Author Archives: reallifepastor

          “I am the living bread that came down from heaven…unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”  Does anybody understand what Jesus is talking about in today’s … Continue reading →

I saw a “vanity plate” on the back of a car the other day:  H8 NO 1, it read.  Hate number one, I thought?  Sounded like a sore loser.  But after working with the code a little more, I figured out … Continue reading →

They’d witnessed the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000….and had eaten the evidence.  Not long afterward—maybe when they got hungry again?—they went back to the scene of the dine, looking for Jesus.  He wasn’t there…so they went searching.  When they find … Continue reading →

            They’d been following him since just before that wedding in Cana.  It wasn’t uncommon in those days to follow a teacher you liked.  And this guy, Jesus?  There was something about him, something that drew them in.  He said, … Continue reading →

There are lots of sensational things in the story of the first Pentecost, aren’t there?  The rush of a mighty wind, tongues of flame, a general feeling of happiness… Perhaps the most sensational part of the scene is this thing … Continue reading →

A key characteristic of Jazz music is improvisation.  Usually, a theme is introduced, it’s played by the band as a group, then one by one, each instrumentalist takes the theme and does his or her own riff on it. Often, … Continue reading →

As an instrumentalist, I’ve always loved Psalm 150.  “Praise God with trumpet, harp, lyre, strings and pipe, clashing cymbals.”  Or as my college roommates wrote in icing on the cake for my recital reception:  “Praise God with flutes!” The psalmist … Continue reading →

We’ve spent a lot of time in recent years providing educational opportunities for people of all ages here at Pilgrimage.  As Patrick, Ryan, and Sam will learn, when it comes to faith, the learning doesn’t end with Confirmation.  Adult Christian … Continue reading →

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “good shepherd?”  A pastel painting of a man in flowing robes holding a long pole with a hook on the end in the midst of several, fluffy white sheep?  Or maybe … Continue reading →

They were grieving…terrified…paralyzed.  After three years of learning from Jesus, watching him heal people, witnessing his courageous stands against injustice…after three years of experiencing God through their brother and rabbi, he’d been executed.  Crucified.  Like a common criminal.  What was … Continue reading →