The apostle Paul this morning serves up a classic text that affirms the supremacy of the Bible as the Book among books. Now nearing the end of earthly life’s race and ready to receive his heavenly crown of righteousness, the one-time persecutor of Christ’s followers shares a moving, heartfelt testimony about the power of God’sContinue reading “Because God Breathed”
Author Archives: First Presbyterian Church
A Different Road
So often have we heard the Christmastime story about the coming of the Wise Men – and sung the time-honored carols about their intrepid following of a yonder star – that some of us probably can quote by heart the details of their bold voyage across field and fountain, moor and mountain. But what weContinue reading “A Different Road”
Is There Any Better Gift?
Spiritual writer Richard Rohr well sums the significance of Christmas in one challenging sentence: “Frankly, Jesus came to show us how to be human much more than how to be spiritual, and the process still seems to be in its early stages.” Jesus’s birth indeed challenges those who celebrate the gift of the Christ ChildContinue reading “Is There Any Better Gift?”
The Runaway Bunny
Cute little bunnies are more part and parcel of Easter than they are of Christmas. But “The Runaway Bunny,” a children’s story of a young rabbit with a stubborn wanderlust, seems tailormade for understanding why the birth of Jesus is such a big deal. The story is relatable on a couple different levels. For starters,Continue reading “The Runaway Bunny”
Speaking to Suffering
The dramatic events surrounding the birth of Jesus begin to unfold long before the expected cast of characters starts arriving in Bethlehem, and for our discipleship during these Sundays of Advent, Luke’s Gospel has been sharing those miraculous scenes. Luke’s curtain rises with the archangel Gabriel visiting Elizabeth and Zechariah, an elderly, childless couple who’dContinue reading “Speaking to Suffering”
Holy Cow and Zoinks!
For the past two Sundays of Advent, scenes from the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel have been moving us toward Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. In both scenes, the angel Gabriel has been hard at work bringing incredible news to unlikely recipients. First, Gabriel visits the AARP-card-carrying Zechariah and Elizabeth and shares the surprisingContinue reading “Holy Cow and Zoinks!”
A Pink Cowboy
Pretend for a moment that a cold winter’s night finds you snuggled into your living-room recliner under a comfy blanket. And as you surf through the channels on TV, you stumble into the middle of movie. Two cowboys are standing about 30 yards apart in the middle of a dusty street. The men’s hands hangContinue reading “A Pink Cowboy”
Even in a Broken World
Our journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus begins this first Sunday of Advent with the Gospel of Luke and the story of a faithful, long-serving priest named Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth. For years, Zechariah prays anxiously for the birth of a son only to get back what he hears as a great-bigContinue reading “Even in a Broken World”
The Power of Your Story
If you worship with us regularly, then you know that I always begin our Sunday services with a question: How has God been working in your life this past week? And I’m always grateful when a few brave souls share a story about a “God moment” that they experienced. I’m grateful because your stories ofContinue reading “The Power of Your Story”
Under Construction
Two Sundays ago, seven of our sons and daughters confirmed their faith, and two adults reaffirmed their baptismal vows. In the weeks leading up to that celebration, our Scripture lessons spoke to all of us about what it means to have faith and belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and how it isContinue reading “Under Construction”