The “Day of the Ash” is upon us. It always seems to sneak up on us – “Wham! – and it’s here!” We never quite seemed prepared for this one! And, there is so much to know about it. The number 40 means “a very long time.” Mentioned 146 times in Scriptures, the number 40 […]
This is “a pretty strange story.” It has captured the imagination of Christian people for almost 2,000 years. It also has captured the imaginations of artists the world over. It actually appears (in one form or another) in all four of the gospel accounts, although the details do vary, it is obviously still the same […]
Psalm 46.10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” I like that. We do not do real well with silence. We do not do real well with being still. As a matter of fact – most of us are […]
Nazareth is barely, if ever, mentioned in first century documents outside of the Scriptures. It is pretty inconsequential. The little we do know – is largely “speculative and wholly unremarkable.” Apparently – scholarship suggests that Nazareth was “a small community” of anywhere between 500 and 2000 people. Nazareth was likely located not far from a […]
This is “an immediate-continuation” from last week’s text. If you remember, Jesus had just endeared himself to his hometowns’ people. They loved what he had to say. I insist that people are fickle. Very fickle. Or, have the propensity to be. Seemingly, one moment they are “all about you” and in the next moment of […]
Tonight I want to talk about different kinds of power…just for a little bit. What we have in front of us this evening is how Luke (the Evangelist) attempts to describe Jesus’ beginning public ministry. I want you to know “first things” matter in the Gospels – as they “set the tone” and “name the […]
I am not at all sure – that we understand the gravity of the text-today. “We get it” that – prophets are not welcome in their own home towns. We understand that at first Jesus was loved and respected for his words and then something happened. Beyond that, I think the text is a little […]
What we have before us this morning – is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. This is it. O sure he has done “some stuff” before this. He called twelve disciples. He healed some people here and there. He was building up his street rep…a little. He was “hanging out” with some pretty interesting folks. He […]
In the scriptures themselves – isn’t Jesus referred to as being “a drunkard” and as “a glutton?” Wasn’t that the actual claim – that some individuals made against him? John the Baptizer came — and he abstained from everything. He was a goody-two-sandals. He distanced himself from cities and from people. His diet was based […]
Note to self: Do not pass out “this wedding planner’s card” to anyone! The poor “red-faced-wedding-planner” probably would have never been paid for this one – were it not for Jesus. It was a potential “social gaff.” Everyone would have heard about it. Why, he might never work again! He might even have to relocate! […]