Tomorrow marks the beginning of the season of Advent, a time of preparation for Christmas and Jesus' coming. Several years ago I wrote an Advent devotional based on various celebrations happening over the course of the next month which have come to be associated with Christmas. I have decided to present that devotional here during... Continue Reading →
1 Corinthians 10:23-33 “All things are permitted,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted,” but not all things build up. Do not seek your own advantage but that of the other. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience, for “the earth and... Continue Reading →
Luke 24:1-12 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about... Continue Reading →
Resurrection Sunday is this Sunday and so I am rereading the story of Jesus' final week and this year, because of the lectionary, I am reading it in Luke. As I was reading something jumped off the page for me, as Jesus is trying to bind the new community (his disciples) together in common worship,... Continue Reading →
It is time to remember Jesus' death and that means at some point soon most Christians will hear the story of Peter denying Jesus as he stands outside of Jesus' trial (Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:15-27). Most people are aware that prior to being arrested Jesus makes a prediction that Peter (like... Continue Reading →
Luke 4:14-30 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath... Continue Reading →
Prayer Eternal God, you revealed to the disciples the everlasting glory of Jesus Christ. Grant us, who have not seen and yet believe, the gift of your Holy Spirit, that we may boldly live the gospel and shine with your transforming glory, as people changed and changing through the redeeming presence of our Savior. Amen.... Continue Reading →
A special post from my friend and scholar Rev. Quincy Wheeler. Quincy lives and pastors in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio. You may have encountered a few articles or videos with a similar title to this article, lately, as the world - especially Christians - attempt to come to grips with a pandemic, cataclysmic natural disasters,... Continue Reading →
I frequently see social media posts where individuals lament groups which seeking to remove the phrase "under God" from the pledge of allegiance. While I do think we got along just fine before the phrase was inserted in 1954 and we could get along just fine if it were removed, I do sympathize with this... Continue Reading →
In John 13 Jesus is approaching the end of his ministry and is giving his disciples his final instructions. Jesus begins this final set of instructions with a very physical and very humbling illustration, he takes off his “good clothes” and wraps himself with a towel to perform the work often delegated to a very... Continue Reading →
Saints & Idiots 