Jesus didn’t see “a blind man.” Jesus saw “a man.” “Blind from birth.” Do you hear the difference?… But wait—there’s more! You know how things tend to get lost in translation? Well, in the original Greek of the New Testament it says Jesus saw an “anthropos,” a fellow human being, as in the word … More Learning to See Our Own Blindness
When we meet up with Jesus in today’s gospel lesson, he’s been walking all morning. So, by the time he finally sits down near Jacob’s well, he’s really tired and thirsty. (I think we all know what that feels like! Amen?!…) To be in need of rest and refreshment after a long journey … More Jesus Was a Rule Breaker
(Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent A, March 12, 2017, based on John 3:1-17) “The time is surely coming when we must all become mystics, or we will all become atheists….” These thought-provoking words were posted on Facebook several days ago by a retired pastor-friend. In response, I typed, “Amen!,” and I’ve … More We Must All Become Mystics
(Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent A, March 5, 2017, based on Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 and Matthew 4:1-11) Some things never change. Adam and Eve had it all: Every day they walked and talked with God in a beautiful, bountiful Paradise. What more could any human being possibly want?!… Ummm…well, according to today’s lesson from … More Some Things Never Change!
(Sermon for Ash Wednesday A, March 1, 2017, based Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21) Some of you know I had a birthday last week, and I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more I see birthdays as kind of a “mixed blessing.” On the one hand, it’s always nice to be the center … More Birthdays, Baptism, and Our Heart’s True Treasure
(Sermon for the Transfiguration of Our Lord A, Feb. 26, 2017, based on Matthew 17:1-9) I’m glad you’ve come to worship today, sisters and brothers, because God has something to say to us, and we all need to hear it…. As incredible as it sounds, words that were spoken to Jesus’ friends on a mountaintop … More God’s Portable Gift
(Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany A, February 12, 2017, Matthew 5:21-37 and Deuteronomy 30:15-20) As I read our Scripture lessons for today, I’m pretty sure God isn’t too happy with many of God’s people right now. In our lesson from Deuteronomy, Moses lays out the choices God’s people face in every … More Choose Life!
Rose City Ramblin' 