Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thomas a Becket
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Holy Innocents
Monday, December 26, 2011
Stephen, the first Martyr
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Word made flesh
Saturday, December 24, 2011
A very merry Christmas to all.
A very merry Christmas to each and every one of our friends this season!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Prophet of the Most High
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Restore us, O Lord
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Thomas the Doubter
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Mary said, "Yes."
Monday, December 19, 2011
Preparation in this Holy Season
Friday, December 16, 2011
Sing a Song of Praise
Thursday, December 15, 2011
A Sacrifice of Heart
From today's reading: Psalm 50
1 The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken;*
he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak:
11 I know every bird in the sky,*
and the creatures of the fields are in my sight.
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving*
and make good your vows to the Most High.
15 Call upon me in the day of trouble;*
I will deliver you, and you shall honor me."
24 Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me;*
but to those who keep in my way will I show the salvation of God."
In this psalm, God is saying that sacrifices and burnt offerings are not necessary. He says that everything in the earth belongs to him, and implies that he has no need of food sacrificed from the earth. We no longer offer actual burnt offerings, but some people are proud of their sacrifices - remember the Pharisee boasting in the temple while the tax collector prayed humbly. Some people wear sacrifices to God like clothing - "Oh, I fast and I tithe and I do this for God, and I do that..." I'm not saying that God doesn't care about these things - they are nice - but what God is looking for is how we live our lives in relation to other people.
Sacrifices can't really make up for mistreating others or even ignoring their existence. Any sacrifice we can make is worth less than keeping the word of God and walking in his ways. What God really wants is a sacrifice of heart. So today be sure to share the joy of Christ and of Christmas with someone who needs a little sunshine in their life.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Authority/Responsbility
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
I stand at the door and knock. . .
Monday, December 12, 2011
Filling the need
Friday, December 9, 2011
In the shadow of His wings
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Our Heart's Desire
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Practice what you preach
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
St. Nicholas
Monday, December 5, 2011
I am Alpha and Omega
From today's reading: 'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Rev. 1:8
Today the Episcopal church remembers Clement of Alexandria. He was a teacher and head of the Christian school in Alexandria at the end of the second century. He considered science and philosophy to be preparation for understanding the Gospel. He was a scholar willing to meet non-Christians on their own grounds to listen, to debate and to defend the faith. (Thanks to James Kiefer for his article on Clement.)
I think it is important to remember that faith - Christianity - is a philosophy, a particular philosophy based in the belief that there is a God who is outside time and space, who created all things that are and who cares for his creation. And there is a juxtaposition between science and religion that allows us to remember that although God created all things, he has given us a mind to seek out and desire to understand his creation.
Our God, the Alpha and Omega, existed before time began and he will remain after time ends. At this time of the year, we remember that he was willing to enter into his own creation and we rejoice at this example of great love.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Come, won't you come?
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Peace is waiting on the Lord
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
St. Andrew's Day
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
We were eyewitnesses. . .
Monday, November 28, 2011
Advent: Our king comes riding on a donkey...
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
C. S. Lewis remembered
Monday, November 21, 2011
A Litany for Thanksgiving
Friday, November 18, 2011
Like a tax collector
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Child-like faith
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Paying the temple tax
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
God with us.
Monday, November 14, 2011
On the Mountain Top
Friday, November 11, 2011
On this foundation
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A sign for our times.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Filling the need
The disciples said, "Where are we to get enough bread. . .?" Jesus asked, "How many. . .?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." Then ordering the crowd to sit down. . .he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them. . .and all of them ate and were filled; Matthew 15:33-37
This was the most popular story in the gospels - it is told 6 times in the four gospels. And I think it says much more to us than just feeding a multitude of people. Thanksgiving is coming up and a lot of churches will feed a multitude of people around our country, and that's a good thing. But I think it also speaks to us about the graciousness of God to take the meager things we offer up to him, and to multiply it to satisfy the need. I remember that my son was working for a local contractor one summer. He and his friend had been left to paint a front porch with one bucket of paint. They had used it quite liberally and realized that they still had half a porch to paint and only a quarter of a bucket of paint. Andy remembered this story and these two 20 year old boys, in faith, stuck out their hands over the bucket and prayed for God to multiply it to be enough - and it was. God can and will do that in any area of our life when we offer it up to him in faith. Whether it's paint, or chicken salad, or our own skills and abilities, when we offer it up to God, it will always fill the need and be more than we could have imagined.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Faith is trusting God
Monday, November 7, 2011
Spiritual Hygiene
Friday, November 4, 2011
My ways are not your ways.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Praise God through the Psalms
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
All Souls Day
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
All Saints Day
Wheat and Tares
Friday, October 28, 2011
One God and Father of all.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
God's will be done
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Discerning God's purpose
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
An Extravagant Sower
Monday, October 24, 2011
Speaking the words of Jesus
From today's reading: Jesus said, "When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Matthew 10:19-20 The lessons for today are those appointed for the remembrance of St. James of Jerusalem, the brother of Jesus. (Oct. 23, transferred) It is generally accepted that James was not a disciples of Jesus until after his resurrection. (1 Cor. 15:3-8) James later became the leader of the church in Jerusalem and was eventually killed for refusing to denounce Jesus. I find this scripture comforting as I begin my sermon preparation each week. I trust that God has something to say to his people, and I trust that he will speak his word through me. That's a huge thing since I don't always trust myself to know what to say. If it comes out right, I know that God's hand was all over it. What I find is that we must spend time reading God's word in order to be able to use His word when the right time comes. That is a gift given to all of us - to speak God's word when the time is right.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Known by our fruit
Friday, October 21, 2011
Blasphemy, what is it?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Spending time with God
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
I desire mercy, not sacrifice
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Pass it on.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Forgive us our sins
Friday, October 14, 2011
Are you the one?
I like John the baptizer. The vision I claim is the handsome bearded guy singing "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" in the movie Godspell. He was the one who heralded the coming of Jesus, "He will baptize you with fire and the Holy Spirit..." and now he's sitting in prison alone and he wonders, "Did I make a mistake? Did I misunderstand?"
I think we all have had those kinds of questions at one time or another about any number of things in life. This was one of those times of trouble for John, and Jesus responds, "Look at what is happening all around - these are good things - this is the fruit of the Spirit. The people are receiving hope where none existed. They are seeing God at work in their lives. We are asked to open our eyes and see God at work around us. Yes there is still pain and turmoil in the world, but God's kingdom is seen in the response of faithful people who reach out and do what they can to help those in need.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
I call upon the Lord
In times of trouble, of turmoil, of pain, anguish, we need to know and believe that there is someone who is great than us, who hears our cry, who sees our struggle and who cares deeply that we are hurt. God is that one who knows all. He is the one we can cry out to when we are lost and alone. God is the one that will be with us through it all, who will hold and comfort us through it all. And he is the one who will find a way to bring good out of that experience if we hang on to him and allow him to be our strength. KSBJ reminds us that "God listens," and the psalm reminds us that he also cares.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Are you not of more value...
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Chance encounters
Monday, October 10, 2011
These three remain
Saturday, October 8, 2011
If I have love
Friday, October 7, 2011
We are the Body
From the song, "If We are the Body" by Mark Hall: If we are the body, why aren't his arms reaching, why aren't his hands healing, why aren't his words teaching? If we are the body, why aren't his feet going, why is his love not showing them there is a way."