Arise and Shine (1 Cor. 12:31-13:13)

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If I were a gambler, I would place a bet on the high percentage of times we hear 1 Corinthians 13 proclaimed at weddings. I have been asked to proclaim this reading at no less than four weddings myself. This reading isn’t popular because it sounds “nice,” but because it […]

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Arise and Shine (John 2:1-11)

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I still remember the moment when I knew one of my Core Members was being called to the priesthood. It was on a confirmation retreat, and he was giving the best talk I have heard on the Eucharist. The teens were so engaged, smiling, laughing, and taking in the truth […]

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Arise and Shine (Matthew 2:1-12)

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For most of us, the Christmas tree is already down, and we have put away our favorite Christmas albums for the year. Thank you cards still need to be written (yes this is still proper etiquette), and the kids are back to school. But God is not done revealing His […]

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Arise and Shine (Luke 2: 41-52)

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If you’ve been a youth minister for a few years, you have to confess that (at one time or another) you’ve had teens sneak out of their room on a retreat, camp, or mission trip. For me, it was a Confirmation retreat when eight of the brightest teenagers I have […]

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Arise and Shine (Luke 3:1-6)

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Of all the prophets in Scripture, John the Baptist is my favorite. If he were alive today, PETA would be all over him for his fashion statement of camel’s hair and leather. He ate a vegan diet of locust and wild honey (maybe that should be my Advent sacrifice?), lived […]

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Arise and Shine (John 18:33B-37)

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The decorations are already up in the Malls; the commercials began the day after Halloween, and the radio stations playing continual “holiday” music are in full rotation. All before a single Advent candle is lit or the turkey sliced, let alone consumed. We like to believe that Christ is at […]

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Arise and Shine (Mark 12:38-44)

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Have you ever had a call from a parent that just set you off? A call that start with a belittling phrase like, “I know you are young,” or “I’m a lawyer, and I know you don’t have much experience with people like me,” and end with an exclamatory statement […]

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Fall is in the Air

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I love fall: the time of year I binge watch Gilmore Girls, bake pumpkins spice everything, and a read more than any other time of the year. Reading is better when wrapped in a blanket by a fireplace with hot tea in your hands, right? This was also my favorite […]

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Arise and Shine (Mark 10:46-52)

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Pity is a word we don’t enjoy hearing, and it’s definitely not something we seek. We say phrases like, “Don’t pity me!” or “Don’t look down on me!” when we feel ashamed or self-conscious. We have “pity parties” when life just isn’t going our way. Simply put: Pity is often […]

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Arise and Shine: Mark 10:17-30

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This past week, South Carolina was hit hard with floods that rose to the heights of door frames. Their homes, transportation, workplaces, personal possessions, photographs, and precious family heirlooms, destroyed. Yet, when men and women were interviewed they were thankful because their family and friends were safe, everything else could […]

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