Preaching the Scriptures

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Taking the Loss St. Paul clearly possessed many tremendous talents and commendable gifts.   His list of accomplishments is stunning.   It is hard to imagine what might have become of Christianity without his witness and writings.   Without his drive to share the message with Gentiles, we might not even be here, in a church, worshiping Jesus.   He started churches.   He wrote a large chunk of the New Testament.   He traveled tirelessly to spread the Gospel.   Even his death as a martyr was a witness to the amazing power of God's love. Paul could have put together quite a resume.   Instead of all of those amazing accomplishments, however, he lists the following: beatings, imprisonments, and riots (I'm guessing caused, and not started) – all plural.   And then goes on to say of his team, “We are treated as impostors.”   It is not a list that inspires confidence.   And...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Mark 4:26-34   Planting Seeds Once upon a time there stood two majestic trees in front of my West Toledo house – at least that is what I am told.   They have been gone for eight long years – two years before my wife and I purchased our home.   They once lived in that grassy strip of land between the sidewalk and the curb, which according to the internets has dozens of regional names, everything from tree lawn, verge, berm to Devil's Strip, but apparently no official name. At the closing, we met the previous owners of our home, Mr. and Mrs. Flis.   In between signing papers and writing checks and receiving keys, we had the opportunity to talk with the Flises.   They told us about their home of 52 years, and how they raised five children in that home, and how those children walked to church and school at St. Pius – just a few blocks away.   Decades of memories and love were attached to the home; the walls were s...