Tag: mercy

Vultures

Vultures (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Matthew 24:1-28
March 30, 2014

“Ode to a vulture.”  A haiku by a poet with the screen name, “reconciled.”

the unwanted guest
patiently the vulture waits
watching … at death’s door

“Wherever there is a dead body, the vultures will gather.”  Fred Phelps was a vulture.

Fred Phelps was the founding pastor of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, a church populated mostly by his own extended family members with a few “converts” from the outside. … Continue reading ...

Priests

Priests (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
1 Peter 2:4-10
May 18, 2014

“Dear Amy …”

It’s a newspaper column, like “Dear Abby,” only it’s “Dear Amy.”  Dick Grimm shared it with me this week, and now I am sharing it with you.

Dear Amy,

Every fall, my sister, cousins and a cousin’s sister-in-law have a weekend shopping excursion in our home city. … Continue reading ...

What is left unsaid

What is left unsaid Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Isaiah 53:7-9
March 29, 2015

Words.  Lots of words.

Praise God!
God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord!
God bless the king of Israel!

Look!  The whole world is following him!
There’s no stopping him.
What are you going to do?

Crucify him!  Crucify him!… Continue reading ...

Clay

Clay (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Jeremiah 18:1-11
September 4, 2016

Imagine a young woman there on the floor at the front of the church.  She is sitting on a short stool behind a small table.  On the table is set a broad wheel that she spins by means of a foot pedal.  She places a mound of wet grey clay onto the middle of the wheel and she begins working the clay with her hands: stretching, shaping, smoothing, sculpting.… Continue reading ...