“The Walking Wounded” Genesis 32:22-31 Rev. Mark Feldmeir A cab driver arrives at the Pearly Gates and announces his presence to St. Peter, who looks him up in his Big Book. Upon reading the entry, St. Peter hands the cabby a robe and a golden staff and opens the gates. A preacher is next in line. He announces himself to St. Peter, and upon scanning the preacher's entry in the Big Book, St. Peter furrows his brow and says, "I suppose we'll let you in, but you only get the cloth robe and … [Read more...]
Think Outside the Bowl
A few weeks ago I had one of those windshield conversations with my eighteen-year old son, Casey. We were heading home after a week of fishing in the High Sierras when, quite unexpectedly, he asked if I was nervous about preaching my first sermon at St. Andrew. It’s a beautiful thing when your eighteen-year old son asks you a question that doesn’t end with the words “money,” “credit card,” or “car keys.” “Dad, are you nervous about preaching your first sermon at St. Andrew?” I was touched by … [Read more...]
Family Feuds
If you’re like me, you are inclined to believe that God operates according to the same rules of justice and fairness that govern our modern Western society. We assume that God rewards honesty and goodness, and that those who lie or deceive or manipulate others for self-gain will, in the end, get what’s coming to them. Cheaters never prosper, we say. Goodness always prevails. These assumptions are so integral to our moral consciousness that, whenever they are inverted – that is, whenever the … [Read more...]
