Renewing Strength

Isaiah 40:21-31 Mark 1:29-39 You've all been around chickens - think of a molting chicken, with its bare little behind peeking through downy fluff and its spotty neck and wings that are all broken, and missing, its pinions-- its wing feathers-- are scattered from the barn to the house and back again. I've been told …

Do Not Fear

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Luke 1:26-38 Do not be afraid. This is a strange greeting, isn’t it? Yet this is how Gabriel, in the Gospel of Luke, says hello to Mary and Zechariah both. Do not be afraid – this is the greeting the Angels give the shepherds. “Each word of assurance offered by the …

Grace of God

1 Kings 21:1-21a Luke 7:36-8:3 We know this story: someone rich goes on vacation to the countryside and they see something they just HAVE to HAVE. A handmade quilt, an antique tractor, a piece of land. So they offer money. "My dog loves that quilt, give it to me! How much?" "My house will look …

Go with God

John 21:1-19 Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)   When we’re children we sometimes play games that can be pretty morbid that we probably wouldn’t suggest as adults. One that I remember like that was called ‘Who’s in Hell?’ it goes like this: you name someone who HAS to be in hell because they did just horrible, horrible …