010420 – John 1. 10-18 The Gospel of John begins with “a lovely little poem” ABOUT Jesus that is loved and adored by a great many. It is called John’s “PROLOGUE.” IN IT – the “major themes” of John’s gospel are LAID OUT for the reader IN ADVANCE. You already know that John’s gospel […]
010120 – Matthew 2.13-23 The statistics that I am using are ten years old…but they were the latest complete figures that could be found. I am sure we are doing MUCH BETTER TODAY, NOT much better at all! We say that our children are OUR FUTURE, that they are so VERY, very important. And yet, […]
122819 – Matthew 2. 13-23 December 28th every year is the celebration of the “Slaughter of the Holy Innocents.” “Archeological historians” remind us that Bethlehem was a very small TOWN. We hear these almost “HAUNTING words…” “A voice is heard in RAMAH, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for HER CHILDREN and she […]
122519 – XMAS DAY! (The Political Threat in a Manger) You know I cannot tell a JOKE to save my soul…EVERYONE says so, and yet, I persist and keep trying… What kind of PHOTO’s do ELVES take? ELF-IES! Why DOESN’T Santa ALLOW his elves to WORK or to PLAY on his personal computer? CUZ they […]
122419-3 “The Shepherd’s Perspective!” The “nativity story” from Luke 2 is so well known to us, many of us could PROBABLY RECITE IT. But it IS precisely because of that, we may also GLOSS OVER the “terror” and the “amazement” and the “glorious joy” in it. If we were to put ourselves with the shepherds […]
122419-2 (Who is going to TELL today?) Ok, all you MUSIC LOVERS… WHO is SANTA’S favorite singer? Why it is ELF-is Presley, of course! You’ll get this one… Who is A Christmas TREE’S favorite singer? SPRUCE Springsteen! What KIND of music do ELVES like: WRAP Music (W-R-A-P) What is a SHEEP’S favorite Christmas song? FLEECE […]
122419 – 5:00 P.M. (THE GIFT) I do it every year at 6:00 A.M. on Easter Sunday…you know it’s dark out and the mood is a little bit somber… People are still a little bit tired… So I do the unexpected…I tell a joke, more like GROANERS actually, but at least I get a response! […]
122119 – Matthew 1. 18-25 This is a “wonderful story” about the “SENSITIVITY” and the “KINDNESS” of A MAN. It almost comes off as a “STARTLING-SURPRISE.” And yet, it is ALL very STRIKING! GET READY to be ASTONISHED, AMAZED and to witness the UNEXPECTED! Some “men” CAN BE SENSITIVE and KIND! Some men…not ALL by […]
121819 – Matthew 11. 2-11 “Did you ever enter into “that intersection” called expectation and disappointment…?” It’s actually a pretty popular intersection. It sees lots of FOOT TRAFFIC. Many people end up there at various points in their life… We all have CERTAIN expectations…from time to time, sometimes they are realized, SOME TIME they are […]
121419 – Matthew 11. “Poor John the Baptizer” he was so VERY confused! (And of course, no one could really blame him…) John was receiving messages ABOUT Jesus albeit second and third hand stuff. But he WAS hearing about JESUS just the same… BECAUSE John was INCARCERATED it was hard for him to know if […]