Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Ga. When I told my mother I was going to seminary she looked up from her tomato plants long enough to say, “Why do you want to go and mess yourself up like that?” She took advantage of my meager
Mount Hollywood Congregational Church, Los Angeles, Calif. Readings: Luke 17:21, Romans 12:3-21, Mark 4:21-29 I did some growing up in dairy farm country in upstate N.Y., in a little town which had a sign posted near the house which read “Fayetteville, population 3,656.” And then
In the Name of God, Abba, Baba, DaDa, Father, Son, and Mother Spirit, AMEN Abba or ab·ba [ab-uh], New Testament: An Aramaic word for father, used by Jesus and Paul to address God in a relation of personal intimacy. Once when Jesus was praying in private and
Delivered at the UFMCC Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. Reading for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost: Matthew 14:22-33 NIV Excellence in Ministry! I have a calligraphy piece in my office that has called me back to the voice of the spirit, has challenged me and
Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Atlanta, Ga. Readings: Exodus 3:1-12, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Matthew 5:14-16, When Paul called to ask me to preach today, I groaned inwardly .. and into the phone. It wasn’t a great surprise. Ever since I founded Whosoever, my internet magazine for
Cathedral of Hope MCC, Dallas, Texas Readings for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: Deuteronomy 30:9-14, Luke 10:25-37 This morning, our journey through the Bible leads us down a well-worn path. We encounter a story we know as “The Good Samaritan.” Even those unfamiliar with the
First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Calif. Readings for Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday in Lent): 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 The fourth Sunday in Lent, Laetare Sunday, sometimes called Refreshment Sunday, is supposed to be a bright spot, a moment of relief in the otherwise
Temple United Methodist Church, San Francisco, Calif. Reading: Matthew 7:1-5 You get what you give. That’s one of the basic rules of God’s Kingdom. Today’s scripture in Matthew says, “Don’t condemn others, and God won’t condemn you.” You get what you give. “God will treat
Emmanuel Baptist Church, Albany, N.Y. Reading for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: Acts 8:26-40 Introduction: The Ethiopian Eunuch is a fascinating character to me, not only because of who he is, but also because of the way he fits into the scriptures. The baptism of
Fellowship Congregational Church, Tulsa, Okla. Reading for Transfiguration Sunday (Last Sunday after Epiphany): Luke 9:28-36 Early 20th century English writer G. K. Chesterton once defined philosophy as “thinking that had been thought out.” We are influenced, Chesterton went on to say, either by thought that