Blogs

Sermon – 9th after Pentecost
Luke 11:1-13
July 25, 2010
Journey with Jesus sermon series part 5
“a living prayer for the journey”

It is clear (especially in Luke’s gospel) that Jesus was rooted in prayer, and he often retreated to pray (3:21-22; 4:42; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; 10:21-22; 22:39-46).
The disciples noticed this, and asked, “Lord, teach us to pray…”
On our journey with Jesus (sermon series), prayer is a key part of discipleship

Sermon – 8th after Pentecost
Luke 10:38-42
July 18, 2010
Journey with Jesus sermon series part 4
“the journey begins at Jesus’ feet”

Worry. What do you worry about? There is a lot to be worried about, especially these days.
I’ve been thinking about worry, and the various things I worry about, trying to answer the question: Why do we worry?
The things we worry about are finite things we can’t control, but we sure try to.

In today’s gospel it appears Martha is doing the right thing, and her sister Mary won’t help her, she is at the feet of Jesus, listening to him.

Sermon – 7th after Pentecost
Luke 10:25-37
July 11, 2010
Journey with Jesus sermon series part 3
“Left for dead on the journey”

We continue on our sermon series, Journey with Jesus. As Jesus continues on his way to Jerusalem, he is stopped by a lawyer. The lawyer is quizzing Jesus about how to inherit eternal life.
Since lawyers are experts in the law, Jesus gets him to answer his own question according to the law. Love God & love your neighbor.
As lawyers do, the lawyer parses the question: Who is my neighbor?

Sermon - 6th Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
July 4, 2010
Journey with Jesus sermon series part 2
“Unpacking for the journey”

Gulf Coast Oil Spill: Responding to the Challenge

A pastoral letter from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson to rostered leaders

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
- Psalm 145:8-9

June 28, 2010

Sisters and brothers in Christ,

Sermon – 5th Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 9:51-62
June 27, 2010
Journey with Jesus sermon series part 1 “determined for the journey”

Today is the first of a sermon series I’ll be starting entitled: “Journey with Jesus.” In our lectionary going through Luke’s gospel, we are now at a turning point in the gospel, where Jesus “sets his face” to go to Jerusalem. This section is known as the “travel narrative,” a unique section in the gospel of Luke where Jesus journeys to Jerusalem, emblematic of his mission and ultimate destiny of the cross.

Sermon – 4th Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 8:26-39
June 20, 2010
“daily exorcize”

The World Cup is particularly significant this year because it is in South Africa. During the period of Aparteid in South Africa, soccer played a role in freedom struggle. Political prisoners were held at Robben Island, the notorious jail where former South African President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. The conditions at the prison were inhumane, they barely received enough food and endured brutality from the guards. They worked tough 10 hours shifts in the quarry.

Sermon – 3rd after Pentecost
Luke 7:36-8:3
June 13, 2010
“grace makes a scene”

Imagine the scene. A fancy dinner party at a Pharisee’s house… Then all of a sudden a sinful woman (likely a prostitute or adulteress) shows up uninvited. How do you think the people at the party would have reacted?

Sermon – 2nd after Pentecost
Luke 7:36–8:3
June 6, 2010
“gut feeling”

Will your congregation survive?

At the Greater Long Beach Conference Assembly, our Bishop Dean Nelson and the Synod staff spoke on the topic: “Will your congregation survive?” He shared a document which listed 13 trends in this increasingly dynamic society that are affecting the Church. (For the document the bishop shared, see this link: http://www.lifelongfaith.com/faithformation2020.htm)