D-V's Desk

“But that’s not fair!”               Bill’s death came as a shock to all who knew him.   Bill took care of himself and swam laps almost daily.   After being diagnosed with Munier’s disease, Bill carefully watched his diet.   He was fanatical about limiting his sodium intake.   A brain bleed and a fall down some stairs changed all that, however.   Bill’s death was so unfair.             You or I may do everything right- exercise, diet, see our doctor.   And still the cancer diagnosis comes.   We may do everything right at work.   We work hard, we do all that is asked of us.   And still we are fired.   Life can hand us many such situations that are unfair.   Jonah and the workers in the Vineyard can relate.   The prophet and the workers both face unfair situations.        ...

  “Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day? Were you in the yard with your wife and children Or working on some stage in L.A.?”               So writes country singer Alan Jackson in his song, “Where were you?”   Jackson’s song is about the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.   Just the other day we marked twenty-five years since the tragedy changed our lives forever.   I am sure most of us can remember where we were that fateful day.             I was a newbie to ordained ministry.   I had not yet seen one year of priestly ministry.   I was working at a church in Columbia, Missouri.   I did not know what had happened.   I heard strange reports on the news as I drove to the church.   It was not until I got in that I discovered the horror of what had happened in New Yo...

  WWJD? What Would Jesus Do?               About a generation back, this was a popular question.   Folks even had bracelets to remind themselves to ask “WWJD?”   The question itself is inspired by Charles Sheldon’s In His Steps .   In the book, a tiny congregation finds itself upended by the visit of a homeless man.   Inspired by the man’s witness, the pastor gathers a group.             For one year that group is to ask “WWJD?” before making any decisions.   The group meets for mutual support and accountability.   A businessman invites the pastor to hold a devotional time for his workers during lunch.   A budding singer starts singing gospel songs down by the bars instead of chasing stardom.             Last week, Jesus established His identity as the Messiah, the Son o...

             Many years ago there was a game show called Identity, hosted by Gilette Penn.   The show featured 12 people, some celebrities and some everyday people.   For example, Stan Lee (Spider Man) and Peter Mayhew (Star Wars) were featured on episodes.   A contestant tried to guess the identity of each person.             Our Gospel reads like an episode of Identity.   Jesus begins by asking what the crowds, what the people, are saying about Him.   “Some say you are John the Baptist,” and “Others say you are Elijah” come the answers.   Jesus then zeroes in on the question, the BIG one, “what about YOU, who do YOU say that I am.”             This is the moment of truth.   Just like when Penn would ask “is that your identity?” after the contestant’s guess.   There would be a dramatic pause before t...

              What customs or traditions did you have growing up?   Traditions you’d like to pass on to the next generation?   In my family, the birthday person got to pick dinner, and what flavor cake and ice cream came for dessert.   On Christmas Eve, we got to pick out one present to open before we had milk and cookies before bedtime. Jesus and His usual adversaries, the Pharisees, debate over the tradition of washing hands, pots, and cups prior to eating.   The Pharisees ask Jesus’ followers why Jesus doesn’t uphold the customs.   Jesus responds by telling His followers that true cleanliness comes from the heart and not by rigid rule keeping. After all, what one puts in one’s mouth is later passed out of the body as waste.   What comes from the heart, from one’s thoughts and motives, one’s words and deeds, is more important than food and drink that is eventually eliminated.   What come...

  Snakes.                          Spiders. Speaking in public. A scary movie.             What makes you afraid?   What scares you the most?   I think the friends of Jesus can relate.   Today, they face their worst fears.   A huge storm on the Sea of Galilee.   And considering four of them are fishers, that is saying something.   The storm must be extraordinary to terrify four seasoned seafarers. The Sea of Galilee sits in a bowl between two mountains.   Pop up storms are common.   The disciples struggle against the heavy winds.   Their boat is being tossed and turned by the tempest.   Amid the storm, they see a lone figure walking towards them.   Between the winds and the vision, Jesus’ friends are terrified.      ...