Reflections on Lent 2019 – Day 3 Today is my day off. I know, my initial agreement with the congregation actually says I get two days off a week. I’ve never figured out how to do that. Actually, I’m not so great at always taking one day. Good Shepherd is the kind of place whereContinueContinue reading “Sidewalk Flowers: Rest”
Tag Archives: grace
Clay Jars
The texts for Sunday, June 3, 2018: Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Psalm 81:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; and Mark 2:23–3:6 “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” – 2 Corinthians 4:7 There are days I should tattooContinueContinue reading “Clay Jars”
Seeking
The texts for Sunday, September 11, 2016 are: Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 51:1-10; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; and Luke 15:1-10 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” -Luke 15:8 The unrelenting love of God. That seeks And looks inContinueContinue reading “Seeking”
The Epistle of Straw
The texts for Sunday September 20, 2015 (17th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 25): Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 54; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; and Mark 9:30-37. Ah, the book of James… the sermon every angry pastor is tempted to preach and the letter we’re most apt to misquote. We’ve been hearing it for a number of weeks nowContinueContinue reading “The Epistle of Straw”
Dusting off some Words
The texts for Sunday, March 15, 2015: Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22; Ephesians 2:1–10; and John 3:14–21 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” – Ephesians 2:8 This is one of those bits of scripture that is so familiar we kind of assume weContinueContinue reading “Dusting off some Words”
Who is this master?
The texts for Sunday, November 16, 2014 (23rd Sunday after Pentecost): Zephaniah 1:7, 12–18; Psalm 90:1–8[9–11] 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; and Matthew 25:14–30. Link to the audio file of the sermon: Sermon on the Master and three slaves **Most of the sermon was preached without manuscript. In this sermon, I compare Mary’s Magnificat and the God that she describes there withContinueContinue reading “Who is this master?”
Why Christianity? And Why Lutheranism in Particular?
The confirmation project for our last year confirmation student(s) is to work with a mentor to answer and present their own personal answer to one of several proposed questions as they and the mentor talk about life and faith and being church together. In a series of newsletter articles, I’m inviting the congregation toContinueContinue reading “Why Christianity? And Why Lutheranism in Particular?”
The great grace of work
The texts for Sunday 21, 2014 (Pentecost 14A): Jonah 3:10–4:11; Psalm 145:1-8; Philippians 1:21-30; and Matthew 20:1-16. ” And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go intoContinueContinue reading “The great grace of work”
Speaking Love
The texts for Sunday, September 7th, 2014: Ezekiel 33:7-11; Psalm 119:33-40; Romans 13:8-14; and Matthew 18:15-20 . “So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” – Ezekiel 33:7 What does it mean to love? I ask thisContinueContinue reading “Speaking Love”
Blessed is the dust…
The texts for Sunday, November 3, 2013 (All Saints, Year C): Daniel 7:1–3, 15–18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11–23; and Luke 6:20–31 . “Then he looked up at his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.'” – Luke 6:20 Too often, I think, we are quick to turn things like blessing and sainthoodContinueContinue reading “Blessed is the dust…”
Reclamation Grace
The texts for Sunday, September 15, 2013 (Lectionary 24C): Exodus 32:7–14; Psalm 51:1–10; 1 Timothy 1:12–17; and Luke 15:1–10. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51: 10 I’d say that God is a God of second chances; but, besides it sounding a little cliché, it might give the impressionContinueContinue reading “Reclamation Grace”
The Use of Power
The texts for Sunday, June 16,2013 (Lectionary 11C): 2 Samuel 11:26—12:10; 12:13–15; Psalm 32; Galatians 2:15–21; and Luke 7:36—8:3 “Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel…” – 2 Samuel 12:7 At pericope study on Tuesday, I heard something about this story ofContinueContinue reading “The Use of Power”
On the Boat
The texts for Sunday, April 14, 2013 (Easter 3C): Acts 9:1–20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11–14; and John 21:1–19. “Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing…” – John 21:3 I can see why the disciplesContinueContinue reading “On the Boat”
I am the Elder Brother
The texts for Sunday, March 10, 2013: Joshua 5:9–12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16–21; and Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32 I am the elder brother. I remember hearing this text many times as a kid while my own brother seemed to be nothing but difficult —in and out of juvenile detention facilities using drugs failing classes inContinueContinue reading “I am the Elder Brother”
God, the Gardener
The texts for Sunday, March 3, 2013 (Lent 3C): Isaiah 55:1–9; Psalm 63:1–8; 1 Corinthians 10:1–13; Luke 13:1–9 Tragedies are (as what we name of them states) Tragic. Sad. Shocking. Horrifying. Disorienting And those of us who find ourselves living on the other side of a tragedy are left first of all to grieve theContinueContinue reading “God, the Gardener”
“Failing” Lent: Day 10/11
I think I’m actually on Day 12 of Lent at this point (and as I finish this, day 13). I have fallen behind in my reflections. I kind of figured I would … it’s really hard to think of something new to write every day that is appropriate to share and vaguely interesting. I’m sureContinueContinue reading ““Failing” Lent: Day 10/11″
“Failing” Lent: Day 9
For months now, I have been struggling with being tired. Really tired. The kind of tiredness that seems to have seeped into my bones. Of course, I’m incredibly stubborn, so I have mostly just pushed through it. I’m pretty good at not letting how I feel stop me from doing what I feel I needContinueContinue reading ““Failing” Lent: Day 9″
“Failing” at Lent: Day 2
Today, I have nothing much to report about “messing up” per se, so I thought I’d talk about my experience of busy-ness. I noticed it today—especially this morning as I sat down to my devotional text from Hildegaard… The practice that I’m using to explore the devotional text is Lectio Divina. It is a wayContinueContinue reading ““Failing” at Lent: Day 2″
Jabbok Dawn 