Ships, seas, trade winds and travel stir human imagination. In the verses before our passage Bishop Peter has been traveling around the Jerusalem Annual Conference and finds himself at the home of Simon the Tanner in the busy port of Joppa. I like to imagine Simon made the finest quality leather for the scrolls Luke […]
Author Archives: paulrpurdue
Two years ago, my cousin Tom and I bought a tractor for the farm that has been in our family for over 100 years. Our tractor arrived within a week, but due to pandemic delays our bush hog was on backorder. When Boo from Big Three Tractor finally called, our hayfields had not been mowed […]
Four inches of snow covered the roads, and it was still falling. Dad found me and said, “Your mother wants some things from the grocery; let’s go.” I smiled as it was easy to persuade Dad to buy Cheetos, Captain Crunch, Cokes, and other treats on Mom’s ‘no-buy’ list. Walking to the car, Dad tossed […]
“After the Sabbath, early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at Jesus’ tomb.” They brought spices to anoint Jesus’ body and wondered who would break the seal and roll back the stone. Mark clarifies that the “other Mary” was Mary the mother of James and adds Salome as an […]
“Now, I don’t know how long this Saturday in the state of Tennessee will last, but I’ve got Good News: Sunday always comes, resurrection always comes. Resurrection is a promise and a prophecy! We are still here and we will never quit.” Rep. Justin Pearson
Opening the most complex week in the Christian year, Palm Sunday holds a jarring spiritual pivot. We come in singing “All glory, laud and honor, to You, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring,” and leave singing “O sacred head now wounded.” Perhaps this week’s heavy hearts find a parallel […]
It is possible that I am about to preach the most boring sermon you’ve ever heard. If you have been reading through Matthew with us, I imagine you have seen themes emerging. There are many themes in Matthew. Today, I’m going to walk us through one theme: Jesus’ conflict with church and community leaders, a […]
Asking for all of us Peter inquired, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Seven times?” Seven forgiveness “credits” is a generous allotment, far exceeding the transactional arithmetic most of us apply to giving, forgiveness, or goodness. We keep a tally, “You forgave me, I forgave you, […]
It was raining and cold that December Friday night, when I answered a call from one of my son’s friends. Blake wondered if the high school marching band might shelter in the church as they waited for the Christmas Parade to begin. Without much thought, I told Blake I would head that way to unlock […]
As we processed into the ordination service, I learned my name was not printed in the bulletin, and someone pointed out that the new robe my church purchased for me was gray which is not an approved liturgical color. It all felt pretty ordinary until 90 minutes into the service when I knelt at the […]
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