I preached the following message on Sunday, January 15, 2023. It was inspired in part by the book I mention below. It is based on the story found in Isaiah 36-37. My main text was King Hezekiah's prayer found in Isaiah 37:15-20. In her wonderful and challenging book, The Deepest Belonging: A Story About Discovering …
Tag: fear
Unafraid?
God is our refuge and strength,a helper who is always foundin times of trouble.Therefore we will not be afraid.Psalm 46:1--2a Yesterday while having a Zoom conversation with my spiritual director, he asked what I want more of from God. It took me a few moments, but this is what came to mind at the time. …
Experiencing Hope
This a slightly revised version of my first Advent sermon that I shared on Sunday, November 28. In it I quote a Rev. Cheryl Ann Beals. She is a pastor and spiritual director who works for our family of Baptist churches and was a part of the team who produced am Advent resource called "Restore …
Experiencing Peace
This a slightly revised version of the sermon I preached yesterday. We're going through an Advent series based on the four themes of the Advent wreath and candles: hope, peace, joy, and love. “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will …
Faith, Fear, and the Illusion of Control
Fear. We've all felt it. We all know the experience of being afraid of something. And especially over the last two years or so of the COVID pandemic and all the debates about the restrictions and guidelines and the vaccines and now the vaccine mandates or passports, people's fears have surfaced in a variety of …
grace notes 