The Problem of Evil Today’s Gospel lesson speaks to us of evil in the world including the mention of the unforgivable sin – blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This blasphemy is when people were saying “He has gone out of this mind”; and the scribes were saying that “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler […]
Knowing God Today is a special day in the calendar of the church year. It is different from all the rest in that others are based upon an event. This day, however, we celebrate the Holy Trinity … a doctrine. This is the doctrine that states the Christian understanding of God as Father, Son, and […]
The Jesus Connection A newspaper reporter went to interview a successful entrepreneur. “How did you do it?” he asked. “How did you make all this money?” “I’m glad you asked,” the entrepreneur replied. “Actually, it’s a rather wonderful story. You see, when my wife and I married, we started out with a roof over […]
Everyone is interested in numbers these days. At least that’s the way it seems. Have you ever tried to write a check for your purchase in a store? You pull out your checkbook and write out the check. The clerk takes it from you, looks at the information. Numbers tell where you live, numbers tell […]
“… and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Not what any of us expected to hear on Easter! You and I have come to this Easter service from many different places, many different points of view, differing needs and differing attitudes and differing emotions – but fear is not generally one of […]
“For I have set you an example . . . 21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore […]
We stand today on the threshold of another Holy Week. It’s strange that we should call this time by that name. In the original setting, it was seven days of conspiracy, deception, cowardice, betrayal, manipulation, hatred, and violence. And we call that “Holy Week”! We Christians have a strange vocabulary. The week began with a […]
We Want To See Jesus Two men went up in a hot-air balloon one May morning. Suddenly they were enveloped by clouds and lost track of where they were. They drifted for what seemed like hours. Finally, the cloud parted, and they spotted a man below them on the ground. “Where are we?” one of […]
God So Loved the World The New Testament is a collection of twenty-seven different writings. It contains biography, history, theology, philosophy, ethics, poetry, prophesy, and even some economics. But, first and foremost, it is a love letter – God’s love letter to God’s children. Our Gospel reading for today gives us that letter in condensed […]
A Two-Way Street A pastor once told me about a time that he was talking with an agnostic, one who doesn’t believe because it cannot be proven that God exists. The gentleman said to this pastor that he didn’t believe in God. The pastor turned to him and asked: “then what are you going to […]