“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Don’t say, ‘Hey, my name is on the church role.’ God can grow baptismal certificates like leaves on the magnolias outside our church. No! Live differently.” Who preaches like that? Who attends that church? Tom […]
On the day after Thanksgiving, Connie drove off for work from our Air B&B cabin at am. Our displaced dog anxiously nuzzled me awake, so we set off on a long predawn walk. The first rays of sunlight broke the horizon to dance on the glassy lake waters. As if called up by the light, […]
As a college student, I spent a summer in Minnesota working as a summer missionary. I had loved riding my bicycle in high school, so when one of our hosts offered the use of their very nice road bike, I decided to trade my daily run for a nice long ride. Minnesota in the summer […]
If we aim to live like Jesus, we must strive to master the art of forgiveness. A sermon usually explores only one part of complex ideas like love, grace forgiveness or hope. So, unless we take a few hours in a symposium,this sermon must leave a few strings untied. With that in mind, let me […]
Have you ever seen a photograph of a beautiful Cardinal or a brilliant Blue Jay perched on a branch eating a berry- perhaps, on a Christmas card? Hang onto that tranquil image as you imagine walking to your garden. It is early in the morning but late in the berry season. You come, coffee cup […]
How are you sleeping? I will confess to waking up with a bit stress. Maybe it is eleven murders at the Pittsburgh synagogue, two African Americans murdered in Louisville, or pipe bombs sent by a right wing terrorist. I am distressed that our nation, that once held up a hopeful light over Ellis Island saying […]
Jesus’ foremost commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself”. ( Matthew 22:36) Jesus uses an immigrant to define “neighbor.” (Luke 10:25-37) Jesus provided free healthcare to all. (Mark 6:56, Luke 5:15, Matthew 4:23 & 9:35) Jesus warns: “You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24) Jesus warns that feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, […]
Walls can do great things. Walls hold in the heat during winter and hold up the roof that keeps out the rain. Sometimes people put up walls to keep others away! Signs on those walls might read: “Keep out”, “Private”, “No Trespassing”, or “Members Only.” How do you feel when someone tells you to […]
I grew up in a different theological zip code than Belmont, as my childhood church served up occasional samples of hell-fire, with a dose of fear, and a pinch of guilt. We never canceled Wednesday children’s choir for Halloween. Instead, we hosted alternate fall festivals, carefully never saying “Halloween.” While dating Connie some 30 years […]
Imagine, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Christ faces the cross: the complex, entrenched, religiously motivated cumulative hatred of all humanity in one symbol act. Will he fight, flee, or make a new pathway through love? The weight of a sinful world presses down upon him. Who is with Jesus in the garden? Will […]
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