Well that came out of the blue

A year ago when we wished one another Happy New Year to welcome in 2023 little did I know that in 2023 would bring a diagnosis of Alzeimer's Disease. When that news was delivered it came as a shock but by then it didn't come as a surprise given the symptoms I had been experiening (such as the hard time I am having typing and posting this update). It is very scary (even terrifying) when you find yourself lost in your own home. Amnesia ( continues) to be a powerful metaphor for the situation that the church find itself in ... lost in our own home. One of the gifts that I have experienced in this Alzhemer's journey so far is that I am able to enjoy reading and to comprehemd the texts. These have iave included biographies of Abraham Lincoln and of John Brown, also a Journal of the Plague year by Daniel Dafoe as well as a fascinating history of 17th Century England.(titled "Rebellion: The History of England from James 1 to the Glorious Revolution" by Peter Ackroyd. Such a fascinating history that is easily lost to our collective memory. Now 1 am on to rereading the Brothers Karamazov. I also read "God's Secretaries" - A beautifully written story of the creation of the King James Bible, the continuing good news is that targeted oral chemotherapy continues to keep multiple myeloma and amylodiosis at bay, Now its a matter of coming to terms with two incurable diseases. I am not sure how long I will be able to keep blogging about this experience, but I am going to try. Maybe I will surprise myself.

Thanks for your supportive and encouraging comments. They mean a lot to me.

myeloma and amyloidosis update

It has been quite awhile since my last update ...

seed stump ... a sermon on Isaiah 6

This coming Sunday's lectionary text (for the fifth Sunday after Epiphany) from the Old Testament is Isaiah 6:1-13. Here is a sermon I preached on this powerful and yet painful text - "Seed Stump". I  remember this sermon but have forgotten that it can be found posted along with others from years ago at Little Well (with big thanks over the years to Jason Carlson for the site).

love is patient, love is kind ....

This coming Sunday brings us back in the three year lectionary cycle to the famous and well worn verses from the apostle Paul's first letter to the quarrelsome congregation in Corinth. The last time I had the privilege of proclaiming this text came nine years and three cycle ago at University Hill. The text can be found at "In a Riddle".

preaching ephesians

Those who are following the Revised Common Lectionary have an opportunity to preach from the Letter to the Ephesians on successive Sundays this month. Here are preacher's notes on the readings from Ephesians this July ...

                July 11 - Ephesians 1:3-14
                July 18 - Ephesians 2:11-22
                July 25 - Ephesians 3:14-21

post-diluvian treaty #1

Once again the people of University Hill Congregation are creating a Lenten devotion. Each day through the season of Lent a scripture reading from the Lenten journey through will be accompanied by the response of a member of the community. Here is my offering this year ...

I don’t often use the word “antediluvian”. I know it refers to something really old. But once you think about it this old word is really two words meaning “before flood”. Now that is old. Here, in Genesis chapter nine, we are in the very first post-diluvian days. The waters have begun to recede. The dove has returned with an olive branch. 

the journey continues ... pomalidomide and more

It has been a year and a half since I posted an update on life with myeloma. I am aware that others with myeloma are interested to know how things are going with my cancer journey. So here goes ...