Woodhaven Presbyterian Podcast

Rev. Michael Thompson
Woodhaven Presbyterian Church
February 28, 2010 - Second Sunday in Lent
Isaiah 5: 5-9 and Matthew 15: 21-28

I was reading the other day about the celebration of worship on the Scottish Isle of Lewis.  The Christians on the Isle of Lewis are Calvinists, and to this day they still celebrate the Sabbath in the old Calvinist manner.  On Sunday morning people who, during the week, work together, socialize together, live as neighbors with one another, get in their cars and they drive to church.  Now here’s the really interesting part of the story.  They drive to mostly different churches, some standing right next to another.  And they’re all Presbyterian Churches!

(…excerpt from podcast)

 

 Trajectory of Faith [17:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rev. Michael Thompson
Woodhaven Presbyterian Church
February 21, 2010 — First Sunday in Lent
Deuteronomy 26: 1-11, Luke 4: 1-13

Jesus is about thirty years old when he begins his ministry.  Now, as we gather from Luke, Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit.  He turns from the Jordan River where he has been baptized, and is led by the spirit into the wilderness and there for forty days he will be tested and tempted by the devil.  You know it is not always easy to spot the devil.  He doesn’t always look like that little picture that used to be on the deviled ham can; you remember that little picture, he was all in red and had the long tail and pitchfork and little horns.  Pretty easy to spot.  He appears in Revelation as a lamb. He appears in Matthew’s gospel as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  Genesis tells us that of all the creatures God created, that Satan was the most crafty of all God’s creatures.  And now, while Jesus is in the wilderness, the devil will use scripture in order to try to prove his point with Jesus.

(…excerpt from podcast)

 

 The Grand Tempter [16:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rev. Michael L. Thompson
Woodhaven Presbyterian Church
February 14, 2010 — Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday
Luke 9:28-43

Once upon a time there was a man who went for a long walk into some unknown woods.  It became dark.  He lost his way.  He was deep in the woods and he was sure he would never be found.  Suddenly he fell into a dark, deep well.  Then he knew for sure that he would not survive.  So for several hours he prayed and he prayed without ceasing, asking Jesus to help him.

(…excerpt from podcast)

 

 Translating the Mountain Top Experience into the Valley [15:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rev. Michael L. Thompson
Woodhaven Presbyterian Church
February 7, 2010 — Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 9: 9-13

For those of you were here last week when I talked about my passion for signs, I’ve got one more for you this week and then I promise to leave them alone.  Not too long ago I saw a sign that I hadn’t seen in a long time, but it was a very familiar sign that I remember from my childhood.  It is a sign that used to appear in a lot of different restaurants:  “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service.”  I find myself wondering, was this a problem in the past?  Did people walk into these places and realize, “Oh my goodness, I forgot my shirt … oh, and my shoes, too?”  Is it a community-wide issue that has significance for the whole community, or is it just a sign to remind people that we’re not like that hole-in-the-wall restaurant down on the corner?

(… excerpt from podcast)

 

 No Sin, No Service [12:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download