Recent Hebrew Scriptures

• Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

  After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward.”
  But Abram said, “O Lord God, what can you give me, seeing that I continue childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damacus?” And Abram added, “Look, you [...]

  February 26th, 2007

• Jeremiah 1:4-10

  The Word of the Eternal came to me saying,
  “Before I fashioned you on the womb I knew you, and before you came out of the womb I sanctified you, I appointed you a prophet to the nations*
  Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a [...]

  January 24th, 2007

• Don’t Think About Monkeys: A New Year’s Sermon

  This sermon is based on the readings for Christmas 1C: 1 Samuel 2:18-26, Luke2:41-52 and Colossians 3:12-17, which can be read by clicking on the links.  Before I start let me say that I owe some of the illustrations and ideas in my message today to the good work of Paul Larson, one of my preaching [...]

  January 1st, 2007

• Zephaniah 3:14-20

  Sing aloud, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has withdrawn the judgments against you, he has cast out your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall not see evil any longer. On that day it [...]

  December 13th, 2006

• Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

  The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the Eternal has anointed me to bring good tidings to the lowly, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captive, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s [...]

  December 13th, 2006

• Malachi 3:1-4

  Malachi 3:1-4Behold I will send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord for whom you search will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight – behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
  But who can bear the day of his coming, and [...]

  December 7th, 2006

• My Paraphrase of Sunday’s Scripture - Advent C2 with an Alternate Gospel Reading

  As I mentioned in my “Paraphrase Post” from last week, my plan for preaching and worship during Advent and Christmas this year is to go chronologically through Luke 1-3.  Therefore, the gospel lessons I will be using in Advent are as follows:
  Advent 1 - December 3rd - Zechariah and Elizabeth 1 (Theme will be “Silence”): [...]

  December 5th, 2006

• Daniel 7:9-14

  Daniel 7:9-14 9 I watched as the thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His garments were as white as snow; the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne . . . fiery flames. His wheels . . . flaming fire. 10 A river of fire [...]

  December 1st, 2006

• My Paraphrases of Sunday’s Scripture - Christ the King

  Here are my paraphrases of this coming Sunday’s scripture lessons.  I am using the lessons from Daniel and Psalm 93 (from the Book of Common Prayer) rather than the Revised Common Lectionary passages from 2 Samuel 23:1-7 and Psalm 132:1-12.  Daniel and Psalm 93 seem a better fit to me for Christ the King Sunday.
  Tomorrow I hope to begin posting [...]

  November 20th, 2006

• Reflectionary on Mark 10:46-52

  Mark 10:46-52 - My Paraphrase
  46 Jesus and the disciples went to Jericho, and as they departed the city, a large crowd followed them. Blind Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting on the side of the road, begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout (croak) loudly, saying, “Jesus, [...]

  October 26th, 2006