FIRST PRESBYTERIAN

Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips… and their fear of me is a commandment of men learned by rote; therefore, behold, I will again do marvelous things with this people…   Isaiah 29:13-14 Something good can be said for the grumpy son who disgraced his generous father. His many days of labor in the field provided the bountiful food served at that lavish homecoming party. Too bad the hard worker did not have a field day. The dictionary def

Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.  Luke 15:25 Our passionate young, raised in the church, do mature to the point where critical thinking replaces compliant acceptance of our doings and sayings. They spot the incongruities and balk at stale traditions. They wrestle with the Jesus of their Sunday school innocence. As the Superman of Bible heroes,

Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.  Luke 15:25 We could tell him! It meant he was so emotionally distant from his father as if the field he toiled in that day had been the geographically “far country” of the younger son’s wasteful living. It meant he was a deliberate miser, proud of his measly joys and starved relationships. He thrived on acting

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury...