Category: Faith and Doubt
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Bread of Life
There was a couple at the first church I served back in New York State – very nice folks – and the wife, Diane, was an excellent cook. In fact, she was such a good cook that every year at our church’s annual talent auction – she would donate two German dinners to be auctioned…
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Good Moral Behavior? (a sermon for the last Sunday of Christmas)
It is the twelfth day of Christmas today. Tomorrow is Epiphany and the Christmas season will end. Sometimes I feel a little bad for the Christmas season. We tend to rush to get it here – wanting to sing the Christmas carols and see the decorations long before Christmas Eve and then by the time…
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The Church
I spend a lot of time trying to understand the church. There are so many things I love about the church. Here, I will list just a few: 1. I love the stained glass and the old architecture of churches. When churches are busy and full of life, that is great, but I’m also partial…
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Slippery Strands of Faith
Faith is a funny thing. For some faith is just a lifelong journey beginning with the waters of baptism. It is a beloved relationship. Spirituality may not be something completely understood, but there is nowhere else we are likely to be found on a Sunday morning than right here with our eyes fixed on the…
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Preachers. Keep on Preaching.
I read a story yesterday about a campus chaplain, Dr. Randy Beckum, who was demoted for preaching about peace and the false god of patriotism during a campus chapel service. He had his role as Vice President of MidAmerica Nazarene College stripped of him because many saw his words as inflammatory, yet he retained his role…
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Admissions and Confessions
It was a stark and disquieting day – the day he admitted that he didn’t really believe in Jesus. He admitted it as he was reading the Bible and all he could think about were the questions he had swirling around in his head. The scripture said, “whoever wants to be first must be last…
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Bedtime Prayer
Bedtime Prayer She laid down that night in her quiet bed A myriad of prayers swirled around in her head. And as she settled into her pillow and began to pray These are the things she decided to say: “Dear Lord, I thank you that I’m not like the rest I thank you that I…
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The Letter
Driving back there always felt like she was being transported back in time. Almost as if to confirm this sentiment, she switched on the radio and wasn’t surprised to hear the local station playing Van Morrison, followed by Sam and Dave. Margaret was on her way home…well, a place that used to be home. She…
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Dreams
This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: “In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit On those…