“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4b-5 This scene occurs immediately before the Ascension, and Jesus is telling the apostles to wait patiently … Continue reading Waiting in joy and praise
Christ
The banks of the Jordan
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 Moses is speaking to the Israelites, reassuring them as he prepares to hand over leadership to Joshua. He knows he soon will die, and the Israelites must go on without him, … Continue reading The banks of the Jordan
A prayer for oneness
All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be … Continue reading A prayer for oneness
Asking in the name of salvation
Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. John 16:20, 23b Jesus has just told the disciples he'll … Continue reading Asking in the name of salvation
Align off the true cornerstone
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Psalm 118:22-24 When a mason constructs a foundation, the first and most important stone is the cornerstone. The placement, elevation and orientation of this stone … Continue reading Align off the true cornerstone
Ascension: bringing the Incarnation full-circle
Thursday was Ascension Day, one of the most important and yet least celebrated events in the broader Church calendar. We’ve just had Easter — the celebration of our Lord’s bodily Resurrection. The grave and sin were conquered. Then, we had 40 days to walk with the risen Lord through the Easter season, until the Gospel … Continue reading Ascension: bringing the Incarnation full-circle
Crying out in the wilderness — a reflection on love
Wednesday was the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, which gives us a good opportunity to pause and reflect on the meaning of evangelism, and how we are meant to evangelize. First off, let's dispel with any perceived differences around the term "Evangelical Christianity," and the socio-political implications of that phrase. Wherever you fall in … Continue reading Crying out in the wilderness — a reflection on love
Finding our identity in Christ
This post originally was delivered as a sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Okla., Sunday, 15 April, 2018. Readings are from the Revised Common Lectionary Year B. Mr. Ralph Alsman, of Brookville, Ind., was by most standards an unremarkable man. The 25 year-old man led a fairly normal … Continue reading Finding our identity in Christ
Stephen Ministry: Expanding the church’s reach
ENID, Okla. — “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” That verse, Galatians 6:2, describes the Stephen Ministries mission to organize and train lay ministers to “provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in and around the congregation,” the group’s website states. Stephen Ministries is a group … Continue reading Stephen Ministry: Expanding the church’s reach
Focusing on our common bonds in Christ
Christians have worked for 500 years to break up and diminish the Body of Christ. From the wars of Reformation and Counter-Reformation to centuries of hatred, persecution and misunderstanding between our various (and many) denominations, Christianity over the last half-millennium has struggled to be a cohesive faith with a unified message. We’ve made great strides … Continue reading Focusing on our common bonds in Christ
Our call, beyond the tomb
He is risen. Those three simple words tell us the meaning of Easter. Christ was crucified. Christ is risen. After suffering death on the cross and descending to the dead, Jesus conquered death, rose again and forever opened the door for us to follow him out of the grave. The first evangelism of Christ’s resurrection … Continue reading Our call, beyond the tomb
Co-opting Christ
The role of religion in American politics is nothing new, nor is its history confined to one party. Clergy have played active roles in numerous political movements of the “left,” perhaps most famously in the Civil Rights movement championed by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And, there have been no shortage of outlets … Continue reading Co-opting Christ
Good Friday: A time to walk with Christ
The day has come. Good Friday. The day our Lord was crucified. We tend to skip quickly over this part of the story, because we know the end of the story. And that end is beautiful. We rush to see the empty tomb, and to revel in Easter. That is wonderful. But, we’re not there … Continue reading Good Friday: A time to walk with Christ
Surrender to trust
There is perhaps no greater force drawing us away from God’s love than our fear. Our regrets over the past are fears of inadequacy, and for our place in this world. Our longing for the past is based in the fear that our best is behind us. Our anxieties over the future represent innumerable fears … Continue reading Surrender to trust
Fasting: our Lenten call to action
Most of us start Lent asking ourselves, or being asked, what we will give up. This act of giving something up – a favorite food, a frivolous pastime or common distraction – is all many people know of Lent, and can broadly be categorized as fasting. The practice of fasting is an ancient and important … Continue reading Fasting: our Lenten call to action