It’s never particularly attractive to begin a sermon by whining, so think of this as a simple statement of fact. Today is the fourth Sunday of Easter, and therefore Good Shepherd Sunday. Again. It happens every year. This, despite how very few of us in 21st century America know any sheep personally, let alone understand … read
In the midst of grief, in the midst of anger, pain, sadness, hurt, maybe even feeling a bit betrayed, or maybe feeling like having the greatest life-changing rug pulled out from under you; in the midst of all those kinds of feelings, it makes sense that someone might be a bit distracted from seeing clearly. … read
It’s important to note that before this lectionary text, often called the Song of Moses and Miriam, we meet Miriam in Exodus 2. She, along with Moses’ mother and some revolutionary midwives, saves Moses from certain death, as Pharoah has ordered that all baby boys be thrown into the Nile River. Listen with me for … read
We are now deep into the Lenten season, the troubled waters now at the waists, waters troubled enough to submerge some and at times overwhelm others, and remaining faithful knowing that the calming of waters and stilling of waters is to arrive, and has arrived, in the name of Jesus and through the Spirit of … read
My wife and I celebrated an anniversary this week, and so I’ve been thinking about our family and the friends who supported us in those days. I was speaking to one such a friend this week and thinking about a toast she gave at one of our celebrations. She said, then, something like: I know … read
It’s a tiny bit arrogant (don’t you think) to announce via sermon title, “There are only three sins.” I mean—really? Like one knows this kind of thing. This sermon is not in defense of arrogance, although I understand that’s what all the cool kids are doing these days. But the three categories of sin are … read