(I preached this sermon at Derry Presbyterian Church on Sunday June 14, 2026 as part of an opportunity to share an update on the Christ Lutheran Health Ministries with Derry) I want to tell you about a man who came into our free dental clinic not long ago. He...

Often when I see conversations about the decline of the church, there’s a lot of finger pointing. Back and forth. Left and right. Conservative and progressive. We hear arguments about social policies, worship styles, age, theological fights, etc. All those things are important to talk about. And yet, something...

(I preached this sermon at Christ Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, PA on June 7, 2026. I was in response to Ruth 2:1-23. You can find the audio version at this link.) Last week we met Ruth and Naomi on the road. Two women with nothing. Naomi had buried her...

Based on Ruth 2:1-23 Chapter 2 of Ruth is one of the main passages of Scripture in which we see the practical application of the rules of gleaning as they are set out in Leviticus 19:9-10.  Ruth’s story isn’t about the legality of gleaning, but rather, the practicality of it.  Ruth...

(I preached this sermon on May 31, 2026 at Christ Lutheran Church in Harrisburg. It is based on Ruth 1:1-22. You can listen to the audio of the sermon at this link.) There is an old story about a farmer and his son. One day the farmer’s horse ran...

Based on Ruth 1:1-22 We’re about to move into a new phase in the Narrative Lectionary.  The post-Pentecost schedule of the Narrative Lectionary allows us to take a deep dive into specific books of the Bible.  First, we’ll start with Ruth and Esther – two books named after important female figures...

(I preached this sermon at Christ Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, on Sunday, May 24 – Pentecost. It was in response to Acts 2:1-21. You can listen to the audio at this link.) Here is something strange that happened to me at a restaurant. Our family had spent a year...

This week I have been in Gettysburg, PA for a pastor training event. Each morning, as is my custom while in Gettysburg, I’ve taken the opportunity to do six miles runs on the battlefield. The battlefield at Gettysburg is a paradox. The mornings are often peaceful in nature –...

In this episode, I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Samantha Bise about her new book, “Tongue in Church: A Liberating Primer on Church Vocabulary,” as well as the importance of language in faith and living....

(I preached this sermon at Christ Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, PA on May 17, 2026. It is based on Philippians 2:1-13. You can listen to the audio at https://christlutheranharrisburg.podbean.com/e/two-gatherings/). In 1797, President John Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli. It was a straightforward diplomatic document meant to ensure safe...