Claimed, gathered and sent

This is the sermon I preached for the First Sunday of Advent, Dec. 1, 2019, at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text was Matthew 24:36-44. When on a road trip, do you find yourself being just a little antsy—wondering how much longer it will take to get to your destination—checking your watch? It’s hard to wait. I don’t like to wait either. When I’m on a road trip, I frequently check on my phone just how much longer it will be until I arrive at my destination. I enjoy watching the minutes and hours decreasing. And I do take a certain perverse pleasure when traffic is flowing along well and I make good time. After all, I do have a lead foot. Just ask Ray. This is one type of waiting, but there are other, less pleasant types of waiting. It’s not easy to wait for medical test results, especially if something is wrong. My daughter, Sarah, has spent the last two years having every kind of test imaginable to find out why she is tired all the time. Finally…there’s a diag

It's hard to wait. Let's talk about this coming Sunday's gospel lesson. What are your thoughts and insights? This was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.   Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44   [Jesus said to the disciples,] 36 “About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had k

This is the sermon I preached at St. Timothy Lutheran Church for Christ the King Sunday, 11/24/19. The text was Colossians 1:11-20.  Being part of our household can be quite an adventure, especially lately. You just never know where it may lead. With two wagging puppy tails, a cat and then of course, the humans: a woman who is not particularly coordinated or graceful and a blind guy. Inanimate objects suffer the consequences of getting bumped, knocked over, dropped and sometimes broken. We keep a good supply of duct tape, glue and other adhesives in stock. Things can be repaired or replaced. Super Glue is a wonderful invention! But what about our hearts, our emotions, our families, our church? These are not as easy to fix. Super Glue is fine for things, but what about OUR brokenness? Who can rescue us? The second part of our reading from Colossians is an ancient hymn. Here we learn about our rescuer, Jesus—who he is and what he does. The focus is on the supremacy of Christ

Here are some thoughts that are being shared with the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. I would really like your thoughts about this scripture text. What do you think?   Second Reading: Colossians 1:11-20 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is th

This is the sermon I preached last Sunday, 11/17/19 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text was Luke 21:5-19 . It has happened once again—another school shooting that has resulted in the death or injury of children. This time the act was committed in Santa Clarita, CA, by the children’s classmate on his 16 th birthday. We cry out like the Psalmist, “ Turn, O  Lord !  How   long ? Have compassion on your servants!” (Psalm 90:13). No matter what our feelings are on gun control, we struggle to understand how this can continue to happen in our country week after week. As of November 15, which was the 319 th day of the year, there have been 366 mass shootings in our country. This means an average of more than one mass shooting a day. More would have been hurt and/or killed had the kids not followed their active shooter training. I find it difficult to comprehend our children and grandchildren needing to practice in anticipation of the day when someone may come into

This is the reflection that will be sent out to the people of St. Timothy this Thursday. This is not an easy text of scripture with which to grapple and I would like to hear your insights. Let's dialogue! Gospel: Luke 21:5-19 5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, [Jesus] said, 6“As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”   7They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.   9“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be g

This is the sermon I preached Sunday, 11/10/19 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . The text was Luke 20:27-38. “I can only imagine” are words that run throughout the song of that title by Mercy Me. In the song the imagining concerns what one will do when they see Jesus in heaven, in the church triumphant. We all wonder, don’t we, what that life will be like? This life we know, but that one? The Gospel of Luke continues to challenge us. During internship, at the pastors’ text study, we discussed what we thought it might be like in the afterlife. What are  we  expecting? It was certainly different from what Jesus’ challengers anticipated. One pastor’s response was, “I just want some answers. I want to ask questions.” Maybe you feel the same way. The challenge brought to Jesus by the Sadducees could be looked on as a kind of joke. Their example was so ridiculous and in their minds would blow the idea of a resurrection right out of the water, wouldn’t it? In theory, following thi