Pictured above: The Jordan River in the Judean Wilderness. ——————————– Mark 1:1-8 — The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; a voice of one calling in the […]
2817) Be Careful Little Ears (a) Read More »
(…continued) “Be on guard, be alert,” says Jesus, “for you do not know when that time will come… what I say to you I say to everyone– Watch!” Jesus is referring here to that time when he will come again. In the Bible we read of Jesus’ first coming. In Jesus, God was
(…continued; by Dorothy Fortenberry) I do not find religion to be comforting in the way that I think nonreligious people mean it. I do not believe that everything in my life will necessarily be all right and I do not believe that everything happens for a reason. I believe that whatever kind of
2767) Why This Hollywood Screenwriter Goes to Church (b) Read More »
Mark Galli, editor in chief of Christianity Today, gave this recommendation for the following essay: “I can wax eloquent on why commitment to a local church, especially weekly worship, is vital for life. But such an essay sounds more convincing coming from someone who, rightly or wrongly, we don’t expect to see in church—like this Hollywood
2766) Why This Hollywood Screenwriter Goes to Church (a) Read More »
Pictured above: January 6, 1980 —————————————————— (…continued) God himself has promised to be in these words, inadequate and unpolished as they might be, from me or any other preacher; or, as unwanted as they might be sometimes by you. In Isaiah 55:10-11, God says about his word: “As the rain and the snow
2752) Coming Up With the Words (b) Read More »
Painting above: The Torment of Creative Work, by Leonid Pasternak (1862-1945) ——————————————- I was ordained forty-five years ago today. The following is from a sermon I gave when my congregation celebrated my first 25 years in the ministry. One day when my son was about nine years old, he and several of the
2751) Coming Up With the Words (a) Read More »
Painting above: The Journey of the Magi, by French artist James Tissot (1836-1902) ———————— (…continued) Years later, the little baby that the three Magi were seeking, would say, “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened unto you.” I wonder if, when Jesus said that, he
2742) The Wise(?) Men (b) Read More »
Painting above: The Wise Men in the House of Herod, James Tissot (1836-1902) ————————– Matthew 2:1-12 tells the story of the Wise Men’s visit to the Holy Family after the birth of Jesus. This is one of the most familiar of all Bible stories. We hear it every year. We see three Wise
2741) The Wise(?) Men (a) Read More »
What a Wonderful World was written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louie Armstrong (1901-1971) and released as a single in 1967. Armstrong’s recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. These lyrics do not mention God as the Creator of this ‘wonderful world,’ but I
2696) What a Wonderful World! Read More »
(…continued) What pastors wear when they lead worship is also symbolic. This is true even if they wear flip-flops, faded blue jeans, and a torn T-shirt; symbolizing they are just like the rest of the folks. Other pastors wear other garments, symbolizing other things. I have usually worn the traditional alb
2640) Symbols (c): The Pastor Read More »
