Not often does a true prophet of God end up red-faced in embarrassment. But indeed, the author of our Scripture lesson, the Old Testament’s Jeremiah, is walking around with egg on his face. In the lead-up to this passage, a prophetic wannabe named Hananiah delivers what he declares to be a true revelation from God. HananiahContinue reading “Maybe You’re a Late Bloomer”
Category Archives: Sermons
A Firm Foundation
Of the many images that capture the poignancy of my ministry in Waukon is this photo taken on the south lawn of Oakland Cemetery. That’s me and my friend Chrissy Good from Martin funeral home leading the procession that carried the body of longtime member Brad Krambeer to its place of earthly rest until theContinue reading “A Firm Foundation”
In the Sign of the Cross
Over a simple evening meal at a Dubuque-area monastery, a small group of seasoned pastors compared notes on the current state of Christ’s Church. Surely among the sharing were joys and blessings of Spirit-inspired ministry happening in each of our respective congregations. But so also shared were myriad concerns over the changing nature of congregationalContinue reading “In the Sign of the Cross”
Remember When, Remember Now
The old photograph bears a simple label: “Scene at Waukon.” So it’s unlikely that the photographer specifically intended to capture First Presbyterian Church. Nevertheless he (or she) froze a long-ago moment in time here in our neighborhood. The date was November 9, 1913. Earlier that year, Woodrow Wilson – a lifelong Presbyterian – was inauguratedContinue reading “Remember When, Remember Now”
Anticipation
If you are of a certain age, then you well remember singer Carly Simon’s hit song of 1971, “Anticipation.” Its lyric refrain, “Anticipation is making me wait,” even made its way into a years-long series of TV commercials hawking ketchup. The ads used the song to build suspense, showing ketchup slowly dripping from a glassContinue reading “Anticipation”
Mary Magdeline and Simon Peter
On that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene felt lost and alone. She had loved Jesus with a holy passion, but now Mary’s deep affection for her beloved felt estranged. Then suddenly her fortunes changed! Outside that Empty Tomb, on that first day of resurrection, she became the first to witness the salvation of the world.Continue reading “Mary Magdeline and Simon Peter”
A Closed Room and Thomas
The Lord’s resurrection was still “breaking news.” The empty tomb remained the talk of the town. And the apostles – filled with anxiety, their fear of human enemies proving far stronger than any hopeful word of an empty tomb – self-sequestered behind hefty doors. Then suddenly into their secretive huddle bursts Jesus to deliver aContinue reading “A Closed Room and Thomas”
Emmaus and Galilee
Mere hours after the first reports of Jesus’s resurrection fuel the rumor mill and stir anxious doubt, two of the Lord’s disciples are traveling by foot the 7-mile trek from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Together they walk purposefully and talk non-stop about all these unbelievable things that reportedly have happened at the tomb: Of a heftyContinue reading “Emmaus and Galilee”
Alive, Unbound, and Loosed
For as many times as we’ve heard the Easter story, the whole event still feels, well, kind of farfetched. Perhaps in your head you hold as fact that the lifeless body of Jesus rose from the grave, but during those dark nights of the soul, your heart nonetheless wonders: Can you trust resurrection? That’s whyContinue reading “Alive, Unbound, and Loosed”
More Than Enough
Awash in bad news about the world around us, we are proclaiming good news – God’s Good News – as our Lenten journey to the Cross moves forward. Here’s what our Sunday Scripture lessons have declared already: God’s good news is so good that it catches us by surprise! And God’s good news is greatContinue reading “More Than Enough”