Devotions

Caleb is one of my favorite characters in the Hebrew Bible (we even named one of our sons after him). He did not have a book dedicated to him but his story is scattered throughout the Hebrew Bible. His life and actions are discussed in minute sections of the sacred text, yet his life, character, […]

The following Post is from Huffington Post Blog As I grow older I continue to remember that Memorial Day is a day to honor so many thousands of men and women who have given their lives for our country, our freedom, and shown bravery through their service. This has typically been a time to thank […]

“Son–Marry A Strong Woman”: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mamma Lemuel, & Prov. 31 When I was a young teenager the Lynyrd Skynyrd song, Simple Man was popular. The band that released Sweet Home Alabama, Free Bird, What’s Your Name?, and Give Me Two Steps, hit the charts again with this power ballad. What struck me about this song, was […]

September 1983 I was attending the University of Missouri School of Veterinary medicine. I was way over my head and struggling in my classes. I was dating a young lady and not being the guy God had called me to be. One night an Engineering major (Marc Sullivan) knocked on my door and invited me […]

  Dec 20: The Spirit Comes…Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:17-21  Sermon The prophet Joel spoke during a time when Jerusalem’s impending doom lay around the corner. He spoke as if he could see the clouds of a great storm moving over a valley. Like a weather forecaster he not only spoke as if the destruction from […]

Dec 6: My Spirit Gives Life…Ezekiel 37:1-14; Luke 4:14-20 Sermon The Valley of the Dry Bones is not only a famous story, but the basis of an old spiritual hymn. The Spirit working through the Word of God united the nation in exile who longed to return home and rebuild their city. In exile they […]

Nov 29: Return to Me…Zechariah 1:1-6; Luke 1:10, 21; 2:25-28, 36-38; 3:15 Sermon: The Zechariah text called the nation to repentance. Yahweh used “repent” or “shub” 6 times in this section. Not only did God call them to repentance, Yahweh promised also to repent (repent to me and I will repent to you…). God’s call […]

O Come All Ye Faithless Nov 22: Behold He Comes…Malachi 4:1-6, Luke 1:14-17 Sermon It was around the late 4th Century BCE. Judah had returned from Babylonian captivity, rebuilt their city, reestablished a covenant with Yahweh, and quickly returned to their old ways. The old ways that contributed to their exile into Babylon such as […]

Oct 18 = Unforgiven? (Matt 18:21-35) Theme = Forgiveness, mercy, grace, love Sermon: Unforgiven This text is both powerful and troubling. It is powerful because it illustrates who we are as the people of God. We are called to reflect the nature and glory of God/Jesus. God is relational and so are we. Jesus offers […]

                       Is Resurrection Important? 1 Corinthians 15 is a common text used around Easter. It is Paul’s discussion of the resurrection with the Christian community at Corinth. Having written a book on this letter (The Better Way: The Church of Agape in Emerging Corinth) I continue to wrestle with this chapter in Paul’s document. […]