Catching People
Today’s Gospel text gives us one somewhat extended metaphor: catching people being analogous to catching fish. I’m going to extend it even further in an effort to help us open up our minds about the Bible and our sacred texts.
Washing and Drying Hands and Feet
As you entered church today the deacons offered to wash and dry your hands. How many of you were a little like Peter and did not want to let someone wash your hands? If you did, how did it feel to be served by another? If you were the one washing and drying the hands of others, how did it feel to serve? Are you more comfortable being served or serving? For thirty-one…
Begin Anew
This passage is full This week’s reading includes one of (if not THE) the best known verses in Christian Scripture held up on signs at American football games, what is it? John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. What does it mean for God to Love the world? We…
Not Being Silent
About a century after Elijah’s conflict with Ahab and Jezebel, the king is named Jeroboam (Jer a bo am) and everything is sunshine and roses in the northern kingdom of Israel. The borders have expanded, and there’s peace and prosperity. Only, not for everyone. The rich and powerful worship other gods in addition to the Lord, and they’ve put their trust in practicing…
Stop Children, What’s that Sound?
After reading a blog post on this week’s scripture— I was prompted to listen to Buffalo Springfield’s For What It’s Worth Play the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY&list=RDgp5JCrSXkJY This song was written by Stephen Stills in 1967 and helped launch the band to stardom it was written after he witnessed an overly excessive show of police force in LA in…
Grace Alone
Today we celebrate and acknowledge that the Reformation is 500 years old. Today is reformation Sunday, legend has it that on October 31, 1517 Luther defiantly nailed a copy of his 95 Theses—a list of questions and propositions for debate, to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church.— which touched off the reformation.. And we are remembering God’s Grace throughout our…
Seeing Right
‘This chapter of Samuel is about seeing things right. It is not about only what your eyes offer you but to Look into more than the outside To Look to the heart and soul and the character and intent of someone. Our text today insists that not only CAN God use small things to do big things, but that God’s preferred method of operation is small things. Children, who are…
Go Sacrifice
Genesis 21:1-3; 22:1-14 The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him. After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he…