In ancient Israel, King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon surrounded Jerusalem with his troops. Within the walls, King Zedekiah, confined the prophet, Jeremiah. Still, Jeremiah listened to the voice of God that spoke to his heart. God insisted that Jeremiah purchase a field in the land of Benjamin. He was instructed by God to pay in silver […]
There is a Balm in Gilead
From the region of Gilead, Israel, near Jericho, came a rare perfume that contained balsam (a species of pine) that is noted in ancient texts as a cure for pleurisy, pneumonia, epilepsy, vertigo, asthma, and coughing. The balm of Gilead was traded throughout the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The prophet Jeremiah in troubling times questioned: Is […]
Full Speed Ahead, Damn the Torpedoes
On the 5th of August, 1964, the battle of Mobile Bay Alabama was fought. Mobile Bay was the last Confederate port open in the Gulf of Mexico. The entrance to the bay had been narrowed by mines (torpedoes) and was protected by three forts and numerous warships. Admiral Farragut was the commander of the Union […]
Mary, Mother of Jesus
Three observations: Mary was a teenager! Imagine that. Sometimes we get trapped into thinking only mature, seasoned voices can make a difference. Yet here is God, selecting a teenager to birth the savior of the world. We have no description of Gabriel, the angel, the messenger of God. I think the bearer of God’s messages […]
K.I.S.S.
The readings for this Sunday might easily be summarized as stay focused and keep it simple. The collect of the day states that all God’s commandments can be summarized as love God and love neighbor, as devoted to God “with our whole heart and united to one another with pure affection.” In Galatians, St. Paul […]
Faithfulness Rewarded
Elisha knew that he was not worthy to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Elijah. As Elijah approached his last days, Elisha proclaimed that he would not leave his side. His faithfulness was reworded by receiving “a double share” of the Spirit and also receiving the stole of Elijah to carry on his ministry. […]
God Assures Us
In a competition to see what “god” could end the seven-year drought in ancient Israel, Elijah, the prophet of the God of Israel defeated the prophets of Baal, the God of Queen Jezebel. With a cloud rising out of the Mediterranean sea, the drought ended. Queen Jezebel was furious and threatened the life of Elijah […]
Follow His Lead
John 16: 12 is one of my favorite passages of scripture. Jesus said to his disciples on his last night with them: I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit comes, he will guide you into all truth…” Just as the disciples that night were […]
Wayward & Dutiful
Lord Jesus Christ, who didst stretch out thine arms of loveon the hard wood of the cross that everyone might comewithin the reach of thy saving embrace: So clothe us in thySpirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bringthose who do not know thee to the knowledge and love ofthee; for the […]
Saint Patrick
When God first startled him during a dream, inviting him to go back to where he lived as a slave for five years, he said, “No”. Yet after prayer and conversation with others this English bishop agreed. So back across the sea of Ireland went Patrick to the island of Ireland. For the next 30 […]