As we light our fourth Advent candle, this season of waiting and hoping and preparation comes quickly to close with Christmas just a few days away. Or does it?
All Advent we have sung Emmanuel - God is with us. So how does living a life woven in the fabric of this season allow us to see Christ in our daily lives? And how does John the Baptist, St. Joseph and Nelson Mandela show us the way?
Homily: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle C 2013James Knipper
So the battle ensues over military intervention in Syria while we are shown the faces of the children being affected by this civil war. While the Pope calls for today to be a day of fasting and prayer for peace, we are given a Gospel where Jesus tells his followers that to be a true disciple one must hate their mother, father, brother and sister. Sounds like a great deal of hate for one weekend and a confusing message. Check it out
We all have some degree of fear – what does yours look like? A recent poll shows that our top current fears are rooted in COVID, gun violence, health and politics. This weekend’s Gospel of Jesus calming the waters is all about Jesus confronting his disciples about their fear. Why? Because fear has a way of controlling our emotions and leading us to actions that are unloving. For the opposite of fear is not bravery. The opposite of fear is love. Check it out and see what I mean…
This weekend we heard from Mark’s Gospel two parables of what the Kingdom of God is like. The challenge many Christians have is that we mistakenly think that the Kingdom of God is “eternal life”, or it is where we go when we die. But actually, the Kingdom of God is here and at hand…and it must continue through us, with us, in us and frankly despite us. How? By planting Gospel-based seeds. What does that mean? Check it out…
This Sunday we brought to a close Ordinary Time of our Liturgical season and through the year we have walked through the Gospel of Mark, using the Sunday gospels learning how to see as God sees. But the question remains whether we have allowed the words to help us see any better? In his latest book release, Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ reminds us that we need to see as a Mystic sees. Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner said, “The Christian of the future will either be a mystic – or (s)he will cease to be anything at all.” We are all called to be mystics? What does that even mean or look like today? Check it out…
The Gospel this weekend has the 12 disciples being sent out to spread the Good News. So, imagine how these disciples were feeling – for they just witnessed Christ being rejected by those who knew him best. So, other than witnessing the words and actions of Christ, they had no real ministerial religious training – and it was certainly long before any dogma and doctrines were ever thought of. For the most part they were simple fishermen – but all called by Christ to be his chosen ones to spread the Good News – and do this by having encounters with others. For true encounters allow us to go directly to the heart of humanity. But the question remains, “How can we better reach this “heart” today?” Check it out…
Homily: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle C 2013James Knipper
So the battle ensues over military intervention in Syria while we are shown the faces of the children being affected by this civil war. While the Pope calls for today to be a day of fasting and prayer for peace, we are given a Gospel where Jesus tells his followers that to be a true disciple one must hate their mother, father, brother and sister. Sounds like a great deal of hate for one weekend and a confusing message. Check it out
We all have some degree of fear – what does yours look like? A recent poll shows that our top current fears are rooted in COVID, gun violence, health and politics. This weekend’s Gospel of Jesus calming the waters is all about Jesus confronting his disciples about their fear. Why? Because fear has a way of controlling our emotions and leading us to actions that are unloving. For the opposite of fear is not bravery. The opposite of fear is love. Check it out and see what I mean…
This weekend we heard from Mark’s Gospel two parables of what the Kingdom of God is like. The challenge many Christians have is that we mistakenly think that the Kingdom of God is “eternal life”, or it is where we go when we die. But actually, the Kingdom of God is here and at hand…and it must continue through us, with us, in us and frankly despite us. How? By planting Gospel-based seeds. What does that mean? Check it out…
This Sunday we brought to a close Ordinary Time of our Liturgical season and through the year we have walked through the Gospel of Mark, using the Sunday gospels learning how to see as God sees. But the question remains whether we have allowed the words to help us see any better? In his latest book release, Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ reminds us that we need to see as a Mystic sees. Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner said, “The Christian of the future will either be a mystic – or (s)he will cease to be anything at all.” We are all called to be mystics? What does that even mean or look like today? Check it out…
The Gospel this weekend has the 12 disciples being sent out to spread the Good News. So, imagine how these disciples were feeling – for they just witnessed Christ being rejected by those who knew him best. So, other than witnessing the words and actions of Christ, they had no real ministerial religious training – and it was certainly long before any dogma and doctrines were ever thought of. For the most part they were simple fishermen – but all called by Christ to be his chosen ones to spread the Good News – and do this by having encounters with others. For true encounters allow us to go directly to the heart of humanity. But the question remains, “How can we better reach this “heart” today?” Check it out…
On this Thanksgiving Day, as our country and our world continue to climb out of this pandemic, which has gone on far too long, what does “giving thanks” look like? St. Paul gave us all a model called the paradox of gratitude. Why a paradox? And how can a true and personal story of the actions of a small Mennonite Community, post Hurricane Agnes, shed some light on how we are called to actively live a life of gratitude? Check it out…
This weekend’s Gospel brings to a close a 3-part story that we have been listening to these past weeks focused on discipleship, evangelization...and rest. But when Jesus takes his disciples off to a deserted place, he finds that many of the followers have taken a short cut on land and have arrived at his destination before him. So, what to do? How to respond? And what does this Gospel show us about the importance of downtime? Maybe some wisdom from Ron Rolheiser, John of the Cross and my dad may bring some light to all of this! Check it out…
This Sunday we hear the Gospel of the rich young man, who has followed all of the rules and regulations of his faith, asking Jesus what more does he need to do in order to gain Eternal Life. After all isn’t that what we are all seeking? But it is the wrong question any of us should be asking! What is the right question? And what is the one key word in the response that Jesus gives, that provides us guidance for our own lives? Check it out!
We hear this Sunday the story of Jesus healing the blind man Bartimaeus. On the surface this seems to be just an extraordinary story that attests to the divinity of Christ. But the Bible gives us so many stories of Jesus opening the eyes of those who are blind, there must be more – and there is. To see the deeper meaning of this Gospel will require us to have our eyes opened in a whole new way. What does that look like? Check it out…
I was blessed to have just returned from spending three weeks with my nineteen-month-old granddaughter, Bloom. During our time together she retaught me one of the core lessons we need to be reminded of this Palm Sunday as we move into Holy Week. What did she do and what did she teach me? Check it out…
1 The Joy of Being a Christian Jude 1:1-2Rick Peterson
The Joy of Being a Christian Jude 1:1-2 Adapted from a sermon by Steve Shepherd http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-joy-of-being-a-christian-steve-shepherd-sermon-on-joy-126414.asp
The Feast of the Ascension brings to mind all the historic art that shows Jesus ascending upward on a cloud, with the disciples looking towards heaven. It makes for great art and reflects the cosmology of those times, but if we stop there, we totally miss the whole concept of what the Ascension means to you and me today. So what is that? Check it all out…
The Triple Life : The Perspective of Service 29
Yokefellows : The Rhythm of Service 57
A Passion for Winning Men : The Motive-Power OF Service ... 85
Deep-Sea ' Fishing : The Ambition of Service 113
The Gospel tells us that the disciples had no idea what ‘risen from the dead’ even meant. Do we? Wisdom from Pope Francis…and from children in an African tribe may just open our eyes in a new way so that we can better see how we are connected in our call to make all things new. And that Easter tells us that through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, love wins out over death every time and therefore nothing dies forever and that all that has died in love will be reborn into an even larger love – into the Body of Christ. Check it out…
Homily: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2018James Knipper
This weekend we celebrated the 33rd and final Sunday in Ordinary Time and over the past year Mark’s Gospel has given us the necessary waypoints for our spiritual journey. And it is these signposts which tell us how we need to see differently and thus leading us to change the way we live.
But what does that new sight look like for us? What changes are being asked of us? And where do we begin? Perhaps another look at the story of Bartimaeus together with the wisdom from Fr. Greg Boyle may lift the blinders that we wear and open our eyes to seeing in a whole new way!
Check it out!
Homily: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B 2015James Knipper
Today is the 33rd and final Sunday in Ordinary Time. We call these Sunday’s “ordinary,” because they are simply numbered – or, ordinal. But by calling them ordinary, I think we may have tendency to sweep them aside in deference to the other liturgical seasons and thus forget that each of these numbered Sunday’s provide us a critical piece of the road map for our spiritual journey. So how does one sum up the entire year of Ordinary Time and extract exactly what is the Good News that Christ has to share? Check it out…
“I learned to love Jesus more than my own parents” That is Jesus, the son of Mary the word of truth about” (which they are in dispute.” (Qur’ân 19:34 Jesus has been mentioned by name 25 times in the Qur’ân while Prophet Muhammad has been mentioned by name just five times. Additionally, the nineteenth chapter of the Qur’ân was named after the Virgin “Mary” while there is no chapter in the Qur’ân bearing the name of Prophet Muhammad’s mother, any of his wives or daughters. It is also noteworthy that Mary is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’ân. She is described in the most .honorable way as one chosen and favored over all women : Allāh says And [mention] when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed” Allāh has chosen you and purified you and chosen you ( 3:42 ) “.above the women of the worlds It is also noteworthy that Mary is the only woman .mentioned by name in the noble Qur’ân And the Qur’ân mentions that fair-minded Christians are : closest to the Muslims You will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers” those who say, "We are Christians." That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.” (5:82)
Homily: 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2018James Knipper
This Sunday we celebrated the gift of love and marriage during the World Day of Marriage. So how does the gift of love and marriage tie into the Gospel of Jesus healing the Leper? Leave it to the wisdom of a group of 4 – 8 year olds to shed light on all of this! How do they do it? And what does that mean to you? Check it out….
As we light our fourth Advent candle, this season of waiting and hoping and preparation comes quickly to close with Christmas just a few days away. All Advent we have sung Maranatha – which is Aramaic for – Our Lord has come. So how does living a life woven in the fabric of this season allow us to be aware of the Christ who in our lives right now? Perhaps John the Baptist, Joseph of Nazareth and Greta Thunberg can shed light on that answer. See what I mean…
Homily: The Feast of the Epiphany for 2024James Knipper
For the past 12 days we have heard the stories of the birth of Jesus Christ as God incarnate indeed good news of great joy all people. So, on this Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord we celebrate Jesus revealed as the Christ Child to the magi, who arrive by the light of the star. Every year we listen to this well-known Gospel story of the journey of the magi who pay homage to the Christ Child. But today I invite you to just focus on two lines that appear in the Gospel. What are they? Check it out because…as you will you see, any interaction with this Jesus the Christ, no matter where or how it happens, will change your own journey.
On this Thanksgiving Day, as our country and our world continue to climb out of this pandemic, which has gone on far too long, what does “giving thanks” look like? St. Paul gave us all a model called the paradox of gratitude. Why a paradox? And how can a true and personal story of the actions of a small Mennonite Community, post Hurricane Agnes, shed some light on how we are called to actively live a life of gratitude? Check it out…
This weekend’s Gospel brings to a close a 3-part story that we have been listening to these past weeks focused on discipleship, evangelization...and rest. But when Jesus takes his disciples off to a deserted place, he finds that many of the followers have taken a short cut on land and have arrived at his destination before him. So, what to do? How to respond? And what does this Gospel show us about the importance of downtime? Maybe some wisdom from Ron Rolheiser, John of the Cross and my dad may bring some light to all of this! Check it out…
This Sunday we hear the Gospel of the rich young man, who has followed all of the rules and regulations of his faith, asking Jesus what more does he need to do in order to gain Eternal Life. After all isn’t that what we are all seeking? But it is the wrong question any of us should be asking! What is the right question? And what is the one key word in the response that Jesus gives, that provides us guidance for our own lives? Check it out!
We hear this Sunday the story of Jesus healing the blind man Bartimaeus. On the surface this seems to be just an extraordinary story that attests to the divinity of Christ. But the Bible gives us so many stories of Jesus opening the eyes of those who are blind, there must be more – and there is. To see the deeper meaning of this Gospel will require us to have our eyes opened in a whole new way. What does that look like? Check it out…
I was blessed to have just returned from spending three weeks with my nineteen-month-old granddaughter, Bloom. During our time together she retaught me one of the core lessons we need to be reminded of this Palm Sunday as we move into Holy Week. What did she do and what did she teach me? Check it out…
1 The Joy of Being a Christian Jude 1:1-2Rick Peterson
The Joy of Being a Christian Jude 1:1-2 Adapted from a sermon by Steve Shepherd http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-joy-of-being-a-christian-steve-shepherd-sermon-on-joy-126414.asp
The Feast of the Ascension brings to mind all the historic art that shows Jesus ascending upward on a cloud, with the disciples looking towards heaven. It makes for great art and reflects the cosmology of those times, but if we stop there, we totally miss the whole concept of what the Ascension means to you and me today. So what is that? Check it all out…
The Triple Life : The Perspective of Service 29
Yokefellows : The Rhythm of Service 57
A Passion for Winning Men : The Motive-Power OF Service ... 85
Deep-Sea ' Fishing : The Ambition of Service 113
The Gospel tells us that the disciples had no idea what ‘risen from the dead’ even meant. Do we? Wisdom from Pope Francis…and from children in an African tribe may just open our eyes in a new way so that we can better see how we are connected in our call to make all things new. And that Easter tells us that through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, love wins out over death every time and therefore nothing dies forever and that all that has died in love will be reborn into an even larger love – into the Body of Christ. Check it out…
Homily: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2018James Knipper
This weekend we celebrated the 33rd and final Sunday in Ordinary Time and over the past year Mark’s Gospel has given us the necessary waypoints for our spiritual journey. And it is these signposts which tell us how we need to see differently and thus leading us to change the way we live.
But what does that new sight look like for us? What changes are being asked of us? And where do we begin? Perhaps another look at the story of Bartimaeus together with the wisdom from Fr. Greg Boyle may lift the blinders that we wear and open our eyes to seeing in a whole new way!
Check it out!
Homily: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B 2015James Knipper
Today is the 33rd and final Sunday in Ordinary Time. We call these Sunday’s “ordinary,” because they are simply numbered – or, ordinal. But by calling them ordinary, I think we may have tendency to sweep them aside in deference to the other liturgical seasons and thus forget that each of these numbered Sunday’s provide us a critical piece of the road map for our spiritual journey. So how does one sum up the entire year of Ordinary Time and extract exactly what is the Good News that Christ has to share? Check it out…
“I learned to love Jesus more than my own parents” That is Jesus, the son of Mary the word of truth about” (which they are in dispute.” (Qur’ân 19:34 Jesus has been mentioned by name 25 times in the Qur’ân while Prophet Muhammad has been mentioned by name just five times. Additionally, the nineteenth chapter of the Qur’ân was named after the Virgin “Mary” while there is no chapter in the Qur’ân bearing the name of Prophet Muhammad’s mother, any of his wives or daughters. It is also noteworthy that Mary is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’ân. She is described in the most .honorable way as one chosen and favored over all women : Allāh says And [mention] when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed” Allāh has chosen you and purified you and chosen you ( 3:42 ) “.above the women of the worlds It is also noteworthy that Mary is the only woman .mentioned by name in the noble Qur’ân And the Qur’ân mentions that fair-minded Christians are : closest to the Muslims You will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers” those who say, "We are Christians." That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.” (5:82)
Homily: 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2018James Knipper
This Sunday we celebrated the gift of love and marriage during the World Day of Marriage. So how does the gift of love and marriage tie into the Gospel of Jesus healing the Leper? Leave it to the wisdom of a group of 4 – 8 year olds to shed light on all of this! How do they do it? And what does that mean to you? Check it out….
As we light our fourth Advent candle, this season of waiting and hoping and preparation comes quickly to close with Christmas just a few days away. All Advent we have sung Maranatha – which is Aramaic for – Our Lord has come. So how does living a life woven in the fabric of this season allow us to be aware of the Christ who in our lives right now? Perhaps John the Baptist, Joseph of Nazareth and Greta Thunberg can shed light on that answer. See what I mean…
Homily: The Feast of the Epiphany for 2024James Knipper
For the past 12 days we have heard the stories of the birth of Jesus Christ as God incarnate indeed good news of great joy all people. So, on this Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord we celebrate Jesus revealed as the Christ Child to the magi, who arrive by the light of the star. Every year we listen to this well-known Gospel story of the journey of the magi who pay homage to the Christ Child. But today I invite you to just focus on two lines that appear in the Gospel. What are they? Check it out because…as you will you see, any interaction with this Jesus the Christ, no matter where or how it happens, will change your own journey.
Homily for the Feast of Christ the King 2014James Knipper
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. That is some title for the Feast Day which we celebrate on this last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. But was Christ all about kingship and ruling and thrones and laws?
Or was it really something else?
Is this really what the Franciscans had in mind, in the early 20th century, when they asked Rome for a Feast day to honor the Cosmic Christ?
So what is this Feast Day all about? And what does the Gospel tell us about how we will be judged?
More importantly what direction does it give us to live a better life?
Click and check it out
This weekend we hear in Matthew’s Gospel of John the Baptist sitting in a jail cell and wondering if he placed his bets on the wrong guy…questioning if the Lord is anywhere near to him. Then again, when we are faced with adversity, doubt, and loss how often have we questioned “Where is God?” and “Is the Lord anywhere near?” See how a street corner in Louisville and the wisdom of Thomas Merton may just open our eyes to see in a new way so that we can join in the chorus of Gaudete! Rejoice! on this 3rd Sunday of Advent.
During Advent we are called to celebrate that the Kingdom of God is here and now and at the same time still to come - that the Lord is truly near. But often we do not feel that way. Instead we can be more like John the Baptist, in today’s Gospel, wondering where God is in our lives. But there is reason to Rejoice! on this Gaudete Sunday – and for Thomas Merton the reason was found on the corner of 4th and Walnut in Louisville, Kentucky.
What did he realize that day? And how can his insight change the way you look at your life? How can his epiphany give you reason to Rejoice?
Check it out…
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe: to some degree I think the title of today’s feast day could miss the mark of its original purpose and design. For did you ever notice, nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus say to worship him, much less as a king – he simply said to follow him and to do as he does. The best description of all of this, across all the Gospels, appears in today’s reading of Matthew’s recording of Jesus’ last discourse which indicates kinship seems to be more important that kingship. What does that look like? Check it out…
I JOHN
1. THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE Based on I John 1:1-2
2. FELLOWSHIP IS FUNDAMENTAL Based on I John 1:3
3. GOD IS LIGHT Based on I John 1:5
4. TRUTH IN ACTION Based on I John 1:6
5. WALKING IN THE LIGHT Based on I John 1:7
6. CHRISTIAN CONFESSION Based on I John 1:8-9
7. PERFECTION Based on I John 2:1
8. WE HAVE A LAWYER Based on I John 2:1b
9. BLESSED ASSURANCE Based on I John 2:3
10. HATRED HIT HARD Based on I John 2:7f
11. LOVE'S LIMITATIONS Based on I John 2:15-17
12. WORDS OF WARNING Based on I John 2:18f
13. SATANIC SEPARATISM Based on I John 2:19f
14. THE WINNING WIND Based on I John 2:20
15. CHILDREN OF GOD Based on I John 3:1-2
16. GOD IS LOVE Based on I John 4:7-12
17. THE CONQUEST OF THE WORLD Based on I John 5:4
18. PROFOUND SIMPLICITY Based on I John 5:7
II JOHN
1. THE MYSTERY WOMAN
2. A LETTER TO A LADY
III JOHN
1. THE FEELING FINE Based on III John 1-8
So, when there is so much turmoil, so much fear, so much uncertainty, so much unrest in our world and in our lives, it is easy to ask, “Where is this epiphany, this manifestation of the Lord?” I think the answer lies within two key lines of today’s Gospel. What are those lines? And why should we carry those lines with us each day? Check it out…
Homily for the Funeral for the Hon. Paul A. Kapalko James Knipper
Yesterday I had the privilege of preaching at the funeral mass of a man I have known for 31 years, the Hon. Paul A. Kapalko.
Paul stayed in NJ throughout his life, earning his BA from Rutgers in '76 and his JD from Seton Hall School of Law in '79. After graduation he became a proud member of the Bar Assoc., joining the law firms of Lawson & Kapalko and Lawrence & Kapalko.
He entered local politics as an Asbury Park City Councilman in '85, serving until he was appointed to the NJ State Assembly in '89. He also served as the Manasquan Municipal Prosecutor; the Planning Board attorney for Neptune, Bradley Beach and Keyport; and the Commissioner of the Monmouth Co. Improvement Authority.
In '90 he became father to his eldest daughter, my niece, Casey, and in that same year ran for Congress. He lost the race, but two years later was appointed a Judge of the NJ Division of Worker's Compensation. He welcomed his second daughter, Christina, in '94, the same year he was promoted to Director and Chief Judge of Workers' Compensation.
In '02 he was appointed by Gov. Donald DeFrancesco to the Family Division of the Superior Court of Monmouth County. He became the Presiding Judge in '04 and then transferred to the Civil Division in '07. He worked with a clear sense of justice and understanding, and was known for his ability to settle cases before ever needing to go to trial. Admired by his peers throughout his life, he dutifully served as a Superior Court Judge for 16 years.
He was a loving father, brother, and uncle. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Edward and Rose Kapalko of Asbury Park. He is survived by his daughter Casey and her wife Stephanie Vazquez, his daughter Christina, and their mother Mary Jo (nee Knipper) McKinley all of West Long Branch. Paul is also survived by his brother Gregory and his wife Cindy, as well as their children Jamie (Jeremy Glapion) and Eddie, all of Belmar. He will be missed dearly by not only his family, but also by all whose lives he touched. He will always be remembered as a fighter and as an inspiration to all.
Adapted from a Robert Webb sermon https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/parable-of-the-yeast-robert-webb-sermon-on-parable-of-yeast-193538?ref=SermonSerps
God’s love is often described as a Divine flow of love and grace - movement that is never restricted. Nothing we say or do changes the love that is poured out upon us by God. It is unmerited in every sense – freely given to all. The only thing we have to do is be willing to accept and trust and share in the flow of that love.
So during Lent we have been examining our lives to see what blocks that flow - in other words, to examine our personal garbage. Thus shifting through our hurts and wounds and addictions so that we can be present and aware and participating in that ever present flow.
And today's gospel gives deeper insight on the fully human and fully divine side of Jesus Christ and his relationship to the community and the importance of our active participation. What does that look like? And what is the ending of this story that is often missed, but key in bringing forth the good news?
Homily: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time C 2016James Knipper
Jesus says that he did not come to establish peace, but rather division...and that he came to set the earth on fire, and how he wishes it were already blazing! Was he just having a bad day with his disciples…or hitting home a point that we often miss? Take a minute and check it out and see what Jesus was really talking to you and me about!
I. The Lone Man Who Went Before
II. The Long, Rough Road He Trod
III. The Pleading Call to Follow
IV. What Following Means
i. A Look Ahead
2. The Main Road
3. The Valleys
4. The Hilltops
V. Shall. We Go? .
HIS WILL YOUR WAY SYNOPSIS
His Will your way is a religious book, His will your way exposes the word of God and its meaning to help people understand what God expects from them. It is theologically inclined, it is meaning derived from the word of God. His Will your ways teaches people that there is no other way one would understand the will of God than going through the word of God. “I have learned that religiosity comes in the picture when ministers of the word begin to super impose religious view upon people. Forcing them to fast, pray, eat or drink what they (Ministers of the word) believe it is good and etc. while God called us to teach and equip the saints. In so saying, knowing the will of God is imperative, we need to know and understand the will of God.” His will your way was written to play a role of a sign that directs people to the correct information. People in this generation may try to fit in the lives of people on television but His will your way by William Seitshiro stands to say ‘if only you knew Gods will for you then you would understand that you are better than them.
AUTHOR’S INFORMATION
William L. Seitshiro is a young Contemporary Pastor who attended school at Global School of Theology NW and is a young Pastor at Mamelodi International Assemblies of God. He is a Pastor in Sunday school, he loves working with young people hence he is a young man, William loves writing and believes that he writes to all ages including young people, middle aged and the older generation. William noticed that the church is in need of theological accuracy in this contemporary world, hence he considers himself a contemporary pastor. He is a man who lives a Christ centered life, in his age he believes that can change the world through literature.
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints and for some reason we get it stuck in our heads that saints are a completely different kind of human being - when instead, they are very ordinary people like you and I. So, while we may all take a moment to remember our favorite saints – what about all those who may have gone before us and are unrecognized as a saint? So, take a few minutes and see how people like Jessica Robles, Jimmy Willmert, Joe Shuba, and my friend Steve DiGregorio have helped open many eyes to what this Feast Day means. See what I mean…
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
Homily: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday 2024.docxJames Knipper
Countless volumes have been written trying to explain the mystery of three persons in one true God, leaving us to resort to metaphors such as the three-leaf clover to try to comprehend the Divinity. Many of us grew up with the quintessential pyramidal Trinity structure of God at the top and Son and Spirit in opposite corners. But what if we looked at this ‘mystery’ from a different perspective? What if we shifted our language of God as a being towards the concept of God as love? What if we focused more on the relationship within the Trinity versus the persons of the Trinity? What if stopped looking at God as a noun…and instead considered God as a verb? Check it out…
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
Evangelization in the footsteps of Saint Vincent de Paul
Homily: 4th Sunday of Advent 2013
1. 22 December 2013
4th Sunday of Advent
Princeton, NJ
As we light our fourth Advent candle, this season of waiting and hoping and preparation comes quickly to
close with Christmas just a few days away.
Or does it?
For me, Advent is not just a four week season which kicks off a new liturgical year. And it is not just four
weeks of getting “ready” for Christmas. And it is more than just waiting for the second coming of Christ.
For we can focus so much of our prayer life seeking what is to come, that we may just miss what is
already here. All Advent we have sung Emmanuel - God is with us. So how does living a life woven in
the fabric of this season allow us to see Christ in our daily lives?
In the past few weeks here are three people who have shown us the way.
We begin with John the Baptist, who dressed in camel’s hair, eating locusts and honey, clearly had no
ego. John knew his role and it was fairly straight forward. He was to tell all who would listen of the need
to be prepared for the coming of the Lord, the Christ, the one who is mightier than he, and the one who
will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. But later we find John in prison where his faith seems to be a bit
wavering and he sends his disciples off to ask Jesus if he was indeed the Christ….or should they keep
looking?
Don’t we all go through that feeling in our lives? When all is going great and life is good, it is relatively
easy to see Christ in our lives. But as soon as we find ourselves sitting in our proverbial prisons of
darkness, addictions and personal losses we quickly begin to ask, “Where is God?” It was the main
question we were all asking a year ago over the deaths at Sandy Hook elementary school. And it is the
question many of us ask when faced with great adversity in our lives.
But Christ reassured John, and thus us, to live with the faith that the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf
hear, the dead are raised and the poor (that means ALL of us) - are beneficiaries of the good news
proclaimed.
Then in today’s Gospel we heard the story of Joseph. For being such a key person in the life of Christ
very little is written about him. It is interesting that he is not mentioned in any of the letters by Paul,
whose writings are the earliest found in the New Testament. Nor is he mentioned in Mark’s or John’s
gospels. He only appears in Matthew and Luke. In addition to that, not a word spoken by Joseph was
ever recorded – rather only his actions. And in the case of Joseph, his actions speak louder than any
words. Actually they speak volumes about what living a life of Advent is all about.
Betrothed to Mary, but before their marriage, Joseph is told that she is with child.
What? Pregnant and not married?
One really must pause here and take notice to what happened in Joseph’s life! Imagine the flood of
emotions that had to have come over him. Like any man soon to be married he must have had
aspirations of what his life with his new wife was going to be like. But all that gets pulled out from under
him.
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Deacon Jim Knipper
2. What is he to do? What are the people in town saying? If charged with adultery she will most likely be
stoned to death. Meanwhile he is working hard just to pay the burden of Roman as well as the Temple
taxes. And now his betrothed is found to be with child?
I would think it only human for him to have said the same thing we may say when overwhelmed with life,
“God – you have to be kidding me! I can’t handle anymore!”
But being one righteous in nature, he decides to divorce her quietly as to not expose her to shame. But as
we heard the angel appears to him in a dream and tells him that this child has been conceived by the
Holy Spirit, she will bear a son and he is to name the child - Jesus. When he awakes he does as he has
been asked and takes Mary into his home. Joseph lives a life of Advent, of having faith in how God is ever
present in your life, even where you least expect it.
And lastly, this past week, the world mourned the death of Nelson Mandela. Born in South Africa and
raised Methodist by his mother, Christianity was central to his life. Living in Johannesburg, he became
involved in anti-colonial politics, joining the African National Congress and becoming a founding member
of its Youth League in their search for justice against the practices of apartheid.
Apartheid, an Afrikaan’s word meaning 'the state of being apart,' was a system of racial segregation in
South Africa enforced by the ruling government from 1948 to 1994. During that time the rights of the
majority black inhabitants were curtailed, non-white political representation was abolished and black
people were deprived of their citizenship.
In 1962 Mandela was arrested, convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state, and sentenced to life
imprisonment. Mandela served over 27 years in prison and was finally released in 1990. So what does
he do upon his release? It would certainly have been easy for him to have taken his family and walk
away from it all. Or recognizing his popularity he could have rallied the blacks in order to seek violent
retribution against the whites for all of his personal suffering and the suffering of so many of his race.
Instead, Nelson Mandela decided to live a life rooted in Advent, so that others could see God’s presence
coming through the cracks of the chaos, deception, alienation and segregation. He went on a mission to
make God visible to those jailed as well as the jailers. Mandela, together with F. W. de Klerk, abolished
apartheid and established multiracial elections in 1994, in which Mandela was elected the president of
South Africa. Just years out of prison he set out on a brief political career where he taught people how to
live in relationship with each other despite their religion, their sexual preference or the color of their skin.
John the Baptist, Joseph and Nelson Mandela all lived lives which carried the core essence of Advent.
But in doing so they clearly made those around them uncomfortable. And, with no surprise, it is that
same sense of uneasiness that some feel about Pope Francis. Why? Because like John, like, Joseph,
like Mandela, like Mother Teresa, like Dorothy Day, like Jesus, Pope Francis understands that Advent
reminds us that living a life in Christ is not either/or, but rather both/and.
John found that his deep love of Christ also meant losing his life. Joseph bringing a young pregnant girl
into his home as his wife also had faith that his actions were part of God’s plan. And while doing hard
time in prison Mandela also never lost hope in God and trusted that one day he would be free to do all he
could to end segregation in his country.
You see, we all have times in our lives when the bottom can’t seem to get any lower. Where God’s plan
does not seem to match up with the one our ego designed for ourselves. Yet by actively living the spirit of
Advent, the spirit of inclusion, the spirit of hoping, the spirit of faith – Christ becomes visible to us, present
to us, living within us - time and time again.
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Deacon Jim Knipper
3. So, Advent comes to a close in a few days…and…at the same time it doesn’t. For we are told repeatedly
to not be afraid, but rather to be open and vulnerable to the daily arrival of Christ in our lives. So, as you
blow out that last Advent candle tonight and toss the Advent wreath back in the closet till next year – do
not discard the true essence of this season so to be committed to a life of listening, loving, hoping,
enduring and trusting – a life rooted in Advent. And In turn, your eyes will be opened to seeing the ever
presence of Christ…in places you least expect.
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Deacon Jim Knipper