Scripture: Acts 17:16-33 The longer Paul waited in Athens for Silas & Timothy, the angrier he got—all of those idols! The city was a junkyard of idols. He discussed it with the Jews & other likeminded people at their meeting place. And every day he went out on the streets & talked with anyone who happened along. He got to know some of the Epicurean & Stoic intellectuals pretty well through these conversations. Some of them dismissed him with sarcasm: “What a babbler!” Bu

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34 If there is one virtue on which we can all agree, I believe it is freedom: freedom of speech & freedom of religion. Freedom is a blessed treasure of academia – the freedom to think, teach, & publish. Freedom is also a blessed treasure of the pulpit – the freedom to speak as one feels led by God to speak. Freedom. Really? Surrounded by our burglar alarms & medicine cabinets & our fears? Fears of heart attack, impotency, insanity, & insolvency. T

Scripture: John 20:19-31 Clocks, in particular analog clocks, are curious things. Now, when I was growing up, we only had analog clocks; if digital clocks had been invented, then they were only for the “wealthy.” So I grew up with analog clocks. Most kids today have only seen digital clocks. [Wednesday night – going “clockwise.”] Consider the journey that a clock makes from midnight to midday. The hands start together at 12. Then they take their time making their separa

Scripture: John 20:1-18 Today is April Fools’ Day. It is also Easter Sunday. I just couldn’t let this connection of dates go without comment! It is unusual. Easter has fallen on April 1 only 11 times since 1700 – 318 years! The last time we celebrated Easter on April 1 was the year of my birth, 1956. That means I have never experienced it – I was born in November! It is unusual. Easter will fall again on April Fools’ Day in 2029 & 2040, but then it will not be observed