Presby-Musings

I came across a short video clip from the television series The Chosen, a dramatic retelling of Jesus' life and ministry, and it resonated with me deeply.  The scene is drawn from the Gospel of John, chapter 6, immediately after Jesus teaches in the synagogue that his followers must take the same path as him, even though it will be difficult.  The Scripture indicates that many of his followers left after this, and Jesus turns to the rest and asks them, "Will you also go, too?"  To which Peter replies, "Lord, where else would we go?  You alone have the words of life." In the dramatic TV version, the actor playing Jesus shows his emotions by getting choked up and fighting back tears as he smiles at Peter.  I loved that.   Following Jesus isn't easy, by any means.  It wasn't easy for those early disciples, and it isn't easy for any of us who want to claim the identity of Jesus-followers.   In today’s world, the landscape of faith is filled ...

I've been living with the uncertainty of the current housing market for some time as I've been waiting for my house to sell.   There are times when I have been close to despair, when I start to consider this an obstacle to my true happiness.   In those low moments, I think to myself, "If only this house would sell, all my problems would be over."  It's then that I can begin to feel overwhelmed, and eager to just find an easy way out that I could rush to in my anxiety.   It's also tempting to think that our happiness is contingent upon overcoming the obstacles that lie before us.  Oh, that it were that easy, am I right? In life, each of us encounters obstacles that test our faith, patience, and serenity.  These challenges often feel overwhelming, as if we are hitting a wall that halts our progress. Yet, there is profound wisdom in learning to pause, to gather strength, and to trust in God's perfect timing.  As Thomas F. Cleary beautifully...

Last year, I had the opportunity to see Ringo Starr and his All-Starr band in concert in Austin.   At one point in the show, Ringo led the entire band in a rousing rendition of the Beatles classic "All You Need Is Love," while the enthusiastic crowd sang along.   As I watched (and sang), Ringo walked back and forth at the front of the stage, flashing the peace sign to the crowd, most of whom responded by flashing it back to him.  It was a sweet moment, one that I will remember forever - my first and perhaps only chance to see one of the Beatles perform live.   But I couldn't help but think that even the sweetness of that moment and the beautiful expression of that classic song seemed a bit antiquated and idealistic, considering the state of things in our country and around the world.   In a world fraught with division, misunderstanding, and often outright hostility, it can feel overwhelming to imagine a path toward unity and healing.  Ye...

One of the most common themes in Jesus' teaching and ministry (particularly in John's Gospel) was that he was intent on bringing light into a dark world.   In his first sermon, as recorded in Luke chapter 4, he declares that, among other things, he also intended to bring "sight to the blind."   These two things go hand in hand throughout his ministry, both in a literal and figurative sense.  Not only did Jesus heal the blind, but he also sought to cure spiritual blindness to the reality of God's light in the world.  When he declared to his followers that they carried the light of the world within them, it was an indication of how he wanted them to live their lives and continue his mission.   As followers of Christ, we are called to carry out His mission of bringing light into a world often shadowed by the darkness of sin, death, and evil.  But true Christian purpose goes beyond simply proclaiming that the light exists; it involves awakening t...

It’s the Birthday of the Church!  Happy Birthday, Church.   You look fantastic for being two millennia and change years old.  This is Pentecost Sunday, and the beginning of the Season of Pentecost, which will take us all the way through the summer.   The  Season of Pentecost is when we learn what it means to be the Church in the world.  For the next several weeks, we will be engaging in a sermon series entitled A Church On Fire, which references the Spanish anarchist Buenaventura Durutti, who said: "The only church that illuminates is a burning church."  He was right, though not in the anti-clerical sense his remark was intended to have. Pentecost is a time for the Church to reflect on what it will be in whatever age it finds itself.  Drawing on the image of fire from Pentecost, we will explore what it means for us to be a part of a church burning for the zeal of the Gospel.   Today, we will kick off this series with a study of...

I'm not a good golfer.  I might have been decent once, if I'd been willing to spend the hours that it takes to become better, but I'm never truly good at it.   This realization doesn't deter me from occasionally playing golf, and I enjoy the experience unless it's unbearably hot outside or raining.  But there's one thing that keeps me coming back to it more than any other: I tend to hit at least one really good shot every round.   That one shot, which usually comes as a surprise, makes me believe that I may be able to make another. When I have the opportunity, I head back to the links and try again. The reason the golf analogy came to mind today is because I  was thinking about the longing I have to experience the presence of God in miraculous ways — ways that astound me and fill my heart until it feels as though it may burst.   Because I have felt that presence before, I know what it means to feel it.  The moments when I've felt it acut...