By Pastor Mike Pennell

    Jonah is one of the most lovable characters in the bible, a children's classic with the whale that swallows him and saves him from drowning. But it is far more than a fish story. Jonah is a story about a reluctant prophet who doesn't want to do what God sends him to do, namely to warn the people of Nineveh that they will be destroyed if they don't repent.

    Jonah doesn't want anything to do with Nineveh because she has oppressed Israel with much pain and suffering over the years. Nineveh is to Israel what Iran might be to Israel today. Or a white person is to a person of color. Jonah doesn't want to open the door even slightly that might lead God to forgive and bless an old enemy. Sometimes we don't want to open the door either.

    Barry was a 17 year old high school student about 6 feet tall with strong muscular arms and legs. We first met at Meadow Ice Cream where I worked summers during college. We worked together in the hardening room where it was...

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Isaiah 25:6-9; Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44

All Saints Day

Today is All Saints Day to honor the witness of faith of those before us and to celebrate the hope in which they lived. Our focus passage is taken from the book of Revelation which many find to be very frightening. But this is unfortunate because it can and should be very comforting.

We are so far removed from the time and history in which it was written that it is difficult to know precisely the references of all the symbols and metaphors John uses to describe his visions many of which are indeed quite scary. But if one focuses only on trying to figure out every detail they can become like the man who couldn't see the forest because of all the trees. And thus end up missing the comfort of John's vision.

We do know that Revelation was written in latter part of the first century A.D. There are clear references to the Roman Empire and Emperors who persecuted Christians.

One was Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus...

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Mark 10:17-31

19th Pentecost

    It was the first game of the year and I was a freshman in the football Marching Band. After I got home from school in the afternoon I found one of my sows that was expecting had started into labor, just a couple hours before the game. I say "my" sow because I had taken on raising hogs as a project to earn money for college. Also Dad wasn't home at the time and so when I discovered what was happening I was in a panic.

     Do I go on to the game and let nature take its course in the barn? Or should I stay at home in case help is needed?

    Whatever our backgrounds here this morning a part of growing up for all of us is learning to accept the responsibilities that go along with keeping a commitment. And often in life we will be confronted with situations where we may have two or more commitments that clash. One has to override the others. But in choosing between commitments we also run the risk of creating potential regrets that may haunt us in the future. "If I had only done this, or done that, or said this rather than that." ...

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1 Corinthians 1:10-17; John 17:20-21

World Communion Sunday

 

    One of the most frequently asked questions I've heard over the years is do we really believe in the catholic church? This comes up because of the Apostles Creed, an ancient statement of Christian faith which affirms belief in the" holy catholic church." And so many wonder. Does this mean the Roman Catholic Church?

    The short answer is NO. Catholic spelled with a small c simply means "universal." And so the "holy catholic church" does not refer to any one specific church, Roman or otherwise, but to all churches and Christians founded on faith Jesus Christ.

    Let me add some more background. In early versions of this creed the word 'catholic' doesn't even appear. The early versions affirm faith only in the 'holy church.' Not until roughly 700 A.D. does 'holy catholic Church' appear with catholic spelled with a small c and Church is capitalized.

    Now the Apostle's Creed came into existence...

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Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50

Sept. 27, 2007 - 17th Pentecost

 

    If you have gone up the steps across from the elevator recently you may have found it very dark. The stairwell lights are on a sensor and have not been working consistently. At times you may have noticed a rectangular box propping open the upstairs door so the light from the hallway could help you to see going down. This box was intended to be helpful, but actually it created another problem because if you didn't see it, you could easily trip and do a free fall all the way down the steps. This almost happened in fact. So now you know. A box is not a door stop.

    A physical stumbling block is one thing, but in Mark's gospel Jesus talks about putting stumbling blocks in the way of those who believe in him. Stumbling blocks to Jesus can take many forms but the common denominator is that they cause us to trip spiritually and lead or repels us away from Christ. Jesus gives a very...

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Psalm 1; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37

 

    Dale was in his 60s and legally blind because of a stroke. One day he asked for someone to come and mow his yard. So I volunteered. While there he also wanted his yard trimmed, but the line on his trimmer had run out. No problem. Dale had extra line and a set of printed instructions and diagrams to wind it on the spool.

    I started with the instructions, but the print was small and the diagrams not self-evident. As it got darker it was harder to see. I wasn't having much success. Dale sensed my frustration and started coaching me. I don't remember his exact words but they went something as follows: 'Now you take the head off by loosening the screw on the side. Now wind the line on each side, but in different directions. See the arrows there to show you? Now you have to make sure you put things back together in the right order and don't forget anything, especially the spring. It won't work without it. And be sure to retighten...

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