James McTyre's Sermons Blog

Fwd: 2012-01-15 Restart, Part 2: Bless

2012-01-15T10:04:00.001-05:00

- James ---------- Forwarded message ----------From: "James McTyre" Date: Jan 15, 2012 8:45 AMSubject: 2012-01-15 Restart, Part 2: Bless To: From Evernote: 2012-01-15 Restart, Part 2: Bless How do you make a clean start? Can we really be better in the new year? What does the

Restart: Confess

2012-01-08T08:51:00.001-05:00

How do you make a clean start? Can we really be better in the new year? What does the Bible say about breaking old habits and beginning a new way? Jesus started his ministry by following the path of "restart" taught by John the baptizer. Together, John and Jesus give us the tools for crafting a new beginning in God's Spirit. In this series, we'll explore their steps in the first chapter of the

Christmas Eve, 2011

2011-12-24T17:15:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas, Whoever You Are2011-12-24 Christmas Eve SermonJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Merry Christmas. Whoever you are. If you're one of those people who come to church every time the doors open, Merry Christmas. If you've memorized large portions of the Bible, Merry Christmas. Or maybe you're not that into church, but you're in town and you don't want your mom mad at

2011-12-18 4th Advent Sermon

2011-12-14T15:05:00.001-05:00

2011-12-18Voices of Christmas: The StarIsaiah 40:26a, 28a, Psalm 19:2-4Luke 2:8-20I am the voice of the star, the voice of all that God has made.I am the voice of the heavens, declaring God's glory.I am the voice of the skies, proclaiming the work of his hands.I am the voice of the ocean waves, thunderously applauding God's Might.I am the voice of the lion, the eagle, the whale, and the whisper

2011-12-04 Second Sunday of Advent - Peace

2011-11-30T13:16:00.001-05:00

2011-12-04 Second Sunday of Advent"The Voices of Christmas: Isaiah"Dr. James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Isaiah 40:3-53 A voice cries out:"In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4 Every valley shall be lifted up,and every mountain and hill be made low;the uneven ground shall become level,and the rough places a plain.5 Then the

The Voices of Christmas - Israel

2011-11-26T20:46:00.001-05:00

2011-11-27First Sunday in AdventThe Voices of Christmas: IsraelDr. James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)FIRST SCRIPTURE READINGPsalms 130:5-85 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,and in his word I hope;6 my soul waits for the Lordmore than those who watch for the morning,more than those who watch for the morning.7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!For with the Lord there is steadfast love,and

2011-11-13 Confessions of a Savaholic

2011-11-12T22:20:00.001-05:00

Mark 6:7-97 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.---So, why did Jesus send his disciples out with practically nothing? No food, no backpack, no money. Sandals, and

2011-11-06 Confessions of a Shopaholic.txt

2011-11-05T11:20:00.001-04:00

2011-11-06 Confessions of a ShopaholicJames 4:1-3, Matthew 6:25-33James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)James 41 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? 2 You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and

All Saints' Day

2011-10-27T15:17:00.001-04:00

Matthew 22.34-39All Saints' DayOctober 30, 2011Lake Hills Presbyterian ChurchWe celebrate All Saints' Day today. To say, "Saints," always generates some confusion, because people are used to "saints" in the way the Roman Catholic Church thinks of saints.Like Saint Teresa, or Saint Christopher.In the Presbyterian Church, we don't have canonized saints as they do in the Catholic church. Not that

Finding Your Way, Part 4: Walk Humbly With Your God

2011-10-22T13:37:00.001-04:00

2011-10-23Finding Your Way, Part 4: Walk Humbly With Your GodMicah 6:6-8, Matthew 11:25-30Micah 6:88 He has told you, O mortal, what is good;and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God?Matthew 11:25-30New International Version (NIV)The Father Revealed in the Son25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and

Finding Your Way (Part 3) Love Kindness

2011-10-16T09:32:00.000-04:00

2011-10-16Finding Your Way, Part 3: Love KindnessMicah 6:6-8, Luke 6:27-36Micah 6:88 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God?Luke 6:27-36 27 "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who

Finding Your Direction - Do Justice

2011-10-08T21:12:00.002-04:00

Micah 6:88 He has told you, O mortal, what is good;and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God?Luke Chapter 181 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who

Don't Try This At Home

2011-09-30T15:04:00.001-04:00

2011-10-02Finding Your Way"Don't Try This at Home"Micah 6:6-8I want us to spend the month of October doing something unusual. Unusual doesn't mean "strange," or "creepy," it just means, not usual. Out of the ordinary. Maybe other churches do this kind of thing all the time. But it's not ordinary for us and I'm not sure why. It's just unusual. Do you ever do that? Do you just do ordinary things

You are EMPOWERED by God

2011-09-09T10:00:00.001-04:00

2011-09-11 You are EMPOWERED by GodJoel 2:21-29, Ephesians 3:14-21James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)This is the final Sunday of a series of messages we've called, "Come as you are; be empowered by the Spirit." We've talked each week about the different ways we ALL are, the ways that DON'T change, the ways that CAN'T be changed, CAN'T be changed by our mood, CAN'T be changed by our

You are REBUILT by God

2011-09-01T10:50:00.001-04:00

2011-09-04 You are REBUILT by GodPart 4 of "Come as you are, be empowered by the Spirit"Psalm 104:27-35, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)We're continuing our series called, "Come as you are, be empowered by the Spirit." We've talked over the past weeks about how we all are, in terms of stuff that doesn't change. You know, most of the time, when someone says, "

Come As You Are - You are SENT by God

2011-08-28T06:38:00.001-04:00

2011-08-28 You are sent by GodPart 4 of 6-part series, "Come As You Are. Be Empowered by the Spirit"Exodus 3:12-14, John 20:19-22James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Exodus 3:12-14New International Version (NIV) 12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[a] will worship God

You are LOVED By God

2011-08-19T11:53:00.001-04:00

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } 2011-08-14 Come As You AreYou are LOVED by GodJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Jeremiah 31:1-9New International Version (NIV) 1 "At that time," declares the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people." 2 This is what the LORD says: "The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness;

You Are CREATED By God

2011-08-06T18:19:00.001-04:00

2011-08-07 Come as you are... be empowered by the SpiritYou are CREATED by GodGenesis 1:24-31Ephesians 2:1-10James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) Today's the first Sunday of our Summer Sermon Series, called, "Dear God, Can It Get Any Hotter?" Actually, the series is called, "Come As You Are, Be Empowered By the Spirit." This is the first time we've intentionally and strategically

In Case Of (dot, dot, dot), Part 2

2011-07-16T10:35:00.000-04:00

2011-07-10 James 05:13-16 "In Case Of..." (Part 2) James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) --- Last week, we started a two-part sermon series (because you can't have a series of one), called, "In Case Of (dot, dot, dot)." It arose from the concept that much of the Bible was written to help people "In case of" certain events. And what we found out is that in a lot of the cases, if

"In Case Of..."

2011-07-09T17:32:00.000-04:00

2011-07-10 James 05:13-16 "In Case Of..."James McTyre Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) Today we're starting a two-part series, called, "In Case Of" (dot, dot, dot). It's a two-part series, which is about as short as you can get and still call it a series. "In Case Of" (dot, dot, dot). You know what that is. You see signs like this all over the place. "In case of... fire" (don't

Plan B

2011-06-25T10:19:00.000-04:00

2011-06-26 Genesis 22:1-14 Plan B James McTyre Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) OK. Let's get straight to the heart of the matter. If you're in bed one night and you hear a voice, claiming to be God. And if this voice tells you to go build an altar in your backyard. And if this voice tells you to sacrifice ANY member of your family - especially your husband... Roll over and go back to

A Gift You Wouldn't Want

2011-06-09T15:58:00.001-04:00

2011-06-12 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 Acts 2:1-21 James McTyre Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) Have you ever gotten a gift you didn't want? I mean, not like you got the wrong gift. Not as if you told him, "Size six," and he came back with size 14. That can be solved with an exchange. Of the clothing, I mean. Maybe him, too. And not as if it's a gift you just don't enjoy. Like

Something Else Over Which We Have No Control

2011-06-04T12:35:00.000-04:00

2011-06-05 Acts 1:6-14 James McTyre Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) Sometimes we do responsive readings in worship. Today, we're going to do a different kind of responsive reading. This is going to be a responsive reading not of scripture, but of the news. Your unison response will be, "Something else, over which, we have no control." Ready, go: "Something else, over which, we have no

Memorial Day, 2011

2011-05-27T20:09:00.000-04:00

2011-05-29 Memorial Day, 2011 2 Samuel 23:8-12, 17b-39 Revelation 19:11-16 2 Samuel 23:8-12, 17b-39 David's Mighty Warriors 8 These are the names of David's mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth,[a] a Tahkemonite,[b] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed[c] in one encounter. 9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of

Fifteen, Maybe Sixteen Things to Worry About

2011-05-20T09:05:00.000-04:00

2011-05-22 John 14:1-14 Fifteen, Maybe Sixteen Things to Worry About James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church USA Fifteen, Maybe Sixteen Things to Worry About by Judith Viorst My pants could maybe fall down when I dive off the diving board. My nose could maybe keep growing and never quit. Miss Brearly could ask me to spell words like stomach and special. (Stumick and

Part of Jesus' Family

2011-05-08T07:43:00.001-04:00

2011-05-08 Mother's Day Matthew 12:46-50 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" OK. At this point, if you're Jesus' mom, you're ready either to cry, or spank his

Not a Creative Easter Sermon

2011-04-18T12:24:00.000-04:00

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } 2011-04-24 EASTER John 20:1-18 James McTyre Lake Hills Presbyterian Church In the week before Easter, I talk to other preacher-boys and preacher-girls and they're all saying the same things. "Oh, man, I'm so swamped. I have all these extra services to prepare for, and it's Easter and everybody's coming, and I want the sermon to be fresh, and new, and

Are you the one?

2011-04-08T10:56:00.001-04:00

p { margin-bottom: 0in; }p.western { font-size: 12pt; }p.cjk { font-size: 12pt; } 27-E4-W-C-2004 John 10:22-30 Are you the Christ? Shepherd/One James McTyre Lake Hills Presbyterian Church May 2, 2004, April 10, 2011 (redux) "I and the Father are one," he tells the people who are already divided over him. Some say he's crazy, or possessed by demons, or possessed by crazy

2011-04-03 John 9:1-41 The Man Born Blind

2011-04-01T12:35:00.001-04:00

2011-04-03 Jn 9:1-41 Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) James McTyre I have a few favorite sayings. My #1 is on a small magnet I keep in my office. It says, "The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well." #2 was taught me by a wise, retired minister. "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." The older I get, the more convinced I am of both those sayings,

Could you use a drink?

2011-03-24T09:25:00.000-04:00

John 4:5-30James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Churchp { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Even the nicest people in the world just lose it once in a while. How many of you have ever pitched a fit because you didn't get what you wanted? Screamed and cried. Pounded your fists on the floor. Pounded your fists on the computer. Yelled at your kids. Yelled at your parents. Mumbled foul things at your

How Do You Talk About Faith?

2011-03-03T16:41:00.001-05:00

2011-03-06 Mt 17:1-9 How do you talk about faith?James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Sunday, March 6, 2011How do you tell people about your faith?In many commentaries, and in some sermons you've heard from this pulpit, poor Apostle Peter gets criticized for his out-blurtings."Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses,

Lenience vs. Leniency

2011-02-20T07:39:00.002-05:00

2011-02-21 Matthew 5:38-48"Lenience vs. Leniency"You may have wondered why the Prayer of Confession has an asterisk by the word, "lenience." There's a reason. Patty was proofing the bulletin, saw the word, "lenience" and asked me if I didn't mean, "leniency," instead. Wanting to be precise (and to prove myself correct) I immediately looked up "lenience" on www.dictionary.com.Patty, on the other

I Pity the Fool

2011-02-11T14:38:00.000-05:00

2011-02-13 Matthew 5:21-30"I Pity the Fool"In her autobiography, Dolly Parton tells about how she grew up with 11brothers and sisters and a strict interpretation of the King JamesVersion. She tells about how frightened she got one Sunday when thepreacher read the scripture that says "whosoever shall call hisbrother "a fool" shall be liable to the fires of hell." She got reallyscared. But then,

Who Is Salt?

2011-02-02T16:48:00.001-05:00

2011-02-06Isaiah 58:1-12, Matthew 5:13-20Who Is Salt?You are the salt of the earth. What does that mean, to be salt?There's a wonderful book on the world history of salt, called, "Salt,a World History," by Mark Kurlansky. You may remember Kurlansky alsowrote, "Cod: a Biography of the Fish that Changed the World," as wellas, "The Big Oyster: History on the Half-Shell." He's a veryspecialized

Blessed Are...

2011-01-30T07:51:00.001-05:00

2011-01-30 Matthew 5:1-12Lake Hills Presbyterian Church[Insert playing of Slim Smith - Beatitudes 1]That's the sound of Jamaican singer, Slim Smith, singing the Beatitudes. I had never heard of Slim until last week when I was trying to find some religious music about the Beatitudes to listen to while writing the sermon. You probably have all his albums, but to me it's a totally different sound,

Mt 04 12-23 Calling for Change

2011-01-23T06:59:00.001-05:00

The scripture's about change. Here, thousands of years before the scientists, is scripture proclaiming that the global climate is changing. But not in the way atmospheric scientists say. Scripture says the global climate of is changing because of Jesus. Jesus is change.Verse 12: "Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested,"Jesus's cousin, John the Baptizer, has been thrown in jail for

Happy Holy Days

2011-01-08T20:57:00.001-05:00

2011-01-09 Mt 03 13-17 Baptism of the LordJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)"Happy Holidays." There's that argument about whether you should say,"Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas." If I worked for a company thattold me I could get fired for wishing people, "Merry Christmas," Imight get a bit contrary. Luckily, my boss is totally OK with it. Onthe other hand, if I worked for a

The Day After Christmas

2010-12-23T11:42:00.001-05:00

Matthew 2:13-23 The Sunday after Christmas. "'Twas the Day After Christmas" -by Rev. Ken Goodrich, Buchanan, Va. Twas the day after Christmas, when all through the town Every creature was stirring, taking ornaments down. The lights were extinguished, the candles all burned, Empty boxes abounded wherever you turned.

What Joseph Didn't Do

2010-12-18T13:29:00.000-05:00

Matthew 1:18-25 James McTyre Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) Sunday, December 19, 2010 There's a story of a church Christmas Pageant. A few hours before show time, the mother of the boy who's supposed to play Joseph calls the church and frantically explains that her son's come down with a terrible case of the

Little Drummer

2010-12-01T13:56:00.001-05:00

2010-12-05 Isaiah 11:1-10, Matthew 3:1-12James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)When I was little, claymation Christmas specials were cool and groovy.Of course, "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" was the coolest, and still is.Its classic lines live on."Eat, Papa. Eat.""She thinks I'm cuuttte!"And, my favorite, "I don't want to make toys! I want to be a dentist!"There were never very many

Giving Thanks

2010-11-18T14:03:00.001-05:00

2010-11-21Psalm 46, Colossians 1:11-20James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Last Wednesday night, in the Fellowship Hall, we had a magnificentThanksgiving dinner. Cooked up by the Communities Committee, andexecutively cheffed by Michael Gant, "The Turkenator." Pilgrims wishthey had a dinner like ours.This coming week, many of you will be traveling for Thanksgiving mealswith family or,

A Safe Place

2010-11-11T12:05:00.001-05:00

2010-11-14Psalm 98Isaiah 65:17-25Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)I was visiting with a member of the church last week. I was sitting inthe living room with my hand resting innocently on the chair arm. Outof nowhere, her cat sprang up and plastered its front paws onto theback of my hand. I made a loud noise unto the Lord, though I can't sayit was entirely joyful. "Oh, don't worry," I was told.

What Time Is It?

2010-11-07T07:59:00.001-05:00

Haggai 1:15 - 2:915 on the twenty- fourth day of the month, in the sixth month.The Future Glory of the TempleChapter 2In the second year of King Darius,1 in the seventh month, on the twenty- first day of the month, theword of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: 2 Speak now toZerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son ofJehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant

Bring Out Your Dead

2010-10-30T08:51:00.000-04:00

2010-10-31Ezekiel 37:1-10 Dry bonesJohn 11:30-44 Lazarus raised"Bring Out Your Dead" Some friends were wondering how to dress up their baby for Halloween. I suggested Harry Potter. You get some round, baby glasses. Get a Sharpie and mark a lightning bolt on his forehead.So cute.Our kids have gotten too old for us to dress them up.Now, the only one in the house who can be made up in our own

Discomfort Zones

2010-10-20T13:34:00.001-04:00

Luke 18:9-14The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues,

God Is Better Than That

2010-10-12T13:48:00.000-04:00

Luke 18:1-8 "God is Better Than That" James McTyre Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) Sunday, October 17, 2010 Father James Martin, a Jesuit Priest and writer, published a prayer last week in response to a teen suicide. It's called, "A Prayer When I Feel Hated." "A Prayer When I Feel Hated"Loving God, you made me who I am. I praise you and I love you, for I am wonderfully made, in your own

Let It All Out

2010-09-26T09:17:00.000-04:00

The sermon today is the product of a collaboration between Caroline Owen and myself. We've been working on this off and on throughout the past months. She chose a song that's very meaningful to her, one that I hadn't heard of, because it's contemporary. It's by a Contemporary Christian group called, Relient K. They call themselves Relient K because "Edsel" was already taken. The song is, "Let It

Jericho

2010-09-19T08:01:00.001-04:00

2010-09-19Joshua 6:15-2115 On the seventh day they rose early, at dawn, and marched around thecity in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that theymarched around the city seven times. 16 And at the seventh time, whenthe priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout!For the Lord has given you the city. 17 The city and all that is in itshall be devoted to the

Free the Sheep

2010-09-09T12:08:00.001-04:00

2010-09-12Luke 15:1-10James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian ChurchThe Presbyterian Church is a teaching church. Our heritage celebrates teachers, instructors, book-writing Biblical scholars and moms who know how to make cotton ball sheep. As Presbyterians, we search for the right answers, but we also search for better questions. We realize that it's one generation's job to question the answers of

The Best Seat in the House

2010-08-24T11:35:00.001-04:00

Luke 14:1, 7-14Who gets the best seat in your house?There IS a best seat. There's one in every household.If you have cats, it will be the one the cat's sitting on.If you have teenagers, it will be the one they are sprawled on. Suburban sprawl.For those of you who are UT football fans, some of the furniture stores in town have the ultimate chair.A bright, orange, overstuffed leather recliner with

Sermon

2010-08-19T14:21:00.001-04:00

Family camp 2010 Sunday morning sermonJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)But ask the animals and they will teach you;the birds of the air, and they will tell you;ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?In his hand is the life of every living thing and

Luke 12:32-40 Sermon

2010-08-11T14:26:00.000-04:00

Luke 12:32-40August 15, 2010James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your

Luke 11:1-13 Teach Us To Pray

2010-07-24T13:47:00.000-04:00

Luke 11:1-13 Teach Us To PrayJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)July 25, 2010Last week was one of those awful weeks, when every time you pick up the phone you wonder what kind of bad news it's going to be. In fact, one of our church members told me that she's going to stop answering the phone whenever the caller ID shows the church's number. I do a lot of the church prayer chain

Inhale

2010-07-16T17:12:00.000-04:00

Luke 10:38-42 James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church USAJuly 18, 2010Here we are in greater Townsend, Tennessee. We're on "the peaceful side of the Smokies." Can you feel the peace? Inhale. Breathe in the peace. How often do you do that, breathing in, and paying attention? I'm sure we breathe in all the time, but that's not the breath we notice. Most of the time, we notice our breathing out.

It's Not Too Difficult

2010-07-08T18:03:00.002-04:00

2010-07-11 Deuteronomy 30:9-14 It's Not Too DifficultJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Pop quiz: How many commandments are there? Ten. (Very good.) Why does it seem like there are so many more? God wrote ten on the stone tablets, but by the time Moses gets through with them, there are a lot of footnotes. Deuteronomy is marvelous. Laws, laws, and more laws. Laws saying, Don't eat

Riding the Hypocricycle

2010-06-26T23:56:00.001-04:00

2010-06-27 Galatians 5:1, 13-25Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)James McTyreGal 5:1, 13-25For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in

Wade in the Water

2010-06-20T07:17:00.001-04:00

29-E6-W-C-2004John 5:1-9 Man healed at pool of BethesdaJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian ChurchMay 16, 2004Wade in the water, wade in the water, childrenWade in the water, God's gonna trouble the water.Yes, when you're a dad, you get to listen to all kinds of music.This was on one of the girls' CDs that we used to listen to in the minivan on the way to Parents' Day Out. I'd drop them off, and

Love Your Neighbor

2010-06-13T07:52:00.000-04:00

2008-09-07 “Love Your Neighbor As Yourself”Romans 13:8-14James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Love your neighbor as yourself. What could be simpler?Do you want to fulfill all 10 commandments at once? Love your neighbor.Do you want to keep all the Bible and all the scriptures and live your life as right as you possibly can? Love your neighbor.What could be simpler?Let's do it. Turn to

The Miracle of Compassion

2010-06-05T15:58:00.000-04:00

2010-06-06 SermonLuke 7:15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.The main miracle in this story is not the obvious one. Jesus raises a man from the dead. Yes, that's obviously miraculous. Jesus touches the palate on which the friends are carrying the body of the man who has died. And then, Jesus shouts at him, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” And he does. Yup,

Pentecost 2010

2010-05-23T09:13:00.001-04:00

Acts 2:1-21 “Receive”James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Sunday, May 23, 2010So fifty days after Easter, the disciples are all in a room together. Suddenly the sound like a violent wind comes from heaven and blows through the room like a hurricane. But wait, there's more. Then, they have a simultaneous vision. What seem to be like tongues of fire separate and came to rest on each of

Getting to Know God

2010-05-12T16:27:00.001-04:00

2010-05-16 Jn 17 20-26 "Getting to Know: God"John 17:20-26James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church USASunday, May 16, 2010In chapter 17 of John, we get a gift - a really, really special gift. We get to listen in to Jesus' prayers. That's huge. How many people do you let listen to your prayers? How many people would you WANT listening to your prayers? By way of John the gospel writer, we get the

It's Complicated

2010-05-08T22:52:00.002-04:00

2010-05-09 Acts 16:16-34 It’s ComplicatedJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)I want to be politically correct about this, so... to those of you who are mothers, grandmothers, other-mothers, like mothers, favorite aunt mothers, stepmothers, fairy godmothers, adoptive mothers, biological mothers, or professional surrogate mothers, Happy Mother’s Day. I know it’s surprising, but Mother’s

A Food Revolution

2010-04-28T12:34:00.001-04:00

2010-05-02 Acts 11:1-18James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)The book of Acts is the sequel of the Gospel According to Luke. If the books of the Bible had been arranged by story and author, Luke and Acts would be back to back since they were both written by the same person, part 1 and part 2 of the story. Throughout the book of Acts, and especially in this section, something

2010-04-25 John 10:22-29

2010-04-24T19:17:00.001-04:00

2010-04-25 John 10:22-29James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)You and your loved one sit down in the restaurant for a quiet dinner, just the two of you. But then, you see “them” out the window, coming up the sidewalk. You know the restaurant gods loathe you, and have sent them to be seated at a table near you.A young couple, with four outwardly lovely children. Oh, they look innocent

2010-04-18 John 21:1-19 "Men's Breakf...

2010-04-12T09:27:00.001-04:00

2010-04-18 John 21:1-19 "Men's Breakfast"James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian ChurchApril 25, 2004They've been out all night, these fishermen.Had they been able to catch anything, they might be seeing morning from shore, maybe even missing the morning as they lay asleep in their beds.But not today.This morning they're sharing a silence, each drifting in that quiet place between sleep and thought,

2010-04-18 Jn 20 19-31 Wishes

2010-04-07T11:30:00.001-04:00

John 20:19-31WishesJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian ChurchApril 18, 2010(As a word of explanation, I started writing this sermon way back in 2002. I say “started writing,” because I'm still working on it. Back in 2002, Emily was turning three, and Anna was just about to be born. It was a magical, lyrical time of life and some of that showed up in the sermon.)More than any other sign of

2010-04-04 Jn 20 01-18 Easter

2010-03-30T17:07:00.001-04:00

2010-04-04 Jn 20 01-18 EasterJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)What if? What if Mary didn't do all the things in the stream of things she did on Easter morning? What if she had made one different choice?No one else has come to the tomb. But Mary Magdalene comes. She sees that the stone has been rolled away and runs to tell the disciples. Then later, after Peter and John go back home

2010-03-07 Lk 13 01-09 Where Is God When Tragedy Strikes?

2010-03-03T14:26:00.001-05:00

Luke 13:1-9“Where Is God When Tragedy Strikes?”James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian ChurchSunday, March 7, 2010I’ve heard it said that 90% of the things we worry about never happen.And the worriers say, “See???“If I had a few more sleepless nights, maybe I could have taken care of the other 10%.” A little worry is a good thing, because it motivates us to be prepared.That’s the Boy Scout motto, “Be

2010-02-21 Luke 4:1-13

2010-02-18T15:21:00.001-05:00

2010-02-21 Luke 4:1-13James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Temptation to satisfy your hungers.Temptation to worship evil, to want authority & splendor.Temptation to test God, to make God your servant, to make God your good luck charm, to be invincible.Temptation to rely on your self-impression, self-identity.Temptation to do what you can because you can do it.Temptation to live without

2010-02-14 Sermon

2010-02-11T11:24:00.001-05:00

2010-02-14 SermonJohn Muir, the genius behind our country's National Park system, wrote:“The mountains are fountains of men as well as of rivers, of glaciers, of fertile soil. The great poets, philosophers, prophets, able men whose thoughts and deeds have moved the world, have come down from the mountains - mountain dwellers who have grown strong there with the forest trees in Nature's workshops.

2010-02-07 Lk 05 01-11 Laughter & Fish

2010-02-03T12:50:00.001-05:00

2010-02-07 Lk 05 01-11 Laughter & Fish JamesMcTyreLakeHills Presbyterian Church (USA)I tellthis story as a public service announcement, and as preemptivepastoral care for all the married males in the congregation. Pleaseremember, Valentines Day is next Sunday. For your own sake, and thesake of your marriage: Prepare thyselves.Lastweek, Rhonda got an email she thought was really funny.

2010-01-24 Lk 04:14-21

2010-01-21T12:43:00.003-05:00

Luke 4:14-212010-01-24 Lake Hills Presbyterian Church USAJesus readscripture, and then preached a one sentence sermon.On the Sunday whenyou vote on my salary, I couldn’t decide if it would be a good ideaor a bad idea to follow the example of our Lord. Read the scriptureand say, “God loves you; go to lunch.” Half of you wouldsay, “We’re paying him for THAT?” And the other halfwould say, “Give that

2010-01-24 Lk 04:14-21

2010-01-21T12:43:00.001-05:00

Luke 3:15-22 Baptism of the Lord

2010-01-10T06:44:00.001-05:00

Luke 3:15-22 Baptism of the Lord 2010-01-10 Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) On the church calendar, today is Baptism of the Lord Sunday. Our Lord's life is moving along lickety-split. Three weeks ago he was born. Two weeks ago he was 12 and left Home Alone by his parents in the Temple. Today he's beginning his ministry and being baptized by John in the River Jordan. They do grow up so

2009-12-20 Lk 01 39-45 Cut to the Chase

2009-12-16T09:51:00.001-05:00

2009-12-20 Lk 01 39-45 Cut to the Chase Luke 1:39-45Lake Hills Presbyterian ChurchDecember 20, 2009Here, in the final shopping hours before Christmas, Iwant to take a moment to thank you all for coming to church.Especially you men.Because, being a man of the male persuasion, I know howimportant the last minutes of shopping time can be.Shopping gets more exciting as the game clock winds

02-Ad2-P-C 2009 Lk 03 01-06 Voice in the Wilderness.doc

2009-12-01T14:31:00.001-05:00

Luke 3:1-602-Ad2-P-Year CJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian ChurchDecember 9, 2009 What are the significant events in your life?Graduation. Marriage. Divorce. Second marriage.Birth of a child. Child moves out of the house. Child moves back into the house.An illness. A death. Senior Prom. You might not remember what year it was as years are numbered.But you remember the world around these

2008-11-30 Luke 21:25-36

2009-11-24T16:15:00.001-05:00

2008-11-30 Luke 21:25-36 James McTyre Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA) Good morning. Anybody else feeling a little worn out today? Giving thanks takes it out of you. You get extra points for being here the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Because Thanksgiving is hard. You have to eat all that turkey and pumpkin pie. You have to lay on the couch, and fall asleep watching

Please allow me to introduce myself,

2009-11-22T08:38:00.002-05:00

2009-11-22 John 18:33-37James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Today is Christ the King Sunday. Quick -- other than Christ, name another famous king (modern).King Hussein of JordanThe Lion KingMichael Jackson, the King of PopElvis Presley, the King of Rock and RollThe guy on 'The King of Queens,' Kevin (what's his name)It's hard to name kings these days, much less any popular kings. We

2009-11-15 Mark 13:1-13

2009-11-12T17:04:00.001-05:00

2009-11-15 Mark 13:1-13 Lake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)James McTyreDestruction. Wars. Earthquakes. Famines - and we're just getting started, folks. Trials, beatings, betrayals, and death panels for grandma.No, it's not Lou Dobbs. It's the Bible. But it sounds like Lou. Sounds like any one of the TV and radio people predicting the end of the world, the country, and life as we know it.Don't we

Mark 12:38-44

2009-11-05T10:46:00.001-05:00

Mark 12:38-44Lake Hills Presbyterian ChurchSunday, November 08, 2009“One must be poor to know the luxury of giving,” wrote English novelist George Eliot.You English majors will remember George's real name was Mary Anne Evans.Mary Anne realized that if she wanted to be taken seriously as a writer, she'd better sound like a man, one way or another. Mary Anne-slash-George would have understood the

Mark 10:35-45

2009-10-18T06:40:00.001-04:00

Mark 10:35-45 The Request of James and John James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’

Mark 09 38-41 Not One of Us

2009-09-26T23:13:00.001-04:00

Mark 09 38-41 Not One of UsJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)September 27, 2009I love the names in today's scriptures. Eldad, Medad, and the Unknown Exorcist. Sounds like an an act on Israel's Got Talent. If they were on Israel's Got Talent, they would have gotten buzzes from Piers, Sharon, and The Hoff. Sorry guys. You may be able to prophesy, you may be able to cast out demons,

mark 9:30-37

2009-09-20T07:37:00.001-04:00

Mark 9:30-37 James McTyre Lake Hills Presbyterian Church September 20, 2009 Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he

2009-09-13 Sermon

2009-09-13T08:48:00.001-04:00

2009-09-13 Rally DayJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Good morning, most high and holy ones. Thou art looking especially royal today. Might so lowly a creature as I be granted an audience with thee?Is that the way you're greeted by friends and relatives? Well it should be. Because you are a royal priesthood. It says so in the Bible. It's high time people started treating you with

2009-08-16 Ep 06 10-20 Onward Christian Soldiers

2009-08-13T13:26:00.001-04:00

“Onward Christian Soldiers”LHPCNovember 2, 1997August 16, 2009 “Onward, Christian soldiers,marching as to warwith the cross of Jesusgoing on before...” Up until the Presbyterian Church, like so many others, started arguing about whether homosexuals should be ordained, the biggest battles we had were about the hymnbooks.I miss those days.One of the biggest battles was over “Onward, Christian

2009-07-26 Feeding of 5000

2009-07-26T08:17:00.001-04:00

When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?It's just one little question. But it's a trick question. It's a trick question because Jesus already knows the answer before he asks it. First

2009-07-19 Mk 06 30-34 Come away to a crowded place

2009-07-18T21:55:00.001-04:00

1Mark 6:30-3440-Ord16-G-Year BJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian ChurchJuly 20, 2003; July 19, 2009In the gospel story today, the disciples have just returned after their first mission trip. Jesus had sent out the twelve, in pairs of two, to go teach and to heal. And they did good. In fact, they were so successful, the people followed after them. The people kept searching them out. Day and night

2009-07-19 Mk 06 30-34 Come away to a crowded place

2009-07-16T12:36:00.001-04:00

Mark 6:30-3440-Ord16-G-Year BJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian ChurchJuly 20, 2003; July 19, 2009"And he said to them, 'Come away, into a deserted place, and rest a little.' "For there were many coming and going and they had no leisure even to eat."When Jesus really wanted to get away and get close to God, to pray and to think holy thoughts, he went to a deserted place. I have two young kids.

2009-06-28 Mark 5:21-43 The Ones As G...

2009-06-27T09:40:00.001-04:00

2009-06-28 Mark 5:21-43 The Ones As Good As DeadJames McTyreLake Hills PCUSAThe gospel lesson - more correctly, the good news lesson - today is about two people. It's about two people who everyone else thought were as good as dead. One of them actually was dead. But effectively speaking, the community put both of them in the grave. Prematurely. The community had declared them dead about twelve

2009-06-21 David and Goliath

2009-06-21T07:54:00.001-04:00

2009-06-21 David and GoliathJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)"He was over 9 feet tall. He wore a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing 125 pounds. On his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed 15 pounds."And you're on the Israelite battle lines

2009-07-14 Mark 4:26-34 - Mustard

2009-06-11T15:28:00.001-04:00

2009-07-14 Mark 4:26-34 - MustardJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)[The kingdom of God] is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth;yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes thegreatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that thebirds of the air can make nests in its shade.’ One of my new favorite places is in a

2009-06-07 John 03 01-17

2009-06-03T15:27:00.001-04:00

2009-06-07 John 03 01-17 James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Isaiah had a vision of angels swirling around his head. Flaming coals being placed on his tongue. Is it torture, or is it a gift? It's God, who places a word within Isaiah's mouth, a word he can't get rid of, no matter how many times he speaks it. It sticks to his tongue and drags him into humiliating, insane contortions. He

2009-05-31 Pentecost

2009-05-31T07:08:00.001-04:00

2009-05-31 PentecostActs 2:1-21If you're from East Tennessee, or West Virginia (like I am), or anywhere else in Appalachia, you've probably heard about Pentcostal Churches all your life. You may have even belonged to one, or worshiped in one. At the Pentecostal church, you may have been overtaken by the gifts of the Holy Spirit and shouted, whooped, hiccuped, danced or rolled down the aisle. But

2009-05-24 Acts 1:1-11 The Ascension ...

2009-05-24T07:32:00.001-04:00

2009-05-24 Acts 1:1-11 The Ascension of ChristActs 1Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven 1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3Afterhis suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincingproofs that he was alive. He

John 15:9-17

2009-05-13T14:58:00.001-04:00

2009-05-17John 15:9-17 - Love one another as I have loved youJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)I recently finished reading a book called, The Year of Living Biblically, by A. J. Jacobs. Jacobs is a very secular writer for Esquire magazine. If you've ever read Esquire magazine, you know it's not exactly Focus on the Family. Jacobs took on the project of keeping all the commandments

John 17 1-11 Mother's Day

2009-05-10T06:55:00.001-04:00

John 17 1-11Mother's DayJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian ChurchMay 12, 2002John 17:1-11. A reading from the Revised Mother's Version. After all these things, she looks up to heaven and sighs. Instead of having authority over all people, she has authority over two or three. Two of them are too small to safely sit in a front seat, and one of them hasn't even transitioned to a booster seat. They

2009-04-19 Jn 20 19-31 Doubting Thomas

2009-04-19T07:31:00.001-04:00

John20:19-31Doubting ThomasJames McTyreLake Hills PresbyterianChurch (USA)Sunday, April 19, 2009Mark 11:23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.Scripture is tough on doubters. Not as tough as it is on, say, Philistines, Pharisees, and Sodomites.

2009-04-12 Jn 20 01-18 Easter

2009-04-07T13:19:00.001-04:00

2009-04-12 EasterJohn 20:1-18James McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Our family has a number of traditions at Easter. Most of them involve candy. Eating candy. Some of our Easter candy traditions are a little barbaric. Like putting Marshmallow Peeps in the microwave. And biting the ears off hollow chocolate bunnies. Our neighborhood has a marvelous, completely non-barbaric tradition. On

2009-03-08 Sermon

2009-03-06T09:51:00.001-05:00

2009-03-08 On Being PresbyterianJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)8:34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 8:35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will

2009 Mk 09 02 -09 Transfiguration

2009-02-19T21:54:00.001-05:00

2008-02-22 Mark 9:2-9 TransfigurationJames McTyreLake Hills Presbyterian Church (USA)Today, we get ready to get ready for Easter.The forty days of getting ready for Easter is the season the church calls Lent.Today is the day to get ready for getting ready; the last Sunday before Lent, otherwise known as Transfiguration Sunday.So. Get ready.In scripture, we read how Jesus gets ready.He goes up on