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Showing posts from January, 2011

What's in a Name?

First Presbyterian in Lafayette, Louisiana January 16, 2011 – A2 Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 40:1-8 (read responsively) 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42 "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."  And so goes the impassioned plea of Shakespeare's Juliet that is so watered down by time and over use that it seems trite and ridiculous to say.  But lest we forget the import of such a quote, we might want to remember that she is asking Romeo to deny his very name. And he offers to be "new baptiz'd", named only by the bond of love that has called them together. From this point on there is but one unfortunate end for both Romeo and Juliet, and that is tragedy.  For characters in a play there can be only one end, and that is the one the playwright has chosen.  Some have chosen to interpret the Bible this way.  I would suggest that such a reading offers not only a limited understanding of our potential, but also a limite

I'm Not Dead Yet

First Presbyterian Church – Lafayette, Louisiana Baptism of Our Lord, Year A – January 9, 2010 Isaiah 42:1-9 Romans 6:1-11 Matthew 3:13-17   This past Sunday was a busy one!  We celebrated Communion, remembered the Baptism of the Lord, and installed and ordained a new class of Officers for Session.   Prior to the service, the Baptismal Font was placed in the back of the sanctuary.  After reading the Gospel Lesson I shuffled through my stack of papers, appearing to have misplaced my sermon.  I'm sorry… something is missing.  (I moved back down toward my seat.)   This is kind of embarrassing.  (I looked behind the communion table.) No, it's not here.  I mean the bread and juice are not here yet, but they will come in during the Doxology. (I went up and over to the lectern.) No, it's not the Bible… let's see.  We have the pulpit and the table, word and sacrament.  What am I missing here?  Can anyone tell me what is missing? (A few uncomfortable guesses were mumbled un

Are you pretending to be God?

A day or so ago my 4 year old son asked me a strange question just before dinner.  He said, "Daddy, are you pretending to be God?"  I was caught off guard a little.  God language is prevalent in our home, but we have always been clear that we don't pretend to be God.  We haven't had a need for that discussion in a while, so I had no idea where he was coming from.  "No. Why do you ask?", was my reply.  "Because God always gives us good things to eat." How cool is that?  I get so caught up in the doing of things and often think that it is all up to me.  Yet I teach my children to give thanks to God for every little thing.  Psalm 147:7-9 from this morning's daily lectionary reading reminds me of the source of all that is.  [7]  Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;         make melody to our God on the lyre.  [8]  He covers the heavens with clouds,         prepares rain for the earth,         makes grass grow on the hills.  [9]  He gives t