Midweek Advent Service Hear the full audio of "You Received The Word of God" A sermon on 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20 (ESV) First Midweek Advent Service, 29 November 2017 First Thessalonians, Chapter Two: (ESV) For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been … Continue reading You Received The Word of God
On Christian Unity: The Passage
A few weeks back, I was teaching a Bible Study on Church History for students at Wayne State College. We've been tracing events in world history, including the good and the bad of Christian responses. Sometimes the Church was on the receiving end of violence and government coercion. Such hardship brought people together around what … Continue reading On Christian Unity: The Passage
The Mistress of The House: The Passage
To Zarephath! With Elijah, we follow along as this week's Old Testament reading from 1 Kings 17:17-24 leads us to the home of a widow. She rules over her household there, in obedient service to the Lord and direct support of his prophet's life and ministry. Elijah's presence there is the result of the Lord's … Continue reading The Mistress of The House: The Passage
On Anxiety and Faith: The Short Answer
"Between Marx and marzipan in the dictionary there was Mary Between the Deep Blue Sea and the Devil that was me..." https://youtu.be/g0CUmD8bTC8 "Worker's Playtime" by Billy Bragg was pretty much the sountrack of my life as I courted my beloved Bride-to-be. Before iPads and iPods, back in the late 80's and earliest 1990's I'd walk … Continue reading On Anxiety and Faith: The Short Answer
On Anxiety and Faith: The Passage
Alfred E. Neuman, the mascot of MAD Magazine since about 1956 has appeared on the cover of almost every issue since then. His motto: "What? Me Worry?" used to imply that one couldn't care less, that laughter was the best medicine. Today the answer seems far less laughable. Yes. We worry. A lot. Mental health professionals … Continue reading On Anxiety and Faith: The Passage
Words of Life and Healing: The Passage
This next Sunday is "Rally Day" at Immanuel Lutheran Church, the kickoff of our Sunday School season which will run through the rest of the school year. Immanuel hosts a cookout in the Laurel city park after service. Members pull in these huge grills for hamburgers and hotdogs. As the small town newspapers used to … Continue reading Words of Life and Healing: The Passage
Hanging on His Words: Perspective
Dominus Flevit, "The Lord Wept," so the Franciscan friars name the chapel above, now overlooking Jerusalem. Not that I've been to this place. Whether Jesus actually paused on that very spot or some other nearby, I delight in the design of this chapel's window. One looks at Jerusalem below through the cross, through the chalice … Continue reading Hanging on His Words: Perspective
Hanging on His Words: The Passage
Tuesday, I double check our travel itinerary for this week's spiritual jaunt together towards a sermon for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity and sigh. We're headed quite a long way, well outside my comfort zone into rather unfamiliar territory. Ignore my grumbling. We use a 1-Year lectionary--a well-worn churchly roadmap of readings, handed down by … Continue reading Hanging on His Words: The Passage
Hanging on His Words: The Journey
On the Isaiah 50:4 Blues Facebook page, I've invited you gracious readers and hearers to follow along and walk with me behind the scenes of a sermon throughout this week. Not that I have hundreds of people following the page. Hardly so. But here's three reasons why I've offered to do this goofy thing. First, the … Continue reading Hanging on His Words: The Journey
Vacation! All I Ever Want Is…
"And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will … Continue reading Vacation! All I Ever Want Is…
Isaiah 50:4 Blues 