Temple Terrace Presbyterian Church
Sharing the Love of God, the Peace of Christ, and the Power of the Holy Spirit with everyone
People normally experience a full range of colors from the darkest black to the brightest lights. Contrasts between light and dark enable us to see so we do not stumble in the dark. What if we only lived in darkness? Several caves have small colorless fish without any eyes. These fish live their whole lives… Continue reading Oct 27 – Blind to Mercy
Have you ever known something so thoroughly that you became part of what you know? Been so immersed in something, like a fish swimming in water when it is difficult to discern exactly where the motion of fish ends and the water's current begins? The prophet Jeremiah perceived a day when: No longer shall they… Continue reading Oct. 20 – Heart Renewal
Why say that a proverbial rich man had five brothers? In the first century parables were a well developed art form. Each word used in a parable, especially in its original language, was carefully chosen to pack meaning into the fewest number of words to facilitate memorization and repetition. The parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke… Continue reading Oct. 6 – Why Five?
Sometimes forgiving other people is easier than forgiving ourselves. Jesus told a parable about a young man who ran off with his inheritance, even before his father had died. When he runs out of money, he longs to eat the scraps given to the pigs. His pride got in the way of reconciling with his… Continue reading Forgive Yourself
Do you know why Jonah was swallowed by a whale? Or what happened to Jonah after the whale spat him back onto dry land? You may have learned at an early age that God had told Jonah to preach to Nineveh, an evil and violent enemy of Israel. Instead Jonah went the opposite direction, and… Continue reading Forgiving Enemies
How many friends do you have who would take you from your bed and carry you to someone else's home, make a hole in that other person's roof, and you would trust them to lower you through that hole so you could be healed of what harms you? Word of Jesus' ability to teach and… Continue reading Forgiveness as Healing
When we make a mistake, our experiences tell us to expect consequences, punishment, or even retribution. Thus when we see someone else make a mistake we hope, if there is any justice in the world, that they too will experience commensurate consequences. Perhaps this is why preaching should be a humbling experience. Even twenty years… Continue reading Forgiveness