Today we’re looking at what it means to create structural oppression - a system that does the work of oppression for those in power. Note that Pharaoh is gaining so much money and power that he builds two more storehouse cities to hold it all, meanwhile, the people of Israel are pushed further and further down.

Sometimes a poem can help us reframe an idea or see through a crack in our walls. Sometimes it takes sitting with a line or two to let it really speak to you.

Today we’re looking at one of Jesus’s big teachings on conflict. He starts off by reminding us that being religious doesn’t count for much if we’re not working out our relationships with other human beings. How does that sit with you?

Within one sentence of Paul writing about how he and Mark have reconnected, Paul writes about how another friend has ‘deserted’ him.

Sometimes friendships fall apart. We don’t handle conflict well, or there’s some sort of rupture and then we lose track of each other by not putting in the effort to recover.

There was plenty of conflict amongst Jesus’s friend group. In fact, each Sunday we stand up and say “On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread…” (1 Corinthians 11:23). Betrayal is just one type of conflict, but no matter who you are in relationship with, there will be some form of conflict.

As you close out your work week and head into the weekend, spend time with this blessing from 500 years ago.

God says “I live with the humble.” Perhaps that’s because the humble aren’t holding on to their precious self-image (or anything else) - so there’s plenty of space around them for God to live.

Trying hard to please God can often mislead us.

Sometimes it’s hard to accept authentic selves - perhaps we’ve been taught that parts of who we are should be hidden away - for example, our strong opinions. Or perhaps certain sexual attractions. Or perhaps our questions about God.

This is the prayer that was prayed over us on Sunday. What a great way to head into the weekend.

Today we continue to celebrate all the goodness of Affirming Sunday with the poem that Brenna Rubio read.

we see Jesus choosing three close friends for one of the highlight moments of his life. And it’s not just about connecting with Moses and Elijah - also part of Jesus’s chosen family - but about connecting with the Trinity!

Jesus had chosen family. He aligned himself so closely with people that he considered them family and called them such

And yet, Onesiphorus came through for Paul in his time of need. He demonstrated faithfulness and sacrifice. And he showed up. Some people say that showing up is 90% of friendship.

900 years ago a fourteen year old boy named Aelred went off to become a monk in Yorkshire, England. He was known for having and making good friends. Later in life he would become an author and a leader in his monastery.

As we all know, good friends give good advice. Typically not too much of it!

Regardless of what form it takes, it is often the component of challenge that shifts an acquaintanceship to a friendship.

One of the key attributes of friendships is just showing up. A friend is one who “sticks close” according to this verse in Proverbs. This isn’t the only way to think about a friendship, but it’s certainly an important one.