Even though I don’t run marathons any longer, this morning I gave back to the people, the race, and the city I love my serving as the co-chaplain at the religious service tent. It was a glorious day for the runners.
Here is the sermon I delivered at all of the services:
Continue reading “My NYC Marathon Sermon 2025”
The following is the sermon I delivered at Grace United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 23, 2025. In addition to reading this article, you can also view the sermon (and the entire church service) HERE.
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Do You Believe? I Don’t Think They Did
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I’ll begin today by asking a few deep questions that seem simple at first, but, in fact, aren’t necessarily so straightforward nor easy.
On December 29, 2024, I served as the Lay Minister at Grace United Methodist Church in Wyckoff, NJ.
This is the complete worship service:
A long time ago, while the disciples were sitting with Jesus, they asked him how to pray. Jesus answered them. He first told them that God already knew what was in their hearts. He then shared with them some simple words to be used for prayer. These are words that have profound meaning. We know these words as The Lord’s Prayer.
Continue reading “A Simple (but profound) Prayer”
Did you ever wait in great anticipation for a new movie or a new book? You wait and you wait and you wait – and then finally the day comes. The book arrives or you head to the theater.
And then, it all ends too quickly.
It’s over before you know it.
I feel that way reading the Bible.
Continue reading “The Greatest Story Ever!”
Each year, at the start of the TCS Marathon, I serve as one of the chaplains who run the Non-Denominational Christian Service for the runners in the Start Village.
The following is the sermon I delivered this year before the big race:
Marathon Sermon 2024
I am going to begin this year’s message with a passage from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 9:
“You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win!”
Continue reading “NYC Marathon Sermon 2024”
Yesterday they buried my brother-in law- and my best friend, Mark. After a beautiful service, we drove to the cemetery, prayed during a brief graveside service, placed flowers on the casket, and said our goodbyes. We then returned to our cars and went to a repast.
And then life goes on.
Or it’s supposed to.
And it will, of course, but it’ll never be the same. It can’t be. How can anything be the same when a huge part of one’s life is missing?
I’ll turn to see Mark, and he won’t be there. I’ll think of something funny to share, but he won’t be there to share it with. I’ll think of his unqiue sayings and instead of laughing, I’ll feel am emptiness inside because I’ll never hear those words, from Mark at least, ever again.
We’re supposed to move forward – and we do. But it’s never the same.
Continue reading “Loss & Sadness and God & Jesus and Hope & Faith.”
On December 31, 2023, I was provided the wonderful opportunity to be the guest preacher at Grace United Methodist Church in Wyckoff, New Jersey.
Here is the sermon I delivered:
Today is the day when we close 2023 and look forward to 2024. Today is when we reflect on our past year and look forward to a new one.
It’s on the last day of the year that we might celebrate the New Years’ Resolutions that we succeeded in maintaining and it is also when we set our sights to the new day that tomorrow brings as well as the new hopes for us to find ways to be our better selves.
I set a goal for 2023 that I completed just a few days ago. I was able to keep my New Years’ resolution. That’s always a good feeling.
Continue reading “Resolutions and the New Year (A Sermon)”
The following is the sermon I delivered at the start of the 2023 New York City Marathon.
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One of my favorite passages in the Bible comes from Hebrews. Most runners are familiar with the passage as it reads:
“Let us run with perseverance, the race set before us.”
That, of course, is what we are here to do today. We are here to run, with purpose, and strength, using all our abilities and courage and confidence, that race, a big and mighty race, set before us.
Continue reading “Bringing God Into Our Running Lives”
I had the privilege of serving as the minister at Grace United Methodist Church in Wyckoff, NJ on Sunday, April 23, 2023.
The following is the sermon I delivered:
THE CHOSEN…
Have you ever looked at a common word and thought that it was spelled incorrectly? You see the word, you can read it but it just doesn’t seem…correct.
I remember being in high school, probably not paying much attention to the teacher, and noticing the word “exit.”
I simply didn’t look right.
But it was, of course.
Sometimes words, properly spelled, don’t look right.
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Continue reading “He Chose…US!”
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