11032021 – John 8. 31-36 How TO STOP “the church gossip!” Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointed MONITOR of the church’s MORALS, kept sticking her nose – into other people’s business. Heck, Mildred stuck her nose in EVERYBODY’S business. Several members DID NOT APPROVE of her activities but FEARED HER enough to maintain their […]
10272021 – Mark 10. 46-52 There are a lot of churches in downtown Milwaukee where homeless people will linger in hopes of gaining a few bucks. Every Sunday, a few of them will drift into churches and sit in the back rows and observe what is going on. They can come across as being very […]
10232021 – Mark 10.46-52 You already know my bias and my prejudice, so just know, OFF THE BAT, this is “my favorite gospel.” There. I have said it. There is no gospel like Mark. “Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.” Of course, he did. And did you catch the word, […]
10202021 – Mark 10. 35-45 When it comes to being ambitious, how ambitious are you? Are you getting things done and accomplished? Or Not? A couple things to recall and remember about James and John. Jesus called them, “The sons of Thunder!” James and John were the sons of Zebedee. James being the elder […]
10132021 – Mark 10. 17-31 What would you do, if Jesus said, “Follow me?” I suspect…that as Jesus’ honor and fame spread and grew, more and more people approached him seeking to follow him. THEY ASKED Jesus. THEY approached him. THEY wanted to join his “apostolic band.” Or THEY approached “one of the twelve.” It […]
10092021 – Mark 10. 17-31 I recently changed primary care physicians. He looked at everything with a new set of eyes…which, I think is helpful from time to time. It was that initial “get-to-meet-you-kind-of-consultation.” I admit to being a little taken back by one of his first questions…to me… It was not, “Why are you […]
Mark 10. 2-16 Based on our Gospel text for today, we could talk about DIVORCE from the time of Moses onward or we could talk about JESUS AND THE CHILDREN. Guess what, “THE KIDS WIN OUT,” at least for this year… And I cannot think of “any better way” to begin, then with THE PRAYERS […]
10062021 – Mark 10. 2-12 A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, “Ma’am, what are THE GROUNDS for your divorce?” She replied, “About four acres with a nice house in the middle.” “No,” he said, “I mean what is THE FOUNDATION of this case?” “Concrete, brick and mortar,” she responded. […]
09252021 – Mark9.38-50 HYPERBOLE is NOT a word that is easily tossed around every day. Most of us have heard of Hyperbole, but the day that it was explained in ninth grade English Class, we were too busy passing notes, or sending a text, or drawing doodles in our notebooks or on our hands […]
09222021 – Mark 9. 30-37 Most preachers don’t tell you this, but a squabble over “honor and status” WOULD BE TYPICAL within ANY ancient Mediterranean GROUPING. TYPICAL! It was actually a “DAILY kind of occurrence.” WE tend to be aghast, surprised, and startled…that the disciples of Jesus would argue and “carry-on among themselves.” It seems […]