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An Every Day Season
a Homily for Proper 28B Text: Mark 13:1-8 The origin of the Temple. Let’s go back more than three thousand years. Long before Jesus takes His disciples to Jerusalem. Back when tribes fought with one another, a young shepherd boy became king. His brothers were bigger and stronger. This boy was a musician and sort…
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More Christian Than Christians
A year ago when the Occupy Wall Street movement developed, it was easy to recognize a correlation between the church’s mission and #OWS’s. It’s participants were attempting to forge a different way of gathering that was egalitarian and grass roots. It’s decision making was communal and encouraged a type of shared leadership most churches can…
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The Love Apocalypse (Eating Scripture)
Eating Mark 13:1-8 This week, we tackle a gospel we don’t know what to make of, a type of literature we don’t understand, and a meaning for 21st Century American Christians that is consistent with Jesus’s teaching in under 4 minutes. What a workout! This means there isn’t as much time to deal with what…
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Our Transition Process
We recently celebrated a renewal of ministry as we welcomed the Bishop back in our midst. It was a fun service, geared toward the ministry we all do together: proclaiming the Good News, serving the poor, working for justice in our context, and much more. Some found the timing curious. Some were interested in what…
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A Real Story About Voter Fraud
Eight years ago, I was commuting to seminary. My official home was with my parents in Midland. My wife (then fiance) lived across town. I drove back on Election Day to vote. Rose went with us to my polling place and I went with her to hers. I was fired up to vote. I arrived home…
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For All the Saints
We often refer to two different strains of Christian faith: Catholic and Protestant. These two traditions have very different understandings of saints. To Catholicism (such as Roman Catholics), saints are our intermediaries. They have been elevated by humanity for their godly and miraculous works. Protestantism (such as Presbyterians, Lutherans Baptists, etc.) has downplayed the role…
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The Twofer (Eating Scripture)
Eating a double helping of Mark 12:28-34 and John 11:32-44 We get our choice this week between two texts. One is the lectionary text (Mark) and the other is the text from All Saints’ Day (John) which can be transferred. Most churches I’ve served observe All Saints’ on a Sunday, so I thought I’d do…
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New Look in the New Year
Followers of this blog know that I like to tweak the look, feel, and nature of this site on a pretty regular basis. Part of it is that I’m a tinkerer. Part of it is that I am always on the lookout for something a little closer to perfect. Occasionally, I’ve changed the site dramatically.…
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