Books published by Parson's Porch

I find it hard to believe that I'm able to assemble a collection of sermons that spans twenty years-from 1996 to 2016. This collection includes sermons from my seminary intern year in California, as well as from churches I've pastored in Vermont, Colorado, and New York. There are sermons on the Parables of Jesus, on the Book of Job, and sermons that wrestle with current events, including two sermons that were substantially rewritten on Saturday in response to the news on Friday.I once heard it said that preaching on the Parables of Jesus was "a young preacher's dream and an older preacher's nightmare." In this collection you'll find sermons on Jesus' parables from a young preacher and from an older one. I do know that in my early years I was eager to tackle the hardest parables, such as the "Unjust Steward" or "Dishonest Manager" of Luke 16:1-8, and now I approach the parables with considerably greater caution. In this collection you'll find four sermons preached on the Book of Job, which is a task that I approached with tremendous humility and caution. I'm in debt to Samuel Balentine's commentary on the Book of Job, and to Thomas G. Long's book What Shall We Say? Evil, Suffering, and the Crisis of Faith for immensely helpful insights into Job.During the 2015-2016 program year the Katonah Presbyterian Church committed to reading through Brian McLaren's book We Make the Road by Walking. We had small group discussions of the book, and each week the sermon was in dialogue with the scripture texts and the pertinent chapter in McLaren's book. You'll find two of those sermons in this collection: "Working Through the Unimaginable" and "Judgment Day."

This is an unusual rendering of the Seven Last Words in that it concentrates more on the humanity of Jesus: in his use of contemporary language, in his expressions of anguish as he begs the Father's mercy, in his triumph over his own human doubting and his final letting go in full trust, turning over his spirit to the infinite Mercy he always knew awaited him. My rationale comes from the Eucharistic prayer that describes him as "one like us in all things but sin". I took that to imply that even Jesus -- God though he was -- could be subject to uncertainty at times, to hurt feelings when friends disappointed him, to times of impatience, anger, loss, frustration and ambivalence.

Keep in mind as you read Paul's writing that you are hearing what Paul wrote, but may not have a full grasp of the problem to which he is speaking. It is like hearing one side of a telephone conversation. It is reading letters that are responses to letters received; problems heard about; and personal concerns and truth that Paul desires to convey to the readers. The purpose of this study is to help the reader get a better grasp of Paul's story and through meditation and questioning discover ways to be a better follower of Jesus The idea is to study Paul in the light of the life and teachings of Jesus. "The Jesus Story: Musings for Meditation and Application" might give additional help. Each chapter in this book will also close with an Application to Life challenge. This book is designed for individual and group study.

The creativity, the intellectual work, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit all combined for me in a marvelous and weighty, yet light and sparkling way for me to be a channel of God's word on a given Sunday. I thank God for giving me the opportunity and the challenge, the responsibility and the creative gifts to bring these matters to life. I hope you will find these sermons of use to you in your spiritual life despite the fact that they were written prior to the turn of the 21st century. None were written on a typewriter, however - all had the benefit of a computer!

The sermons in this book were written with so much help from other people that I can hardly claim to be the author. Most every day I am taking notes as I see the Holy Spirit at work in the world, writing down things that I see and what I hear people say. I am very grateful for every person who has allowed me to share part of his or her story from the pulpit. Each of you has made the Gospel come alive to me.

Joe and Bertha McKeever are acquainted with grief. Grief 101 is their gift to others who have faced the death of someone loved.Thirteen months after Margaret died and twenty-one months after Gary died, Bertha Fagan and Joe met for the first time. Eleven months later, they married. Bertha Pepper Fagan was married to Dr. Gary Fagan, a preacher of the gospel and a seminary classmate of Joe's, for over 52 years. Gary and Bertha pastored churches across the country, and then went as missionaries to Malawi and Brazil. This book represents their grief journey as each of them faced life without their life companion. Grief 101: How to get back up when blindsided by the death of someone you love is a simple guide for others who are experiencing a profound confrontation with loss and grief.

Like our own capillaries, tiny branches reach into the vacant space around them. Light - air - water - even snow sustain them. Their movements unobserved, they inch, surreptitious, into the air,curve toward the window, stare in at us as if to say, "How sadly self-contained you are."

When we started swapping stories with each other, we realized our stories are poignant enough, interesting enough, and funny enough to share with others. That is how this book got started and ultimately came to fruition. Oddly, we are really very different in many aspects of our lives. Suellen grew up in East Tennessee where she grew to love the mountains. Joyce grew up in West Tennessee where she loved the flat land and the Mississippi River. And now here we are living in Middle Tennessee where we have discovered the one thing we have in common is a keen sense of humor, and the grace to know a good story when we find one.

Parson's Porch Books is delighted to present to you this series called Sermons Matter.We believe that many of the best writers are pastors who take the role of preacher seriously. Week in, and week out, they exegete scripture, research material, write and deliver sermons in the context of the life of their particular congregation in their given community.We further believe that sermons are extensions of Holy Scripture which need to be published beyond the manuscripts which are written for delivery each Sunday. Books serve as a vehicle for the sermon to continue to proclaim the Good News of the Morning to a broader audience.We celebrate the wonderful occasion of the preaching event in Christian worship when the Pastor speaks, the People listen and the Work of the Church proceeds.

Early Morning "Listening"I'm really a morning person, if left to my own devices. When I'm involved with someone (when I was married or when I'm dating someone) that schedule gets pushed to the back. For one thing, I seem to pick night owls. But for another, it is hard to find one-on-one time before kids are in bed, which means staying up. But when I am left on my own, I tend to go to bed at the same time as the kids - 9 or 9:30, read for maybe 30 minutes and then crash. That means on the other end, I often wake up at 5 or 5:30, long before there is any movement from the children. I like going to bed at the same time as the kids. There is often a little more conversation than otherwise as I tuck the kids into bed. And I find I love those quiet morning moments. I look out the window and watch the birds and other wildlife. I notice the plants and trees. I think, I pray. Sometimes I eat, sometimes I read. But mostly it is time between me and my Creator to just be. No matter what else is going on, that quiet time centers me, grounds me, reminds me of the big picture. Before the hustle and bustle of the day, it helps me to slow down and take my time. Before being inundated with news and media and the traumas of the world, it helps me to just see the beauty out my window and in whatever corner of the world I am currently sitting. This time helps me to be peaceful and to put that peace into my heart to strengthen me for more chaotic moments. It reminds me to be grateful for each breath and for each day as it comes. No doubt the day will hold challenges. But I am fortified to meet them through this morning routine of peace and quiet. It is one of life's big gifts. And I am grateful.

Nothing could have prepared Shannah for what she just saw. Her husband and this woman were checking into a local hotel together. Ezekiel told me he would be working late but I guess he made a stop first. After 6 faithful years of marriage to Ezekiel, I find text messages and phone numbers to this random chick (or so I thought). I know I shouldn't have gone through his phone, but his strange behavior made me suspicious, so I began following him. I saw with my own eyes what had been distracting him. My whole life crumbled right before my eyes. What about our children? What about the vows we took? After all I have done for him, and this is how he thanks me. I was ANGRY! In the middle of my madness, Desmond sends me a message on social media. What a convenient time for my ex-boyfriend to try to get in touch with me. Will Shannah forgive Ezekiel or get even?

The writing of The Women of Judges was written, as were my previous two books, through a request from Dr. Arthur Crisco. Art is the volunteer editor for a Christian missionary organization. The original request was for leaflets on eleven women in The Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Then he suggested the material be put into a book. I edited the leaflet material and added material on each. I included a chapter on the abducted women found in the last two chapters of Judges. I also added Naomi, Ruth and Hannah who lived in the time of the Judges. The Scripture translation I use is from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).The other two books mentioned above: The Jesus Story, Musings for Meditation and Application and The Paul Story, Musings for Meditation and Application. Both are available from ParsonsPorchBooks.com or through your favorite book store.

Books can do many things. They can inspire, share history, scare, thrill, inform- the list is long. As I look over the chapters on Iraq, Chiapas, Iran, Hezbollah, Zaire etc- I see the very real possibility that this book could become a new text for the International Society for Research on Impulsivity! Impulsivity is defined as the “tendency to act on a whim, displaying behavior characterized by little or no forethought, reflection, or consideration of the consequences.” I got that- I really do. Personally, I’ve tried to measure some life situations- and some decisions- by this axiom; “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”As of this writing, it’s been over 40 years since I had the privilege of working as a young chaplain at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department in Memphis, Tennessee. The Senior Chaplain was Rev. Jimmy Whitlock, a complicated amalgamation of faith and fury. Under his care, I spent my days in the jail, and my nights on the streets of Memphis.

Parson's Porch Books is delighted to present to you this series called Sermons Matter.We believe that many of the best writers are pastors who take the role of preacher seriously. Week in, and week out, they exegete scripture, research material, write and deliver sermons in the context of the life of their particular congregation in their given community.We further believe that sermons are extensions of Holy Scripture which need to be published beyond the manuscripts which are written for delivery each Sunday. Books serve as a vehicle for the sermon to continue to proclaim the Good News of the Morning to a broader audience.We celebrate the wonderful occasion of the preaching event in Christian worship when the Pastor speaks, the People listen and the Work of the Church proceeds.Take, Read, and Heed.David Russell Tullock, M.Div., D.Min.PublisherParson's Porch Books

Parson's Porch Books is delighted to present to you this series called Sermons Matter.We believe that many of the best writers are pastors who take the role of preacher seriously. Week in, and week out, they exegete scripture, research material, write and deliver sermons in the context of the life of their particular congregation in their given community.We further believe that sermons are extensions of Holy Scripture which need to be published beyond the manuscripts which are written for delivery each Sunday. Books serve as a vehicle for the sermon to continue to proclaim the Good News of the Morning to a broader audience.We celebrate the wonderful occasion of the preaching event in Christian worship when the Pastor speaks, the People listen and the Work of the Church proceeds.

The JOY Thieves is a collection of sermons that are also stories. Most come from the last few years here at Dickey Memorial in Baltimore, though a few wormed their way in from a year spent serving a church in Northern Ireland. Some imagine their way into the stories found in scripture, some use stories from my own life or the lives of those I love, and some are fictitious in their entirety. A few are complete narratives; most are only partially so. But they are all, at their core, storytelling sermons.

The writer of Ecclesiastes noted that "there is no end to the making of many books" (Ecclesiastes 12:12).[1] His observation certainly applies to books on prayer. Why, then, another book that explores the prayer-pattern Jesus gave His early followers? That is a good question. After all, countless books have been written on the subject. Furthermore, vast numbers of sermons have been delivered based on the texts, and myriads of Sunday School lessons have examined the prayer. It has been put to music, and many of us are moved by its beauty. To undertake to write another book that explores the brief accounts may seem presumptuous, even somewhat arrogant. I do not presume to be a New Testament scholar, and I do not claim insights no one else has received. In fact, most of my understanding of Jesus' words come from insights teachers, preachers, and writers have expressed. I have undertaken to write out of a personal interest in and fascination with Jesus' teaching that is preserved for us in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.I long have been convinced that the title "the Lord's Prayer" is a misnomer. Most of those who use the title may well mean the prayer the Lord gave His followers. Some may take it to mean a prayer Jesus prayed and shared with His disciples. Yet the petition for forgiveness is evidence to me that Jesus did not pray the prayer but intended it to be a pattern used by His followers. He had no sin for which He needed forgiveness; we are sinners and constantly need God's mercy. I believe the best title for Jesus' outline is "the Model Prayer." To me, it is a pattern or framework-a guide to authentic and productive prayer.

In a 1987 commencement address at Duke University, broadcast journalist and news anchor Ted Koppel entertained the audience with his observation about the Ten Commandments: "What Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai were not the Ten Suggestions. They are commandments." Unfortunately Mr. Koppel was wrong on both counts. In the Hebrew text, the translation is properly "words" or "sayings" rather than "laws" or "commandments." This part of the sacred text was initially referred to as the "Decalogue" or the "Ten Words" of God, and today some continue to choose the specific terminology of the "ten words" for its characterization.Unlike most legal codes the "Ten Words" provide neither enforcement guidelines nor consequences for their violation. These "Ten Words" were the preamble to the Torah, the Jewish law, and became synonymous with legal requirements and codes of conduct among the Hebrews. In association with Jewish law, the Decalogue eventually was identified as the "Ten Commandments." Their character to guide behavior and to proscribe conduct was firmly established over the centuries and was wholly adopted by the Christian faith.

Nine years ago a thirty-second phone call changed my life. I was hosting the annual Christmas luncheon for our staff when I slipped out to get the results from a recent blood test. The voice on the other end of the line announced, "Your PSA is 3.5." The blood drained from my head as a bowling ball dropped into my stomach. Usually any number below 4.0 is considered normal. But I had undergone a prostatectomy six weeks earlier. My PSA should have been zero. No one had anticipated this. Everybody, and I mean everybody, had told me I would be fine. After all, the cancer had been caught early and my numbers were relatively low. But a retest a few days later confirmed our fears. I had metastatic prostate cancer for which there is no cure. My wife, my family and I were devastated.As I sought to absorb this disquieting news, I was troubled by how fearful and anxious I felt. When I reached into my spiritual satchel for consolation, all I found were pennies, lint and a bus token. As a pastor, I thought I would be able to face such a trial with peace and confidence in God. In their absence, I realized that my spirituality was a mile wide and an inch deep. Although I had observed daily devotions for decades, my prayer life, scripture study and overall discipleship were anemic at best.

I have been a United Methodist pastor for 13 years. But only for the past six years have I been in a position that requires me to preach almost every single Sunday. My first appointment out of seminary was as an associate pastor of a large congregation with five clergy; I preached monthly if I was lucky. My next position was an administrative role on our Conference staff. And for the last six years, I have served as the pastor of Skycrest United Methodist Church, a vibrant mid-sized church in beautiful Clearwater, Florida.It is both easier and harder to preach week in and week out. It is easier, in that you don't feel the need to say everything; you know you'll get another opportunity next week. It is harder, in that it feels like every time you turn around, another Sunday is coming, and quickly!

Parson's Porch Books is delighted to present to you this series called Sermons Matter.We believe that many of the best writers are pastors who take the role of preacher seriously. Week in, and week out, they exegete scripture, research material, write and deliver sermons in the context of the life of their particular congregation in their given community.We further believe that sermons are extensions of Holy Scripture which need to be published beyond the manuscripts which are written for delivery each Sunday. Books serve as a vehicle for the sermon to continue to proclaim the Good News of the Morning to a broader audience.We celebrate the wonderful occasion of the preaching event in Christian worship when the Pastor speaks, the People listen and the Work of the Church proceeds.Take, Read, and Heed.

Today's passage describes the events of the eighth day of Jesus' life. We see the observance of tradition by His parents, the patience of a devoted servant, and the praise of a godly, elderly woman. Observance, patience, praise - all qualities to emulate in this New Year.

Parson's Porch Books is delighted to present to you this series called Sermons Matter.We believe that many of the best writers are pastors who take the role of preacher seriously. Week in, and week out, they exegete scripture, research material, write and deliver sermons in the context of the life of their particular congregation in their given community.We further believe that sermons are extensions of Holy Scripture which need to be published beyond the manuscripts which are written for delivery each Sunday. Books serve as a vehicle for the sermon to continue to proclaim the Good News of the Morning to a broader audience.We celebrate the wonderful occasion of the preaching event in Christian worship when the Pastor speaks, the People listen, and the Work of the Church proceeds.Take, Read, and Heed.

As the current Pastor of the Old Meeting House, I bid you warmly welcome to our ancient Chapel. It has been my privilege, over the years, to greet hundreds of visitors, and to paint word-pictures of our long history - which is not only enthralling, but also culturally significant. I myself am still learning about it. You, too, may have questions; and I believe the following pages will answer some of them.Question One for most visitors is: "What's this Book of Sports I've heard about?" In this little guide, I will give a short explanation - as well as an overview of the Congregational Church, our beliefs, and significant aspects of our history. It will be a challenge with so few pages at my disposal; but I'm keen to spread the word about why this Chapel is such a cultural landmark - not only for Norwich and England, but for the Christian Church across the Atlantic.I am not the first to point out that the word "history" is really "His-story". The Old Meeting House is a rich spiritual well, wherein many have imbibed the Waters of Life. As you spend time here on your visit, I pray that you may experience God's peace - and, at the same moment, receive a sprinkling of the faith of our Early Fathers, who lovingly built this Chapel during difficult days of our English Nation's history.To find out more about the Independent (or Separatist) Church and its birthplace, Norwich, please visit www.oldmeetinghousechurch.org.uk

The origin of this book has kinship with the merging of two rivers. Two rivers existed side by side. One had flowed longer than the other river. It had received the water and rich deposits of rivers, creeks, and streams. The other river was formed later. The two rivers existed separately, but ultimately they merged. The water from the older river mixed with the younger river. Their waters became intermingled. As they flowed together, their waters blended thoroughly. Other tributaries flowed into the combined river, and this one river was filled with deposits from many sources. As the river flowed, it emptied its waters in a large gulf. If you looked at the river, you could not tell what water be­longed to what river.This analogy fits the formation of this book. James C. Taylor resembles the description of the river which existed longer. He has been a pastor, a navy chaplain, and a seminary professor. He has taught preachers to build sermons for over three decades. Through these decades many streams of homiletical information flowed into his life and ministry -Charles W. Koller, George Buttrick, Andrew W. Blackwood, H. Grady Davis, John A. Broadus, Austin Phelps, Phillips Brooks, Halford Luccock, Ralph Sockman, and others. Students from several generations have learned from this teacher of preaching. They have observed the character of his life, and they have applied his techniques of building a sermon. Also, he has listened to their feedback; thus, he has been able to improve his content and method of teaching continuously.The other river in the analogy is Harold T. Bryson. His system of preaching was influenced by Taylor in an expository preaching class. Bryson listened to Taylor's theory of preaching and applied it in his student pastor­ate and in subsequent pastorates. He sought each week to build sermons with the idea of helping his people, according to the system shared by Taylor. Bryson served as a pastor for nineteen years. The mechanics of "building" a sermon to meet people's needs intrigued both men. Bryson, in the pastorate, and Taylor, in the seminary, shared ideas with each other. They listened to each other. They learned together about one system of building a sermon. They continuously insisted that the system of sermon construction must be subservient to helping people with their needs.

Parson's Porch Books is delighted to present to you this series called Sermons Matter.We believe that many of the best writers are pastors who take the role of preacher seriously. Week in, and week out, they exegete scripture, research material, write and deliver sermons in the context of the life of their particular congregation in their given community.We further believe that sermons are extensions of Holy Scripture which need to be published beyond the manuscripts which are written for delivery each Sunday. Books serve as a vehicle for the sermon to continue to proclaim the Good News of the Morning to a broader audience.We celebrate the wonderful occasion of the preaching event in Christian worship when the Pastor speaks, the People listen and the Work of the Church proceeds.

The church is a congregation of likeminded believers, supporting and encouraging one another; a place of forgiveness and healing. On any given Sunday, you will find pastors speaking passionately from the pulpit, people singing and worshiping unashamed of their love for God. Yet mention the word "sex" or "sexuality" and you can hear a pin drop.Why the silence around the topic of sexuality in the church? Where did the passion go? Where did the celebration of lovers, like the teaching on the subject from the Songs of Solomon go?This book is a bold proclamation, from a courageous pastor, willing to break the silence and speak about the joy still found in sexuality and the church. It challenges congregations everywhere to open their platforms and ministries to discuss this important subject; one that deeply affects our households and future generations.Here one will discover a voice for sexuality from a spiritual perspective, filled with love and grace, giving us permission to fully embrace our sexuality as a gift from God.Thank you pastor James for your courage to share.

I call this third volume of poems "The Hum of It All" to indicate a unifying process in my life. We are born into a world of dualisms. It's just the way things are from birth. We hear a limited range of sounds, but we know from science that we are unable to hear or experience so many more sounds, echoes of the Big Bang, that move through us unheard.My Siamese cat Max purrs loudly on my chest to remind me of this bigger concert in the cosmic music hall. My choice of the alpha/omega symbol, linked with my family of origin, signals continuity. Many poems in this and earlier volumes point toward an evolving spirituality of insights from east and west. It's a way of echoing a motto from my Jesuit days of finding God in all things. But my view of God has changed. Now the divine is more beyond knowledge (agnostic), yet as close as my body and within wider nature as an all-pervasive mystery (pantheistic).While unconstrained by the rules and theologies of religion, I've been pulled by them toward justice and charity. My path continues with recent surprises like cancer. This episode has been part of my journey from "sky" to earth religion with my brethren in garden, river, and forest.

Sermons sprout from the fertile soil of life in God's magnificent and messy church. They also grow in the midst of busy and sometimes hectic pastoral ministry. As someone else has said, "Sunday comes every three days." And as I believe Union Presbyterian Seminary President T. Hartley Hall IV once described it, "The relentless return of Sunday."The sermons included here are, with only a few modifications, what I preached to my congregation. I've tried to preach with one eye zeroed in on the Bible with all its complexities, puzzlements, and wonders, and with one eye scanning what's happening in the world, the world that God loves and is involved with, the world God will never abandon, the world that God will finally make whole.