The experience of suffering and grief in the life of G. H. Morling Bush fires aside, the year 2020 was supposed to be a good one. A new year, a new decade, the year number itself a virtual palindrome – what could go wrong? And then Covid-19 stepped in, no longer a far-off disease …
The consolation of Job
A sermon by Rod Benson for Seniors Week. Martin Luther called it “magnificent and sublime as no other book in Scripture.”[1] “Considered from a purely literary perspective, the book of Job is the supreme literary achievement of the Old Testament.”[2] Job is a biblical book like no other. Its themes invite philosophical speculation. Its story …
Praying when evil is near
A sermon by Rod Benson Ephesians 6:10-17 Satan and his demon sidekick were walking down the street, watching a man 20 yards ahead who was on the verge of realizing the supreme truth of the universe. The demon grew worried, and began to nudge Satan, but Satan looked calm. Sure enough, the man suddenly realized …
Ethics and prayer (part 2 of 2)
Together, the seven petitions in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) express our restless discontent with the way things are in the world, in our communities, and in our hearts. They offer a daily rhythm, challenging us to refocus on what matters most, calling us to remember the unfailing goodness and mercy of God. As German …