Grumbling Grumbler, Deuteronomy 30:15–20, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 16, 2020 ************************************************************************* The story is told about a wife of a hard-to-please husband who was determined to try her best to satisfy him for just one day. “Darling,” she asked, “what would you like for breakfast this morning?” He growled, “Coffee and toast, grits and […]
God’s DNA in You, Isaiah 58:3-9a, Matthew 5:13-20, Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Seminary Sunday), February 9, 2020 *********************************************************** In recent years, DNA testing has become an important part of our culture. In 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick became the first scientists to formulate an accurate description of the DNA molecule’s complex structure. On June […]
Forty Days, Genesis 7:1-4, 12, Exodus 24:15-18, Numbers 13:1-3, 25, 1 Samuel 17:4-9, 16, 1 Kings 19:1-6, 8, Matthew 4:1-2, Luke 2:22–32 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (The Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord), February 2, 2020 *********************************************************************** For the Church, today is not Groundhog Day or Super Bowl Sunday. Today is a key turning point in our […]
A Light to the Nations, Isaiah 49:1–7, Second Sunday after Epiphany, January 19, 2020 ************************************************************************* Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Of course, each season is different, even in South Mississippi. Each season has its own distinctive traits, like those related to the weather, or the blossoming of certain plants, or the coming or going of foliage. […]
Take My Hand, Isaiah 42:1–9 (Matthew 3:13-17), The Baptism of Our Lord, January 12, 2020 ************************************************************************* A father was walking with his toddler close behind. They were going from a Sunday school building to the sanctuary of the main church building. The father, knowing they were approaching a set of about 20 steps going down to […]
My New Year Resolutions, 1 Kings 3:4–15, Second Sunday in Christmas, January 5, 2020 ************************************************************************* This New Year I resolve to be greedier, meaner, and nastier than ever before. I resolve to drink more beer, eat more fried foods, smoke more cigars, watch more TV, and exercise less. I’m hoping to make this the laziest, least […]
Christmas Vacation, Matthew 1:18-25, Nativity of Our Lord Christmas Eve, December 24, 2019 ************************************************************************* It wasn’t your typical Christmas vacation. It wasn’t exactly a vacation at all. Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. They were ordered to do so. A census was being taken, and the male head of each household had to trudge […]
A Virgin Conceives and Bears a Son, Isaiah 7:10–17; Matthew 1:18–25, Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 22, 2019 ************************************************************************* Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent and the climax of our Christmas celebration is but two days away. The tree is adorned with lights and decorations. Four candles are lit on our Advent wreath, and our […]
Innkeeper, Luke 2:1-7, Advent Midweek, December 18, 2019 ************************************************************************* Before you think I’m some kind of cruel, heartless landlord, I want you tell you the way I see it. It’s time to set the record straight, once and for all. People call me an innkeeper and I suppose you could call it an inn. To me […]
Joseph, Luke 1:26-38, Advent Midweek 2, December 11, 2019 *********************************************************** This is the way I see it. My name is Joseph; you probably know my wife better; she is much more famous than I am. I’m the lesser half some might say. We are very average people, at least in the beginning, before all the hoo-ha. […]