Noise
First Sunday in Lent: Psalm, Psalm 32:1-7 Psalm 32:1-7 Psalm 32 is a rejoicing Psalm. As we begin the more somber season of Lent, we have said goodbye to our...
One Over the Other
First Sunday in Lent: Old Testament, Genesis 3:1-21 Genesis 3:1-21 I wonder if you ever feel like you’re just exposed to too many voices. On any subject. Competing sound bites, emails, podcasts, etc. bring...
What Our Eyes Don’t See
The Transfiguration: Gospel, Matthew 17:1-9 Matthew 17:1-9 So here we are. The gospel for the week is the Transfiguration. Three of Jesus’ disciples get to be there. Moses and Elijah are esteemed guests. But the...
The Lamp Is Lit
The Transfiguration: Epistle, 2 Peter 1:16-21 2 Peter 1:16-21 The event we call “The Transfiguration” is a grand whisper. Funny that I say that because wrapped inside the fabric of this miracle is a voice...
Nothing But The Blood
The Transfiguration: Old Testament, Exodus 24:8-18 Exodus 24:8-18 There’s an old evangelical hymn which begins, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” It’s one of...
Way Tougher
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany: Gospel, Matthew 5:21-37 Matthew 5:21-37 It’s a strange thing to read so much law in the gospel reading. But this is law from the lips of the Savior who comes to redeem us from it. Amazing. Jesus “turns...
How We Think
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany: Epistle, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Paul launches into the next section of First Corinthians by calling out the fleshly nature of the young believers in Corinth. Here, the tag of fleshly is based on their immaturity. And immaturity can...
Keep Things Straight
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany: Old Testament, Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 It’s funny how, deep in the human heart, is the sense that wrongs can only be set right by our efforts. Even down to the choices we make on the little things. Well what we have...
Hope for the Hopeless
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany: Gospel, Matthew 5:13-20 Matthew 5:13-20 Our discussion of the Beatitudes from our gospel reading last week culminated in my writing that the list of “blesseds” refers to Jesus. He is the blessed Man. He...
Honesty Wins
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany: Epistle, 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 Paul the apostle is not always easy to read. God gives him things to write that frankly sting. But God be thanked that Paul shied not away from penning the truth...
