With Understanding Comes Life
November 3, 2019 With Understanding Comes Life 21st Pentecost Psalm 119:137-144 November 3, 2019 Luke 19:1-10 Have you noticed how human beings have a tendency to “pigeonhole” other people? You know, find a little box in which we can neatly place others according to their “category.” I was talking to some pretty savvy high school students 10 or 12 years ago, and I asked them to identify the different groups they saw on campus. Here is a sample of their list…
Chained to the Rock
Chained to the Rock 20th Pentecost Psalm 65 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 While I was serving in Elko, I was invited to be a guest speaker at a class at the local community college, Great Basin College. The class was entitled “The Meaning of Life.” This seminar group had been reading a variety of sources, and talking at length about what gives life significance and, of course, how they could live life more deeply. I was asked to come and share “the Christian perspective”…
A Chain of Thought
A Chain of Thought 19th Pentecost 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 Luke 18:1-8 What is your favorite kind of teacher? I’ll give you a couple of choices, and you decide which one you like best: A teacher who makes you uncomfortable, but helps you grow; or A teacher who confirms your current beliefs and makes you feel good. I could ask the same question about what kinds of things you like to read. Would you prefer: Something that sometimes challenges you, makes you stop and think?…
Godliness and Contentment
September 29, 2019 Godliness with Contentment 16th Pentecost Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Sept. 29, 2019 Luke 16:19-31 If I had to name ONE thing that describes what Christian Faith is all about, I would have to say IT’S ABOUT LIVING THE GOOD LIFE! Really! Think about it—all of the concepts and components, all the principles and promises, all the encouragements and examples point in the same direction: how to “live large” in every aspect of life! After all, Jesus did say “I have come that you might…
Got your invitation?
Got Your Invitation? 15th Pentecost Psalm 79:1-9 1 Timothy 2:1-7 I’d like you to remember back to when you were in elementary school. You have a bit of a dilemma, because your birthday is coming and you’re going to have a party, and you have to decide which kids in your class are going to be invited. As you look around the classroom, you see a couple of “popular” kids—you know, the ones with more money than the other kids, or better looks (or…
Mercy for the Ignorant
Mercy for the Ignorant 14th Pentecost Psalm 14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10 Every now and then I see a comic strip posted on Facebook called “Coffee with Jesus.” There are a variety of characters who have “conversations with Jesus” over a cup of coffee. It’s an interesting way to explore what it means to live out our faith. Just the other day, I saw this one: A man named Carl says, “I’m such a mess-up, Jesus. Bad husband, lousy father,…
Molding our World
Molding Our World 13th Pentecost Jeremiah 18:1-11 Philemon 1-21 I can still remember an art class when I was in elementary school. I was given a lump of clay, and told to make something out of it. I really didn’t have any idea what to do with it, so I just pinched it into a little container shape, and scratched my name on the bottom. The next week, it had been fired, and I was told to paint it with some…
Tearing Down, Building UP
Tearing Down, Building Up 11th Pentecost Jeremiah 1:4-10 Psalm 71:1-6 Luke 13:10-17 I once read a story about a father who had given his little daughter a necklace full of fake pearls—just play jewelry. She LOVED that necklace, and wore it very frequently. When she got just a little older, he bought a REAL pearl necklace for her—but he didn’t give it to her right away. He wanted to try something unusual. When he was tucking her into bed, he asked her if…
God’s Love Song
God’s Love-Song 10th Pentecost Isaiah 5:1-7 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56 Those of you who are familiar with J. R. R. Tolkien’s story of The Lord of the Rings—either the books or the movies—will remember a scene where Frodo and Sam are working their way toward Mount Doom. Struggling through difficult situations, they keep plodding along to the one place where they can destroy an evil ring that Frodo carries. They are weary of this quest, and discouraged because things get more dangerous with every step. Then…
And God Keeps on Giving
And God Keeps on Giving 9th Pentecost Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 Luke 12:32-40 You’ve heard those old “Good news, bad news” jokes, right? Like the one where there are a bunch of men rowing a big galley to the beat of a drum, and the slave-driver has them stop long enough to make an announcement. “We’ve got some good news, and some bad news. First, for the good news: the Captain has ordered that every one of you is going to have…
What God Gives
What God Gives 8th Pentecost Hosea 11:1-11 Luke 12:13-21 I’m sure you’re familiar with a quote by George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It’s a great way to remind ourselves to learn our history lessons, and to let history inform our decision-making in the present. Well, for the next five weeks, I am going to be 1. Reaching back into some of the more ancient history in our faith; 2. Listening to what ancient prophets had to say to…
Keep Living in Prayer
Keep Living in Prayer 7th Pentecost Psalm 85 Colossians 2:6-19 July 28, 2019 Luke 11:1-13 Last week, our key idea was to “keep choosing Christ.” This week, the topic is “Keep Living in Prayer.” Prayer is central for the Apostle Paul. In fact, in his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he instructs them to “pray without ceasing.” Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? My prayer times always seem to be pretty short, so “praying without ceasing” goes beyond my imagination. I can imagine using…