God’s Plan for You

August 22, 2010; Proper 16; Jeremiah 1:4-10: Dreaming is a wonderful way to spend time for soon-to-be parents waiting for the arrival of their child. Will our baby be a boy or a girl? What name will we choose for our offsprings? What clothes will we buy for our child?

A Lasting Legacy

August 15, 2010; Proper 15; Hebrews 11:29-12:2: When I conduct a burial ceremony, I sense that I stand among a gathering of people who still speak, even though they are no longer alive. Sometimes their message is inscribed on their headstone: a Bible verse, a famous quotation or just the dates of birth and death. However, beyond a meager message on stone, the dead continue to communicate through the legacy they left us about how they lived.

Waiting and Watching

August 8, 2010; Proper 14; Luke 12:31-40: Verses 35-40 contain two short parables in which Jesus compared His coming to a bridegroom returning from his wedding and a thief breaking in unexpectedly. Verses 31-34 set the stage for these two parables with Jesus assuring His disciples the Father has chosen to give the kingdom to them.

The Foolish Farmer

August 1, 2010; Proper 13; Luke 12:13-21: A rich farmer decided to tear down his old buildings and build bigger ones to accommodate his anticipated great harvest. Then he would eat, drink and be merry. God called the farmer a fool and suddenly required his soul from him before he could enjoy his riches.

The Master’s Teaching on Prayer

July 25, 2010; Proper 12;Luke 1:1-13: Prayer is at once the believer's greatest privilege, obligation and spiritual weapon. Sadly, prayer is also our greatest neglect. In this passage, Jesus taught us to pray by means of a pattern, a parable and a promise.

A New Look at an Old Problem

July 18, 2010; Proper 11; A New Look at an Old Problem; Luke 10:38-42: Where do I fit in? How can I serve God with my unique abilities? How should I spend my life?

Who’s My Neighbor?

July 11, 2010; Proper 10; Luke 10:25-37: What must I do to inherit eternal life? This question occupies our thoughts today, but it is not a new question. An "expert in the law" once asked Jesus this question. In answer, Jesus turned the question back on him and asked what he thought the answer was. "Love the Lord with all your heart," and "Love your neighbor as yourself." The man's answer was straight out of Deuteronomy and Leviticus. Jesus told him he was right. All he had to do was to put those words into practice: "Do this and you will live."

What Matters Most

July 4, 2010; Proper 9; Galatians 6:1-16: Sooner or later everyone reaches the basic truth of life: Either our lives count for something important and eternal, or they are temporal and wasted. This is a strong statement that should make us pay close attention.

Excuses, Excuses!

We beg to be a part of God's plan; we pledge our participation; we offer our assistance; but when God provides an opportunity we reply indignantly, "I tant do dat!"

Tragic Triumph

Confetti flutters in the background. Sweat-stained players embrace Gatorade-drenched coaches. The reporter shoves the microphone into the face of the exuberant athlete. "How will you celebrate this victory?" With a large smile, the player replies, "I'm going to Disneyland!" We've come to expect the victor to celebrate at the Happiest Place on Earth. Spiritual victories rarely land us on Main Street at Disney. Instead, spiritual victories often leave us emotionally spent and spiritually vulnerable. Elijah felt the sting of a tragic triumph.