Here’s how I like to think of Jonah’s story. This is Homer’s Odyssey of an epic adventure if it was written by Woody Allen, played by Billy Crystal or John Stewart. This should be the next big epic Bible movie, we’ve had Russell Crowe as Noah and Moses played by Batman, so why not Billy … Continue reading Jonah: How Great Satire Can Lead us to Discipleship
I Samuel 3:1-20 Think for a moment about the most important things that have happened in your life. Were they researched, chosen, and carefully planned? Did it involve check lists, deadlines and clearly defined targets? Or did it feel more like something chose you? On your road to one journey you were sidetracked into something … Continue reading Speak for Your Servant is Listening
Lent is here and already I am behind. I simultaneous long for these seasons and the spiritual gifts that blossom from introspection, and I fear them for the very same reason. Several weeks ago I was very excited about this series on Viktor Frankl and the meaning of suffering, but as challenges mount in my life, I feel … Continue reading Mark 8:27-38 “Who Do You Say That I Am?” Lent 2B
Be not afraid. Easier said than done, because life often scares the beejezus out of us. Just ask Matt Lloyd, a climber who likes to scale ice sheets-for fun! In a Climbing Magazine article Matt wrote: I was in Vail, Colorado, climbing a spectacular 90-foot curtain of ice…. It had formed a thin, fragile pillar … Continue reading Christmas Eve – Be Not Afraid
When Jeanne came home from the grocery store with a case of white beans, a case of wine, and candles, she joked, “I am prepared for the apocalypse!” In general, when we hear about people building bomb shelters, stockpiling canned food, guns and ammunition, we think they are paranoid. Some days we think they may … Continue reading How to Survive the Apocalypse
Sermon preached on Matthew 25:31-45 November 25, 2017 It is not hard to tell a sheep from a goat. Sheep are large fluffy ones and goats are smaller with the hipster goatee. You can herd sheep and goats together, because they tend to eat different things. Sheep like the clover near the ground, and goats … Continue reading Separating Sheep and Goats #MeToo #HimToo?
Sermon on the Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30 How you relate to this parable depends on who you relate to among the characters. If you manage people at work or you are a leader, you may relate to the challenge of entrusting other people with responsibility. If two out of three people on … Continue reading Matthew’s Guide to Taking Risks
You have to walk the talk. Do what you say or you lose all credibility. If your boss says everyone needs to give 110% and be a team player, then goes home early, takes long lunches, and throws you under the bus every time something goes wrong; you don’t believe them. You are going to … Continue reading You Have to Walk the Talk
Hear and Do, O People Matthew 22:34-40 October 29,2017 If you have attended a service in Hebrew, you would hear this prayer, known by its first word Sh’ma., “Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Eḥad - "Hear, O Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD is One." It is a practice to say this in the morning … Continue reading What Makes You Great Again
What is money really? Did you see the front page picture in the Hampshire Gazette of a man throwing $389 of bills in the air and walking away, and people scrambling to happily pick up. He said it was a freeing thing to say it is just paper. Any decent economist will tell you it … Continue reading The Image is Everything
With all my soul 