John 15:9-17 As I write, I’m told we had a ‘supermoon’ this week-end. My understanding is that a ‘supermoon’ occurs when in its full moon stage, the moon passes as close to the earth as it possibly can, making it appear to be significantly larger than it usually does. It’s always the same size of …
Tag: John
The Vine and Core Strength
John 15:1-8 A few days ago in my exercise class we were asked to do mountain climbers at the same time we did planks while bracing our forearms on the stability ball. I expect even if you have no idea of what I’m talking about you can guess it wasn’t easy. For you see, my ‘core strength’, …
Of Sheep and Shepherds
Psalm 23 John 10:11-18 I don’t know much of sheep and shepherds, it’s true. A long time ago when I preached on a Good Shepherd Sunday, I confessed this truth. As he shook his hands with me after worship that morning, John Spangler offered to educate me. John was a hard man of few words and to …
Scars and Stories, Doubt and Faith
John 20:19-31 I can still remember the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when the trailer lurched forward and caught my dad’s hand between it and the hitch on the back of the family station wagon. I was twelve, maybe thirteen years old. That would have made my sisters eleven, ten and nine. …
When Dying Means Living…
John 12:20-33 Some of you will recall that I began an exercise class in January. The first week I hurt all the time. And I do mean all the time. Oh, it didn’t hit right away. In fact, that first day I drove my hour’s commute to work feeling rather proud of myself and a little smug, thinking …
Wearing My Sin on the Front of My Alb
John 3:14-21 It was, in fact, the first time I had ever preached on this Gospel text. I was in my first year of seminary and I was preaching that Sunday morning in my teaching parish at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Since this would be the first time I actually stepped into …
Barriers and Broken Hearts
John 2:13-22 It was a long time ago now… an Easter morning, in fact, and my mother and I were heading out to church. We were visiting my sister and she had thought about joining us, but it was a particularly heartbreaking time in her life and she decided at the last minute that she …
It Seems Like It Should Be So Simple…. So Why Isn’t It?
Looking Ahead to the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany: Some thoughts on Philip, Nathanael, Jesus, my hairdresser, and invitations… “And Philip said to Nathanael, “Come and see.” (John 1:43-51) Who knew it could be that easy? I got a glimpse of what that can look like in the middle of my life yesterday…. I was sitting …