Job 13:20-25; Romans 5:8-10; John 3:1-7, 9-12, 16-17 A story of love and a story of heartbreak. One sentence to describe my understanding of Al and Gloria in my life as their pastor. One comes to worship and joins in the life of this congregation, the other stays on the fringes, cloistered in the […]
Palm Monday: Matthew 21:12-16
April 9, 2017 by
The wonders of Jesus confront the chief priests and scribes. In the Temple, the Father’s House, the Son, soon to die, causes eyes to open in surprise. The children respond, bringing honor to God for His unexpected blessings. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem does cause the people to sit up and wonder—but what takes place […]
The Passion and the People: Herod
April 5, 2017 by
Wanting the Right Person for the Wrong Reasons Luke 23:6-12 A king with wealth and standing, Herod, can do almost anything he wants. Still, an unfulfilled longing yearns within him—to meet Jesus. “For a long time, he wished to meet him because of what others said, hoping to catch him do some miracle.” The […]
Genesis 22:1-14, John 8:46-59: Abraham, Isaac, and Jesus
April 2, 2017 by
The life of Abraham forces us to face several facts. First, is his faith. Many years earlier, God told him to leave his home and family and travel to an unknown land. Revealed to Abraham, who is now an old man, is the promise to become the father of a son. The wrinkle in this […]
The Passion and the People: Pilate
March 29, 2017 by
Matthew 27:11-14, 24-26 The Governor, Pontius Pilate. Every week, we mention this man in the creeds, who caused our Savior to suffer, whom He crucified. Still, who is this mystery man, who brought the weight of an Empire on our Savior’s shoulders? Let’s begin with what we understand about Pontius Pilate from history. The […]
Acts 2:41-44: The Fulfilled Synagogue and Temple in the Divine Service
March 28, 2017 by
Long ago, in ages past, the Creator remembered, recalling the promise He made to Abraham. “Through [Abraham, God will bless], all the people of the earth” (Genesis 12:3). So, years later, the Almighty enlists a Hebrew man raised in an Egyptian household, Moses. Through him, the remembering God rescues these descendants of the promise, using […]
The Passion and the People: Caiaphas
March 22, 2017 by
John 11:45-53: Pragmatism During the Passover In our Lord’s killing, who plays the most active part in His death? Many take part, and without their involvement, Jesus will not die. Still, one man sets the death train in motion—Caiaphas. Without him, many others will be without a role to fulfill. The High Priest, Caiaphas, holds […]
Psalm 136:1-16: God’s Chesed
March 19, 2017 by
The highest mountain in the world, Everest, stands. The majestic mountain remains unmoved before your birth and after your death. So permanent in our minds is this tallest peak, stamping itself into our pathway of neurons. Still, we are left wanting when comparing Everest to the Creator. The eternal mystery of God’s being is older […]
The Passion and the People: Nicodemus
March 19, 2017 by
John 3:1-9, 14-16: From Bystander to Believer With Jesus crucified, the Apostle John identifies Nicodemus as “the man who earlier visited him at night” (John 19:39). So, we travel back to their first meeting to learn of Nicodemus. “A man from the Pharisees and a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus, came to Jesus one […]
Genesis 32:22-30: Best of Luck or Blessing?
March 19, 2017 by
A saying we use in our everyday lives is “Best of luck.” Through those words, we wish another well—whether on the phone, at work, or somewhere else. The idea behind a blessing is to encourage. Still, do you wonder what “luck” is? In wishing another “the best of luck,” you are voicing a belief in […]
