Sermons
Not mind-reading
“Be of the same mind” is not a call for us to become mind-readers. Rather it is a call for us to begin the process of thinking like someone. When we are of the same mind as another person, we do not become that person but we think like they do. You see this often in you interactions with long-married couples. When you ask both partners the same question at…
It is grace, no matter what you might want
One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ parables is they potential they hold to shock us into thinking of things in a new way. Some of his parables do this better than others and the parable we looked at today is one of the best. There is something about this parable that is virtually guaranteed to drive any hearer or reader crazy. A landowner, hires a bunch of people throughout the…
Both weaker and stronger
The blog post title is one of the “almost paradoxes” that come up whenever we begin the process of living and thinking from a non-dual perspective. Our usual response to the notion of weaker and stronger is that we are one or the other and that’s that. Of course when we actually look at it, things are not so simple. We are well aware of the things we are good…
What do you mean I owe you?
Don’t worry, the title of this post does not mean: you owe me money I owe you money anyone owes anyone money We are still on Romans and we have reached chapter 13. Paul seems to be a little confused by verse eight, where we are told to “owe no one anything”; except this: “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has…
Another look at transformation
This is another post from the “Wednesday just past.” I was asked again to take a chapel service at First Baptist Place. I was told I could preach/share on more or less any topic so I thought I would revisit the first part of Romans 12 and talk about transformation. If you regularly listen to what I say, this is going to be similar to what I spoke about a couple of…
If you were wondering
This week in Romans (Rom 12:9-21 to be exact) we are dealing with a hodge podge of things to do. I consulted some other resources to see if I was missing some subtle connection and realized that the connection is found in Romans 12:1-2 and can be summed up, more or less, as, we demonstrate our love for God by serving him and loving and serving our fellow human beings….
Abraham and Sarah and my Mom
This post comes from the Wednesday just past. I was asked to take a chapel service at First Baptist Place. I have been there before and have always enjoyed it so of course I said I would. The usual leader, Norma Holtslander, has been working through the lives of Abraham and Sarah. This was intended to be the final part of the story so I thought I’d take a stab…
It’s a process
It was, and is, good to be back after a week away. I had a more than lovely time with my extended family, although I must say, I’m a bit past enjoying driving 1100km in four days 🙂 One of the things being away for a bit allows for is to look ahead and it seems that we are going to be staying with Romans until the Lectionary finishes with…
Everyone means everyone
As you know by now I’m not a fan of totalizing language. It tends to be hyperbolic and frequently less than useful and occasionally misleading. However, there is a time for it and this is one of those times. In today’s Romans text we read Paul saying that “everyone” who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is one of the times when the totality is…
Wrestling. Of all things
I don’t know about you but I don’t think about wrestling very often. It isn’t that I look down on wrestling or think it is silly or anything like that, I simply don’t think about it at all. But sometime I’m “forced” to. This Sunday is one of those times. Not because I got into an impromptu wrestling match. Not because someone insisted I watch theatrical wrestling. Not even because…