07112020 – Matthew 13. 1-9, 19-23 Like it or not, Matthew comes every THREE YEARS as a “gentle reminder.” We ALL have “WORK” to do… We are not merely to SIT IDLY BY… When “an opportunity” PRESENTS ITSELF…we are to take advantage of it. Not in some kind of a NAGGING way… Just dropping SEEDS, […]
06272020 – Matthew 10. 40-42 God has this way of offering us CORRECTIONS along our life’s journey…subtle, sly, you KNOW it is HIM. IT has to BE. I mean, who else would it BE? At other times, the CORRECTIONS can be “less than subtle,” like taking a 2X4 and WHACKING us up – […]
Father’s Day Weekend 06202020 – Matthew 10. 24-39 “Tough words” from Jesus…intentionally SO… By-in-large, people DO NOT like to hear “tough words” or even “tough suggesting words.” Following Jesus IS NOT for “sissies.” Nor was it EVER MENT to be. He does have DEMANDS. There are EXPECTATIONS. It IS NOT easy. This IS NOT […]
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 […]
030420202 – Matthew 4. 1-11 DEMONS, we’ve ALL GOT them! We all have DARK secrets, DESIRES or something we LUST after, our WORST fears, our BROKEN hopes…our diminished PROMISES…our countless misgivings… These “things” SLOWLY but surely CHOKE and HARM our good QUALITIES, HOPES, our DREAMS and ASPIRATIONS if left unchecked…or if we ALLOW […]
02292020 – 03012020 – Matthew 4. 1-11 I am VERY AWARE that BEFORE beginning his ministry and his leadership, Jesus spent some ALONE TIME in the WILDERNESS. It wasn’t really “ALONE TIME,” because Jesus KNEW that God was WITH HIM every step of “the WAY.” No matter WHERE he went or WHAT he did […]
022220 – Matthew 17. 1-9 Sometimes, I scare MYSELF. And most of the time, I laugh at myself…and how my head works… I thought … “THAT was a COSTUME CHANGE that would make even CHER be Jealous!” Remember CHER with those HUGE Head- dresses or Head pieces? From there my mind went racing…to the “Goddess […]