Introduction In May of 2019 I read a book that set me on a five-year quest, a very challenging but deeply fulfilling adventure that has resulted in this long-anticipated post. The book that I read was Eugene Peterson's “Take and Read: Spiritual Reading: An Annotated List.” And in this book, Peterson made a suggestion that…
Jesus said: "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." Mark 5:34 Before Jesus died and rose again, he raised three people from the dead: the widow’s son at Nain, Lazarus, and Jairus’s daughter, the one in today's gospel reading (Mark 5:21-43). To me, this begs the…
[Jesus prayed:] "Now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one." John 17:11 Our gospel reading today (John 17:6-19) is a prayer,…
Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 A young man in our congregation, Jonathan1, was dying of cancer, and he knew it. He was a…
The story of the raising of Lazarus in John 11:1-45 can teach us many things, including how to grow in prayer. Here is my sermon for the Fifth Sunday in Lent.
Pray always (so you don't lose heart): My sermon on Luke 18:1-8.
Contrary to what some may believe, God wants to get involved in our world, and is often just waiting to be asked. Here is my sermon on what Jesus teaches us about prayer in Luke 11:1-13.
Giving thanks for my blog as it passes 100,000 all-time views.
Prayer: A Patched Poem In the morning, while it is still dark, go to a deserted place. Shut the door. Say nothing to anyone. Be silent before the Lord God. Be silent. Do not occupy yourself with great things. Calm and quiet your soul, like a weaned child with its mother. Be still and know…
Prayer cards are a powerful way of praying for others using Scripture. I learned this from Paul E. Miller's "A Praying Life" and thought I would share it here.
My Pastoral Ponderings 