Joy in the Journey

“On the ship of the church there are no passengers, all members are the crew.” From the Charter of Church of the Savior, Washington D.C. During 2018 we celebrated our faith in communion, in baptism, in marriage, and in the lives of those who have joined with the saints in heaven. We continued to face the challenges that we share with other communities of faith. During 2018 we have seen an increase in the things that divide us in our world. It appears that we have lost the ability to come together and reason with one another. Anyone with an opposing view or thought is to be villainized, shouted down, defeated, and destroyed. We are called to be peacemakers in a “Game of Thrones” world. So, as we look toward the new year, we can see that we have our work cut out for us. We need to be building bridges of faith within and without our church and the communities in which we live. We need to be striving to see the possibilities instead of the barriers. We need to put our faith to work, ...

What follows is my sermon for Easter Sunrise Service delivered at St. Luke's United Church of Christ in Luthersburg, PA. The Best News Ever The story of the Jesus as told in the new testament is called the Gospel which means Good News. Jesus himself said that he had come to bring the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand.   The term Good News can be found 16 times in the four books called the Gospel, and an additional 13 more times in the rest of the books of the New Testament. Now I have what may seem like a strange question.  Why are you here this morning?  I mean, did you get up extra early this morning, get cleaned up and drive to this spot for some good news? I am going to make an assumption.  I think it is a pretty safe assumption, but an assumption none the less.  I assume that you are here this morning because you are a Christian.     You claim the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus has made a mark on your life and you are here...

As I watch news stories about people attacking others over a political preferences and then blaming the violence on the other side, one of the many questions that comes to mind is how will you restore your honor when the election is over. The one talent most needed these days is the ability to unite.  Unfortunately, it appears the only thing politicians and political parties are good at is division.  After the name calling, egg throwing, suckered punching, and political games, how will you regain the honor lost?  How will you unite those you have alienated?  How will you govern all the people? We have heard the promises before.  Promises to unite, to do what is best for all the people only to be disappointed by governing to one side at the expense of the other.  This is not what makes a great leader or a great government.  We have too long settled for mediocre in our leadership.  Where are the leaders who will look beyond the political parties ...

"Jesus loves me, this I know" is not just a children's song, it is an anthem for all of us, regardless of our age, Somewhere along our growing up, most of us stopped singing the simple song of our childhood.  But the truth of this wonderful song does stop when we reach adolescence.  "Jesus loves me" is a truth that we need to remember through out our lives. It is a needle of truth that we tend to loose in the haystack of the world.  It is the most precious and powerful thought to touch our humanness.  In spite of my failings Jesus loves me. Considering my struggles, Jesus loves me.  Because of my humanness, Jesus loves me. And Jesus loves you too.  To quote the apostle Paul to the Christians in Rome, "Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus."  Nothing.  What is that for which you are most ashamed?  It doesn't change this truth, Jesus loves you.  What is the worst thing you have done in your life?  Jesus lo...

Most Christians are familiar with the end of Nehemiah 8:10.  "...for the joy of the Lord is your strength." The challenge would be to see if how many would know the full verse. "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength." KJV Here is what happened. Jerusalem's walls were in ruins, having been destroyed by one invader after another.  Nehemiah was named governor of the region and began the task of rebuilding the falls of the city.  It took 52 days for the people to rebuild the walls and the gates of Jerusalem. A day was set aside to celebrate the completion.  As part of that celebrate, Ezra, the religious leader at the time was asked to read the laws of Moses as given by God.  On that morning, Ezra read till noon, and as the people began to understand how they had sin...

The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John spends a lot of time dealing with bread and eating.  But it isn't till the end of this long chapter that Jesus gets to the meat of the lesson.  Everything is going along fairly smoothly, even if not fully understood. Then Jesus announces that his flesh and blood is the main ingredients of the saving meal. Jesus said, "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."   John 6:56-59 NRSV This is one of the most difficult text to read.  It is disquieting, even gross.  No wonder many of those who were following Jesus at the time walked away. People walked away because they could not see beyond the hard words.  Up to this point, they enj...

I am beginning to put a peliminary outline for a possible sermon series based on MASH.  Mobile Active Spiritual Helpers! I still have to nail down the scriptures and sermon themes. Suggestions are welcome. Watch for future updates.

Sermon excerpts from Sunday, January 25, 2015 Last week I told you there were two topics that people don’t want to hear.  One was evangelism.  We discussed that last week.  This week we are going to look at that other subject – Stewardship.  Or for today message, using your talents as God desires. God came to a man named Jonah and told him to go to Nineveh, a wicked city, and “preach against it because its wickedness has come up before me.” In other words, his assigned task was to proclaim God’s judgment on Nineveh’s sins.   But Jonah  didn't  want to go to Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, the historic enemy of Israel. In the eighth and seventh centuries B.C., the Assyrians plundered Palestine, looted and burned its cities and deported its inhabitants. In 722-721 B.C., it was Assyria that destroyed the Northern Kingdom.   Just like most of us, Jonah had his reasons for not wanting to use his talents as God wanted. We giv...

So I haven't posted anything here for a while.  I can give a lot of excuses, but let's just say that life, work, and ministry have kept me busy. I hope to have some new posts here soon, so watch for them!

What follows is the homily presented at the Clarion Association Fall Meeting on Sunday, October 26, 2014. Matthew: 14:22-33 This summer there was a movie that has become popular in Christian circles.  It hit movie theaters in the spring and made the top five in ticket sales during its first weekend.  It has been played in churches around the country and I suspect maybe even in your church.  If you haven’t guessed by now, the movie is God’s Not Dead.  But before the movie came out, the title song, “God’s Not Dead” a rock anthem by the band Newsboys was a Christian radio hit.   It's a catchy tune and a powerful message!  I think there is an even more powerful message here.  It is a message that we might miss if we aren’t paying close attention.  If God is not Dead, then neither are We!  This is important for us in the Church today.  So, to make sure you are getting the message, every time you hear the phrase, "God's n...

"If the Doctor is still the Doctor... he will have my back.” - Clara Oswald, Doctor's Who Companion, Doctor Who, Deep Breath, Series 8, Episode 1, 08/23/2014 BBC America Most people should be aware by now that I am a geek.  I freely admit it.  I can't hide it.  I have been one since my childhood and now that I am in my 50's, I finally feel like I don't have to hide it.  Not that I ever did.  Although there have been times when, as a Christian and Pastor, some might have wished that I had.  More than once, I have had to answer the questions: How can you watch that garbage?  Doesn't many of the themes and images of these types of shows upset you? Doesn't that stuff hurt your faith? I usually change the subject when these questions come up because I doubt that the one asking the questions truly cares to hear my answer.  They have already judged me by how they judge these shows.  It is the old guilty by association trap. Somewher...

What follows is an essay I wrote in the Spring of 2003 for the Systematic Theology Class of the Penn West Academy for Ministry. The relationship between faith and history is a turbulent one at the least.  Much like a pendulum, popular thought and theory tends to swing from one side to the other.  Beginning with the historical period called enlightenment, the relationship of these two schools became strained and set off a debate that still rages on in many to this day.  Faith in Jesus, in his teachings and his death and resurrection came under direct challenge as scholars began to rely on the supremacy of human intellect.   During this period scholars began to view the human ability to reason as perfect.  During this time great strides were being made in the sciences and the liberal arts.  Our ability to solve complex problems, to imagine, invent, create, and conquer brought about an idea that our ability to reason could solve every puzzle and ...

New music Monday - Thrive by Casting Crown http://youtu.be/qQ71RWJhS_M

Over the last twenty to thirty years or more, our society has become pluralistic.  We celebrate our diversity.    We highlight all the things that make us unique and different.   We go out of our way to show that it is our differences that make us special.   Today, personal aspects, once thought to be best hidden from the masses, are paraded with pride. We have learned over the years that differences in sex, race, creed, and sexual preference do not make anyone better or worse than another.  That is a positive change in our attitudes.  We have also learned that taken to the extreme, this idea can be just as harmful as the extreme at the other end of this pendulum.  I once watched a news report about women attempting to join a big city fire department.  One of the tests that all fire fighter candidates had to pass was the ability to throw a one hundred and fifty pound dummy over the shoulder and carry it to safety.  Some women ca...

What follows is an essay I wrote in May 2005 for my New Testament class.  I welcome your thoughts and comments. Are the Gospel’s trustworthy?  I have a hard time imagining my grandmother ever worrying about this question.   As a little boy growing up in the farm country of Central PA , my Sunday morning activities were predestined from my birth.   The only way I was able to miss Church and Sunday school was if I was so sick that I could not get out of bed.   In those early years of Childhood, my church family was for the most part, my paternal family.   Except for a couple of families, my extended family inhabited this little church in the country.   My Aunts and Uncles taught Sunday school classes, played the piano and made up the leadership of the church.   The choir was a family portrait of brothers and cousins of all ages and sizes.   At the head of this group was my grandmother.   I can still see her in her prayer pose, her hea...

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14 It is a terrible story. Listen, if you were going to try and get someone, anyone to believe in God as we know God, a God of love and mercy, a God who offers grace through the sacrifice of himself, a God who is real and at work in our lives, you would not lead off with this story. You would naturally tell the story of the Cross, the resurrection, the birth of the Church, but not a story where at first read God comes off as a cruel and sadistic. Although there are those who enjoy a God who is just that, it is not the way to win hearts and minds, and certainly not what Jesus teaches about God. Although, not everything Jesus taught is meant to give us the warm and fuzzies. Again there are those that would also be completely happy with the warm and fuzzy God. Here what Jesus says in the Lectionary’s Gospel text for today from Matthew 10:37-42. “37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter ...