I read an article years ago, written by an historian, which asked a strange but thought-provoking question: “in popular imagination, who was Hitler before there was a Hitler?” In other words, for the past 70 years or so, when we’ve needed to compare an evil ruler, dictator, or king to someone from the past who […]
Sermon 12-24-19: “Good News of Great Joy”
So the new Star Wars movie opened last week: “Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.” My kids and I saw it last Friday. Not to spoil anything, but I was very surprised to learn that the heroine of the trilogy, Rey, was the granddaughter of Jar Jar Binks. I did not see that coming at all, did you? I’m […]
Rev. Brent L. White | Sermon 12-22-19: “They Rejoiced Exceedingly with Great Joy”
We sing a song about today’s scripture during this season: “We three kings of orient are/ Bearing gifts we traverse afar/ Field and fountain, moor and mountain/ Following yonder star.” Literally one of my favorite Christmas hymns. Just a beautiful melody. Yet it’s wrong in nearly every detail! First, these wise men worked for a king; they were not […]
Rev. Brent L. White | “The gospel in a gangster movie”: meditation on Genesis 45:16-20
“Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.” Genesis 45:20 Last week I watched Martin Scorsese’s new film, The Irishman. I think I now understand the appeal of gangster movies: because I want to know the favor of someone who has the power and resources to […]
Rev. Brent L. White | Sermon 12-01-19: “Your Prayer Has Been Heard”
I’m always intrigued by the way angels are depicted in Hollywood. Think, for example, of Clarence from It’s a Wonderful Life. Think of Michael Landon in Highway to Heaven. Think of Roma Downey and Della Reese from Touched by an Angel. All these depictions of angels have one thing in common: the angels are completely […]
Rev. Brent L. White | “Good Tidings of Great Joy”: media page
My new Advent/Christmas devotional booklet will be handed out on December 1, 2019, at Toccoa First United Methodist Church. Devotionals will occasionally refer to media clips on this page. I hope these devotionals are a blessing to you! Enjoy! Dec. 2: A Christmas Story: Ralphie’s mother saves him. Dec. 5: A Charlie Brown Christmas: Charlie Brown loves […]
Rev. Brent L. White | “God designed this very moment”: meditation on Genesis 45:7-8
And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. Genesis 45:7-8a Joseph has just revealed his identity to his brothers, who, years earlier, caused him great evil and suffering. But Joseph sees […]
Rev. Brent L. White | Sermon 11-17-19: “Spiritual Warfare”
Sermon Text: Ephesians 6:10-20 You can listen to this sermon on my podcast in iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher. Subscribe now! Last Thursday night, with eight seconds left in the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, a Browns defensive end named Myles Garrett pulled the helmet off of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, […]
Rev. Brent L. White | “Trust God’s Word when it says you’re loved and forgiven”: meditation on Psalm 119:1
How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s instruction! Psalm 119:1 CSB “How happy are those”: The KJV and its successors use the word “blessed” (NLT: “joyful”) in place of “happy,” perhaps because “blessed” connotes a deeper, God-ordained kind of happiness. Still, I prefer “happy,” because it requires no […]
Rev. Brent L. White | “Every day is a fight for joy”: meditation on Psalm 116:10-11
I believed, even when I said, “I am severely oppressed.” In my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” Psalm 116:10-11 The fight of my life is the fight for joy. I want to know, alongside the apostle Paul, the “secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need” (Philippians […]
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