Showing Our Wounds

A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho April 12, 2015 John 20:19-29 Last week, on Easter, we left the women, or I should say, they left us behind at the tomb, running in terror and amazement and saying nothing to nobody. Today’s passage from John’s gospel tells us that that as soon…

After the Terror and Amazement

An Easter Sermon from Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho Mark 16:1-8 Christ is Risen! Hallelujah! Let’s flee in terror and amazement, saying nothing to anyone because we are afraid! Hallelujah! Wait? What? That’s not how it is supposed to go. Mark’s account of Easter morning is noticeably different than the other 3 gospels. Jesus…

J J’s Fight Club: All About Hope

My college classmate, J J Baskin, died this past week, after a year long battle with cancer. A beautiful tribute to his remarkable 48 years  can be found here.  When he was first diagnosed, I wrote about it here. In life, in sickness, in death, J J was always showing us how to care for…

Boycott?

Indiana’s Governor Mike Pence signed a law this week for “Religious Freedom Restoration”. On the surface, this is presumably to protect people’s religious expression. Of course, there are no instances to be cited where religious expression has been threatened in this country. There are plenty of illustrations of where people are legally being allowed to…

We Are the Clay

A sermon preached at Sabbath worship on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho. Jeremiah 18:1-10 Isaiah 64:8-9 2 Cor 4: 7-12, 16-18 (Tonight in worship, everyone was invited to take a piece of clay to work during the service. During the time of confession, people were asked to destroy what…

My First St Patrick’s Day

I’ve never paid much attention to St Patrick’s Day before. My family is Scottish and Norwegian, primarily. It wasn’t our day.  Then I discovered my birth father was of Irish descent. His last name was McCourt.  So this is my first St. Patrick’s Day. I will be spending it in Chicago, where I am…