THE THIRST FOR TITLES Mark 10:35-45 Of all the passions that lurk in the hearts of humans, the desire for status and power is one of the greatest. People love titles because they often bring with them a certain kind of status. We have lived with a lot of titles in human history. There have … More The Thirst For Titles – Pentecost 22
Freedom from Self Mark 10:17-31 In today’s Gospel a rich man came to ask Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”– “What must I do to have meaningful life?”, “What must I do to have a sense of wholeness in my life?” , “How do I have true happiness that lasts?” Jesus told … More Freedom Form Self – Pentecost 21
Giving Thanks – An Invitation to Live Luke 17:11-19 (from the lections for Canadian Thanksgiving) “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God, except this foreigner …..” (Luke 17:17-18 NRSV) Where are the nine? Lost in ingratitude. Where was … More Giving Thanks – An Invitation to Live- Canadian Thanksgiving
Fully Alive or a Living Hell Mark 9:38-50 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better … More Fully Alive or a Living Hell- Pentecost 19
The Child In Our Midst Mark 9:30-37 Now let’s just review that Gospel story that we just read. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. On his way he begins teaching his disciples that he must suffer many things at the hands of humanity, and die, rise again. This is the second prediction of his … More The Child in Our Midst – Pentecost 18
OPENING UP TO NEW LIFE Mark 7:24-37 I heard a story the other day about a little boy who was adopted at about six months old. His name was Matthew. Matthew was small and sickly for his age. It appeared that he had been neglected and might have some health and growth problems. As he … More Opening Up to New Life -Pentecost 16
ACTING FROM THE INSIDE-OUT Mark 7:1-8,14-15, 21-23 When I was a working as a youth worker and lay-assistant in a cathedral parish, Spencer Elliott, a well known preacher in those days, was the priest in charge of the parish while the Rector was on a sabbatical. One Wednesday morning, we were going to a 10 … More Acting From the Inside Out – Pentecost 15
A Life Worth Living (in Spite of Wanting to Quit) John 6:56-69 A bishop who I worked with at one time said to me that he used to make himself scarce on the night before an ordination to the priesthood because the people to be ordained often wanted to see him in order to change … More A Life Worth Living – Pentecost 14
THE BARGAIN OF A LIFETIME John 6:51-58 When I read a piece entitled “A Baloney Sandwich” by Bob Benson in See You At The House (1) recently, I was reminded of some of the church picnics I attended when living on my own. Benson’s experience was so similar to mine that we could have been … More Bargain of a Lifetime – Pentecost 13
GOING BEYOND THE SURFACE John 6:35,41-51 Sometimes we reach conclusions about people too soon. I remember hearing a sermon one time on the scripture passage “by their fruits you shall know them”. The preacher pointed out that people like to judge others when they first meet them by their looks, by the way they are … More Going Beyond the Surface – Pentecost 12
Beyond the Patio 