Rev. Zach

Ezekiel37:1-14     Romans 8:6-11     John 11:1-45 For those who are fans of the Walking Dead, you may be thinking that today’s readings are just for you! If that is the case, I regret to inform you that this is not a Biblical drama about holding onto our basic humanity in the face of overwhelming forces. In fact, it might even be just the opposite: Biblical encouragement to let go of our limited human experiences in order to be caught up in the presence of God. Not as much fun as killing zombies, but I assure you it’s a better place to be. Yes! These readings – as gruesome as they may sound – are not about re-animated flesh in service of desire. They are about the expectation of life and hope and joy and peace. They are about the power of God and our ability to believe in it; to be caught up in it; to even be immersed in it. That word, “believe”, figures prominently in our Lenten experience this year. Over the last several weeks we’ve h...

Jeremiah 31:31-34    Psalm 119:9-16    Hebrews 5:5-10     John 12:20-33 Some Greeks came to Philip and said, “Sir, we would see Jesus.”   Philip goes to Jesus, and Jesus responds by launching into a lesson about seeds and fruit. I must say, this is one of those times when I feel that I can truly relate to Jesus.  I’d love to say this is the “highly distractible” Jesus, but it’s not.  Jesus is not too distracted to respond.  Instead he receives the request like a call to action.  The fact that these God-fearing Greeks have come to call means that his time has come.  I still find it odd that he never seems to answer them, but that probably has more to do with the storyteller than the people in the story. And in this teachable moment the author of John’s gospel proclaims the truth of the message of Jesus – it’s not about you.  It’s certainly not about me, either.  By “it” I mean the essential purpose of l...

Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalm 126 Philippians 3:4b‐14 John 12:1-8 Sermon audio is available her for up to one month Just as there is an entre genre of literature devoted to self help, there is perhaps an equal amount of information available for institutions that feel a need for redevelopment. There are books to tell you how to find the Tipping Point between ideas and fads. There are books that tell you how to work smarter instead of harder. There are books that tell you why some organizations are simply good, while others are great . Our staff is reading one such book, Good to Great and the Social Sectors by Jim Collins, and one thing has become clear to us. No matter how effective we can be at doing i’s and crossing t’s – no matter how decent and orderly we do our work – nothing matters without a clear sense of mission and shared priority throughout the congregation. Nothing we do matters without a clear understanding of who we are as a community of Christian disciples. Now...

Sermon Delivered Sunday, March 25, 2012 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33 Everything is about social networking these days. Yoono you can Yelp a Tweet to your Facebook page about a place you found out about through FourSquare , but be sure to tell everyone about the deal you got through Groupon (which may or may not be as good as the one you found through LivingSocial ). Now, chances are that many of you sitting in the pews have no idea what I am talking about; however, most of the folks that read my blog (yes, both of you) know exactly what I am talking about. In fact most savvy social networkers (a term itself that is becoming passé) would roll their eyes as though I have just proclaimed 2+2 to be a complex equation! Even though Betty White rightfully proclaimed on Saturday Night Live (in one of the funniest opening monologues EVER) that these social networks (particularly Facebook - where the campaign to have her on was started) are a colos...

First Presbyterian of Lafayette, Louisiana April 10, 2011 – Lent 5 (A) Ezekiel 37:1-14 Romans 8:6-11 John 11:1-45 The valley of the dry bones is a favorite story of mine.  I can't tell you how or when I first heard the story, but I have always thought of it as an incredible image – these bones becoming people.  Modern special effects in film and media have really made it interesting, perhaps even grotesque, to imagine.  Unfortunately, those same special effects have combined with an over active imagination to produce a vision of a village of undead people, or as some would call them – Zombies! Although I'll take the blame for telling you that I have these thoughts, I don't think it is because I am simply sick and twisted.  Zombies have been around for centuries, and they are found in the literature of almost every culture.  Western civilization, particularly in the last ten years or so, has produced an entire genre of film and literature related to the id...