Matthew 21:1-11 and Phillipians 2:5-11 Palm Sunday April 13, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN If you were watching the recently concluded Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, you might have caught a commercial that has gone viral. It’s an ad for Cadillac and features a well-dressed man comparing hard-working, some might say overworked Americans to... Continue Reading →
Sermon: “You Pay Your Money and You Take Your Chance”
Genesis 12:1-4 and John 3:1-17 Second Sunday in Lent March 16, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN As a kid, I loved looking at maps. I still do love pouring over a map, but when I was younger, I could spend hours looking at a map. The Rand McNally map of the Interstate Highway System... Continue Reading →
Sermon: Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
Matthew 17:1-9 Transfiguration Sunday, Year A March 2, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN I envy those people who can spend periods in prayer or meditating. The reason I am jealous of them is that this is something I can’t do. It might be a result of my Apserger’s diagnosis, but I can’t focus on... Continue Reading →
Sermon: “I’ve Been A Mess”
“I’ve Been A Mess” Matthew 5:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Fourth Sunday of Epiphany February 2, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN It was a Friday afternoon. I was working at a major law firm in the Twin Cities as an assistant. It was not my favorite job and things weren’t going well for me. I... Continue Reading →
Sermon: “The Gospel of Bilbo Baggins”
“The Gospel of Bilbo Baggins” Matthew 4:12-23 Third Sunday of Epiphany First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN They didn’t turn out the way that I wanted. I’ve said that in one form or another over the years when it comes to baking. Now, I love baking breads or cakes or cookies, and most of the time... Continue Reading →
Sermon: “What If God Was One Of Us?”
“What If God Was One of Us?” John 1:10-18 and Matthew 2:1-12 Second Sunday of Christmas/Epiphany January 5, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN One of my earliest memories of Epiphany was seeing a manger on display at Emmanuel Lutheran School in Flint, Michigan. It was the winter of 1978 and I can remember standing... Continue Reading →
Sermon: “There Goes the Neighborhood”
Since I don’t have children, I’ve never seen the actual birth of a baby. But I have had the blessing of seeing a child hours after having entered the world.
Sermon: “Blasphemous Rumors”
Those are the lyrics of a song called “Blasphemous Rumors” by the British New Wave band Depeche Mode. It’s an interesting song, because it takes on the topic of suffering and where faith intersects.
Sermon: “Things Can Only Get Better”
“Things Can Only Get Better” Isaiah 11:1-10 Second Sunday of Advent December 8, 2013 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN When I Daniel and I moved to our house in North Minneapolis back in 2007, there was a large Silver Maple tree in the backyard. This tree was quite fruitful, because we were always getting rid... Continue Reading →
Sunday Sermon: “Called. Gathered. Sent.”
From 2010. “Called. Gathered. Sent.” John 2:1-11, I Corinthians 12:1-11 January 17, 2010 First Christian Church Minneapolis, MN I’ve come to realize that as you reach a certain age, you start to look back at an earlier point in your life more and more. A friend of mine who turned 40 last year commented... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 