Genesis 2:15-17,3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 It’s almost spring! Our “snowbirds” will be returning to Seattle within a couple of months. Snowbirds, of course, are those who spend summers here in the lush Northwest--winters in the warm desert. Spiritually speaking, it’s fair to say that we’re all snowbirds! We spend some of our lives in a beautiful garden: hopeful, confident, joyful. And, we spend some of our lives in the desert: sad, fearful, anxious, angry and … [Read more...]
It’s All Bookends
Isaiah 58:1-12; Ps. 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matt. 6:1-6,16-21 If someone were to ask me what day this is I’d have two answers. One answer I could give is the reason we’re here this evening: Ash Wednesday. The other answer I might give: It’s my wife’s birthday! Trick question: If I were to ask you how old she is, what would you say? If you were here on Sunday you’d probably know to say “50.” And that’s true. But it’s not the whole truth. I’ll say more about that in a … [Read more...]
What Will You Settle For?
Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9 This coming Wednesday marks the beginning of the forty days before Easter. It’s the season of Lent. Today we already get hints of that season. In today’s first reading Moses climbs to the top of a mountain for forty days to discern God’s will. This is what Lent is all about: taking forty days to look for signs of God’s presence, to think about what God is doing in our lives, and how that might lead us to change the way we think and … [Read more...]
It’s Okay to Leave Home
Some of us this past week saw an outstanding TV program called, “The Amish.” I was born in Iowa near an Amish community called the Amana Colonies. From an early age I was fascinated by these men with the long beards and straw hats, the women with their long “pioneer” dresses and hats. It was always an event to see horse-drawn buggies on the roads of eastern Iowa. When young Amish people reach adulthood they decide whether or not to be baptized. For the Amish, being baptized means deciding to … [Read more...]
The Geography of Bliss
Isaiah 49:8-16a; Psalm 131; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34 Seems like everywhere I turn these days people are talking about happiness. This past week, for example, I was reading a book called The Geography of Bliss. It’s about the journey of a writer who’s on a mission to find which countries have the happiest people in the world, and to learn why they’re happy. One of the countries he visits is the Kingdom of Bhutan. Bhutan is only the size of Connecticut and not even included on … [Read more...]
Perfect Airspeed
Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23; Psalm 119:33-40; Matthew 5:38-48 This past week my wife & I watched a TV show about an airline tragedy a couple of years ago. In June of 2009 Air France flight #447 from Rio to Paris mysteriously went down in the Atlantic Ocean. Although some of the wreckage was found no one has ever figured out why the plane went down in the first place. The most likely cause of the crash was ice that covered up instruments on the outside of the … [Read more...]
You Have Heard It Said…
Acts 10:9-17, 24-28 ; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 If someone were to ask you, “Which is more harsh—the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) or the New Testament?”—how would you answer? I’m guessing most of us would say, “Old Testament.” When we think of the story of God’s people during the centuries before Jesus we think of laws, rules and regulations. Many Christians, in fact, think of the Old Testament as representing “law” and the New Testament “grace.” Today’s gospel reading seems to … [Read more...]
Salt of the Earth
Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 112:1-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20 13. You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. It’s a strange image, isn’t it? If salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? Have you ever taken salt out of the cupboard or shaken some in your hand, and tasted it...and it wasn’t salty? I haven’t! No matter how old it is, in … [Read more...]
Blessed
Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12 Today’s gospel reading is that old familiar teaching of Jesus we call The Sermon on the Mount. Over and over again, Jesus uses the word “blessed.” As I was reading it this past week I thought of Velma Mullen. Sometimes I say, “How are you doing today, Velma?” and before she says anything I’m pretty sure I know how she’ll answer. Velma often says, “Blessed. I’m blessed.” What does she mean by that? I don’t usually ask but when … [Read more...]
Isaiah and Martin: Prophet and King
Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42 The word of God for us this morning comes to us through the words of the prophet Isaiah: I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity. The prophet Isaiah has been trying to reach the people of Israel with God’s message. And yet, I have spent my strength for nothing. How many of us have been in those shoes? How many of us have said to ourselves, or maybe even someone else, “I’ve worked long and hard, … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- …
- 42
- Next Page »