Friday Messages

 I was reading this week in the Gospel of Luke about some things that Jesus had to say about the Sabbath. After His disciples took some flak from the Pharisees for plucking and eating ears of grain...

And He [Jesus] said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. (Mark 6:31, ESV) You know the rest...

When I was the pastor at Open Door Chapel my next door neighbor was a man named George. He was born in Jerusalem. When we happened to meet on the Sabbath he would greet me with “Shabbat Shalom.”...

"The whole of history since the ascension of Jesus into heaven is concerned with one work only: the building and perfecting of this 'City of God.'" – Saint Augustine  In 401 AD, Rome was sacked by...

Imagine with me that tomorrow is my birthday and I have an inside tip that the God of the Universe is taking a particulate interest in me. He wants me to have the best day ever! What? Give me the...

There is beauty in simple things. Last evening I reveled in the crisp air that heralded the coming Autumn as I walked out to the fire pit in my backyard. The crunchy leaves beneath my feet brought...

We all face difficult challenges. For some it could be: Home destroyed by the recent hurricanes or flooding Serious health issues Depression Money problems Loss of job Concern about a child Loss of...

Is the end of the world upon us? By the time you read this, our friends in Florida will be bracing for the largest Atlantic hurricane in recorded history, with another hurricane already forming...

While the specter of Hurricane Harvey’s devastation is fresh in our minds, we are also collectively aware of many examples of physical, mental, spiritual, or political destruction and decay. Yet in...

Tonight the Sabbath begins. I am tired and my back hurts as I write this one week ago. All I wanted to accomplish this week has not been done, and I have only one hour remaining to sweep the floors...

A few days ago my neighbor of less than a year passed away. Though he was not particularly elderly, it was evident that his health was in decline for as long as I knew him. I don't think he had ever...

It is not so easy to write a Sabbath email in the belly of the beast, yet here I sit at Rockefeller Center in NYC. What an assault on all your senses! A rock concert just ended at NBC's "Today...