This sermon is indebted to remarks made by Tom Long at a preaching conference  One summer on the shores of Prairie Rose Lake, my friends and I were playing in the gritty sand and greenish water.  We were having so much fun that we didn’t notice thick, black storm clouds rolling in which herald a... Continue Reading →

I have been writing a lot of cards recently.  Two young women I know in Council Bluffs were confirmed a couple of weeks ago. Many of my friends are preparing for their priestly ordinations. The invitations for our own Beth Preston’s ordination are being printed. As I sat at my desk thinking about what I... Continue Reading →

Last week we heard about Jesus and one of his final exams.  The first test was sort of a short answer question about whether paying taxes to Cesar was just. Jesus left his opponents mouth ajar when he turned the tables on them.   And his opponents went away astonished.   His second test, one... Continue Reading →