The word is “meno” in the Greek. You cannot miss it. It jumps right out at you from the text. It has been awhile, but I actually sought out the help of a New Testament Greek Lexicon. “Meno” is the instruction repeated “most often” in our gospel text for this evening – seven times over […]

It is getting to be that time of the year again. People are getting anxious to get out into their gardens again! To get out in the sunlight and to catch some vitamin K. But first, it usually means a stop at Bayside Garden Center, or Bluemels or Plantland, or Steins or Milaegers, Minor’s Garden […]

Easter fives comes as a stark reminder of what the church is-to-“be.” Much of the “modern debate” and the thinking – on how “one obtains spiritual growth” (or) “how one finds oneself” has led to the “modern heresy” of thinking of “faith” in only “individualistic terms” as opposed to the “community.” Me, me, me, – […]

A shepherd was looking after his sheep one day on the side of a deserted road, when suddenly a brand new Porsche comes screeching to a halt. The driver, a man dressed in an Armani suit, Cerutti shoes from Paris, Ray-Ban sunglasses, a Gucci wrist-watch, and a Pierre Cardin tie, gets out and asks the […]

So here we are – still in the midst of “the Season of Easter.” We have been considering the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus – and suddenly, “out of the clear blue” – we are asked to consider “Jesus as the Good Shepherd.” Need, I remind you that it comes from John’s gospel? So you know […]

Jesus said: “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? … Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” “And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. … (then) he said to them, Have […]

“This is one of those “unanswerable questions,” at least by me… I firmly admit I do not know everything. Sometimes, you just have to say, you do not know. It is always best to be honest. The gospel authors (especially Luke and John) go to great lengths to show that there is “something different” about […]

“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over”…a perfect Yogi Berra – witticism if ever there was one! And of course, it is perfect timing for the church year! The Season of Easter is 7 weeks in length, as you well-know. 7 weeks of 7 Sunday’s. Seven being the number of wholeness and completion, the perfect number…the […]

It is all so very interesting. And probably most impressive of all, is that we still have the record of specific happenings from 2000 years ago. That is amazing! You can read them for yourself! Sure they are debated. Everything is debated by scholars, it is what they do. It is how they get known […]

Sometimes you must simply rely on what others have said, not because you are lazy or wanting, but because they have said it so well. Besides this, you bring with it a sense of appreciation for eras long since passed. The Easter sermon of John Chrysostom (circa 400 AD:) This sermon was actually preached over […]