Body and Spirit

1 Cor 15.35-38, 42-50 Some of you have noticed that I teach a lot in my sermons. I am at heart an educator, but there is more to it than that. Historically, Disciples of Christ have been referred to as “the people of The Book.” Now, I have spent my entire life as a Disciple … [Read more…]

Favored One

Luke 1:5-38 Some people think of Lent as a dark time – to repent and journey to Christ’s crucifixion. It IS a time of introspection, a time to take a faith life accounting, a time to get honest with ourselves and with God. It IS a time of stripping away things that separate us from … [Read more…]

Blessed Among Women

Luke 1:39-45 I have a confession – I watched some of the Oscars show last weekend. But before the actual Oscars started, there was the “Red Carpet” show. Each of the most famous people was pulled aside for the cameras so that all of America could critique each female’s gown and jewels. The interviewer would … [Read more…]

My Lord and My God

Sometimes I liken the book of Revelation to the music young people listen to these days. If I did not have teenagers in my family, I would avoid it all. I would never listen to it. Most of us would never have read much of what we were assigned to read in school if we … [Read more…]

Believe (Easter 2013)

John 20:1-18 Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve are the two best attended worship services of the year. Some people attend church only on Christmas and Easter. Many people come for the very first time or for the first time in a long time on Christmas or Easter.  At the Christmas Eve service we tell the … [Read more…]

Contemplative Life

Luke 2:1-20, 41-52 We are all so busy, aren’t we? I wrote this sermon in a café. And as I watched people coming and going, I just kept thinking, “everybody is so busy.” There were people having lunch meetings, there were others with their laptops out working, even the people who were alone had their … [Read more…]

Should Life Be Fair?

Luke 1:46-56 This is the fourth Sunday of Lent and the fourth passage we are studying in Luke about Mary, the mother of Jesus. We are getting to know Mary, in a new way – not obscured by candlelight and the singing of Christmas carols. We are getting to know Mary’s heart – the heart … [Read more…]

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20 On Wednesday our son, Elijah, turned 17 years old which reminded me of some of his past birthdays.  On Elijah’s 3rd birthday he received a gift that changed his life, at least up to that point. He got the first of many pairs of batman pajamas. They were gray with a black cape … [Read more…]