Danger! Watch Out!

Luke 12:13-21 Driving to Bend this weekend, I encountered lots of warning signs. Big orange signs, neon cones, flaggers, flashing signs; “Extreme Fire Danger” gauges and posters of a state-wide burning ban in effect. Then there was watching my friends deal with car...

Forgiveness Is at the Heart of Christian Character

Luke 7:36-50 Jesus found himself in an awkward moment. On the one hand, he was the invited guest at an honored household, one of the tables where everyone coveted an invitation to dine. I wonder if he thought this could be a sign that he had earned recognition for his...

And Now for Something Completely Different

Matthew 9:16-17; Matthew 5:14-15; Luke 6:47-49 You may recognize the title from Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Do we have any fans here? “And Now for Something Completely Different,” is a film is a collection of sketches from the first two seasons of Monty Python on...

Sent to Do What?

Matthew 28:18-20; Genesis 12:1-3 Today I am going to tell you a story. I think you will recognize it. It is not fiction, but the words are mine. Once upon a time God made the world and all that we know of the universe, and so much more than we know! God’s own breath...

The Fruit Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree

1 Corinthians 12:1,4-11; Galatians 5:22-23 We had a fascinating discussion yesterday at the session planning retreat. I am going to take the liberty of paraphrasing Margaret Anderson, who got us thinking. Margaret has been heard by many of us to say that she did not...