TagRepentance

Desk Detritus

Last week, the computer mouse on my desk mysteriously fell between the desk and the wall in my office.  By “mysteriously”, I mean “was thrown against the wall in frustration over an uncooperative website form I was trying to fill out.”  My desk weighs the equivalent of a mid-sized rhinoceros, so usually things go there…

The Advent Buzzard

Preachers love this time of the year.  Because we get to take pot shots at people, for all the crummy priorities folks have during the Christmas season.  We complain because you spend too much money on Christmas presents … while we ourselves are walking the mall and enjoying shopping for our loved ones.  We whine…

A Solitary Life … or Not

We live in a world that thrives on individuality.   “One of a kind” is preferred over “one of the herd.”  Being “unique” is a higher calling than being “uniform.”  “Standing out” is far better than “blending in.”  I get it.  Being unique makes us feel special, it invites others to notice us.  It helps us…

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Lent 3 Sunday Preview

So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on…

Repentance Made Visible

“It only takes a spark, to get a fire going.”  Pass It On, Kurt Kaiser, composer It is late in the evening, minutes shy of midnight, and two dozen of us are gathered in front of the old stone fireplace.  We hear some words of Scripture and offer up some prayers to God … we…

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Follow Me!

Traditional sermon Epiphany 3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord, Jesus Christ (1 Colossians 1:3). Have any of you ever thought about just dropping everything and starting life anew? I’m not talking about being given the chance to go back in time to start all over and…

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Third Sunday After Epiphany Preview

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he…

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The Christmas Tree Man

advent 2 traditional worship His house is far out.   Farther out than you can imagine anyone living.  It’s small and clean and white.  Most summers it’s cool; most winters it’s warm.  It is a good house for a man alone.  The man himself is a small man and skinny.  He has never married.  He has…

Advent 2 Preview

At the heart of our Advent preparation stands John the Baptist, who calls us to repent and make a new beginning. Whether he baptized with a sea shell or dunked the baptized in the river Jordon, John acts as prophet and preparer of the way. His actions guide us today just as they did 2,000…