Our lesson this week deals with faith, rather, with the loss of faith.  Occasioned by the public outing of a United Methodist Clergy now professing to be an atheist, the lesson leads us to consider the fluctuating strength of our own faith.

Here are the lesson materials: WiredWord20120513

So, read and reflect, then join in the discussion!

Nope, that doesn’t work.

“It is the privilege of men of power to philander…”

Nope, that doesn’t work, either.

Hmmm.  So, what IS the big deal about the Secret Service and military men who created a bad situation for the country and the President by their use of prostitutes, oops, excuse me, I mean escorts, while on duty in Columbia. And the scandal broke only because two of them were too cheap to pay the escort’s fee.  Sheesh!

Well, this week’s lesson is about personal morality and personal responsibility. What do we hide in our heart of hearts, deceiving ourselves that not even God knows about it.  Right.

Here’s the lesson materials: WiredWord2012-422

You know all the gory details already, but read and reflect, and then hop on over and join in the discussions!

The answer to that question may never be known. Trayvon’s murder, as opposed to the many others that happen in our country every day, has raised a national outcry even to the heights of our government, much of it couched in the hate of racism. Calls for justice abound. And, whether from Amos 5(²⁴But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.) or Micah 6(⁸He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?), we as Christians know that we are called to seek and to do justice.

Here are this week’s lesson materials: WiredWord20120401

What is the justice to be done in the Trayvon Martin case?

Come on over and join in the discussion!

This week’s lesson lifts up two news items that contribute to the themes of answering God’s call to serve others and serving others in engendering peace. Tough concept, given all the strutting, bluffing (?), and militaristic posturing that is going on across the world, to say nothing of the various armed conflicts and ideological battles – at home, in the very halls of our Congress, and abroad – that increase the rancor and lack of civility displayed day by day across the world.

So, take a read of the lesson materials:  WiredWord20120325

Now, come on over and join in the discussions!

Read more in this week’s lesson materials: WiredWord20120311

So, grab a read, think about it, and hop on over and join in the discussions!

Our lesson this week is highlighted by a contemporary example of such a relationship, and in studying this situation we will examine the Biblical teachings around this issue. Here are the lesson materials: WiredWord20120226

So, read and reflect on the materials, reflect on your own parent-child relationship(s), and then come on over and join in the discussion!

Here are this week’s lesson materials: WiredWord20120219

One might become even more repulsed when you realize that this call to prayer, presented by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal in what I will describe – in an admittedly pejorative fashion – as an absurd farce,  was a marketing ploy.

However you view this incident, read and reflect on the materials and then come on over and join the discussions – about P R A Y E R!

You may already be familiar with this rap/poem/video that has been circulating widely and wildly (read: gone viral)  recently. It is an interesting voice of dissent. There is a link for watching the video on YouTube (I recommend) in section 04 (from the bookmarks menu) in this week’s lesson pdf: WiredWord20120212

This issue has incredible importance as we raise our youth and seek to further the living of our lives as Christians in the 21st Century.  Read and reflect, then come on over and join in the discussions!

In the context of all the recent hoopla (yes, I know today is football and not basketball) about Paula Deen and the controversy she has launched with her revelation of the diagnosis of having diabetes, what is our Christian approach to eating?

Check out the lesson materials here: WiredWord20120205

Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins!

Read and reflect, then come on over and join in the discussions.  Bon appetit!

What role does responsibility play in our lives as Christians? Do we have  a definable Christian responsibility? If so, can we shrug it off, as the captain of the ill-fated Costa Concordia seemed to do?

Interesting questions.  Well, check out the lesson materials for this week: WiredWord20120129
Read and reflect, then come on over to the discussion and add your two cents (no, responsibility isn’t always that cheap!) to what’s being said.