John Kerry will undergo surgery to repair his right shoulder. He originally hurt it when he suddenly switched positions on Iraq.
‹Craig Kilborn›
Atlantis: the domain of the Stingray
30Jan
2011
Sun
17:19
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord

Matthew 5:1-12

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

When discussing the Preaching Office, in all its ministerial capacity, not simply preaching, The Reverend Doctor Normal Nagel likes to ask his students and peers, "How does this text give us Jesus?" So, as we look at today's Gospel lesson, let us ask that question as well. How do these words give us Jesus? It is Jesus speaking them, part of His Sermon on the Mount, so how does Jesus give Himself to us in this text?

The simple answer is found right at the end where Jesus proclaims to His listeners, and you can include yourselves in that bunch, "Blessed are you..."

17Jan
2011
Mon
13:22
author: Stingray
category: My Ramblings
read/add comments: 4
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Fears Allayed

if only for now

The van was making a whining or groaning noise. It had done it before, sporadically, while we still lived in Oregon. It did it the whole trip from Oregon to Colorado, until we got off the interstate at Castle Rock. For about a week and a half, now, it was doing it all the time until the car got up to normal operating temperature.

Everything I looked at said "power steering." I didn't want to, but I was going to make an appointment with the dealer for repair (I didn't want to because I didn't want to miss any work time, any visitation time).

Yesterday, Genevieve returned from a member's house with the report that they said it sounded like the PS fluid was too low. This morning, I look, and sure enough, the level was at the "Add" line.

So, after lunch, I went over the Napa, got some transmission fluid (that's what the manual said to add), and topped it off. After a little while, the noise was gone.

So far, it seems to be gone, still. I'll know more tomorrow (at the latest) when I go into the office; the engine should be good and cold at that time.

16Jan
2011
Sun
18:31
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
read/add comments: 2
trackbacks: 0

Second Sunday after the Epiphany of Our Lord

John 1:29-42a

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jesus has now been revealed as the Son of God. No longer is He living in obscurity. Now, Johnny arrives on the scene, and he acts as every preacher should: "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

He's been doing this for a while. After all, He was called by God to make straight the way to the Son of God; he was set apart from before He was born, much like we heard from Isaiah this morning. But now, now that Jesus has been Baptized, now John can point to the Son of God and make the proclamation. Now, John can decrease that the Son of God may increase. "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

13Jan
2011
Thu
11:19
author: Stingray
category: My Ramblings, Zy
read/add comments: 1
trackbacks: 0

My First Official YouTube Video

Kaya sings Larry's Blues

So, I uploaded a video to YouTube...

11Jan
2011
Tue
09:43
author: Stingray
category: My Ramblings
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And We're Back...part 3

photo albums

And another quick note that the move of famwagner is coming along. This time, I've moved and redesigned the photo albums. I've reduced the number of albums, too. As I find time, and I can go through our pictures, I'll be adding more albums, but, as I do most of my picture posting via my blog's moblogging, there probably won't be many newer pictures there; then again, I may be wrong...we'll see.

Anyway, take a look: photos.famwagner.com.

10Jan
2011
Mon
11:21
author: Stingray
category: Moblog
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Snowy Ramparts

The kids "helped" me clear the driveway of snow. Robert used his dumptruck to make ramparts along the driveway, as if he was making a sand castle.
9Jan
2011
Sun
22:03
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
read/add comments: 0
trackbacks: 0

Baptism of Our Lord

Matthew 3:13-17

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

For 30 years the Son of God has lived in relative obscurity. There is so little written of Him before the age of thirty. His birth, His circumcision, Simeon and Anna, then 12 years later amazing the Torah teachers—that's it. There's nothing more about Jesus, ages 0 to 30.

8Jan
2011
Sat
13:25
author: Stingray
category: My Ramblings
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And We're Back...part 2

famwagner

Just a quick note that the move of famwagner is coming along. The main site is back, now, and redesigned. Go ahead, take a look: famwagner.com.

6Jan
2011
Thu
20:00
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
read/add comments: 0
trackbacks: 0

Epiphany of Our Lord

Matthew 2:1-12

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Yesterday was the twelfth and final day of Christmas—the twelve drummers drumming and all of that. It was the end of the season of Christmas, which means today begins the new season, and it begins with the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord.

2Jan
2011
Sun
13:32
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
read/add comments: 2
trackbacks: 0

Second Sunday After Christmas

Luke 2:40-52

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Every year they made this trek—Nazareth to Jerusalem. There was business to conduct at the temple. It was time to be in the presence of God. It was time to make a sacrifice.

This time, Jesus got to go. He was now 12 years old. We are entering a transitional period in the life of the enfleshed God. Jesus was no longer a boy, He was a man, now. As such, it was time for Him to sit at the feet of the teachers for Torah instruction.

1Jan
2011
Sat
13:10
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
read/add comments: 1
trackbacks: 0

Circumcision and Name of Our Lord

Luke 2:21

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

It has to be the shortest appointed Gospel lesson in any lectionary. One, short verse that picks up where we left off eight days ago. For then it was proclaimed by angels to shepherds as they watched by night,

I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger...Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:10-12, 14)

So, while today's lesson may be short, it has a very important lesson: this one born "to you...Savior, who is Christ the Lord" is already at work to save, even at eight days old.