Our Lord was at home, just trying to get a little rest and relaxation. But the people just kept coming. According to Mark 2:1-12, Jesus’ house was full, standing room only, everyone hanging on His every word. Suddenly a hole is torn-out in the roof, debris comes raining down. People squint looking up into the sunlight nowContinueContinue reading “Forgiveness is Awkward”
Author Archives: pastoraaronkalbas
Ashes & Valentines: The Connection between Ash Wednesday & Valentine’s Day
What connection is there between Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day? Well, “today” for starters. This hasn’t happened since 2018. It has happened three times in the last century – 1923, 1934 and 1945 – and will happen again in 2029 for the final time this century! At my church, we’ll be reflecting on some powerful connectionsContinueContinue reading “Ashes & Valentines: The Connection between Ash Wednesday & Valentine’s Day”
What if God was One of Us?
Jesus consistently defied the normal way of doing things. This is most espeically true in regards to anything involving forgiveness and reconciliation. Because the world is pretty screwed up when it comes to such things–we are pretty screwed up, too. Most of the time, when reconciliation is necessary, we expect the person who did the wrong—whoContinueContinue reading “What if God was One of Us?”
Psalm 148 — Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
We’ve learned a lot about the psalms in the last twelve weeks and I’ve enjoyed this series. However, while there are 150 psalms total in the psalter, and combined they express the full range of the human experience—sorrow, despair, hope, love and joy—the psalms we’ve been focusing on in this series have been those thatContinueContinue reading “Psalm 148 — Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany”
Psalm 8 — Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
The psalmist declares, “How majestic is your name in all the earth!” Though a statement of praise, it prompts the question: How majestic is our Lord? It’s hard to fathom His greatness, much less, ponder His care for each individual, from embryos to infants. Ultimately, Psalm 8 foreshadows Christ’s incarnation, emphasizing the sanctity of life and God’s approachability through His humble beginnings.
Psalm 107 — Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
PSALM 107:1-32 & 43 (Color-Coded)Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;5 hungry and thirsty, their soul faintedContinueContinue reading “Psalm 107 — Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany”
Psalm 19: Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
Psalm 19 – A Psalm for Epiphany “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” – Psalm 19 What a perfect psalm to read on this day that the church celebrates the Epiphany of our Lord. Epiphany is a fancy Greek word that literally means “a sudden shining of light”ContinueContinue reading “Psalm 19: Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany”
Psalm 29 – Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
Psalm 29—A Psalm for New Year’s Eve A 65-year-old private pilot, named Jim O’Neill, was flying from Glasgow, Scotland to Colchester, England when his vision suddenly failed. Things grew very blurry. He rubbed his eyes. But that didn’t help. At first he assumed he was being blinded by the sunlight, but as his vision graduallyContinueContinue reading “Psalm 29 – Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany”
Psalm 24 : Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
A Psalm for Christmas Eve It was 7:51 on a Friday morning, January 12, 2007. A young man wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball hat began playing his violin in a Washington DC subway station. He played for the next hour. During that time 1,097 people passed by. Some even tossed moneyContinueContinue reading “Psalm 24 : Twelve Psalms for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany”
Psalm 86 — Twelve Psalms for Avent, Christmas & Epiphany
(Psalm 86) When God’s presence unsettles us… The power and influence of the world around us is undeniable. We like to think that we can do something about it, but our power is limited to make any real change. Time marches on, and we can’t ever be certain about what tomorrow holds. Storms rage aroundContinueContinue reading “Psalm 86 — Twelve Psalms for Avent, Christmas & Epiphany”
O Lord, open my lips... 