Pastor Scott's Musings

  Light of the World (John 1:1-18)   How many fatalists does it take to change a light bulb? What does it matter? It’s going to go out anyway!   How many smart New Yorkers does it take to change a light bulb? Both of them, although they may need a third to yell, “Hey, I’m working over here!”   How many chiropractors does it take to change a light bulb? Only one, but it takes 3 months of visits twice weekly.   The terror attack in New Orleans and the bombing in Las Vegas around New Years has been on my heart and mind a lot this week. And the phrase from John’s prologue that keeps speaking to me is…   The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. (Jn 1:5)   This verse gives me hope in such dark times as these days. John uses the word, skotia , to describe ignorance of God, wickedness, shameful secrecy, and the want for light. John uses the word eight times, 6 of those times it is metaphorical, where...

Sermon for Milledgeville and Whitestown UMC New Clothes (Colossians 3:12-17) A Christmas Story   What did Frosty’s girlfriend give him when she was mad at him? The cold shoulder.   What did the snowman say to the aggressive carrot? “Get out of my face.”   Why did the Little Drummer Boy put his drum to bed? It was beat.   I trust you all had pleasant Christmas gatherings.   We watched some of our favorite Christmas movies, like A Christmas Story (1983). I always laugh at the scene when Ralphie and his brother, Randy, are opening gifts. They open a gift with a pair of socks. They look at each other, shrug, chuck them over their shoulders, and dive into the next wrapped gift. I assume most of us are not that excited about getting clothes at Christmas. Although I’m into my new Star Wars socks!   In today’s reading, however, the apostle urges the church to put on their new clothes. But you got to chuck your old clothes first. I’ve got loads of c...

Sermon for Milledgeville and Whitestown UMC Mary (Luke 1:26-49) Mary finally got her newborn son down for a nap. Her body worn out and her head aching, she leaned back into her husband Joseph. His arms were warm, and the beat of his heart soothed her. Just then, along came a group of shepherds to pay homage to the child messiah. A boy among them said, “I know what the newborn king needs for his birthday, a drum solo!”   Our ideas about what happened that first Christmas are left to our imagination. The Bible gives us just enough detail to know the story, and leaves us wanting to know more.   In the first century, Jewish families were led by the patriarch. He often prearranged the marriage of his daughters. If that is the case, Mary had little choice in the matter of her marriage to Joseph. Later traditions suggest that Joseph was quite a bit older than Mary, which is why he is absent from the gospel writings after the birth of Jesus. Some have suggested that Mary w...

Sermon for MIlledgeville and Whitestown UMC Hope ( Zephaniah 3:14-20 )     He will renew you in his love Zephaniah 3:17c A poll of our favorite book in the Bible yields titles you might expect like the gospel of John, Romans, or Genesis. Psalms and Proverbs are popular. The early church called Isaiah the “Fifth Gospel.” Isaiah is referenced 472 times in the New Testament. But I’ve never seen anyone say that the minor prophet Zephaniah is their favorite. Zephaniah begins with sheer shock and awe. The Lord proclaims that He will undo His creation. As in the days of Noah when God wiped the earth clean of all life, save those on the ark, Zephaniah proclaims that God will again destroy his creation and start over. Why? Because of Israel’s idolatrous and wicked behavior. After giving a short introduction of Zephaniah, the great, great grandson of King Hezekiah, the prophet jumps right into his message of doom! “I will destroy everything from the face of the earth,” says the L...