Luke 6: 43-49 A well-dressed matron was having a great deal of trouble going down the subway escalator with a hyperactive dog in her arms. She got off the escalator and walked over to one of the subway attendants and said, “I must say that you have some ridiculous rules here. I’d like to register…
Category: Epiphany
Checking Your Vitals
Luke 6: 27-38 I got a new watch last week. It’s a smartwatch. That is no measurement of its owner. I’ve needed a new watch for a while. My birthday was approaching, and April suggested that as a gift for me. I agreed. I like it a lot. Numbers, to some degree, fascinate me. I…
Which Would You Rather Be?
Luke 6: 17-26 He came down to a level place. The great multitude came from Jewish and Gentile territory to hear him teach and to be healed of their diseases and whatever beset them. Luke tells us he healed all of them. Jesus then taught them blessings and woes. These verses mirror the Beatitudes in…
The Effect of Him
Luke 5: 1-11 Yes, I’ve said it and wrote it before. I love the miracles in the gospels. They thrill me to no end. This miracle of the great catch of fish that filled two boats is wonderful. Simon Peter and those with him were amazed at the catch of fish. After fishing all day…
He Can Read Your Mail
Luke 4: 21-30 “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown.” He was not. He carried a legacy of prophets not being accepted by their own town, region, nation. When he spoke, things changed, and the things that changed were the words of approval and favor many said about him. Their…
What We Know
Luke 4: 14-21 I heard Sylvester Croom, former head coach of Mississippi State football team, say earlier this week, “As a new head coach, you don’t know what you don’t know.” Let’s begin to know some things. Looking at what was fulfilled in the hearing of those in the synagogue in Nazareth, they and we…
Plenty Left Over
John 2: 1-11 When we lived in Albertville and Eli was in college and Anna was in high school, we cooked supper one night for Anna’s friends. They all gathered in our house to study together and watch movies after supper. April had already planned to make spaghetti. Anna wasn’t sure how many of the friends were coming. She…
Expectations Change
Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22 “The people were filled with expectations.” What would fill us with expectations of what might be? Our needs and our trust in God birth within us expectations. Father Ford and Father Walinski were on their way to a retreat when they were killed in an automobile accident. Upon arriving at the…
We’re Attracted
Isaiah 60: 1-6; Matthew 2: 1-12 This begins the Christian worship season of Epiphany. This commemorates the presentation of God to the world in the form of Jesus, first as an infant, next as one baptized in the Jordan, and, lastly as the transfigured one on the mountain. The world is attracted to Jesus. The…
Trust What He Says
Mark 9: 2-9 Transfiguration Sunday There was a voice from heaven at his baptism in the Jordan River valley that spoke, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. (Mark 1: 11)” On the mountain at his transfiguration in the presence of Elijah and Moses, a cloud overshadowed them and a…
Psalm 102 in The Message 