Yesterday marked the beginning of Advent, a season of waiting. But fighting the human impulse toward instant gratification isn't easy. This New York Times article seems to be about how to resist seasonal impulse buying but it's more than that. It's about the power of gratitude: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/23/opinion/sunday/with-holiday-shopping-willpower-isnt-enough.html?_r=0http:// … [Read more...]
Final Exam
Christ the King A14—11/23/14 Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24; Psalm 95:1-7a; Eph. 1:15-23; Matt. 25:31-46 “God loves you…no matter what.” At the baptismal font, week after week, in the presence of children, we hear these words. “God loves you…no matter what.” Children seem to accept this assurance with little problem. We adults, however, are waiting for the other shoe to drop, right? Unconditional love—truly unconditional love—is so rare in the world and so rare in our experience … [Read more...]
Fall
It has felt more like winter these past weeks but by the calendar we’re only mid-way through fall. The word “fall” lately has been showing up regularly in my life. It’s our informal word for “autumn.” But its most common use describes moving from “upright” to “face-plant.” I’ve had some painful, first-hand experience with this use of the word. Two months ago I slipped on a large boulder while walking along a river. I hit the rock full force on my back. More recently, I fell off a … [Read more...]
Rules of the Game
23 Pentecost A—11/16/14 Zephaniah 1:7,12-18; Ps. 90:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matt. 25:14-30 American Idol. The X Factor. The Voice. Top Chef. America’s Next Top Model. And, America’s Got Talent! Growing up, I thought of talent shows as something you’d find at summer camp, or church events. Today on television they’re big business! "The kingdom of heaven is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to … [Read more...]
An All-Inclusive Feast
18 Pentecost A—9/12/14 Isaiah 25:1-9; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14 Have you gotten any dinner invitations lately? I have. Over the past month Lutheran Community Services, REACH, Faith Action Network, Communities In Schools in Renton, Open Door Ministries, and the Church of Steadfast Love have invited me to dinner—fundraising dinners! In today’s reading from Matthew Jesus tells a story about an invitation to a banquet. The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king … [Read more...]
Fruits of the Harvest
17 Pentecost A--10/5/14 Matthew 21:33-46 Violence; bloodshed; a stone that breaks to pieces anyone who falls upon it and crushes anyone on whom it falls. The author of Matthew’s gospel gives us a difficult text today. So difficult in fact, that had I known the content of the gospel text for this Sunday when I chose this date for my first sermon at Lakeridge two months ago with Pastor Scott, I might have picked another one. But this text is the one I have had to struggle with. And in my … [Read more...]
Saving the World
Holy Cross Day Numbers 21:4b-9; Psalm 98:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:18-24; John 3:13-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life." If you’re a sports fan and you’re watching a game on TV you might have noticed over the past forty years as the camera pans the crowd there’s a sign that appears year after year, game after game. In the middle of thousands of people someone is holding a sign that says, … [Read more...]
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