Thursday, May 25 is the actual day of observance for the Day of Ascension; we will commemorate the Ascension this Sunday. The reading from Acts 1, asked this question of the people present for this event: “Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?” It’s a question worth exploring. This...
Years ago, there seemed to be more emphasis on evangelism than we see today. As a child, I understood evangelism as a high-pitch pressure sales job for Jesus. We were to go out and win souls for Christ no matter what it took to keep the person from “going to...
This Sunday is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” That’s because the gospel reading for “The Fourth Sunday after Easter” always includes passages portraying Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The picture of Jesus as The Good Shepherd is meant to demonstrate the greatness of God’s unconditional love for us. It’s also...
This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Easter. Because Easter moves around year to year, many of the assigned Gospel readings during the Easter Season are Resurrection stories. Such is the case with The Road to Emmaus Story assigned for this Sunday. Even if you are not a country music...
“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end results of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1:8-9) This...
I love modern day parables. I noticed one this past week, in watching the UConn Huskies’ women’s basketball team play the Mississippi State (MSU) Bulldogs’ team in a National Semi-Final game. A year ago, MSU had lost to UConn in the tournament by the largest margin ever in a NCAA...
The assigned Epistle text this week talks about a resurrection of hope. The Old Testament and Gospel readings tell of two dramatic resurrections. Both story lines are so riveting that we often overlook the real point of the two stories which was the need for a resurrection of hope. Many...
As I write this, I have just returned from Virginia where I attended and spoke at the funeral of my brother, Larry’s oldest grandchild. When “Kaci” was three weeks old, a fast-growing cancer was discovered on his spine. The surgery to remove it, along with the chemo and radiation seemed...
One of the wonderful memories I have of my Mama is remembering many of the bits of wisdom and expressions that came from her lips. I’ve come to know that many of those things were not original to her; but they were living water for my thirsty soul growing up...
I grew in a fundamentalist, Pentecostal tradition with no liturgical observances other than Easter, Pentecost and Christmas. This included the sermons. Preachers preached most only their favorite scriptures. Growing up, I don’t ever recall hearing a sermon from the Songs of Solomon where the lover says to the beloved in...
