The Gospel for Sunday tells of one of Jesus' resurrection appearances, but has an surprising statement. "When they saw [Jesus], they worshiped him;" nothing surprising there.…

Pentecost is the birthday of the church.  Prior to this time, the disciples and apostles followed Jesus, they were with Him, watching and learning, being prepared…

Evangelism has gotten a bad reputation.  Most in the church would grudgingly admit that we should evangelize, but most really don't want to do it. Unfortunately,…

"If you love me . . ."  If a sentence begins with those four words, my guard immediately goes up.  I think that's true for most of…

When you are engulfed in turmoil and trouble, what would bring you comfort?  What enables you to face it? Most of us want the trouble to…

"Church" means different things to different people.  For some, sadly, it has become a source of judgement and condemnation rather than a place of love and…

Most of the time, out bodies are flooded with input, far too much for us to process.  Sounds near and far, the pressure of your body…

"Peace be with you."  Both Luke and John record these as Jesus' first words to the disciples after the resurrection.  (Click here for the passage from…

They were unlikely witnesses.  2,000 years ago women were considered unreliable witnesses in legal proceedings.  Yet, it was women who were the first witnesses of Jesus'…

One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that it is only by denying ourselves that we truly find ourselves.  Nowhere is this seen…

Confirmation bias is the human tendency to see and acknowledge only that information which confirms what we already believe, even leading us to ignore or dismiss…

Sunday's Gospel is the account of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman, who was drawing water at a well.  It is a well known story often…

In a world of "alternative facts," "fake news," and more, it gets even more difficult than ever to know what's real.  It seems that the more…

When Jesus began his 40 days fasting in the wilderness (and you think giving up chocolate is a sacrifice?), we are told that he was "lead…

Fear can be a powerful motivator.  More often, it is first paralyzing.  It can bring laser focus, but sometimes on the wrong thing. One of the more…

When I was in school, one of the phrases often heard, particularly from girls, was "You're so immature..."  It was, of course, intended to be cutting…

"You are the salt of the earth" said Jesus to not just his disciples 2,000 years ago, but to us today.  Click here for the full passage.…

On Sunday we will read the passage from Matthew's Gospel known as "The Beatitudes."  Click here to read it. It is now over almost 40 years…

Sunday's lesson from the Gospel of Matthew tells of Jesus' calling of the first disciples.  It always amazes me how they just drop everything and follow…

Do you ever feel a bit schizophrenic in your faith?  One minute strong and confident, sure of God's care and provision; and the next feeling useless and…

This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River.  The importance of this event is seen in the fact that all three "synoptic"…

I pray that you had a blessed Christmas and are basking in the glow of the holiday!  And happy New Year! Sunday's Gospel lesson, the first…

It just seems like a lot of fuss.  And work.  And trouble.  No, I'm not talking about all the preparations for Christmas.  I'm talking about that…

We don't often think about Jesus' birth from Joseph's perspective, but Sunday's Gospel lesson from Matthew tells the story from his perspective (Luke tells of Jesus'…

The New Testament really gives us two different pictures of John the Baptist.  Like most of us, he had many facets.  Last week, we got the picture…

John the Baptist must have been quite a character!  He looked like some wild-eyed, half crazy mountain man.  Not someone you would look at and think…

Sunday begins of Advent, when we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus.  First, of course, born in a manger in Bethlehem, but finally…

This Sunday, November 20, is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the church year.  We celebrate the fact that at the end of time,…

Most of us understand that in some areas of life things get worse before they get better.  Cleaning the garage usually means a gigantic mess on…

Tuesday, November 1, was All Saints' Day, but for purposes of the church calendar, we move it to this Sunday, November 6.  It used to be…

I'm always a bit stunned when I see or hear those with no discernible life of faith talk about having faith or keeping faith.  To me,…

"The surest mark of true conversion is humility." So wrote J. C. Ryle (1819 - 1900), an Anglican Bishop, author and one of the great minds…

"Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season."*  (2 Timothy 4:2, click here for the full passage)  When are we to preach the…

In Jesus' day, leprosy was a dread disease.  Catching it, or even anything that looked like it, meant that one would be ostracized from family and…

Have you noticed that in the dark times of life, bright thoughts rarely just pop up?  In the midst of the darkness, we tend to see…

"There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment."  Read that again, slowly.  (1 Timothy 6:6, click here for the full passage) This sounds like advice…

During his rather brief sojourn as a Christian, Bob Dylan released a song called "Gotta Serve Sombody."  Click here if you need a reminder. Not only…

Have you ever contemplated going to church on a Sunday morning and thought your Saturday night, or last week, or whatever, leaves you unworthy?  "I don't…

Only one book of the New Testament is shorter than Philemon (not to be confused with Philippians) and that is III John.  Jude is about the…

One of the things I enjoy about the opportunities I have had to travel in some of the rural villages of Uganda is the parallels I…

When I was an acolyte, I remember one older acolyte who would often genuflect.  That is a rather formal act of dropping to one knee and…

Are we more divided than at any other time in history?  I'm not enough of a historian to answer that question.  But certainly, we are more…

What is faith?  Is it just a blind leap into what cannot actually be known?  Is it just believing in something so we can make it…

We admire those who are able to save well, who amass a healthy  401(k) and other assets for a long and comfortable retirement.  This Sunday's Gospel…

Sunday's Gospel lesson from Luke (click here to read the full lesson) includes a prayer that will sound vaguely familiar: "Father, hallowed be your name.Your kingdom…

I think we all know that experience of working hard on some project while someone we think should be helping seems to just sit and do…

Sunday's Gospel lesson is the beloved story of the Good Samaritan (Click here to read it.)  It is a story that inspires us to do good…

Jesus sent 70 of his followers into the towns and villages around.  Click here for the passage.  They were sent not on their own but as…

What makes a cult?  One of the first things I look for is whether or not there is a clear attempt to separate people from their…

I'm old enough to have seen "The Exorcist" when it came out in theaters in 1973.  I was in tenth grade.  I don't actually remember much about the…

Dear Friends, Although often not noticed by average Episcopalians, Trinity Sunday is one of the Principle Feasts of the Episcopal Church.  The early church did not…

Sunday we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, demonstrated so vividly on that first Day of Pentecost.  A sound like the rush of a mighty…

Jesus prayed fervently that we would be one, as much as He and the Father are one.  Not only has that oneness eluded the church for two…

I find many people want the sense of peace and fulfillment that comes from a spiritual life, but are not ready for the discipline and work…

When Jesus came, it shook the community of Israel to its core.  There were divided opinions about exactly who and what this person was:  Son of…

I associate Psalm 23 (click here to read it) with funerals.  That's probably unique to me as a pastor because I have done and attended more…

Sometimes I look at other Christians and wonder if I'll ever live up.  So many have accomplished so much more for the Kingdom. One of my…

Doubting Thomas Sunday.  We hear the story of "Doubting Thomas" and the assumption of the way the story is told is that his doubt was a…

"Suspension of disbelief."  That's what movie makers strive for.  That state of mind where you no longer are even aware that animals don't really talk, cars don't explode…

Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The people threw palms and sang songs as Jesus traveled into the city.  It must have been quite a…

When I was serving on the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Central Florida, we had need to meet with one of our clergy.  He arrived…

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most familiar parables of Jesus.  We can all relate to the son who goes off to "sew…

I heard the story once (many years ago) of a couple of older clergy wives 9in a mainline denomination) discussing the struggles of another church that…

It seems to me that one of the marks of an effective leader is that they do not get sidetracked by every distraction and question.  It…

If I had been in charge of Jesus, I certainly wouldn't have done it that way.  Jesus had just had the "mountain top" experience of being…

Every year, on the last Sunday before Lent begins (called "the Last Sunday after the Epiphany") we read the account of the Transfiguration, when Jesus appears…

It's not easy to be like Jesus.  Especially when he says things like, "Love your enemies," "If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other…

We talk a lot about blessing.  "God bless you!"  "Have a blessed day!"  "I'm blessed!"  While we might all have our own definition of what "blessed"…

Fishing is popular around here.  For most, it is a leisure activity, enjoyable even if the fish aren't biting.  "A bad day fishin' is better than a…

On Sunday we will read the "love" passage - 1 Corinthians 13 (click here to read it). This is a favorite passage and I even have…

What is the church to you?  I don't mean St. John's, specifically, but the church broadly, across time and denomination?  A religious club for folks who…

When I talk with couples preparing for marriage, I pose a "trivia" question.  "What was Jesus' first miracle?"  The answer is actually in the very first…

For the second time in as many months, we come to John the Baptist's warning about Jesus that "His winnowing fork is in his hand, to…

If you have listened to me preach much, you probably know that I am a "big picture" kind of guy.  When I read a passage of…

We often see Christmas as a welcome respite from the challenges of life.  Into our world that seems more and more filled with violence, division, disease,…

I am sometimes amazed at the kinds of things people in Scripture find a cause for celebration. The lesson from Luke includes one of the most…

Advent is the four Sundays prior to Christmas and lay the Biblical groundwork for the coming of Jesus.  The first Sunday in Advent looks to the…

In the Gospel lesson from Luke (click here to read it), we hear of the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist and Luke sets…

Sunday we begin the season of Advent, preparing for the coming of Jesus.  He came first in a animal stall in a backwater village of a nuisance…

Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King.  As we come to the end of the church year, we celebrate the fact that at the end of…

Does God actually care if you show up for church?  After all, we can worship anywhere, right? Neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler (portrayed by Mayim Bialik on…

The story of the "widow's mite" challenges us to evaluate the way we give differently. We generally want to donate to causes we believe in, causes that move us. …

What's the right answer?  Perhaps all our years of schooling have conditioned us to believe that we're supposed to always have the "right" answer.  Following in Jesus…

Why am I not healed?  Why did my loved one die?  There are persistent questions that even when not spoken out loud hang in the air…

I saw a cartoon recently that made me chuckle.  On the left side was a group of men with "Dad bods" of various proportions and a…

American Civil Religion.  It is not a defined religion or denomination, but a cluster notions about God that many Americans have come to accept rather uncritically. …

I believe that one of the tensions underlying much political division and rancorous debate today is wildly different understandings of our responsibilities to one another.  Some…

Where is true wisdom to be found?  Business success?  Advanced degrees from prestigious universities?  Political leaders?  Social media 'influencers'?  I think we would agree that these…

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is a lie.  There is far more truth in the words of Eric…

When my father-in-law died quite suddenly in the summer of 2000, over 600 people came to the calling hours at the funeral home and the service.…

Martin Luther, the 16th century monk, theologian and major driver of the Reformation, was rather famous for not liking the Epistle of James.  "An epistle of…

If you watched the TV sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," you know about Sheldon and his relationship agreements.  Sheldon is the controlling but brilliant theoretical physicist at…

Sometimes it seems that wisdom is no longer fashionable.  I'm not talking about science and knowledge but rather that seasoned maturity that comes with time, thoughtfulness, reflection and…

One of the great paradoxes of our society is that we are deeply involved in "social media" -- Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the like -- yet,…

Many Christians, myself included, find ourselves wondering from time to time why we do not consistently see the kinds of miracles that marked the life and…

Do you ever hear some miracle of Jesus and wonder "Why that one?"  Why heal that person when there are so many?  Why walk on the…

Oneness is a popular concept.  We think it sounds wonderful.  One America.  One race - the human race.  One God.  One Lord - One Faith -…

Sunday's Gospel lesson tells the sad story of the beheading of John the Baptist.  (Click here to read it.)  Herod Antipas (not the Herod that in…

Sunday is Independence Day.  In addition to picnics, cookouts and a long weekend, we celebrate the strength and resilience of our nation through more than two…

How much is enough?  Those who seriously try to follow Jesus must face this question. Can a serious Christian sit with huge assets -- perhaps worth millions…

Why does God allow storms in our lives?  It's easy when things are going well to talk about God preparing us, making us stronger/wiser/more faithful in…

It is far too easy to become accustomed to the miraculous.  And when we become accustomed to it, we forget that God is behind it. Do…

Is there an unforgiveable sin?  Is there something I might say or do that is so heinous in the sight of God that there is never…

I remember being surprised to learn that the word "Trinity" never appears in the Scriptures.  How can that be?  The doctrine of the Trinity is central to Christian…

It is sometimes said that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church.  Prior to this time, the disciples and apostles followed Jesus in person.  They were…

Sunday we will recite together Psalm 1 (click here to read it).  It is not an accident that this is the first Psalm.  I can't say…

"I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints."  So sang Billy Joel in the 1977 hit "Only the Good Die Young."  (You can…

"God is love."  John uses that phrase twice in Sunday's lesson from his first epistle (click here to read it).  It is a very popular little…

This Sunday is "Good Shepherd Sunday" when we read Psalm 23 and about Jesus as the Good Shepherd  Psalm 23 is, of course, the favorite of…

Are you a Christian because it is helps people and society be better, or because you believe it is true?  C.S. Lewis often struggled to help folks…

Sunday's lesson from Acts presents a radical economic vision.  One that is certainly far from our reality today.  (Click here to read the passage.) All things…

They were unlikely witnesses.  2,000 years ago women were not considered reliable witnesses in legal proceedings.  Yet, it was women who were the first witnesses of…

We already know how Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem turns out.  We know that the same people who cheered him with loud "Hosannas" on the way in,…

It is so easy to miss the Collect of the Day.  It breezes by before the service is hardly even underway.  But the Collects are often…

Even with all the freedoms we enjoy as Christians in America, there are some elements of our culture that are in direct conflict with Christian faith.…

I am, by both disposition and training, a person who values rational thought, logic, clear headed thinking.  So I have to keep reminding myself of the…

What's in a name?  In his letter to the Romans, Paul makes reference to Abraham's name, assuming that his audience will see meaning in the name…

The liturgy for Ash Wednesday reminds us that "The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became…

As a nation we place a very high value on freedom and self-determination.  And well we should.  Governments should, indeed, strive for freedom for their people.  Of…

Authority.  We like when we have it.  Not so much when someone else does.   We have been reading from the first chapter of Mark, and…

I am thankful that, generally speaking, Christian faith does not call us to asceticism.  By that, I mean to a life denying all pleasures of this…

I was a science major in college (major in Environmental Science with minors in Biology and Mathematics).  I'm certainly no scientist, but I'm still fascinated by…

I’m writing this as I pray through the events of yesterday, January 6, 2021, at our nation’s capital, and all that has led to this point.…

As never before, we are all praying that the New Year will, indeed, be New.  Even as we will see more death and suffering before we…

One thing most non-Episcopalians will notice first about worship in an Episcopal Church is that we read a lot of Scripture.  Most read two or three…

On this, the last Sunday of Advent, we turn our attention to Mary.  Many in the Protestant tradition have paid too little attention to Mary, turned…

The Third Sunday of Advent is sometimes called "Gaudete Sunday."  (Pronounced GOW-day-tay.)  The name comes from the Latin gaudete, meaning rejoice. The only difference in practice…

Advent is the season of preparing for the coming of our Lord in a manger in Bethlehem, at the end of time and even in our lives today.   We…

As we begin a new church year with the first Sunday of Advent, I find a line in the reading from Paul's letter to the church…

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the church year and the church's New Year's Eve party!  Most of us will be…

This Sunday is Holy Scripture Sunday, the last Sunday before "Christ the King Sunday," which is always the last Sunday of the church year.  Holy Scripture…

I am writing this on Election Day.  So as I consider the state of our nation, and my place in it, I read the Old Testament…

Sunday is All Saints Day, and the lesson from I John gives what I think is one of the most stunning promises of Scripture.  John writes, "Beloved, we…

Ever feel like you're not receiving all that God promises you?  The Collect of the Day (included in its entirety below) may have an answer for you.…

Are Christians required to be patriotic?  Simply obey the laws?  Pay our taxes? The story of Jesus' conversation with the Pharisees and the Herodians (supporters of…

"We are created in the image of God.  And we've been returning the favor every since."One of the most common critiques of Christianity is that we…

"The Ten Commandments contain 297 words.  The Bill of Rights is stated in 463 words.  Lincoln's Gettysburg Address contains 266 words.  A recent federal directive to…

Wailing:  "You're not the boss of me!" That's the classic childhood response to being told something we don't want to hear, but have no defense against.  When…

God is not fair.  And for that, I am immeasurably grateful.  If God were fair, you and I, and everything we love and enjoy, would be…

For a second Sunday we get some very challenging words from Jesus on forgiveness.  This comes as part of a larger arc of Jesus' teaching that…

Some people love conflict.  Some avoid it like the plague.  Conflict has become a popular form of entertainment.  How many "reality" shows are really just setting…

Oprah.  Sting.  Madonna.  Beyonce.  Cher.  They say you've really made it as s celebrity when you only have to use one name.  Frankly, I just find…

You may be familiar with the illustration about the frog in the beaker.  Put a frog in a beaker of cool water and it will be happy.  Then…

Sunday's Gospel includes some words from Jesus that are among the most difficult of any to make sense of.  He just seems mean and ugly.  Click here…

Sunday's passage from Romans is another confusing one, but there is a critical and very encouraging lesson for us! Click here to read the passage from…

The "Feeding of the 5,000" is certainly one of the most familiar miracles of Jesus' ministry.  It is dramatic, we can all imagine what an amazing…

This Sunday we continue with more parables describing the Kingdom of Heaven.  In four, short, pithy parables, Jesus presents us with a great truth. Click here…

Sunday continues Matthew's collection of Jesus' parables, with more on sowing seed, something very familiar to all Jesus' hearers.  Click here to read it. In this…

This Sunday's Gospel lesson is the parable of the sower, in which Jesus uses the familiar image of someone planting seeds, and the reality that some…

Jesus said to the crowd, "To what will I compare this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 'We…

One of the things that amazes me about Jesus as we are told in the Scripture, is the degree to which He identifies with us.  In…

"Talking shop" with some fellow clergy, we were discussing the question, "What is the biggest block to real Christian discipleship in our churches?"  Rather quickly, we…

Every Christian I have ever met believes that, as Christians, we are called to serve others.  And there seems to be an infinite array of needs…

The Gospel for Sunday tells of one of Jesus' resurrection appearances, but has an amazing statement.  "When they saw [Jesus], they worshiped him;" nothing surprising there.…

It is often said that Pentecost is the birthday of the church.  Prior to this time, the disciples and apostles followed Jesus, they were with Him,…

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day, when we remember and give thanks for those who have given their lives in defense of our country.  I pray…

The 18th century French writer and philosopher, Voltaire, rather famously said, "In the beginning God created man in His own image, and man has been trying…

On Sunday we will read of the stoning of Stephen, celebrated as the first martyr of the Christian Church.  (Click here to read it.)  Stephen was…

The Fourth Sunday of Easter (this coming Sunday) is known as "Good Shepherd Sunday,"  so named because every year we read some portion of Jesus' teaching…

One of the things that fascinates me is how our minds work:  what we see, what we don't see, and how our assumptions effect how we perceive…

"Peace be with you."  Both Luke and John record these as Jesus' first words to the disciples after the resurrection.  (Click here for the passage from…

"I believe in the resurrection of the body."  To most readers, that statement will not be surprising coming from a Christian pastor. I don't believe it just…

One of the great paradoxes Christian faith teaches is that it is only by denying ourselves that we truly find ourselves.  Nowhere is this truth seen…

We celebrate Easter in the spring since it is tied to the Jewish calendar and the festival of the Passover.  Remember that Jesus was in Jerusalem for…

I have been encouraged lately to see more examples of models and others in the media who are no longer just rail thin with perfect skin…

Sunday's Gospel is the account of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman, who was drawing water at a well.  It is a well known story often…

Psalm 121, a favorite of mine, begins:  "I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?  My help comes from…

When Jesus began his 40 days fasting in the wilderness (and you think giving up chocolate is a sacrifice?), we are told that he was "lead…

Where are you building your tent?  Not building a tent, you say?  I bet you are. This Sunday we come to the account of the Transfiguration.…

When I was in high school, one of the phrases often heard, particularly from girls, was "You're so immature..."  It was, of course, intended to be…

Lent is coming fast!  As I write this, we are less than three weeks from Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  My only clear childhood…

This Sunday we celebrate The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem.  The festival is also known in various circles as The Purification of the…

We humans love to choose sides, to know where we belong.  It might be innocuous, like our support for sports teams, or a preference for Ford…

Paul was writing to his old friends in Corinth.  It was a crazy town, full of merchant marines, sailors, as well as all the workers that…

This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River and the importance of the event is emphasized by the fact that…

Monday, Jan. 6, will be Epiphany and St. John's will again host an Epiphany Celebration for the Episcopal Churches in the Melbourne area.  Our preacher will be our…

I trust that you had a blessed Christmas and are basking in the glow of the holiday! Sunday's Gospel lesson, the first eighteen verses of John,…

We don't often think about Jesus' birth from Joseph's perspective, but Sunday's Gospel lesson from Matthew tells the story from his perspective (Luke tells of Jesus'…

On first reading, this is one of those passages Sundays that we preachers find frustrating.  We just had John the Baptist last week, and now we have…

It's a stunning vision of the future that Isaiah promises us.  Wolves and lambs.  Lions and calves.  Babies and deadly snakes.  And not one is harmed.…

Sunday will be the beginning of Advent, when we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus.  First, of course, born in a manger…

This Sunday, November 24, is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the church year.  We celebrate the fact that at the end of time,…

Few would dispute that the Bible and Christian faith teach us to feed the hungry, along with meeting other human needs.   I find it interesting how…

This Sunday we will hear an Old Testament lesson from the book of the prophet Haggai.  I would venture that most Christians would be hard pressed…

Friday, November 1, will be All Saints' Day and for purposes of the church calendar, we move it to this Sunday, November 3.  It used to…

We are accustomed in the church to speak of the Holy Spirit being given to everyone.  We speak of it in Baptism -- "You are sealed…

"Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season."*  (2 Timothy 4:2, click here for the full passage)  When are we to preach the word?  Always!…

We all find ourselves in places where we don't want to be.  It may be a physical place, or a relationship crisis, or a time of…

Have you noticed that in the dark times of life, bright thoughts rarely just pop up?  In the midst of the darkness, we tend to see…

"There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment."  (1 Timothy 6:6, click here for the full passage)  Read that again, slowly. This sounds very spiritual,…

"First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that…

Have you ever contemplated going to church on a Sunday morning and came to the conclusion that your Saturday night, or last week, or whatever, leaves…

Only one book of the New Testament is shorter than Philemon (not to be confused with Philippians) and that is John III.  Jude is about the…

"Let mutual love continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it"  (Hebrews 13:1-2, click here…

What keeps you from being all that you can be?  Do you listen to voices, your own or others', telling you "You can't do it."  "It'll…

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses..."  (Hebrews 12:1, click here for the whole passage)  No, this is not a prophecy…

What is faith?  Is it just a blind leap into what cannot actually be known?  Is it just believing in something so we can make it…

We admire those who are able to save well, who amass a healthy  401(k) and other assets for a long and comfortable retirement.  This Sunday's Gospel…

Sunday's Gospel lesson from Luke (click here to read the full lesson) includes a prayer that will sound vaguely familiar: "Father, hallowed be your name.Your kingdom…

I think we all know that experience of working hard on some project while someone we think should be helping seems to just sit and do…

Sunday's Gospel lesson is the beloved story of the Good Samaritan (Click here to read it.)  It is a story that inspires us to do good…

If you ask the average person on the street what they think being a Christian is about, there's a good chance that you will hear something…

July 4 is this week!  We Americans are all about freedom.  We love our freedom.  We praise those who serve and sacrifice to protect our freedom. …

"The still, small voice." We often hear this phrase as a reminder that God is not always to be found in the big, the grand and…

Although often forgotten, Trinity Sunday is one of the Principle Feasts of the Episcopal Church.  Its origins are uncertain and the early church did not set…

There were dramatic things at that first Pentecost -- a sound like the rush of a wind (when the disciples were inside with the doors locked),…

Most Christians I know believe the church should be one.  Jesus talked about it and prayed for it.  However, few Christians are prepared to sacrifice what…

It seems that folks want the sense of peace and fulfillment that comes from a spiritual life, but are not ready for the discipline and hard…

We in the church have an odd relationship with heaven.  For periods in the history of the church, we've acted like heaven was the only thing…

This Sunday is informally known as "Good Shepherd Sunday."  The Collect (prayer) for the day is about Jesus, our Good Shepherd, and the Psalm for the day…

Most of the religions of the world involve our search for God.  That search may be seen as a journey within, or a journey into the…

"I promise.  I'll change."  Such is the cry of many a guy trying not to get kicked to the curb by his wife or girl friend.…

"Suspension of disbelief."  That's what movie makers strive for.  That state of mind where you no longer are even aware that animals don't really talk, cars don't explode…

Click here There is a liturgical controversy regarding Palm Sunday.  And, for once, it isn't just for liturgy wonks.Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem,…

It is, very possibly, the greatest three step self-help speech ever given.  I don't think St. Paul thought of it that way, but I read it…

Reconciliation is hard.  Make no mistake.  Reconciliation does not mean "pretend it never happened."  Nor is it a simple "I forgive you," important though that may be.Reconciliation is…

Do you want God?  How much?  What would you sacrifice to find God?This Sunday's Psalm (Psalm 63, click here to read it) opens with the Psalmist's…

What makes you righteous?  I mean in the old fashioned sense of being in "right standing."  Are you righteous by behaving righteously? "(Abram) believed the LORD…

I don't think I can say it better than our Book of Common Prayer (from the Ash Wednesday liturgy, p. 264): "Dear People of God: The first Christians…

The lesson from 2 Corinthians begins "Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness..." (2 Cor. 3:12, click here for the full…

It would be nice if Christian faith were clean, simple, clear -- black and white answers to every question.  Alas it is not, and often we…

Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians about having confidence in the resurrection.  For him, the resurrection was everything, and without the resurrection, our faith is nothing. …

The call of Isaiah (click here to read it) is one of the more stunning visuals from the Scripture. God appears to Isaiah on a "high…

Do you believe that God actually has a plan for you?Some will think, "Sure, I'm pretty good at stuff and God has a plan."  Others will…

What do you want from God?  Grace?  Forgiveness?  Healing?  Guidance for important decisions?  Yes, these are all things we look to God for, but they are…

Believe it or not, the Christians in Corinth bickered about who was the most important, who had the best spiritual gifts and who contributed most to…

For the second time in as many months, we come to John the Baptist's warning about Jesus that "His winnowing fork is in his hand, to…

This Sunday we will celebrate the Epiphany, the "showing forth" of Jesus represented by the visit of the Magi, told in the Gospel of Matthew.Quick note…

This Christmas season, I've found myself with two repeating themes in my prayers.  First, I've often that we would all encounter Jesus in some new way…

I am sometimes amazed at the kinds of things people in Scripture find a cause for celebration.The lesson from Luke includes one of the most beloved…

I was standing at a store waiting patiently for my turn to check out.  Or so I thought.  The woman at the register suddenly looked a…

This Sunday we have one of those readings with a long list of names, nearly impossible for Americans to pronounce.  And, for once, it does not…

Our culture thinks that Christmas begins with Black Friday (or even earlier!), but in the Church, we do not celebrate Christmas until Christmas! Sunday begins the…

Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King.  As we come to the end of the church year, we celebrate the fact that at the end of…

Why is the Bible sometimes so hard to understand?  One reason is that the Bible is actually a collection of writings of many sorts:  historical narrative,…

If I were to show you a picture today of a blue donkey or a red elephant, most Americans would see some political cartoon.  At a…

Thursday, November 1, was All Saints' Day and for purposes of the church calendar, we move it to this Sunday, November 4.  It used to be…

As part of my preparation for writing this letter for the November - December issue, I was reviewing some past letters that I have written at…

We Episcopalians and Anglicans fancy ourselves as the "via media" or "middle way" between catholics and protestants.  At our best, we draw the best from both sides…

I have often gotten half way into a car repair and thought, "Why did I get myself into this?  If I'd known I'd have these problems,…

Do you pray boldly?  Or do you pray timidly?  Do you ask God for grand things, so grand that only He could grant them?  Or do…

Have you noticed that in the creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2, (click here for Sunday's passage) there are many things that are declared "good,"…

What is our responsibility to God regarding others?  Of course, a core value for us Americans is individual responsibility and, this is goof insofaras we are each…

Where is true wisdom to be seen?  Business success?  Advanced degrees from prestigious universities?  Political debates?  I think we would agree that these are not where…

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is a lie.  There is far more truth in the words of Eric…

When my father-in-law died quite suddenly in the summer of 2000, over 600 people came to the calling hours at the funeral home and the service.…

Labor Day weekend is, of course, the unofficial end of summer.  Living in Florida, I really don't see the difference.  Here, it just means that we…

If you watch the TV sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," you know about Sheldon and his relationship agreements.  Sheldon is the compulsive, controlling but brilliant theoretical…

Sometimes it seems that, in many circles, wisdom is no longer fashionable.  We seem to care about who is dating who, or who is caught up in…

One of the great paradoxes of our society is that we are deeply involved in "social media" -- Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the like -- yet,…

It seems a rather strange thing we do every Sunday, doesn't it?  We gather around a table (we give it a fancy name, "altar") and say…

You probably wouldn't notice just arriving for worship on Sunday, but it gives us preachers a bit of whiplash. A little background: The lessons we read in…

We hear a lot these days about following our heart, don't listen to the 'haters.' don't let anyone tell you want you can't do, you are…

Sunday's Gospel lesson tells the very sad story of the beheading of John the Baptist.  (Click here to read it.)  Herod Antipas (not the Herod that…

We have just celebrated Independence Day, July 4.  In addition to picnics, cookouts and a long weekend, we celebrate the strength and resilience of our nation…

We are in the midst of an arc of stories of miracles of Jesus designed to show Jesus as the One who has authority over all…

I have talked with many Christians who are troubled by the fact that in spite of their faith, prayers, trust in God, etc., they continue to…

It is far too easy for us to become accustomed to the miraculous.  And when we become accustomed to it, we forget that God is behind…

Children do not need to learn finger pointing.  We are born with an innate capacity to point blame to others. In fact, among the first words from…

Even a cursory reading of the New Testament (let alone the Old Testament!) will tell you that keeping the Sabbath was kind of a big deal. …

  Most people are surprised to learn that the word "Trinity" never appears in the Scriptures, our foundational document, yet the doctrine of the Trinity is central…

It is sometimes said that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. Prior to this time, the disciples and apostles followed Jesus in person. They were…

The lessons for Sunday bring up the casting of lots, a practice that has fallen into disrepute.  When a Diocese prepares to elect a bishop or…

"A monk does not laugh.  A monk is to be serious and sober at all times."  I'm not sure those are the exact words, but it…

"God is love." John uses that phrase twice in Sunday's lesson from his first epistle (click here to read it). It is a very popular little…

This Sunday is "Good Shepherd Sunday" when we read Psalm 23 and a Gospel lesson from John about Jesus being the "good shepherd."  Psalm 23 is,…

Are you a Christian because it is helps people and society be better, or because you believe it is true?  C.S. Lewis often struggled to help folks…

Sunday's lesson from Acts presents a radical economic vision.  One that is certainly far from our reality today.  (Click here to read the passage.) All things…

They were unlikely witnesses.  Women were not considered reliable witnesses in legal proceedings.  Yet, it was women who were the first witnesses of Jesus' resurrection, and the…

We already know how Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem turns out.  We know that the same people who cheered him with loud "Hosannas" on the way in,…

It is stunning how fast the new and flashy becomes old and ho-hum. A two year old cell phone is hopelessly outdated. At four or five…

It is so easy to miss the Collect of the Day. It breezes by before the service is hardly even underway. But the Collects are often…

Even with all the freedoms we enjoy as Christians in America, there are some elements of our culture that are in direct conflict with Christian faith.…

Sunday we will hear the "Ten Commandments," the quintessential statement of the law (click here to read the passage).  In general, laws and rules have a…

Dear Friends, The season of Lent recognizes that there are no “quick fixes” in the Christian life. Real and serious problems take time, effort and commitment…

What's in a name?  In this Sunday's lesson from the book of Genesis, we read of God's covenant with Abram, and in the process, he is…

The liturgy for Ash Wednesday reminds us that "The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became…

This Sunday will be the "Last Sunday after the Epiphany."  As is the tradition every year, we will hear of the "Transfiguration" of Jesus, one of…

As a nation and a people, we place a very high value on freedom and self- determination.  And well we should.  Governments should, indeed, strive for…

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” The line comes from the 1970 novel and film “Love Story,” written by Erich Segal, and has been…

Authority.  We like having it, but we don't like someone else having it over us. We have been reading from the first chapter of Mark, and…

The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul comes next Thursday, Jan. 25.  There is more in the New Testament from Paul than from any other writer…

Do you often think about the fact that God knows everything? Not just the stuff you want to tell Him. Not just the stuff others know.…

I admit it.  I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to liturgy (what we do in worship) and the lectionary (the 3 year cycle…

What does it mean to be a man in the age of #metoo? ‘Old fashioned’ ideas like chivalry and decency seem a bit, well, old fashioned…

The New Year always seems to bring so much promise.  But, alas, so often it turns out to be more of the same. I don't expect…

On this, the last Sunday of Advent, we turn our attention to Mary.  Many in the Protestant tradition have paid too little attention to Mary, turned…

The Third Sunday of Advent is sometimes called "Gaudete Sunday."  The name comes from the Latin gaudete, meaning rejoice. The only difference in practice is that this is the…

Advent is the season of preparing for the coming of our Lord, both in a manger in Bethlehem, and at the end of time to judge "the quick…

As we begin a new church year with the first Sunday of Advent, I find a line in the reading from Paul's letter to the church…

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the church year and the church's New Year's Eve party!  Apart from watching a crystal…

In the older church calendars, this Sunday is Holy Scripture Sunday, the last Sunday before "Christ the King Sunday," (the last Sunday of the church year).…

The shooting at the Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs has weighed on me. I haven’t commented much on recent mass shootings and killings. That’s not because…

People have funny reactions to the fact that I am a pastor.  Of course, there are the ever-present comments assuming that I can take care of…

In God's work among us, sometimes the most crushing defeats become the most stunning victories.  Later this coming week, we commemorate one such defeat which became…

Are Christians required to be patriotic?  Simply obey the laws?  Pay our taxes? The story of Jesus' conversation with the Pharisees and the Herodians (supporters of…

I've been in a church where the congregation was not even allowed to see the altar, so awesome and fearful was the sacrament celebrated there.  And…

"The Ten Commandments contain 297 words. The Bill of Rights is stated in 463 words. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address contains 266 words. A recent federal directive to…

Wailing:  "You're not the boss of me!" That's the classic childhood response to being told something we don't want to hear, but have no defense against.…

God is not fair.  And for that, I am immeasurably grateful.  If God were fair, you and I, and everything we love and enjoy, would be…

Natural disasters like hurricanes Harvey and Irma always lead us to reflect on God's protection in our lives, and His role on the course of the…

Some people love conflict.  Some avoid it like the plague.  Conflict has become a popular form of entertainment.  How many "reality" shows are really just setting…

Oprah.  Sting.  Madonna.  Beyonce.  Cher.  They say you've really made it as s celebrity when you only have to use one name.  Frankly, I just find…

This is the Rector's letter from the September 2017 of St. John's monthly newsletter, "The Good News." I would normally write at this time about fall…

You may be familiar with the illustration about the frog in the beaker. Put a frog in a beaker of cold water and he will be…

Racism is, of course, nothing new. It seems that we human beings have a natural tendency to look for things that distinguish and separate us from…

Sunday's passage from Romans is another confusing one, but there is a critical and very encouraging lesson for us! Click here to read the passage from…

The Transfiguration is one of the major feast days in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.  We don't do so much with it in the churches of the…

What's a Christian to do in the face of evil and tragedy? How do we hold on to faith and hope when all around us looks…

This Sunday's Gospel continues Matthew's collection of Jesus' parables, with more on sowing seed, something very familiar to all Jesus' hearers.  Click here to read it.…

This Sunday's Gospel lesson is the parable of the sower, in which Jesus uses the familiar image of someone planting seeds, and the reality that some…

Jesus said to the crowd, "To what will I compare this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 'We…

The Old Testament lesson for July 2 is, I believe, one of the most difficult in all of Scripture. (Click here to read it.) Abraham, the…

"Talking shop" with some fellow clergy, we were discussing the question, "What is the biggest block to real Christian discipleship in our churches?"  Rather quickly, we…

I still find it within me.  I've taught against the idea for decades.  I've preached that it is false more times than I can count.  But…

In telling us of Jesus' resurrection Matthew has an amazing statement.  "When they saw [Jesus], they worshiped him;" nothing surprising there.  We would expect that to…

When reading the Psalms, sometimes you just have to let the images flow in your imagination, like reading poetry.  I was discussing Psalm 133 (click here…