Pastor Tracy examines the familiar story of Jesus in the house of Mary and Martha.  She concludes that the traditional interpretation suggests a savior out of touch with the human reality of life, and concludes that the deeper meaning involves the choice we all have to make between fear and love.

For Veterans Day, Pastor Tracy examines an Old Testament story about peace breaking out between Israel and ancient Syria (2 Kings 6:8-23) She reports that back then and today, different religions are able to coexist peaceably. It’s only when nationalism and political power start using religion for their own purposes that violent conflicts arise. For those…

For All Saints Day, Pastor Tracy examines the historical context of the story of raising Lazarus from the grave and traces the parallels to the origins of the American  Thanksgiving tradition.

For Halloween, Pastor Tracy looks at “the second spookiest passage in the Bible,” about the number of the beast, in Revelation.  She explains that it was written when things looked hopeless for the early Christians, and they saw only two choices, both bad.  She finds parallel situations in our own lives, and shows that the real challenge…

Pastor Tracy takes on a very troubling passage of scripture, one that has been used down through the centuries to rationalize treating  women as subservient to the will of men:  1 Corinthians 11:1-15,  However, she argues that, once we understand the historical context, we see that Paul was urging tactics that would help hide the radical nature of…

The story of David bringing the Ark into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1-15) seems to be a perfect example of retribution theology — a fierce old testament God punishing the wicked. However, Pastor Tracy notes that a close examination of the language and practices of that time suggest a very different interpretation:  a comforting God who is there…

The passages in Genesis describing  Lot, his daughters, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are among the most troubling in the Bible. They seem to condone attitudes about sex and the treatment of women that we find abhorrent. Pastor Tracy draws on the original Hebrew to arrive at a very different interpretation.

Starting from the Parable of the Sower, Pastor Tracy explores the weaknesses a simplistic faith built on a single dimension  (e.g. that religion is all about sin and salvation or that all answers can be found in a literal interpretation of the Bible.) She contrasts that with a mature faith rooted in multiple elements of belief and practice.…

Did you know that there are two versions of the Lord’s Prayer in the Bible, one for the poor and one for the rich?  And, did you know that neither says “Forgive us our trespasses”?  Pastor tracy explores these and other curiosities about the prayer we all think we know, and challenges us to take…