Loving our enemies – and our youth – for the sake of the Gospel

Lectionary 7 (Seventh Sunday after Epiphany)Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; Matthew 5:38-48Sunday, February 20, 2011 Lectionary 7 Year A 2011 Grace to you and peace, from the one who is, who was, and who is to come.  Amen. Last week’s Confirmation Class began with a thud.  I told the class, “Alright, open up your Bibles to theContinue reading “Loving our enemies – and our youth – for the sake of the Gospel”

It Doesn’t Matter What You Came Here To See

Third Sunday of AdventIsaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11Sunday, December 12, 2010   Grace to you and peace, from the one who is, who was, and who is to come.  Amen. Steve Martin, the noted actor, comedian, and writer, is a funny guy.Find videos of his performances on YouTube, and you’ll be laughing for hours,    often atContinue reading “It Doesn’t Matter What You Came Here To See”

It Gets Better

Reformation DayJeremiah 31:31-34; John 8:31-36October 31, 2010 Grace to you and peace, from the one who is, who was, and who is to come.  Amen. The Israelites just had suffered a whopping at the hands of the Babylonians,    the Temple was looted, desecrated, and destroyed,    a weak, figurehead monarch was set up in Israel,    andContinue reading “It Gets Better”

Knick-Knack Jesus OK in VA

I just read Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's opinion regarding the constitutionality of religious displays on public ground during the holidays, including displays of Jesus (pdf document of opinion; Washington Post blogpost on the matter). The sad thing is this: displays of Jesus are allowed on public ground so long as such displays are "notContinue reading “Knick-Knack Jesus OK in VA”

Sensitivity and Exaggeration in “Ground Zero Mosque” and Luke 13:10-17

“Ground Zero Mosque” opponents either exaggerate the implications of the mosque, or call on mosque leaders to be sensitive. In this sermon, I used these two hermeneutics – sensitivity and exaggeration – to examine the synagogue leader of Luke 13:10-17.