Sermons
Under God's Wing
Being a parent has been the greatest joy in my life. But it’s also been a great source of pain. As the mother of two children, from the moment each of them was born, I have felt my heart being ripped out of my chest again and again. When I carried them in the womb, they were safely enveloped in my protection. But once they were born they began a journey that has taken them further and further away from me.
Removing Our Masks (Ash Wednesday)
Mardi Gras, which literally means “Fat Tuesday” in French, is one last day of revelry before the solemn season of Lent begins. One of the traditions of Mardi Gras is wearing masks. It’s not just a fun thing to do, but it actually has some significance. For this day, Ash Wednesday, the day when Lent begins, is the day when we remove our masks.
Where the Heart Is
There’s something about Christmas that gets people thinking a lot about home. Songs like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays” seem to tap into the longing we have to find ourselves in the place we call home at this time of year.
Today’s Old Testament lesson from Jeremiah reminds us that being home is a basic need for all people. In a time of suffering for God’s people in exile, God promises Israel that he will bring them home.
8"See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
Sweet, Defiant, Baby Jesus
“A Christmas Dog Story” written by Shel Silverstein.
Tonight's my first night as a watchdog and here it is Christmas Eve. The children are sleeping all cozy upstairs, While I'm guarding the stockings and tree.
What's that now? Footsteps on the rooftop? Could it be a cat or mouse? Who's this down the chimney? A thief with a beard and a big sack for robbing the house?
I'm barking, I'm growling, I'm biting his rear. He howls and jumps back in his sleigh. I scare his strange horses, they leap in the air. I've frightened the whole bunch away!
GOD IS GOOD. ALL THE TIME.
"God is good. All the time. All the time. God is good." I first heard this expression about 30 years ago in a black church. And since then I’ve heard it a lot coming from evangelical Christians. Lately, I’ve noticed many of my Lutheran friends are saying it, too.
And it bugs me. Not because I don’t believe that God is good. God is good. Absolutely all the time, God is good. But what bugs me is the way people use the expression. Because they only seem to use it is when things are going their way. When they get their job promotion. God is good. Or they find out that lump they had biopsied isn’t cancer. God is good. Or someone finally makes an offer on their house. God is good. They’re all caught up in their happiness and they want to give credit where credit is due, so they’ll say, God is good.
IMAGINE THAT
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in honour of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
JESUS' TEACHING ON DIVORCE
In Jesus’ culture, what was the number one reason why men divorced their wives? What do you think?
Okay. Listen on…
Some Pharisees come to Jesus and ask his opinion about what was a very hot topic in his day. (Interestingly, that hasn’t changed. It’s still a hot topic.) This wasn’t some obscure question they came up with. It was actually one that many teachers were debating in Jesus’ day: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?
