This is an update from a 2018 post. The topic is, sadly, more relevant than ever. The practical case for peace also still stands up better than ever. A Brief History of the Failure of War The single biggest objection to implementing a philosophy of pacifism is that it will not work and heap disaster …
Unfashionable to Evangelize The text this week is Matthew 5: 13-20. This is a continuation of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. It too, like the text last week gives us a glimpse into what a life of faith and grace looks like. I will focus on the first part of this text-the “salt and light” …
Today’s Excuse One of the most trotted out excuses for the US led proxy war in Ukraine is that Ukraine’s borders must be protected. The territorial integrity of Ukraine must be preserved, at an obviously enormous cost. Specifically what is meant by this claim is the borders of Ukraine as they existed in 1991. We …
Best Sermon…Ever This week’s text is Matthew 5: 1-12. This is the justly famous Sermon on the Mount. This is arguably the best sermon ever since it encapsulates so much of what Jesus wants to teach us. Every point in the sermon is predicated on faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. This sermon has …
Dear Mr. Warnock, I truly wish I did not need to write this letter, but the faith in Jesus as Risen Lord that was given to me leaves me no other alternative. I take as my Scriptural inspiration for this letter 1Tim 5:20, as unpleasant as that task may be. The recent Martin Luther King …
Begin at the Beginning The text for this week is Matthew 4: 12-23. This is the passage that marks the beginning of Jesus’s earthly ministry and the call of the first apostles. Jesus chooses to begin His ministry in Galilee. In fact, He is returning to Galilee after the execution of John the Baptist. Jesus …
A Bit of Backtracking This post represents a bit of a reversal from what I stated at the start of the year. I had pledged to not discuss stewardship much, except in the context of the feeding of the war machine. I have reconsidered. It seems important enough that we as followers of Jesus think …
Being Recognized The text this week is John 1: 29-42. This is apparently after John has baptized Jesus. John sees Jesus and proclaims that “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! (Verse29). John then recounts how he was baptizing with water those who came to him and how …
A Series of Unfortunate Events The first week of 2023 saw me in attendance at 4 funeral events. I hope this maxes my quota for the year, what a dispiriting start it was. Only one of the four could be considered joyful. That was the funeral for a 91-year-old who lived a full, joyous, faithful …
This week I am posting two commentaries on Gospel texts. One is to commemorate the Feast of the Epiphany, which is traditionally January 6th. I am also posting the commentary for the first Sunday after the Epiphany. Some denominations may celebrate Epiphany this Sunday and skip to the second Sunday after Epiphany text next week. …