Author Archives: reallifepastor

She’d been bent and twisted for 18 years.  If she were with us today, she’d been bent and twisted since 2004. Take a minute to imagine what life was like for the woman.  The invitation is to do this in … Continue reading →

Show of hands:  How many of you have ever thought about giving up on church?  If you’re awake, if you know even a little of the history of the Christian church, if you’ve been hurt by church, thinking about giving … Continue reading →

Ah!  The “Don’t Worry Be Happy” Scripture!  I once played Bobby McFerrin’s song “Don’t Worry Be Happy” in a sermon on this text.  Twice.  After the service, one congregant let me know that she turned her hearing aids off both … Continue reading →

Unless you were a Roman citizen with some authority, 1st century Palestine was a harsh place to live.  The poor were taxed oppressively.  People not part of the Roman Empire often became pawns in the political machinations of the powerful.  … Continue reading →

“Just then, a lawyer stands up to test him.  ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’”  As he is wont to do, Jesus answers the question with another question:  ‘What is written in the law?’”  The lawyer says, “You … Continue reading →

A lot has happened in our country the past two weeks…The Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade and struck down a common sense gun law in New York…Oh!  This just in–the EPA can’t regulate anything any more…but teachers in public … Continue reading →

In his work as a prophet, Elijah has shared God’s message with the people, confronted foreign prophets, run from said prophets in fear for his life, and inspired many composers to write songs about him.  Elijah has led a faithful … Continue reading →

When Jesus steps from the boat onto the shore near Gerasa, the person who greets him has been labeled “demon-possessed” by his fellow townsfolk.  The man lives among the tombs and hasn’t worn clothes in a long time.  Today, we’d … Continue reading →

Poor Nicodemus.  A leader in his faith community, Nicodemus comes at night to visit Jesus.  Jesus has just arrived in Jerusalem for the Passover.  His first act in the holy city is to visit the Temple … and throw a … Continue reading →

It’s Pentecost, the Scripture story known as the Birthday of the Church.  (And, yes, at tonight’s Musical Pentecost Celebration, there WILL be birthday cake!)   Here’s the church’s birth story.  Once upon a time, a child grew up to be a … Continue reading →