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Scripture:  Ephesians 5:8-14 In the late 1980s/early 1990s, professional wrestling was in a golden age of peak popularity, and Hulkamania was running wild.  There are several really popular wrestlers from that era. One of the more bombastic ones was George “The Animal” Steele.  The wrestling color commentators would often call him the “missing link” as … [Read more…]

Dear Church, I went to seminary to prepare for vocational ministry as clergy, but there were not any seminary courses about what to do in the event of a global pandemic.   This is uncharted territory for all of us, and it requires all of us to make temporary changes to our normal way of living.   … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Romans 5:1-11 In 1989 musician Billy Joel was at a turning point in his career.  The successes of songs like Piano Man were well behind him.   In 1989 he turned 40, which in Rock and Roll years is well over the hill.   He was in the studio working on recording Storm Front, which would … [Read more…]

When I was in first grade my family got a Nintendo Entertainment System at Christmas.  That year most of the kids in my class, if they did not already have one, got it at the same time.  I grew up playing video games.   Over the years the system I have played on has changed, the … [Read more…]

I have access to a Methodist Hymnal that is dated 1939.   One of the items included in this book are detailed orders of worship.  It is interesting to see how our worship has changed and evolved in the past 90 years or so.  One of the aspects that especially stands out is after the sermon … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Matthew 5:38-48 For all intents and purposes I have been in a physical fight once in my life.  Growing up there were times when I rough housed, but only once did I act in a way that I intentionally try to hurt another person.   I was in 8th grade and it was on the … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Matthew 5:21-30 Over the years I have known several people who have worked as servers in restaurants, and there is a common theme I have heard from several of them:  Sundays are the worst days to work.   The reason for this was best captured in a picture from 2013.   It was a picture of … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Matthew 5:13-20 I can tell you in very specific detail what I will be doing in 166 days from now.   That afternoon, I will be going to Camp Lakewood to pick up my son from camp.  I know that I will be making that trip by myself, and I know this because July 24th, … [Read more…]

I love to play games and I am fortunate that I get to play a lot of hobby board and card games.   In order to play all of these games I have read a lot of rulebooks, and I know how to play a lot of different games.   The end result of all this is … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Psalm 27: 1;4-9 In 2005 we moved to Indianapolis.  We moved to the north side of the city so that I could take a youth ministry position and eventually start seminary.   One of the benefits of this position is that we were able to live in the house the church owned right next door.  … [Read more…]