Good Morning Friends,     There are transitions going on in today's lectionary text from both the Old and New Testaments. But it may be a mistake to even connect them. One is about unlimited forgiveness of Jesus and the other about a miraculous entry of Joshua into the Promised Land with the Ark of … Continue reading What Is Forgiveness? →

   Good Morning Friends,    Perhaps you have seen some of the great Cathedrals of Europe built by generations upon generations of stone masons. They began and worked on projects that they knew they would never see to completion. Every stone they laid in its place was for the benefit and blessing of generations yet … Continue reading Would You Like To Outlive Your Life? →

   Good Morning Friends,  There is no doubt that our faith is caught up in Holy History but so too in our personal history as the Holy Spirit reveals the presence of God active in both. To exclude either one I think is a mistake for they are in a dance as our lives play … Continue reading How Is God Being Revealed In Our Lives Today? →

   Good Morning Friends,     This morning we come to a section of Matthew which encompasses a mere six verses, but involves two different stories, one on each of these two topics—one on death and one on taxes. The sage of American History, Ben Franklin, commenting on his hope of the new U.S. Constitution's permanency, … Continue reading What Does The Lord Require? →

Are We Too Fearful To Pray In The Privilege And Power Of Holy Spirit Love So As To Dance On Water?       Good Morning Friends,     Today's lectionary texts on the birth morning of my new grandchild, confront us with a challenge from multiple perspectives on the tension of who is being favored by God … Continue reading →

 Good Morning Friends,    Freedom from tyranny like miracles are important if for no other reason than they help us put in priority order, God before all other things. The miracle of creation…the miracle of God having an active hand in the nation of Israel… our own wellbeing….and of course, the resurrection, integrity, and the … Continue reading Do The Crosses We Bear Reflect The Miracles Of Justice Or Of Mercy That We Seek? →

     Good Morning Friends,       The Bible has a lot to say about money and illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered people who lacked the trust and belief to live life in response to the eternity of existence. Of the 29 parables Christ told, 16 of them deal with a person and their money. There is much … Continue reading Do You Base Your Life On Jesus’ Love, Generosity And Faith? →

   Good Morning Friends,    One of the greatest tragedies in the world is when people continue to live in darkness when they can live in the light. We saw it yesterday in connecting the Transfiguration to our relationship with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to create healing. We continue this thought … Continue reading Do You Have The Courage To Lead Others In The Promise Of Grace? →

    Good Morning Friends,     Sometimes people storm into the church, insisting that the church should live up to the pattern offered by Jesus. Sometimes people expect ministers to walk on water. They rock the boat, and in so doing they force the church to remember its reason for being when we face the faith, … Continue reading What Constitutes True Happiness And True Holiness? →

      Good Morning Friends,      Jesus has an amazing gift for taking the traditions of the past and extrapolating their core ideas and the memories of the good times associated with them to create something new. Hopefully we get a sense of it in today's lectionary scripture. We see in them that success is … Continue reading When Is Enough, Enough? →