Month: July 2015

Jesus is everywhere in the Old Testament. He is in the story of Isaac, the son offered as a sacrifice. He is Joseph, betrayed by his brothers. He is David, the unlikely king. Or Solomon the wise, Moses the deliverer, Esther the savior, or Job the innocent sufferer. As Paul told the Corinthians, in Christ, the veil is removed and we see Jesus every time we read Moses. But that’s especially true in Isaiah. In the New Testament’s favorite prophet, we see Jesus as the promised King, the suffering Servant, and the Healer of the world. The first and last … Read more…

In a previous post, I introduced you to my late sister, Jean. My parents discovered, soon after her birth in April, 1961, that she had severe physical and cognitive defects. Jean never spoke a word, walked a step, or as far as we know, had a coherent thought. Mom, dad or one of her four siblings fed her every bite of food she ever ate, bathed her, changed her diapers and dispensed her many medications. She was, for her entire 45 years on this earth, an infant in every way except physical size. The term we used back then, long … Read more…

Last Sunday night, our church had our annual ice cream social. While those with the gift of service were downstairs setting things up, about 250 of us were upstairs singing. I think singing is one of the things that makes Christianity such an oddity in our culture. Where else, beside karaoke bars and birthday parties, do people sing? Anyway, while we were all making a joyful noise, I spotted a couple a few rows behind me. Like everyone else here, they are new to me and I to them. Our history together as preacher and congregation is barely eight weeks … Read more…