This past Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, marked the beginning of our Lenten journey together. Before jumping into a reflection on today’s Gospel, I have three Lenten Frequently Asked Questions to address. The first: Why 40 days? 40 days is a significant number in the Scriptures. In Genesis, the flood which destroyed the earth lasted 40 days […]
How many of you have read that poem called Footprints in the Sand about the fellow who had a dream he was walking along the beach with God (raise hands)? So, I saw this cartoon the other day, the first part of it had God with his arm around the fellow saying, “Where you see […]
I have some pretty shocking news I need to share with you. I know it may be a surprise for some of you, but you are not always right. You and I, we don’t have all the answers. We don’t perfectly see how everything is and ought to be. This is important. It is critical […]
A few years back there was a couple who were planning to get married. They decided to hold their wedding in Santa Barbara. I don’t know how many of you have been there, but it’s a beautiful place for a beautiful, fairly local, wedding escape. Along West Cabrillo Boulevard you will find Harbor View Inn, […]
Last Sunday we commemorated the Feast of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and ever since then I have found myself immersed in Reverend King’s writing. He was quite a moving preacher, gifted in ways I could only aspire. Upon reflecting on today’s lessons– particularly the Epistle and Gospel readings — one quote of […]
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose feast we celebrate today, was an American Baptist minister who led the struggle against racial discrimination in the 60s. He was a provocative preacher, and passionately advocated the principle of non-violent protest, affirming that one’s opponents should be tackled with compassion rather than aggression. He was awarded […]
Merry Christmas! For those of you visiting us for the first time or the first time in a while, I would like to extend an invitation to you to join us on Sundays. We worship in this space every Sunday morning at 8am and 10:15am. I just wanted to extend the welcome, since I see […]
I want to talk to you about waiting. Hold on and wait just a minute (said turning around as if walking away). This topic of waiting made me think of a skit by Jerry Seinfeld—how many of you have watched his comedy skits? He had a skit on waiting rooms and said: “Waiting room. I […]
Today marks the beginning of the season of Advent, a season of waiting. It is a season of preparation. Probably most importantly, it is a season of making room for Christ. As there was no room in the inn and thus our Lord was born in a manger, so too in our lives things become […]
Have you ever been to an event where you were in a large crowd and you couldn’t quite see the action, the reason for which so many people have gathered. In fact, you probably have and I was that person right in front of you. I remember as a child finding myself frequently in that […]