Like many communities, a friendly welcome sign stood beside the highway at the edge of the town where I grew up. The sign clearly intended to warm the cockles of its residents’ hearts and offer hospitality to visitors. But according to my high school buddy Steven, the sign also served a less obvious but-to-him- more-importantContinue reading “The Kingdom Within”
Author Archives: First Presbyterian Church
Faithful, No Matter What
It’s the kind of question that causes a pastor to break out in a cold sweat, and the query always begins with a simple word: “Why.” An innocent child is killed; a beloved teacher dies; a freak accident claims the life of dear friend, and with quivering lips and lumped throat, a hapless survivor asksContinue reading “Faithful, No Matter What”
My Word Is Flexibility
The intimidating thought of being known for who you really and truly are as a person cuts like a double-edged sword of bane and blessing. On the one hand, 94 percent of respondents to a recent poll agreed with the statement, “Nobody really knows me.” While some folks might take clandestine comfort in such anonymity,Continue reading “My Word Is Flexibility”
Palm Sunday meditation: Sunday’s Coming!
The great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and satContinue reading “Palm Sunday meditation: Sunday’s Coming!”
Heart health
Old Testament prophets have miserable, unenviable jobs. God taps these individuals – mostly men but also a few women – to proclaim bracing messages of doom and gloom to wayward souls who’ve strayed far from the fold of God. Over the past few Sundays, in our exploration of the story of God with us, we’veContinue reading “Heart health”
A Heart Transplant
Dire warnings from a couple Old Testament prophets have given us reasons to grit our teeth these past few Sundays. First it was Amos, whose voice speaks for the Lord in declaring that God’s people are crooked and out of plumb. Then last Sunday came Jeremiah with an equally harsh indictment that minces no words:Continue reading “A Heart Transplant”
Patching the Leak
The Old Testament kings and prophets, along with God’s perennially disobedient people, have been the main characters in our Scripture lessons for the past couple Sundays. As the story of God and us continues to unfold, the long era of royal rule has begun for the Israelites, and their kings are mixed bags of goodContinue reading “Patching the Leak”
Pastoral Meditation: Authentic Living
Pastor Grant M. VanderVelden shared this message at the funeral for LeOtia Edna “Lee” Flage on Saturday, March 19, 2022. The Scripture lesson was Matthew 6:25-34. On one of the bulletin boards in the hallway between our sanctuary and our fellowship hall hangs a display titled “Many Gifts, Simple Giving.” It exhibits a number ofContinue reading “Pastoral Meditation: Authentic Living”
Drawing the Line
Chaos seems to be the order of the day for God’s first people, the Israelites. Not long after the Lord their God rescues them from the bonds of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites begin stepping way over the line, far out of bounds, and deeply into dangerous territory. They most definitely are not meeting God’sContinue reading “Drawing the Line”
A Little Guilt Might Be Good
It’s your lucky day, folks! You’re going to hear not one but two sermons this morning! Mine, of course, will come later, but the first comes in our Scripture lesson through the Old Testament voice of Samuel, the last of the great judges and the first of the great prophets. As we learned last Sunday,Continue reading “A Little Guilt Might Be Good”