A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church July 14, 2018 1 John 4:7-21 As we’ve already discussed as we’ve read through this book, love that is of God requires us to move closer to other people because we are all connected to each other. God’s love requires our action. And all that we struggle with…
I haven’t published much lately about my birth family discoveries, mainly because some of the more recent ones are taking me a while to process. There continues to be much gift for me through all of the experiences I’ve had, whether they’ve been the joyful reunion kind or the painful answers kind. I’m the kind…
A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho July 1, 2018 1 John 2:1-14 Last week we heard the first chapter of 1st John. Today we get most of the second chapter. And the theme of koinonia, or fellowship, that began last chapter continues in this one, even if the word does not…
A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho June 24, 2018 1 John 1 Who, exactly, was Jesus? Was he a teacher who said some cool stuff, a healer who healed some folk, but was pretty much just like you and me—maybe a wiser version of the best of humanity? Was he God,…
I’m currently in St Louis, attending the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), our biennial national meeting. The first GA I attended was 22 years ago in Albuquerque, where we were living at the time. My son Alden was a baby in a stroller at that assembly, and he was there with me…
A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho Saturday, June 9, 2018 Exodus 24:12-18, Exodus 31:12-18 Our story tonight begins where last week had begun, or maybe a different perspective of the same story. God calls Moses up the mountain, where he stays, surrounded by a cloud that looked like a devouring fire.…
A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church on May 27, 2018 Exodus 3:1-17 Today we begin a sermon series about Moses. We will only hit some highlights (and a few lowlights). If you don’t know much about Moses, other than that he looked a lot like Charlton Heston, I hope it will inspire you to…
A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church April 29, 2018 Acts 17:22-31 I love this story. I love the idea of people arguing over ideas, and debating differences. I know not everyone shares my enjoyment of disagreement. I know many people prefer an absence of conflict. There was, and is, however, a tradition in Judaism…
Acts 16:12-40 A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho April 22, 2018 Last week, we heard the story about how Saul, or Paul, as he’s called here, had an encounter with the risen Jesus, and turned his life from being a persecutor of Jesus to an evangelist for Jesus. His preaching would…
The Enneagram is a tool that has helped me more than any other. It recognizes and numbers 9 (“ennea” = “nine”) different personality types and offers a path to understanding, to acceptance, and to transformation. If you’re unfamiliar with the Enneagram, I do not recommend that you take an online test to determine your number.…
Glass Overflowing 