Striving after power, money and privilege is ultimately dissatisfying. Jesus teaches us instead to know our brokenness and dwell in God’s loving presence.
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Sermons I have written over the years.
On Ash Wednesday, I had the privilege of sharing the meditation during chapel at United Methodist Communications. Texts: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Since…
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I shared this meditation during Ash Wednesday worship at United Methodist Communications today. One day, not far from her home in New Orleans, artist Candy…
Leave a CommentSermon Series: I Am a Follower: The Way, Truth, and Life of Following Jesus Part II
Text: John 18:28-38
Preached: October 12, 2014 at Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church
Audio:Â Tri-Lakes UMC Sermon Podcasts
“The Truth Is Out There”
For 9 seasons this opening played on prime time television, even following a Super Bowl once—I remember because that was what got me watching the show. The X-files followed the cases of FBI Agents Mulder and Scully who investigated paranormal activity for the federal government. Agent Scully, played by Gillian Anderson, was the skeptic. She had trouble accepting the world didn’t work the way she had been taught, and was always looking for a logical explanation behind whatever unexplained phenomenon they were called to investigate that week.
Agent Mulder, played by David Duchovny, was the opposite. He was curious. He wanted to explore the possibility of what was going on. If you were a regular viewer of the show you saw behind his desk a poster with the picture of a flying saucer and the words “I Want to Believe” below it.
Leave a CommentPreached at Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church
July 27, 2014
Text: Luke 10:25-37
Listen to it HERE
Many of us in this room grew up singing that song. Everyday at the appointed hour we sat down in front of a television and hung out in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.
I have a vivid, albeit silly, memory of the profound impact Mr. Rogers had on me as a child. One day I tried to feed my goldfish the way he did—by sprinkling the food across the top of the water in the fish tank. A few minutes later, as my mom was changing the water in the fish tank, she explained to me that our fish food container didn’t have a sprinkle lid, like Mr. Rogers did, and the clumps of fish food I had dumped into the water were dangerous for my fish.
2 CommentsPreached:Â June 22, 2014 at Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church
Texts:Â Zechariah 14:16-21;Â Mark 9:2-9Â
Audio:Â HERE
Can you relate? I can. As a kid growing up in New Jersey, I was surrounded by family. Within just a few minutes from my childhood home, lived both sets of grandparents, many of my aunts and uncles, and more extended family. We were in each other’s houses quite a bit and it was a great deal of fun. One grandmother had a pool, at the other’s we would play horseshoes and cards. But the coolest was my Aunt and Uncle’s house because they had an Atari and a large screen television in their den. I remember playing Pong and Tank Battle on the biggest screen I had seen outside of a movie theater, which I’m sure would pale in comparison to what we have today.
1 CommentPreached:Â June 15, 2014 ”“ Father’s Day ”“ Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church
Series: Beginnings: The Story of Genesis Part 8
Text:Â Genesis 50:15-21 (CEB)
Audio:Â HERE
We began by learning “Cast My Cares”
In the middle of the night when worry finds me
In the middle of a fight when strength is gone
In the middle of a fire when fear is closing in
You are You are my song
You’re my hope when hope is gone.I will cast my cares on You the Almighty
I will cast my cares on You ’cause You’re good
I will cast my cares on You ’cause You love me, You love me
Oh oh because You love me“Cast My Cares” by Alli Rogers & Tim Timmons
2011 Simple Tense Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Letsbebeautiful (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
Which flowed right into this video
What is it for you? What are you worried about today? What fear is distracting you this morning? Most mornings I would pray that you would be able to put that junk aside while we worship. But today, I want you to reflect on it. What in your life fills you with anxiety, causes your heart to beat a little faster? As the song says, in the middle of the night, what worry finds you? In the middle of what fight, what struggle, do you find your strength gone? In the middle of what fire—and for residents of Black Forest this has special meaning especially this weekend—do you feel fear closing in?
Leave a CommentSeries: Beginnings: The Story of Genesis Part 4
Text:Â Genesis 7:11-24
Preached:Â Sunday, May 18 at Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church
Audio:Â HERE
I showed an edited version of this clip at the opening to get us all on the same page.
Many of us, especially those who have been part of the church literally for as long as we can remember, believe we know what the story of Noah is all about. We learned all about Noah’s Ark as children with images like this one.
The picture to the right is literally a Precious Moments representation of Noah’s Ark. Cute little animals, cute little people, even a couple of spiders. Give them some fishing poles and a picnic basket and they could be enjoying a lazy day on a boat.
As we look at the story this morning I ask you to take a fresh look at it, trying to suspend your preconceptions, what you already know about this story. Let’s reimagine the story together to see if there isn’t something more here for us than the “did it really happen?” argument which seems to dominate the conversation.
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