The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, January 23, 2011

One of the most popular websites on the internet is youtube – a place where anyone can upload amateur videos for the world to see.  The most popular ones are of people caught unawares doing foolish things.  The latest youtube video that went viral this past week was the one of the woman who is texting while walking in a mall and falls headfirst into a fountain.  Apparently the video comes from mall security cameras and was posted by one of the security guards.  You can hear the guards laughing as they watch the footage of this poor, distracted pedestrian.

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THANK YOU FOR READING

I love to preach because I believe the Good News of Jesus is the only message that has the power to save us.  I count it as a real privilege to deliver these sermons to the good people at Grace of God Lutheran Church in Oakdale, MN  — people I consider my brothers and sisters, my friends, my heroes and fellow saint/sinners.  They are people who count on me to speak a word from God Sunday after Sunday that is true and liberating.  I do my best with God’s help.

Thank you for reading my weekly offerings here on this blog.  I do appreciate your comments and reactions.  And I do resolve in 2011 to update this blog every Monday morning!  🙂

Pastor Jon Marxhausen

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The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 16, 2011

“What do you want?”  This is what Jesus says in our Gospel to two disciples who are following him.  These men had been disciples of John the Baptist, but John pointed them to Jesus so they went after him.  Maybe following at a distance at first – like spies – curious as to where Jesus is going, what he’s saying and doing.  And eventually Jesus stops, turns to them and says, “What do you want?”

Imagine if we greeted people who came into our church building on Sunday morning that way.  “So, what do you want?  What are you doing here?”

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The First Sunday after the Epiphany, January 9, 2011

This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Those words rang out from heaven as a man of 30 years stood dripping wet in the waters of the Jordan River.   He is Jesus, the Son, the anointed One, the Chosen One, the one for whom all the people were waiting expectantly, Here is the one – the Son.

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The Second Sunday after Christmas, January 2, 2011

Our family has made lots of trips across the country over the years.  Out west a few times, California, Florida, Washington D.C., Virginia.  We’ve had some great adventures.  And I’m happy to say that we never lost a kid along the way.  “Bring ‘em all back alive.”  That’s our goal.

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New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2010

I am going to share with you something that I put on the slip of paper I burned with you a few minutes ago.  I don’t recommend doing this – it’s a very private thing between you and God.  But I want to share one of the sins which I regret and one which I pray by God’s grace I can be more free of in this next year.  It is the sin of worry about tomorrow – fear of the future.

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Christmas Day, December 25, 2010

We are on somebody’s telemarketing list because quite often we get a recorded phone call that begins, “please hold for a very important message.”  I’m sorry, but if it’s so important maybe you could call me in person.   We’ve waited at times to hear just what this important message might be, but either the phone goes dead or its something we don’t need or want to hear.

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Christmas Eve, December 24, 2010

This shall be a sign to you:  You will find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.

These are the words the angel used to help the shepherds find the Savior in Bethlehem.  I think it’s safe to say they would not have found him on their own without this sign.  But this sign was more than just a clue to identify the newborn Christ.  This sign tells them . . . and us . . . something very shocking and new about what God is doing.

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The Third Sunday of Advent, December 12, 2010

Today is the Joy Sunday of Advent.  That’s why we have the pink candle lit.

And joy makes sense right about now.  Even though it’s still Advent, Christmas is getting closer and joy is a very Christmasy kind of thing.  We ordered some photo Christmas cards this week and they have a whole category of designs called peace and joy.

But before we can understand what Christmas joy means, we need to go first to some unchristmasy places.  In fact, it is in those unchristmasy places and times that we learn about true joy.

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