06172020 – Matthew 9. 35-10.8 As often as I have preached it, as much as I have heard it, I still need to hear it (myself) again and again. It needs to sink in. I need to embrace it. Wholly. Jesus continued touring around, preaching in both village and town in the backwater […]
06132020 – Matthew 9. 35-10.8 Pentecost II It is an interesting Gospel text, one we have not had – for a few years, now… And of course “the BIG line” used by THE CHURCH to “CLOBBER” people over the heads with is: “therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to SEND OUT LABORERS […]
06102020 – Matt. 28. 16-20 “The Holy Trinity” “The arrest and the crucifixion of Jesus” was a DEEPLY DISORIENTING experience for JESUS’ followers, ruthlessly DASHING in “a matter of mere hours” the GREAT HOPES and DREAMS they all shared. WHY to him? WHAT did he DO that was SO WRONG? HOW did this […]
O6062020 – Matthew 28. 16-20 – “The Holy Trinity” The Holy Trinity is kind-of “an important doctrine in the life of the church.” It is BIG STUFF! Although, not everyone would agree. It is basic. It is foundational. It is – what we say, we believe to be true. THIS CELEBRATION is “the […]
05032020 – John 20. 19-23 Pentecost That Jesus he was a “CRAFTY ONE.” But it really-truly-depended upon WHO you talked to… Some said he was “as FOXY” as they come, SLY, CUNNING, SLICK, he could talk his way OUT OF anything. And he always saw to it, that he WON every-single-argument or confrontation. […]
05302020 – John 20. 19-23 The disciples were AFRAID. We get that. They were huddled together behind locked and closed-tight-doors. You might have called them “scare-D-cats!” And WE, unfortunately, can relate to their predicament! We have been scared, too! They feared (not a pandemic) but rather, the Roman and religious authorities of their […]
05242020 – John 17. 1-11 So, this week I did a STUDY on the word “GINOSKO” – The GREEK word GINOSKO means to “LEARN to KNOW,” or to “COME to know,” “to get KNOWLEDGE of,” “to PERCEIVE” or “to FEEL.” It means “to UNDERSTAND.” “To become “acquainted WITH, to know.” I pushed FORWARD. I had […]
05172020 – Jn. 14. 15-21 Our Gospel lesson for this morning takes us BACK IN TIME. This year YOU COULD NOT BE PRESENT for the celebration. The sanctuary was EMPTY. The day was called, “MAUNDY Thursday” or “HOLY Thursday” of HOLY WEEK. We were ALONE, here, in the sanctuary. On the FLOOR before the […]
05102020 – John 14. 1-14 (Mother’s Day Weekend) – Easter 5 The disciples were DISTRAUGHT. It seems to me they are portrayed as being OFTEN “confused and anxious.” They were “constantly concerned” about “way too many things…” THEREFORE, they easily became “distracted, flustered, and worried,” DOES THIS SOUND LIKE anybody WE […]
05032020 – John 10. 1-10 Just in the way of some background info…young Hebrew boys of the first century would memorize THE ENTIRE TORAH. Yep, the COMPLETE books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. And they would be TESTED on it, too! And you thought MY CONFIRMATION classes WERE challenging or hard! All Hebrew […]