The human body is wonderfully created with a series of sensations that drive it to satisfy life sustaining goals. When the body thirsts, dryness wraps itself around the lips, mouth, and throat. What begins as a whisper steadily grows louder and louder. Moisture leaves the lips as the walls of the mouth begin to stick together. A dry ache in the throat sharpens and each breath feels thicker. With each inhalation the mouth transforms into a dry desert wasteland. The body becomes increasingly restless and distracted as all focus shifts to quenching that thirst with life sustaining liquids. But in the developed world water scarcity and sustained thirst are nearly nonexistent….For more, click on the title above.
Author: kyriss
Rejoicing in the midst of Lent
Our sermon that breaks through Lent’s fast on this Sunday set aside for rejoicing in the midst of Lent’s time of repentance is taken from the Prophet Isaiah:
Thus says YHWH, “In time of favor I answered you; and in day of salvation, I have helped you; and I have given you for (a) covenant people to establish (the) land, to cause them to apportion desolate heritages.” …For more, click on the title above.
‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’
That brings us to our theme verse for this evening’s meditation on “Why Easter?” “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
What a mournful, pitiable, anguished cry! Forsaken by God. I looked up the definition of the word forsaken: To forsake another person is to leave them entirely, usually in a moment of need. Another definition for this transliteration of the Aramaic into Greek is abandonment—to leave, or renounce someone. …For more, click on the title above.
Because He wills to forgive, God calls to repentence
Today’s chosen theme verse reveals the biblical truth that, because He wills to forgive, God calls to repentance. That is proclaimed, in large part, through today’s Old Testament reading. Through the words God gave to Jeremiah, we hear God’s clear calls to His sinning people to turn from their sins. This, the faithful are empowered to do as His Word moves them into repentance. …For more, click on the title above.
Why Easter?
Our Theme for Lent is “Why Easter?”(Pretty clever, huh?) A small difference is that we will be giving the answer to that question delivered from our Savior himself in what is known as the Seven Words from the Cross. Here, in brief, are what might be termed, Previews of Coming Attractions:
The Seven Words are:
• “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
• “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”
• “Woman, behold, thy son! Behold, thy mother!”
• “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
• “I thirst.”
• “It is finished” and
• “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
For more, click on the title above.
The second Adam conquers temptation and gives life
Our sermon that breaks through Lent’s fast today is drawn from the Protoevangelium. That Good News was given by God directly to His newly fallen and restored creatures. They, as it is a matter of orthodox, right, confession were the first man and woman. God had formed Adam from the dust He had drawn forth from the then good earth.
God had created man first. He had placed him in the Garden to work and keep it. God had also determined that a fit helper for the man was not yet in the creation. …For more, click on the title above.
Why Lent? Jesus answers and says, “God is gracious and merciful”
When members of this congregation studied the Book of Joel quite some time ago, we learned of some valuable biblical-historical realities. Among them was, that prior to the section of the Book we heard from today, God gave a clear call to repentance to His then sinning people. Their sins against Him were primarily from following other gods. But they also included not respecting their fellow Israelites, those who were called to be their brothers and sisters in the Faith. He told them He would, should they not repent, bring hordes of locusts upon them. …For more, click on the title above.
Look and see
Today we are looking forward to what happens 50 days from now on Easter Sunday. It’s the high point of the Church year where we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Leading up to that day we fast from our Alleluias and begin a time of preparation. Wednesday, after being marked with ashes, our focus shifts to repentance as we turn to God and place our backs to sin. …For more, click on the title above.
It’s all about the Word
Our text this evening is from the Gospel of St. Luke is commonly called the Parable of the Sower. This is actually a parable about four different kinds of dirt, or soil. The emphasis is not on the Sower at all but on the different kinds of soil into which the Sower’s seed falls.
To put it another way, this is not a parable about the preacher, it’s about the hearers. …For more, click on the title above.
God’s will becomes ours to hear in the proclamation of His Word
In our Collect prayer for the day, we heard the centuries-old emphasis for this middle Sunday in the pre-Lent season. First, we gave thanks that God has sown His holy Word among us. Second, we petitioned Him to prepare our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who continues to work through the proclamation of God’s Word. Third, we indicated why we are here in part, that is, to diligently and reverently hear God’s Word, to keep it in good hearts… to the end that we will all bring forth spiritual fruit with patience. Fourth, because we all have sinful natures clinging to us, we asked God to use that Word to keep us from yielding to our sinful desires, to subdue them in us, that we might continue to comfort ourselves with [His] grace and continual help. …For more, click on the title above.