Claimed, gathered and sent

Here are some thoughts regarding this coming Sunday's gospel. This was sent out electronically to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church .  Gospel: Mark 8:27-38 27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.   31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divi...

This is the sermon I preached Sunday, 9/9/18 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . The gospel was Mark 7:24-37 . Today’s gospel reading starts out with Jesus on the move. Earlier in this chapter, we’re told he was in Galilee, probably Capernaum, where Peter’s house was. Jesus then goes to Tyre for some rest. That’s around 35 miles from Capernaum. That's where he’s at for our story. After that, he goes “by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee,” (v. 31). I don’t think so! Sidon is about 15 miles northeast of Tyre, while Galilee is southeast of Tyre. Later, Jesus goes to the Decapolis, parts of which border Galilee, to feed the 4,000. The point is that the route was pretty circuitous. We see this in other gospels as well, such as when Jesus went to Samaria.  “[Jesus] left Judea and started back to Galilee. 4  But he had to go through Samaria,” (John 4:3-4). No, he didn’t. The most direct way from Judea to Galilee is through the Jordan Valley. Samaria was a detour, but Jesu...

Here are some thoughts regarding this coming Sunday's gospel lesson that was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church via email.  Gospel: Mark 7:24-37 24 [ Jesus ] set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” 30 So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.   31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre...

This is the message I preached at  St. Timothy Lutheran Church  on Sunday, 9/2. The text was from  James 1:17-27 .    When my family and I lived in Bethlehem, my son Christian, went to an Arab Christian boys’ school. One day Christian came home and was singing in Arabic,  Shwee, shwee ya idie shu bisouwee. Oh, shwee, shwee ya idie shu bitsouwee. I don’t remember how the rest of the song goes in Arabic, but here’s the English. O be careful little hands what you do, O be careful little hands what you do, for the Father up above is looking down in love So, be careful little eyes what you see It continues with verses about ears, eyes, feet and mouths. This little children’s chorus kept running through my mind as I was studying this week’s passage from James, with its own priority given to faith that works. All good gifts are from God, in whose character there is no change at all. James insists that only good comes from God. H...

Here are some thoughts about the epistle reading for this coming Sunday from James. This was shared electronically Thurs. with the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. Second Reading: James 1:17-27 17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.   19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.   22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those ...