Stephen Bond
@impiousgalilean.bsky.social
ELCA pastor in northwestern Ohio;
Trying to love well—convinced that Jesus of Nazareth makes that possible
Trying to love well—convinced that Jesus of Nazareth makes that possible
On Keeping Vigil
a poem for September 15, 2026
a poem for September 15, 2026
September 16, 2026 at 12:10 AM
On Keeping Vigil
a poem for September 15, 2026
a poem for September 15, 2026
Paul doesn't insist that everyone has to believe like he does, even within the Christian community. Instead, Paul says that we are all called to make room and allowance for those who think and feel differently.
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/bett...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/bett...
Better to Be Gracious--September 16, 2026
Better to Be Gracious--September 16, 2026 "Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some be...
beinggraced.blogspot.com
September 15, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Paul doesn't insist that everyone has to believe like he does, even within the Christian community. Instead, Paul says that we are all called to make room and allowance for those who think and feel differently.
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/bett...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/bett...
In our first session on Revelation, we saw we already have a set of tools for making sense of figurative language. Those same interpretive skills will help us to see that Revelation depicts God's triumph through the cross and resurrection of Jesus.
youtu.be/6l84r8dWBIw
youtu.be/6l84r8dWBIw
Victorious Lamb 02 Overview
YouTube video by Stephen Bond
youtu.be
September 15, 2026 at 12:55 PM
In our first session on Revelation, we saw we already have a set of tools for making sense of figurative language. Those same interpretive skills will help us to see that Revelation depicts God's triumph through the cross and resurrection of Jesus.
youtu.be/6l84r8dWBIw
youtu.be/6l84r8dWBIw
Good morning to the spectrum of colors in the eastern sky as the sun rises over this part of the world that God loves… 
September 15, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Good morning to the spectrum of colors in the eastern sky as the sun rises over this part of the world that God loves… 
Good evening to the small creature wending its way through the church parking lot, as each of us goes about our business in the world that God loves… 
September 14, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Good evening to the small creature wending its way through the church parking lot, as each of us goes about our business in the world that God loves… 
I suppose the choice is up to us today. Will you and I choose to take God's already-granted forgiveness as the defining truth of our lives, or will we insist on staying stuck in the childish and petty mindset of bean-counting and score-keeping?
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/forg...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/forg...
Forgiveness Changes Everything--September 15, 2026
Forgiveness Changes Everything--September 15, 2026 [Jesus said:] For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished ...
beinggraced.blogspot.com
September 14, 2026 at 9:06 PM
I suppose the choice is up to us today. Will you and I choose to take God's already-granted forgiveness as the defining truth of our lives, or will we insist on staying stuck in the childish and petty mindset of bean-counting and score-keeping?
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/forg...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/forg...
Word for the Week:
(drawn from Matthew 20:1-16)
In the Reign of God, everybody gets to eat, from the last to the first.
#WordForTheWeek
(drawn from Matthew 20:1-16)
In the Reign of God, everybody gets to eat, from the last to the first.
#WordForTheWeek
September 14, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Word for the Week:
(drawn from Matthew 20:1-16)
In the Reign of God, everybody gets to eat, from the last to the first.
#WordForTheWeek
(drawn from Matthew 20:1-16)
In the Reign of God, everybody gets to eat, from the last to the first.
#WordForTheWeek
Is it more important to be "better" than someone else (or have someone else to look "down" on), or for everybody to get to feed their families? Jesus says that in God's Reign, God's generous character puts the priority on everybody getting to eat.
youtu.be/GcrrjFZgTW4
youtu.be/GcrrjFZgTW4
Looking Ahead 09 20 26
YouTube video by Stephen Bond
youtu.be
September 14, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Is it more important to be "better" than someone else (or have someone else to look "down" on), or for everybody to get to feed their families? Jesus says that in God's Reign, God's generous character puts the priority on everybody getting to eat.
youtu.be/GcrrjFZgTW4
youtu.be/GcrrjFZgTW4
Good evening to the white rose definitely offering its beauty in the face of darkening skies over the world that God loves…
September 13, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Good evening to the white rose definitely offering its beauty in the face of darkening skies over the world that God loves…
Convention Guidelines
a poem for September 13, 2026
a poem for September 13, 2026
September 13, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Convention Guidelines
a poem for September 13, 2026
a poem for September 13, 2026
Good afternoon to the spider waiting on the roof of my car and casting a shadow beside my finger before I head to the next stop on my itinerary in the world that God loves…
September 13, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Good afternoon to the spider waiting on the roof of my car and casting a shadow beside my finger before I head to the next stop on my itinerary in the world that God loves…
If my choices are based on how people have already treated me in the past, then of course, I will be hesitant even to give someone a second chance. But if I treat other people based on the way God acts toward me, then grace becomes the order of the day.
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/jesu...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/jesu...
Jesus' Math and Ours--September 14, 2026
Jesus' Math and Ours--September 14, 2026 Peter came and said to [Jesus,] “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I ...
beinggraced.blogspot.com
September 13, 2026 at 4:09 PM
If my choices are based on how people have already treated me in the past, then of course, I will be hesitant even to give someone a second chance. But if I treat other people based on the way God acts toward me, then grace becomes the order of the day.
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/jesu...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/jesu...
Good morning to the yarrow still blossoming in bright colors for the world that God loves…
September 12, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Good morning to the yarrow still blossoming in bright colors for the world that God loves…
Good morning to the birds keeping vigil at their island posts as the river flows on outward to the world that God loves…
September 11, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Good morning to the birds keeping vigil at their island posts as the river flows on outward to the world that God loves…
In the new creation, will we hoard more than we need out of some fear of scarcity? No--we dare to believe that God's provision will be enough for all... and so we begin to live lives of generosity and sharing resources now.
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/dres...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/dres...
Dress for the Day That Is Dawning--September 11, 2026
Dress for the Day That Is Dawning--September 11, 2026 "Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake ...
beinggraced.blogspot.com
September 10, 2026 at 7:59 PM
In the new creation, will we hoard more than we need out of some fear of scarcity? No--we dare to believe that God's provision will be enough for all... and so we begin to live lives of generosity and sharing resources now.
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/dres...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/dres...
Good afternoon to the goldfinch perched on a pole for long enough to get a photo, before each of us goes about our itineraries in the world that God loves…
September 10, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Good afternoon to the goldfinch perched on a pole for long enough to get a photo, before each of us goes about our itineraries in the world that God loves…
May this Bow Tie Thursday be a good one for you, with beauty blooming all over…
September 10, 2026 at 9:44 AM
May this Bow Tie Thursday be a good one for you, with beauty blooming all over…
From Peter Storey’s memoir of ministry in apartheid South Africa entitled “Protest at Midnight,” he quotes Indian theologian Samuel Rayan, which gives his book its title:
“A candle-light is a protest at midnight,
It is a non-conformist.
It says to the darkness,
‘I beg to differ’.”
Good words.
“A candle-light is a protest at midnight,
It is a non-conformist.
It says to the darkness,
‘I beg to differ’.”
Good words.
September 9, 2026 at 6:48 PM
From Peter Storey’s memoir of ministry in apartheid South Africa entitled “Protest at Midnight,” he quotes Indian theologian Samuel Rayan, which gives his book its title:
“A candle-light is a protest at midnight,
It is a non-conformist.
It says to the darkness,
‘I beg to differ’.”
Good words.
“A candle-light is a protest at midnight,
It is a non-conformist.
It says to the darkness,
‘I beg to differ’.”
Good words.
Good day to the cornfields standing in the sun which is busy giving its light to the world that God loves…
September 9, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Good day to the cornfields standing in the sun which is busy giving its light to the world that God loves…
Followers of Jesus won't be the ones saying, "I don't have to help the one by the side of the road, because I didn't actively hurt them," but rather we'll be the ones stopping to bind up their wounds.
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/an-e...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/an-e...
An End to Loopholes--September 10, 2026
An End to Loopholes--September 10, 2026 "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." (Romans 13:10) If ...
beinggraced.blogspot.com
September 9, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Followers of Jesus won't be the ones saying, "I don't have to help the one by the side of the road, because I didn't actively hurt them," but rather we'll be the ones stopping to bind up their wounds.
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/an-e...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/an-e...
Word for the Week:
(drawn from Matthew 18:21-35)
God's forgiveness is meant to flow through us to others like water in a river.
#WordForTheWeek
(drawn from Matthew 18:21-35)
God's forgiveness is meant to flow through us to others like water in a river.
#WordForTheWeek
September 9, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Word for the Week:
(drawn from Matthew 18:21-35)
God's forgiveness is meant to flow through us to others like water in a river.
#WordForTheWeek
(drawn from Matthew 18:21-35)
God's forgiveness is meant to flow through us to others like water in a river.
#WordForTheWeek
Good morning to the feather suspended in a spider web outside the church as a new day unfolds in the world that God loves…
September 9, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Good morning to the feather suspended in a spider web outside the church as a new day unfolds in the world that God loves…
The book of Revelation is frightening to some, confusing to others, and frustrating to many. But there is deeply Good News in this book, even for all its many layers of images and symbols, and we already have a number of tools for making sense of it.
youtu.be/R5k7SOsYsUM
youtu.be/R5k7SOsYsUM
Victorious Lamb 01 Introduction
YouTube video by Stephen Bond
youtu.be
September 8, 2026 at 4:24 PM
The book of Revelation is frightening to some, confusing to others, and frustrating to many. But there is deeply Good News in this book, even for all its many layers of images and symbols, and we already have a number of tools for making sense of it.
youtu.be/R5k7SOsYsUM
youtu.be/R5k7SOsYsUM
Can you believe it? It's our 500th episode of Crazy Faith Talk!
For this week's episode, we're exploring the question, "How do you (or should you) address current events in the world in congregational worship?"
open.spotify.com/episode/6Eru...
For this week's episode, we're exploring the question, "How do you (or should you) address current events in the world in congregational worship?"
open.spotify.com/episode/6Eru...
Episode 500: Worship Q & A, Part Five--Naming Current Events
Crazy Faith Talk · Episode
open.spotify.com
September 8, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Can you believe it? It's our 500th episode of Crazy Faith Talk!
For this week's episode, we're exploring the question, "How do you (or should you) address current events in the world in congregational worship?"
open.spotify.com/episode/6Eru...
For this week's episode, we're exploring the question, "How do you (or should you) address current events in the world in congregational worship?"
open.spotify.com/episode/6Eru...
God isn't looking to make things complicated in order to judge our performance. God only ever intended for us to live in ways that are shaped by love--in our words and our actions, our thoughts and our choices--because love is God's own character as well.
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/love...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/love...
Love Gives Clarity--September 9, 2026
Love Gives Clarity--September 9, 2026 "Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law....
beinggraced.blogspot.com
September 8, 2026 at 4:18 PM
God isn't looking to make things complicated in order to judge our performance. God only ever intended for us to live in ways that are shaped by love--in our words and our actions, our thoughts and our choices--because love is God's own character as well.
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/love...
beinggraced.blogspot.com/2026/09/love...