Jesus vs. John the Baptist

John was about 6 months older than Jesus

John wore itchy camel hair

Jesus wore a sturdy linen robe

John ate grasshoppers and wild honey alone in the wilderness
Jesus shared meals with any two-bit scam artist or tramp that had the time

John wasn't allowed to drink wine (he was under a Nazarite vow)
Jesus turned water to wine when the party ran out

John was a strict fire and brimstone type of guy
Jesus was a bit more of the go with the flow sort

John was always so serious
Jesus laughed and had fun with his buddies

John was arrested and killed because he ended up on king Herod's bad side
Jesus was arrested and killed because he refused to give up on God's plan for us


John told everyone they were going to hell if they didn't straighten up
Jesus told everyone God loved them and would help them straighten up

John announced that the Kingdom of God was about to happen
Jesus said, "Look around!  God's doing things right now!"

John is 'bad cop'
Jesus is 'good cop'

John is accused of being demon posessed
Jesus is accused of being a drunk

Although they came from different places, and went about things in quite different styles, John and Jesus both listened to God and helped lead others into a new understanding of God's love.

If you've got some comparisons (biblical or inferred) between these two, please share!

A Copy of Sunday's Sermon

Here is the result of 5 years of intentionally working on getting away from a manuscript in my preaching. Some weeks I do better than others, but this is the reason why I cannot provide a copy of my sermon for you.


Yes, it is a one-sided 4x6 index card.  Yes, those are my actual preaching notes from Sunday.  Sometimes I print the date on the top as well--just for kicks, you know.


If you think a copy would be helpful, invest in new sound equipment for the Sanctuary so we can record my sermons and post them online/burn them to CD.

Mission Work

When I was in college I really felt led to do mission work. Yes, the overseas, living in mud huts type of mission work. That's what led me to take a 'cross-cultural ministry' minor as well as spend a summer in Shanghai, China. I discovered two things 1) I was still passionate about missions, and 2) God was not calling me to do it overseas right now.

I also felt very affirmed in my call to be a parish pastor here in the US. And in a country where, at best, only 50% of folks are engaged in the life of a church on a regular basis, I believe that qualifies as mission work.

I fully support the PC(USA)'s stance that education, justice, and healthcare as a means to the end of furthering the Kingdom of God, however, I think we have neglected the saving of souls as part of the mission given to the Church.

Perhaps all of us need to reconsider what it means to be a missionary. Maybe it doesn't mean being called to a mud hut overseas, but to the job you currently hold; to the relationships you are currently in; and to your very own community. There are men and women and children out there who have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ. These are the ones for whom Christ died, to ensure that they could live to the fullest extent God intended. They need forgiveness, they need purpose, they need love.

And you are the one called to show them that.