Tag: sermon
-
Samuel and the idols
That sounds like the name of a rock band, but it’s a sermon title… ________________ When we hear about idol worship, what do we think of? Maybe when we hear about idols and idolatry, we first think of places around the world where idols are part of the cultural landscape. We might think of those…
-
Hannah’s grief, Israel’s future
When it comes to the problem of infertility, you’d have to say that a few things have changed in the last three thousand years. One big change, of course, is that we know a lot more about the causes of infertility – in women we know about endometriosis, and hormonal problems, and about the possibility…
-
fear in its place…
King Ahaz is afraid. We know what that feels like. Fear has touched each of our lives. Perhaps you have a childhood memory of finding yourself suddenly alone in a public place – you have lost sight of your mother or father – you can’t find them. Your chest tightens in fear. Panic sets in.…
-
The arrogance…
Well, don’t those words from Isaiah (2:1-5) represent the height of arrogance? “In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.” First of all, the mountain of the Lord, or Zion,…
-
Daily grind – sharing
It goes without saying – toddlers find it difficult to share. Have you ever tried to convince a 2 or 3 year old that they need to share something? Sometimes they are willing – very often they are not. Just this past week, Becky had two of our kids with her picking up vegetables just…
-
the daily grind – waking
Our life is ordinary, I read in a crumpled paper abandoned on a bench. Our life is ordinary, the philosophers told me. Ordinary life, ordinary days and cares, a concert, a conversation, strolls on the town’s outskirts, good news, bad – The opening stanzas of this poem say something pretty obvious, really. The poet might…
-
an exuberant appeal for unity
How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity. Indeed, how good when sisters and brothers aren’t fighting with one another. How good when husband and wife are getting along. How good when family discord gives way to peace. To this day my mother reminds my youngest sister and me of…
-
Just stop!
We come back to the Psalms of Ascent. And as we come specifically to look at Psalm 131 – prepare to be challenged – or even offended. On the face of it this seems like your average Psalm – interesting and instructive perhaps, but a run-of-the-mill Psalm nonetheless. But as we dig just a little into…
-
with shouts of joy…
Today we continue taking a look at the Psalms of Ascent – those fifteen Psalms that follow immediately after Psalm 119. Last week we took up Psalm 121 and this week we turn to Psalm 126. Doing so, I’d like to begin a little differently this morning. I’d like to begin by sharing, somewhat a length, a…
encrusted words 