John 18:33-37 Although it might seem like forever-ago, it’s been just a few weeks since we had a very contentious midterm election in this country. It dominated the news for weeks beforehand, and even after. Many Americans needed to take anti-anxiety meds or practice their yoga breathing just to get through it – especially on election night while we watched the odds-makers continually revising their predictions about who would win. Mid-term elections have become more like presidential year elections, in that they have taken on a national tone. People don’t just care about their local and state representatives – they care deeply about everyone else’s representatives. People make donations to high profile candidates in states far away from their own, all because governing this country has become, for a great many of us, a cosmic showdown between the forces of good and evil. Our guys are good, while the opponents […]
Continue readingMonth: November 2018
Love and Happiness
Mark 1:4-11 There are a few passages from scripture that are so well known and loved that they almost become etched on our hearts. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” is one of them. “For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son,” is another. These are special; no one should mess with these. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” is also one of these, I think. But when I read this story of the baptism of Jesus in the Common English Bible translation, it had me in a whole new way. “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” What beautiful language. Maybe not poetic in the way that the King James Bible is poetic, but clear and direct and beautiful in its message to us. You are my Son, whom I dearly love. In you I […]
Continue readingGo and See
Mark 6:30-44 Recently, I came across this list of the top ten things you never hear in church. Hey – it’s my turn to sit in the front row! Pastor, I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon ran 25 minutes over. Personally, I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf. How long is the waiting list to serve on session? I’ll be the permanent nursery volunteer. Isn’t it great to have the children running around the church making a joyful noise? I LOVE it when we sing songs I’ve never heard before! No, don’t ask someone else. Let me do it. Pastor, we’d like to send you to this Bible seminar in Hawaii. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship drive![1] We always hear a few groans when stewardship time comes around. It seems, to many folks, like a necessary evil. We wish we […]
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