Into The Gray

The Upside-Down Reign of Christ.

Luke 23:33-43 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Advent Devotional: ⁠Solace: The Birth of Hope in a Time of Longing.⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/products/solace-advent-devotional] Recent Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/profile?fbclid=IwY2xjawL7QEFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHk53JV80JOtTjwIkKXtC7jKm8s1bnyhof1K74sW_a90XkgwXq6AJtAHL2uw4_aem_jDwG1K1kNnaqWAhpwIwNbw] My Email: ben@benjaminrcremer.com If you'd like to support this project, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/products/into-the-gray-podcast] Thank you so much for listening!

Glittering Temples and Ballrooms.

Advent Devotional: Solace: The Birth of Hope in a Time of Longing. [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/products/solace-advent-devotional] Recent Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/profile?fbclid=IwY2xjawL7QEFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHk53JV80JOtTjwIkKXtC7jKm8s1bnyhof1K74sW_a90XkgwXq6AJtAHL2uw4_aem_jDwG1K1kNnaqWAhpwIwNbw] My Email: ben@benjaminrcremer.com If you'd like to support this project, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/products/into-the-gray-podcast] Thank you so much for listening!

Children of the Resurrection.

Luke 20:27–38 (NIV) The Resurrection and Marriage 27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” 34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Recent Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/profile?fbclid=IwY2xjawL7QEFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHk53JV80JOtTjwIkKXtC7jKm8s1bnyhof1K74sW_a90XkgwXq6AJtAHL2uw4_aem_jDwG1K1kNnaqWAhpwIwNbw] My Email: ben@benjaminrcremer.com If you'd like to support this project, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/products/into-the-gray-podcast] Thank you so much for listening!

Blessed are you who are hungry, for you will be satisfied.

Luke 6:20-31 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor,     for yours is the kingdom of God. 21  Blessed are you who hunger now,     for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now,     for you will laugh. 22  Blessed are you when people hate you,     when they exclude you and insult you     and reject your name as evil,         because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24  “But woe to you who are rich,     for you have already received your comfort. 25  Woe to you who are well fed now,     for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now,     for you will mourn and weep. 26  Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,     for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. Love for Enemies 27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. Recent Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/profile?fbclid=IwY2xjawL7QEFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHk53JV80JOtTjwIkKXtC7jKm8s1bnyhof1K74sW_a90XkgwXq6AJtAHL2uw4_aem_jDwG1K1kNnaqWAhpwIwNbw] My Email: ben@benjaminrcremer.com If you'd like to support this project, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/products/into-the-gray-podcast] Thank you so much for listening!

The Freedom to Love in a World of Fear.

Scripture Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Closing Prayer God of truth and mercy, You spoke freedom into a world bound by fear. You revealed that real power is found not in domination but in love. Forgive us when we mistake control for faith, when we weaponize your name to secure our comfort. Empty us of pride and fill us with your Spirit of truth. Give us the courage to speak light into deception, to resist violence without becoming violent, to seek justice without losing compassion. Teach us the freedom that cannot be legislated or enforced— the freedom born of love, humility, and hope. May the truth of Christ live in us, until every chain of hatred and fear is broken. Amen. Recent Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/profile?fbclid=IwY2xjawL7QEFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHk53JV80JOtTjwIkKXtC7jKm8s1bnyhof1K74sW_a90XkgwXq6AJtAHL2uw4_aem_jDwG1K1kNnaqWAhpwIwNbw] My Email: ben@benjaminrcremer.com If you'd like to support this project, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/products/into-the-gray-podcast] Thank you so much for listening!