Category Archives: Gospels

Ingratitude, lepers, and Luke 17

Posted on November 19, 2014 by

It isn’t a big story. Luke 17:11-19 is one of those stories, if your not careful, you can sort of gloss right over. But, there are some important details I haven’t always paid attention too. As the text opens, Jesus … Continue reading →

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Children, Luke’s Gospel, and the names of Jesus

Posted on November 13, 2014 by

As a parent there are some moments when you think, “wow, I am doing ok, my kids may not need counseling after all.” Just the other day, my middle daughter Kenzie, wanted to show me something that she had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Family, Gospels, Jesus | Leave a comment

Advent #2

Posted on December 6, 2013 by

Recently I was with the Retherford side of the family. My grandfather and his brothers were given a book from 1958. It was my great-grandmother Getrude’s funeral book. It was stashed away in someone’s attic and was rediscovered and passed on. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Gospels

Mark 13 ramblings

Posted on April 17, 2013 by

Mark 13 is disturbing and hopeful at the same time. We tend to as a people shy away from apocalyptic literature. It was a common literary motif in Jesus’ day. It is unfortunate that we have lost much contact with … Continue reading →

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John 8 and the church

Posted on March 5, 2013 by

I love this story. It moves me and disturbs me at the same time. A woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus. The Law demands that the culprits be stoned. Roman law prohibited capital punishment. Jesus asks a question to … Continue reading →

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Mark 4

Posted on February 14, 2013 by

Mark 4 opens with powerful words from Jesus. He is portrayed as a powerful doer/healer in the opening pages of Mark – proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of God and now in chapter 4 especially Mark introduces us to … Continue reading →

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Mark 3:25 ramblings

Posted on February 14, 2013 by

Mark 3:25 –Jesus’s words are haunting. If a house if is divided against itself it cannot stand. Boy, how true. One of the interesting things here is the word house is used throughout Mark as a marker for who is … Continue reading →

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Observations from Mark 3

Posted on February 5, 2013 by

Mark 3 observations: 3:1-6 — Jesus is engaged in a struggle with the Pharisees that will be ongoing, they were forever scrutinizing Jesus. Jesus’ ministry didn’t fit their preconceived ideas of what ministry should look like. The Pharisees were focused on … Continue reading →

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Some troubling questions from Mark 2:13-17

Posted on January 30, 2013 by

This passage troubles me as a minister, and as a Christian. Let me tell you why. I love that Jesus invites Levi, the tax collector to follow him. I love that the next scene involves Jesus dining with Levi, the … Continue reading →

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My last Chisholm Trail Sermon outline

Posted on October 17, 2012 by

I am preaching Sunday for the last time here at Chisholm Trail before I head across country to begin my new ministry work with the Northeast church family. We have just started a new series of classes and sermons on … Continue reading →

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