“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone”  (Isaiah 9:2) “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  (Hebrews 1:1) Last Wednesday, I had to go to the hospital for one of those many many pre-op appointments that knee surgery people have.  This appointment was with anesthesia, and I knew it was just going to be a 5-minute conversation, but I also knew that it was a pretty important 5-minute conversation.  My appointment was … Read more

John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3: 16,17) And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do? (Luke 3: 10) I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day about … Read more

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33: 14-16) Today is Black Friday.  Black Friday is a new phenomenon for me, and for … Read more

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke … Read more

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18) Last week, one of our political leaders perpetuated a rumor that Military Chaplains were banned from praying at Remembrance Day events.  I know a lot of Military Chaplains.  I went to school with several, and our … Read more

3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But … Read more

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.  The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel. (1 Samuel 3:1-4) Hallelujah!  Sing to the Lord a new song;  sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful. (Psalm 149:1) So. This … Read more

But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized, (Mark 10: 38,39) I had one of those ridiculously busy days last week.  It started with needing to write and get things done first thing in the morning, and then progressed from there.  I had … Read more

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, peace be with you, and they were startled and frightened thinking they saw a ghost.  He then said to them, why are you troubled?  And why do doubts rise in your minds?  Look at my hands and my feet it is I myself, touch me and see a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see, I have. (Luke 24: 36-41) “Here we find the disciples encountering the risen Christ.  The Startling thing is that the risen Christ still carries the wounds … Read more

  “I get by with a little help from my friends” (Paul McCartney) “All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts”  Acts 2: 44-46 “Beyond knowing one another, the smaller church acts and feels like “family”.  (From ‘The Indispensable Guide for Smaller Churches” by David R. Ray). I’ve had a week.  A really hard week.  My mom was taken … Read more