When you do more than scratch its surface, you discover a treasure-trove of faithful living concealed deep under the weight of the Eighth Commandment’s thunderous prohibition against theft. As I suggested last Sunday, the Spirit through the Eighth Word compels hard questions – pondering and wondering if people richly blessed with lots of money, mostContinue reading “Meet My Friend Jeff”
Category Archives: Sermons
‘Come, Have Breakfast’
Pastor Grant M. VanderVelden shared this message on Friday, September 30, 2023, at the funeral for member Duane Miller, who died Sunday, September 24, 2023, at age 89. Commentary and reflection by Scott Hoezee and St. Teresa of Avila inform the message. A nourishing fringe benefit of being a small-town pastor is the surprise deliveryContinue reading “‘Come, Have Breakfast’”
Sticky Fingers
Over our two months of exploration, a couple major attractions should be overshadowing our walking tour of the Ten Commandments. What I hope first captures your attention are the positive aspects of the Commandments – the holy attitudes and loving behaviors that the Lord prefers and encourages. Those Words of Life, first given to MosesContinue reading “Sticky Fingers”
Wrestling with Erotic Energy
Moses should have asked for more. As he stood high atop Mount Sinai, dutifully noting Yah-Weh’s directives for faith and life, Moses should have asked the Lord for some more details about No. 7: “You shall not commit adultery.” Five words, period. End of sentence. And down the list the Lord moves on. A fewContinue reading “Wrestling with Erotic Energy”
Too Few Are Noticing
A death with dignity and compassion it was not. Those pieces still recognizable as a cricket lay bottom side up. The missing parts, presumedly, composed the linear slick of black goo scuffing the gray floor, on the shoulder of the steel-blue track at the Wellness Center. Passers-by the deathly scene included countless walkers and runners,Continue reading “Too Few Are Noticing”
Honor Your Parents
A lunchroom filled with schoolchildren raises the curtain on a familiar cast of characters. Perhaps most immediately: The Spillers and Wasters, the Yellers and Screamers, the Wigglers and the Jigglers – each as equally aggravating as the next, but nevertheless shaped and sized uniquely in the image of the God who made them. Continue reading “Honor Your Parents”
Keep the Lord’s Day Special
If you fancy yourself a would-be author, let me suggest a topic for a definite New York Times best-seller. You’ll be working the crowded neighborhood at the intersection of Self-help Street and Spirituality Avenue. Your topic is flung far afield across disciplines – the healing arts, physical and natural sciences, psychology and sociology. YourContinue reading “Keep the Lord’s Day Special”
Take Not in Vain
Unless you live in a monastery or convent, you don’t have to listen too hard these days to hear God’s third commandment take quite a verbal beating. Plenty of folks don’t even break a sweat when casually invoking God’s name to make themselves look more trustworthy or electable, even though they oftentimes are actuallyContinue reading “Take Not in Vain”
No Graven Images
Within the ancient words of the Old Testament dwell 613 commandments regulating everything from soup to nuts. And we’re exploring the first 10 – through the lens of the New Testament’s greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself – asContinue reading “No Graven Images”
No Other Gods before Me
Over the years, I’ve preached sermon series on any number of themes, but for no reason in particular, the one topic I haven’t touched in depth is the Ten Commandments. So, for the next 10-or-so weeks, we’re going to be unpacking that list of do’s and don’ts – given by God to Moses, aContinue reading “No Other Gods before Me”