04/01/2024
From One Detective to Another
The actual quote, that I was alluding to in Sunday’s sermon is from Sherlock Holmes. It is: “When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
It makes a lot of sense if you're the epitome of what was an obsessive Victorian faith in empiricism and scientific deduction. But I like Samuel Bar-Spade's version: “When you eliminate the improbable then whatever remains, no matter how impossible it may seem, must be true--or as we assert--must have behind it the power of the living God.”
Ours is not a blind faith. It is a faith based on the testimony of a variety of people who were willing to share their testimony with whoever was willing to listen--to offer that testimony in the face of those who wanted more than anything else to discredit and dismiss them. There is also evidence based on more than just eye-witnesses. There is the evidence of radically altered lives--the broken who have been healed, the lost who have been found, the self-centered who lay down their lives in love, the dead who have been brought back to rich, full, and satisfying life. It might seem absolutely impossible, let alone extremely improbable, but nevertheless all the evidence we have leads to one life-changing truth:
Nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love our God has for us in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
May that truth warm your heart,
May that truth send you on your way,
and May that truth shine forth in all you do,
now and always.
Archived Posts
The Gift of Ourselves As A Gift of Love
The more the giving of myself costs me something, the greater the power of the gift. You know I love quotes, so after a little research, let me share a few of my favorites on this very subject:
The Loss of a Great Christian Leader
The death today of Pope Francis was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the day after Easter. As Protestant Christians we have a once removed interest in the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Yet the pope is the authoritative leader of 1.4 billion women and men around the world. It is worth our time to pause and consider what kind of man and what kind of legacy Pope Francis left behind.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)
Jesus Hears A Who
Few people know that Horton Hears A Who comes from the 25th Chapter of Matthew.
Matthew 24: One More Thing...
I sometimes stumble on old documents I’ve created but have completely forgotten about. I cannot remember why I created them or what purpose they were originally supposed to serve....
Keeping the Church Doors Unencumbered
Sunday, we considered Jesus’ disruptive actions in the Temple in light of his frustration with keeping gentiles from worshipping in their designated courtyard. We then reflected on how we still tend to throw up roadblocks to those who don’t normally attend church. I found the following, but didn’t have space for it in the sermon. It’s provocative and worth chewing on for a while.
What Was the Crowd Celebrating on Palm Sunday?
I came across this list which feels a little like a "Greatest Hits of Jesus' Ministry". I share it with you today for your inspiration and edification. Enjoy!