Follow Jesus. Lead the church. Change the world.
God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good. Since Don Moen and Paul Overstreet wrote and recorded a song by the title, God Is Good All The Time, this has become a popular greeting among church folk. And it speaks a great truth: God alone is good. Luke 18.18-19 – A … Read more
On the Road to Emmaus: Today, another story of biblical hospitality. Another story of a stranger welcomed for a meal. The story – And so it is with these two disciples as a stranger approaches them and joins them as they travel. The setting is after the crucifixion and resurrection. The crucifixion they saw and … Read more
The Three Visitors: Genesis 18.1-15Genesis 18 is a story of hospitality, biblical hospitality. Hospitality is:Offered to strangersVerse one reveals to the reader what Abraham does not know, that the visitors are the LORD, Yahweh. It is told for the readers benefit. As for the hospitality offered, it is offered to strangers who are treated as … Read more
John 3.1-21 The Flower called Nicodemus What kind of flower is pictured on the cover of the bulletin? It opens only at night (it closes in the daytime) and just for a few short weeks around the start of summer. The evening primrose, nicknamed the Nicodemus flower. The Person of Nicodemus The story of Nicodemus … Read more
This month I begin my sixth year with you. Hard to believe isn’t it? It is a good time to do some reflection: to look back, to look forward. It is a good time to remember my call and how that affects us as the body. My very first sermon the first of July, 2001, … Read more
We live in a day and age when we are not used to waiting. We live in a microwave age; an instant society. You tell me, if you had to choose between a crock pot and a microwave, which would it be? We are impatient when we have to wait in line at the checkout … Read more
Mark 6.30-44 How many of you have been on a picnic this summer already? How many of you have plans for a July 4th picnic? The extended family of my mom’s husband’s family have been hosted by my step-brother Dave each year the past several years. It’s becoming a family tradition, a reunion. Picnics are … Read more
John 17.20-23 Five Fingers Make a United FistIn a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus. “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together … Read more
Joel 2.28-29 The Berlin Wall At the end of WWII Germany became divided into occupational zones. The capital city of Berlin found itself divided as well. East Germany had a Soviet-style authoritarian government and many of the people longed for the political freedoms and prosperity of non-communist countries. Many East Germans fled to these non-communist … Read more
Acts 2.1-21 “Can we talk?” Every now and then, Randy or I will say to the other, “Can we talk?” And we both think, “Uh-oh.” We think there must be something serious we need to discuss. It’s kind of a “what have I done (or not done)?” Pentecost could be met with the question, “Can … Read more