Pentecost

  Our scriptures for Sunday are Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 2:1-21.  Looking at them side by side, there are contrasts and similarities.  Notably, the Genesis reading ends in a united people scattered and the Acts passage ends with a scattered people united.  Or you may notice that one is about homogeneity (Genesis) and the other […]

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Encouraging Words-Part 6

Well, friends, here we are!  The final portion of our journey through Revelation’s highlights!  This Sunday’s passage is Revelation 22:6-21. John is giving the readers and listeners of this letter last minute encouraging words.  He’s giving those who have inflicted harm upon the Church another opportunity for repentance.  He’s reminding Christians to remain faithful.  And

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Encouragement-Part 5

This Sunday’s passage is Revelation 21:9-22:5.  It places us in the fourth and final Spirit-induced trance.  John’s vision is, most notably, about the New Jerusalem.  It is a New City created by God and descends from the New Heaven onto the New Earth.  It is a huge city!  Bigger than our minds can imagine! And

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Encouraging Words-Part 4

This week’s scripture is Revelation 21:1-8.  It can be divided up into two parts.  In verses 1-4, there is a voice from heaven that tells John “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind.”  John is promised that there will be a new heaven and a new Earth.  The former things will pass away and God will

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Encouraging Words-Part 3

  Matthias Gerung “Angels Sealing” Revelation 7:1-17 is this Sunday’s passage.  It’s in the middle of John’s second Spirit-induced trance.  We have four angels at the four corners of the earth who are refraining from making tumultuous winds against the world.  Another angel rises up holding “the seal of the living God”.  This angel cries out

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Encouraging Words: Part 2

  This Sunday’s passage is found in Revelation 5:1-14.  Remember, John is encouraging the 1st century Christians in Rome.  They are facing challenges as they do not worship Caesar, but Jesus Christ.  And John is a prisoner on the island of Patmos. This text is part of another Spirit-induced trance.  His vision describes a scroll.

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Encouraging Words: Part 1

Happy Easter, y’all!!!  No, it’s not only a day, but it is a season in the Church year that lasts 50 days which then takes us to Pentecost. During the Season of Easter, the Revised Common Lectionary takes us through some highlights of John’s letter of Revelation.  Revelation is a wacky book filled with divine intervention,

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The Lenten Journey: Part 7

Here we are in between Palm Sunday and Easter. Holy Week is full of twists and turns. One day, Jesus is celebrated coming into Jerusalem. Then soon after, he shares a last meal with his friends and is betrayed. Handed over to Pilate, crucified, died, and buried. Yet, it doesn’t stop there! And that is

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The Lenten Journey: Part 6

There is a unique thread between Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 and Luke 19:28-40 that involves rocks!  In Psalm 118:22, the Psalmist proclaims that the stone rejected by builders is now the cornerstone.  Jesus tells the religious officials in Luke 19:40 after they tell him to silence the shouts of praise in the streets that even the

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