Memorial Day observance Video

This is the video of our Memorial Day observance at the Palo cemetery, including my message honoring the eight Medal of Honor recipients from Iraq and Afghanistan.

To watch the video, click the links below:
Memorial Day Video
Memorial Day Video - Part 2

Sermon Video: The Union of Doctrine and Devotion - Colossians 2:2-6

Paul writes to share his joy that the Church at Colassae is "encouraged in heart and united in love" as well as having an "orderly and firm faith".  This combination of emotional and rational health helps the church remain true to the Gospel despite the temptations of "fine sounding arguments" which seek to lead it astray.  As Christians, we have the same need, to be emotionally and intellectual involved in our faith so that we as individuals, and collectively as a Church, will not fall prey to ideas that would take us away from the Gospel.

To watch the sermon, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Remembrance

“Remember the Alamo!” We certainly do. “Remember Goliad!” Not so much. And yet, both were used as rallying cries by the forces that defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. Why is the Alamo remembered to this day, its legend celebrated in movie and song, but Goliad is known only to the few who paid attention in U.S. history in high school. In the same vein, the defeat at Pearl Harbor became “A date which will live in infamy”, but the defeat of American forces in the Philippines which occurred later that same day has been forgotten. What is the purpose of remembering the tragedies of the past? Why will we all tell the next generation years from now about what it was like on Sept. 11th 2001, much as our parents told us about the day that JFK was assassinated?


We remember the past because it helps us to understand the present. The tragic past also inspires us to make choices today which we hope will prevent us from repeating it. As Americans, we honor and celebrate those who risked their lives in service to their country throughout our history each Memorial Day. We have parades, go to the cemetery, and listen to speeches, often including a reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. We honor them because we know that our present freedoms were purchased with blood, and we honor them because we hope to avoid the wars that interrupted, and for too many ended, their lives.

As Christians we do the same thing. We celebrate Christmas and Easter every year to remember what Christ chose to do for us. Jesus chose to enter our world as a man, subject to the same pain that we feel. He chose to walk up to Jerusalem, knowing the Cross would be the ultimate destination, but also knowing that the empty grave awaited beyond it. We remember because it is “altogether fitting and proper” to honor Jesus for his sacrifice on our behalf. Likewise, we will always honor those who give the “last full measure of devotion” to America.

Sermon Video: The Trouble with Strife, Proverbs 17:1,9,14

What's so bad about a little strife in life anyway? Why should Christians want to live in Peace? Proverbs offers us wisdom about the need for a peaceful existence, and also some tips and how to begin to find it. In the end, peace isn't simply found, it must be sought out and worked for.


To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Sermon Video: "I will have nothing to do with evil" - Psalm 101

In this Psalm David explains the process of how a follower of God can proress and grow in the faith. The five steps related in the Psalm are this: (1) Know who God is, (2) Set the goal of being like God, (3) Stay away from bad influences, (4) Stay close to righteous people, and (5) Help purge evil from around you, beginning with your own family.

To watch the video, click on the links below
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2