“To reform ourselves is not to sever ourselves from the Church we were before.” Born in one of the most tumultuous eras of English history, Richard Hooker had a great deal of social and religious influence to train his growing identity. Hooker was born in 1553; only 20 years prior, Henry VIII broke away from … Continue reading Blessed Richard Hooker
November 1, 2020
We celebrate All Saints Day remembering all those mighty prayer warriors and giants in the faith who have gone before us. As we pause for a moment a reflect on their lives, I pray that we dig deeply into what characteristics of their lives strikes us. Was it the determination of Saint Teresa of Avila? … Continue reading November 1, 2020
October 25, 2020
Our passage in Deuteronomy informs us that God shares new information with Moses and Aaron. God has Moses climb to the peak of a hill and survey all the beautiful land below. As Moses views this vast land, God informs him that both he and Aaron will not enter into this land. And, while this … Continue reading October 25, 2020
Sermon Seeds
In Exodus, God is reminding the Israelites that His relationship with them has been established from the days of Abraham. He reinforces His faithfulness to them and underscores His name. This reinforcement comes in the form of the 10 Commandments. In Matthew, Jesus tells the Jewish church leaders that they will reject Him as He … Continue reading Sermon Seeds
Saint James of Jerusalem
From the Gospels of Mark (3:21), John (7:2-7), and Luke (21:16), the relationship between Jesus and His brothers was not perfect. They neither appeared to appreciate His enthusiasm nor His claims about Himself. But, the historian Eusebius claimed that it was in fact James whom Jesus chose to be His successor and head of the … Continue reading Saint James of Jerusalem
Yom Kippur
Sunday marked the highest holy day in the Jewish tradition: Yom Kippur. Historically, this was the day that Moses received the second set of the Ten Commandments. In practice, Yom Kippur is the day one searches deep in the heart and mind and seeks forgiveness of all wrongs done against neighbors and God and makes … Continue reading Yom Kippur
It’s Not About Me
Sermon Seeds: Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020 It’s not about me. As Moses and Aaron led the Israelites through the wilderness, the people cried out for food. They complained about the new troubles they faced from what they had become accustomed to in Egypt. Moses and Aaron understood that instead of the Israel nation complaining against … Continue reading It’s Not About Me
Romans 14:5-6
Sermon Seeds: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020 “Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since … Continue reading Romans 14:5-6
Gratitude
My parents and I went to Branson Friday and Saturday to see Samson and another show called Six. The main show to see, though, was Samson. Several people in Mom and Dad’s church had seen the show and were going on and on about it. This was the last weekend for it, and it was worth the trip. … Continue reading Gratitude
I See You
“You is good. You is smart. You is important.” These are familiar words from the movie The Help. Many of you know this story, how it depicts the discrepancies within our history between the races, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement. In this film the main character Skeeter, a young, white, female journalist, asks a significant … Continue reading I See You
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