worse, the transition from loneliness to solitude is a difficult, challenging journey. So why would we even bother? 

Great question. I encourage you to begin thinking about that - why would you bother? What could be so great about solitude? Why would anyone think that’s a good destination? What’s your relationship with loneliness? With solitude? How are they different?

Listen in as we explore the barriers and benefits, the practicalities and the potential of being “In Solitude”.

The Lonely Road (S15 Episode11)

All humans journey with loneliness, experiencing it in varying degrees, at different times in our lives. We’re in this together. But most of us - all of us? - do NOT enjoy this feeling in any way, and why would we? Most of us usually do everything we can to avoid it. We even avoid talking about the “L” word, or admitting that we are lonely. This is quite reasonable of us, considering how deeply painful and isolating chronic loneliness is. 

And yet…what if loneliness, as soul-sucking as it can be, can offer us something? 

Could the Jesus path include loneliness in ways that are freeing and creative? 

Could it even be a key to the Good Life?

I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we engage with scripture, research, statistics and a meme or two, along with some of my most (un)shining moments of connection and togetherness as we explore this possibility, and dare to face The Lonely Road. 

Enemies Everywhere (S15 Episode10)

Well, this is a bit awkward after the week we have had. I didn’t plan it this way. Or maybe I did? I can’t remember now, but as we continue to pursue the flourishing life, we come to a bridge that may feel too far to pass. Jesus instructs us to “love our enemies.” Of all weeks to head there, this is the one? I am afraid so.

Mark Twain once quipped, “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it’s the parts that I do understand.” That certainly rings true for where we are headed. But this teaching isn’t meant to bother us. Rather, Jesus’ teaching is about directing us to the good life. How in the world does loving enemies lead to flourishing? Well, let’s explore that together on Sunday.

Of Crime & Punishment (S15 Episode9)

Sometimes I feel as though I have the word ‘sucker’ written on my
forehead. Kristen likes to say I am every salesperson’s dream. I
haven’t met an upgrade or extended warranty I have passed on. I
can be easily taken advantage of. Which is why Jesus’ next
teaching about the Good Life initially feels a little disconcerting to
me.
I am referring of course to the “turn the other cheek”
passage in the Sermon on the Mount. It starts with Jesus
referencing one of humanities oldest laws (the eye for eye bit) and
moves to not resisting evil people. The examples Jesus uses to
illustrate what this might look like involve getting slapped twice (at
least), finding yourself naked without any clothes, walking a lot,
and lending a lot of people money. On the surface, it sounds like a
recipe for people like me getting walked all over.
Ah, but naturally, there is whole lot more going on here. And
we are in for quite the ride. We will need to explore the earliest
human laws we have on record and why implementing those laws
still seems beyond us (think Ukraine and the Middle East). I will
need to tell you about the anxiety I experience when getting my oil
changed, my mission to stop Amazon thieves, and what to do
when an elderly couple backs into your car.
We also have plenty of stops to make within Scripture, from
what David did when he caught Saul using the bathroom, to a
question from the apostle Paul that I find to be both wise and hard
to swallow, and of course, why Jesus’ instructions here are not
only wise, but psychologically astute as well. If we can begin to
master what Jesus is getting at in this teaching, we will be well on
our way to the good and flourishing life.