Oh, my, the stresses we face. Of course, from time to time, most of us face a genuine, life-changing crisis or two. But, on a daily basis, we are assaulted by the little things that drive us crazy and wear us out. The playwright Anton Chekhov once said that “any idiot can face a crisis; it’s this day-to-day living that wears you out.” I think we can all relate.

Not long after the life of Jesus, people who loved him and wanted to share what they regarded to be the Good News about his life began to write down what they thought was most important to share. These works have come to be called “Gospels.” Our English word, “Gospel,” actually derives from an Old English term. The word that was used to describe these works in Greek is a word that means “good message.” And so, lots of people wrote down what they thought was the “Good Message” about Jesus, and these so-called Gospels circulated here and there for many years.

Matthew 6:24-35
Embry Hills UMC
August 9, 2009

Mark 6:14-29
Embry Hills UMC
July 12, 2009

“Days of our Lives.” “All My Children.” “Dallas.” “Dynasty.” “As the World Turns.” “The Young and the Restless.” Soap operas.

Of course, soap operas are famous, or infamous, for their twists and turns, their shocking happenings, their deliciously sordid events. And, none of the famous American soap operas can hold a candle to the story of the Herods.

Mark 5:21-43
Embry Hills UMC
June 28, 2009

I don’t know if they’re still around, but there used to be a breath mint called “Certs.” Madison Avenue would be really proud that I remember their advertising jingle all these years later. “Certs. Two, two, two mints in one.”

LINDA RICHMAN, VBS, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Mark 4:26-34
Embry Hills UMC
June 14, 2009

Alright, it’s very sad, but it has to happen. Before I can even begin my sermon, I am going to have to conduct a brief seminar on one little slice of American Pop Culture. Please tell me that I’m not the only one in the room who remembers Linda Richman.