* A sermon preached for the finals of the James Kenneth Echols Prize for Excellence in Preaching at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago on April 28, 2016 * ** You may also want to watch and hear this sermon preached. Here is that video. And here is the audio if you prefer to just listen. ** Text: Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 … Continue reading Dream On!
"3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of … Continue reading How Much More…?
* a sermon preached at Luther Memorial Church of Chicago on June 14, 2015 * Since sermons are primarily intended to be heard, you can listen along here. Text: Ruth 2:1-23 *************** Please pray with me: Be our hope, Holy One. And whether a comforting hug, a listening ear, or simply stillness, Let it be exactly what … Continue reading A Girl’s Best Friend
* a sermon preached at Luther Memorial Church of Chicago on May 17, 2015 * Since sermons are primarily intended to be heard, you can listen along here. Text: Romans 6:1-14 *************** Pray with me this morning: Cleanse us, and make us new, Holy One. Today, and every day. That your resurrection might be our hope, And hope … Continue reading Learning to Swim
Read: Isaiah 11:1-10 The Isaiah passage appointed for this week is one of great hope. It is the promise of something new springing from something dead. It is no mistake, brothers and sisters, that we celebrate the birth of the Christ in the middle of winter, when all the northern hemisphere is dead. Christ, the … Continue reading Advent Devotional: Tuesday, December 9
* a sermon preached at Luther Memorial Church of Chicago on December 7, 2014 * Text: Isaiah 42:1-9 As we consider these words from Isaiah, and the world in which we live, please pray with me. God of all things; God of life; God of peace; God of justice; Come soon… Amen. I was a camp … Continue reading Lights Out
Every so often, there are pictures or lists that make the rounds on social media that pine for “the good ol’ days.” Perhaps you know what I’m talking about: “When I was young we used to run around in the forest and ride our bikes, not play video games.” Or, “When the streetlights came on … Continue reading Advent Devotional: Friday, December 5
There is no such thing as an insignificant loss of life. All life is sacred. All life is divine. All life is important. All lives matter. --------- As I internally struggle with what’s happening in Ferguson, Missouri, I’m also being confronted with similar stories from Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Hammond, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois… I think, by and … Continue reading What is hope?
* a sermon preached at Luther Memorial Church of Chicago on November 16, 2014 * Text: A Story from Isaiah (based on Isaiah 36:1-3, 13-20; 37:1-7; and 2:1-4) The King of Assyria came to Judah and sent a messenger to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. The messenger called out to the people of Jerusalem, in their own language, … Continue reading Torn in Two
A few weeks ago, I ended my post with a question: Can I hold hope? I'm not sure I have an answer, but I've got a few more thoughts. ------------ I’m not a particularly graceful person. I’m clunky. I’m a little oddly-shaped. I’m slightly awkward. My feet turn inward. I stumble, misstep, drop, falter, and … Continue reading Holding Hope
the narrow way 