After the 1995 release of Toy Story, Disney Pixar released a cartoon series based on everyone’s favorite astronaut, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. In an episode entitled, Haunted Moon, Buzz and his crew are sent to assist a crew that is trying to deflect a comet heading straight toward a peaceful planet. The mission is […]
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he helps the Church to begin to define her understanding of how to be in the world. It is one of those descriptions that will stay with her and continue to define her as the Church grows and matures. That description of the Church as the body of Christ […]
Most of us are familiar with the wedding feast at Cana and Jesus’ first miracle. It’s a sweet and fun sort of miracle—easy to understand and joyous. John starts us off with something relatable and simple. We aren’t jumping right in to exorcisms of demons, healing the sick, or raising the dead. Instead we hear […]
The book of the Acts of the Apostles describes the story of how the mission of the apostles shifted focus from the Jews to the conversion of Gentiles. We get a brief glimpse of this work in today’s reading from Acts. Phillip, the first travelling evangelist, has converted Gentiles in the region of Samaria. If […]
Today is the day; Christmas is over. The decorations have been put away. The tree is on the street. The leftovers are gone. The house no longer looks magical but mundane: and so does life. Back to school and work, paying the bills, doing the grocery shopping, driving carpool, and worrying about taxes. It […]
GOD’S PERSPECTIVE A Sermon on Psalm 126 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed! In my early days here, I wrote something for your e-newsletter. It was about Robert Wicks, a writer, therapist and spiritual guide. Wicks is also a popular speaker. His Brooklyn accent helps bring his stories […]
A LONG, LOVING LOOK A Sermon on Mark 10:17-31 Is it here? Is it finally here? Spring was sprung an eternity ago, and for the longest time, it’s felt like an endless summer. But one day last week, I opened the front door back home, and I took a deep breath. Yes, it’s Fall in […]
THE SCANDAL OF RECOVERY A Sermon on Mark 9:38-50 When I turned eighteen, I thought I was a real man. An oldest son and high school graduate with honors, I enrolled in a prestigious university, on full scholarship. Now . . . I’d been invited to join a fraternity! I also joined another well-known, unofficial […]
WELCOME THE CHILDREN OF GOD: Part One A Sermon on Mark 9:30-37 Last week, while I was getting ready to leave my house in Memphis and visit a clergy friend who is now in hospice, I decided I needed to spend some time in prayer. I sat down to pray. Soon after I had become […]