RoboPreacher

nothing seems so simple anymore A sermon on the so-called  battle between Elijah and the prophets of Baal : I want credit for predicting this; it’s about to get busy . Yes, you heard me right, it’s about to get busy. Before this month is over, remember, it’s November now, but anyway, before this month is over, you’ll be caught in a dead sprint that will last all the way through December and into a good part of January , too. It’s about to get hectic . And I want credit for calling it! In the coming days, when, not if, when you find yourself at sixes and sevens , I want you to remember this moment. And when that happens, I hope the depth of intuition of yours truly strikes you with a newfound profundity… Ok. You don’t have to be a prophet to make that prediction. Do you? No, that’s the way it always goes. Doesn’t it? Come a week before Thanksgiving, our already crowded calendars will be filled past brimming. And is it any wonder so many people are so apprehensive about th...

& i know, i know there is joy endowed a sermon on Paul's harangue about religious perfectionism   In today’s Scripture, Saint Paul’s talking about something we all can relate to. But he’s talking about it in a way none of us can relate to!   Let’s be honest; all this talk of circumcision sounds so primitive , cultic , and, frankly, a little icky and TMI for people like us . You know, modern and sophisticated people like us . However , I can’t help but remember how I was struck dumb this summer when, in Acts 17, Saint Paul walked into the Areopagus, looked around at a bunch of people more like us than him, and said, “ Athenians , I see how extremely RELIGIOUS y’all are.”   It’s as if Paul took a good long look at how the likes of us get along in this old world and couldn’t help but blurt out, “And I thought we , Jewish people, were religious ! No, you so-called modern folks have us a beat by a mile. You’re the most superstitious lot I’ve ever come upon!” The tr...

doin' real well A sermon on Paul's sermon in Athens , of all places Paul’s missionary endeavors landed him in Athens . Athens, that birthplace of democracy . And hometown of Socrates , to boot. So, with a little time to kill, Paul took a walk around while he waited for his companions to join him. However , all Paul found in that seat of culture and scholarship was a bunch of religion !   And the worst kind of religion, too! The idolatrous kind. The kind of religion with a lot of talk . A lot of talk that has nothing to say when you’re down and out . The kind of religion that has no teeth ! The kind of religion that’s the worst kind of substitute . Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever got some cheap substitute when you were expecting the real deal? I know when I was out East, I was never pleased when the crab cakes I ordered were made from imitation crab meat instead of the real McCoy. And, of course, the converse is true, too. Getting the goods when all you were exp...

is every issue black or white     The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the tenth chapter! I'm sure you've all read or heard about how a couple of churches in our fine city have invited the investigation of the IRS. The Internal Revenue Service has turned their gaze upon these two congregations for posters, pamphlets and sermons that have been broadcasted at these churches.   Apparently for a few leaders at these congregations, the reality of faithful and committed homosexuals receiving equal civic rights is an issue they must speak up about. In fact, the two church leaders interviewed by the Hawk Eye about the issue came across as quite unapologetic. They are so committed to this issue that not only is strong-arming those in the pews appropriate for these gentlemen, but one pastor even felt justified using a violent metaphor.     Now, as their actions gain the attention of the broader public and the IRS, we will see if their tune c...