(Isaiah 49:1-7) There’s something romantic about a lighthouse. It’s hauntingly picturesque, standing tall against the elements, offering a beacon of hope in the darkest night to a lone ship seeking safe harbor. A lighthouse is a symbol of hope against all odds. Even in the hour of one’s most desperate need, a light on a…
(Psalm 29) There’s not a year that goes by without the Earth shuddering, sinking, shifting, shrugging or doing something spectacular. We call these events “natural disasters.” The legal profession and insurance companies call them “acts of God.” Acts of God. It’s a quite human reaction to some of these catastrophes. The psalmist agrees. “The voice…
(Matthew 2:13-23) Today is not a happy anniversary. Exactly 100 years ago, on January 1, 1923, the Rosewood massacre began. Like the massacre of children in the gospel of Matthew, Rosewood reminds us of the devastating impact of violence, especially on the most vulnerable members of our communities. Rosewood was a quiet and mostly African…
(Isaiah 12) Jesus Christ “is before all things,” says the apostle Paul to the Colossians, “and in him all things hold together” (1:17). When it comes to holding things together, Jesus is stickier than Super Glue. Stronger than Gorilla Glue. More lasting than Loctite Ultra Gel. Without him, everything falls apart. Although it sounds odd,…
