This weekend's Gospel reading from Matthew 13 is a parable that Jesus told about how an enemy came at night and tried to mess up a farmer's field by planting weeds in the midst of the good wheat. What he planted was something called darnel which looks like wheat as it is growing and, as it matures, distinguishes itself from the good wheat. The owner of the field instructs the laborers not to take out the weeds until the final harvest, lest some of the good wheat is also uprooted.

At our July 6 Board of Directors meeting, our treasurermentioned something about online giving that I'm guilty of. The issue? I have not regularly thought about it like I would when Ellen and I wrote out a weekly check and put it in the offering envelope. I've just let it go on as I originally set it up.

Imagine if I did that with other things in life... just start it and let it go.

According to Google AI, the "American experiment" is the foundational idea that a diverse society can govern itself successfully as a democracy without a monarch or a ruling class. It treats the establishment and evolution of the United States as an ongoing test of whether liberty, equality, and self-rule can endure over time.

So what has made the "experiment" successful for 250 years?

In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 10:34-.39, Jesus speaks some of His most challenging words. He reminds us that true discipleship is not about comfort or ease. He calls us to take up our cross, surrender control, and put Him first - even when it costs us.

This coming Sunday, June 21, is Father's Day. We have adjusted the Scripture readings during the worship services to reflect Scriptural teaching on parenting. The Gospel reading will be Jesus' parable we often call "The Prodigal Son," which perhaps would better be called "The Forgiving Father."

How easily do you get distracted? I have to admit that my phone and tablet make it really easy to get off task as I check emails and respond to messages. And then, of course, there is always the temptation to research a question that pops into my head. As has been noted by many, we are in an era of “information overload.”

This weekend's Gospel reading is about Jesus calling the tax collector Matthew to follow Him (which Matthew gladly does immediately). We then hear about Jesus going to Matthew's house for dinner with him and other tax collectors and "sinners." Some Pharisees who see this criticize Jesus for eating with what some might call "those sort of people." In response to their criticism, Jesus reminds them that God desires mercy.

This weekend, our worship services will celebrate the wonder of the Holy Trinity. Trying to fully comprehend the wonder of three distinct Persons yet one Godhead is beyond human reason.

This weekend, we will be celebrating an important birthday -- that of the Christian Church.

We celebrate that all Jesus came to accomplish as Savior is complete. There need be no fear that something else yet has to be done.

I recently asked Google to answer the question: What's the best thing about being a Mom? The answer began this way: "The best part of being a mom is experiencing unconditional love, watching children grow and learn, and witnessing their joy and milestones."

Under our deck I have a collection of various rocks that have been dug up from our yard's garden areas. They're differing sizes with some chunks of concrete and asphalt mixed in. I'm hoping that I'll be able to use them for a positive purpose somewhere along the line.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is also known as "Good Shepherd Sunday" with the readings centering on that theme. It is important for us to keep in mind that our Lord who rose victorious and ascended to heaven is indeed still alive and well among us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Unlike us, God is not limited by space and time, but can truly give each of us individualized care, just like we picture a good shepherd knowing all of his or her sheep by name, as well as knowing their individual needs and idiosyncrasies. And as for the sheep, as Jesus says in John 10:27, "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me."

The claim of the Bible is that there is only one God revealed as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that Jesus was not just given special gifts by God but is, in fact, God who dwelt among us also as a true man. So if, in fact, there is only one God and Jesus is God, His claim to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) is valid.

This Sunday, the week after Easter marks the day when Jesus appeared again to His disciples with Thomas present. You will recall that Thomas was not present on Easter evening when Jesus had come to the others and would not believe Jesus was alive unless he himself could put his finger in the nail marks in the hands and his hand into Jesus' side. Jesus accommodated that request, and Thomas declared, "My Lord and my God!"

You will recall that when the day of our Lord's resurrection occurred, the anti-Jesus people spread the false report that it never happened, but, instead, that Jesus' disciples came and stole His body (Matthew 28:11-15). For almost 2,000 years the Christian Church has survived challenges to the truth that Jesus is alive.