Swashbuckling pirates, adventure on the high seas, riding the bus to school, making it on time to your appointments, babysitting your grandchild, working a full day at work, sometimes all of those require equal parts courage and abandon. With all truth, I say that in earnest. I have heard some of the stories of the excitement that can come from the bus,…
In the sporting world, you know you are famous when they make a bobble head of your character. The Philadelphia Phillies have many bobble heads, such as: Jimmy Rollins, Maikel Franco, Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton just to name a few. So to be anybody you need to have a bobble head. In the world of theology –…
I wonder if you have heard this one: Several centuries ago in the 1300s, the Pope decreed that Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the Pope offered a deal: he’d have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in…
(8:30 Service) I can understand the excitement of getting accidently caught up in a parade. I am pretty sure the first time I was in parade was by accident. I got carried away with enthusiasm. We decorated my bicycle with streamers, and I rode on my training wheels as fast as I could. I pedaled as hard my 5-year-old legs could go…
The story goes that it is time for a couple to retire for the night. You might think they walk right up the stairs and lay down. But no. Going to bed means: – Making lunches for the next day; – rinsed bowls in the sink; – took meat out of the freezer for supper; – checked the cereal box levels; –…
After his baptism, Jesus was driven into the desert for forty days and forty nights. Some gospels focus on that time as a time of temptation, others as a time of silence, others as time with God. The Gospel of Mark notes “Jesus was with wild animals and cared for by angels.” During those days of preparation, we are reminded of our…
Scripture stated that a leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling to Jesus, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him, Jesus sent him away at…
A big game! Long time rivals! Excitement building on both sides! I could be describing the anticipation of tonight’s game… but I have another in mind. It was September 23rd, 2000 in Ohio. With Penn State lined up against Ohio State, the Big Ten rivalry continued. It was the fifth game of the season for the Nittany Lions. However, with less than…