9/15/19 A Place to Stand
A Place to Stand by Rev. L. John GableSeptember 15, 2019 We find ourselves rather unexpectedly in the middle of a short series of messages which might appropriately be called “About Being Presbyterian”. I say “unexpectedly” because as I mentioned last...
9/8/19 The Bill of (Presbyterian) Rights
The Bill of (Presbyterian) Rights by Rev. L. John GableSeptember 8, 2019 I think it is important to give credit where credit is due, so I give credit today to Oscar for suggesting this sermon and short series. Each time we offer an Inquirer’s class we...
8/25/19 Go Back to Bethel
Go Back to Bethel by Rev. L. John GableAugust 25, 2019 I have confessed to you before that I am directionally-impaired. When Kris and I are driving somewhere and we get disoriented we have learned that if my instinct is to turn right then we are best to...
8/18/19 Imagine
8/11/19 Chameleon for Christ
Chameleon for Christ by Rev. L. John GableAugust 11, 2019 I’d like to give you an insight in to a dilemma every pastor I know encounters from time to time, at what point when meeting someone new do you disclose that you are a pastor? I know I have told...
7/28/19 Trust in God
7/21/19 All Work and No Pray
All Work and No Pray by Rev. L. John GableJuly 21, 2019 Someone once said, “We know that the Bible is true because we find ourselves in it”, or a Coleridge said, “It finds me!” By faith we claim that the Bible is the Word of God and the record of God’s...
7/14/19 He Must Increase, I Must Decrease
7/7/19 Amen!
Amen! by Rev. L. John GableJuly 7, 2019 The young minister, new to his first call, wanted to introduce some liturgical responses into the worship service, so when he said, “The Lord be with you”, he instructed the congregation to respond, “And also with...
6/30/19 What Are You Going to Do Forever?
What Are You Going to Do Forever?June 30, 2019 Cartoonist Jules Feiffer once drew a series of sketches of an older couple sitting opposite each other who were obviously very bored. Frame after frame neither of them stirs until the man finally asks his...
6/23/19 Daniel in Exile
Daniel in Exile by Rev. L. John GableJUne 23, 2019 (Daniel standing as a prisoner, wearing a simple robe with bands around his wrists) Perhaps you have heard it said that “all gods have clay feet, save one.” I learned that lesson early in life and it has...
6/16/19 The Fifth Easter
The Fifth Easter by Rev. L. John GableJune 16, 2019 This past Easter we looked together at what Franklin Ralls calls “the four Easters” which we experience. The first is clearly the most significant. It was the first Easter, nearly 2000 years ago, when by...
6/9/19 The Forgiveness of Sins
6/2/19 Ordinary Saints
Ordinary Saints by Rev. L. John GableJune 2, 2019 We come this morning to the next affirmation in our study of the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the communion of saints”, and I can’t quite decide whether this is the introduction of yet another aspect of...
5/26/19 One: The Holy Catholic Church
The Apostles' Creed: One--The Holy Catholic Church by Rev. L. John Gable May 26, 2019 Yesterday I had the privilege of performing the wedding ceremony of a young man who grew up in our church in Wisconsin who now lives in Cincinnati. The Scripture lesson...
May 19, 2019 I Believe in the Holy Ghost
5/12/19 What Ever Happened to the Permanent Record?
What Ever Happened to the Permanent Record? by Rev. L. John GableMay 12, 2019 I mentioned earlier that my mother, just turned 95, is here this morning, so I thought I might be safe, in the company of numbers, to confess to the time, the one and only time I might add,...
5/5/19 I Go, You Stay; I Say, You Go
I Go, You Stay; I Stay, You Go by Rev. L. John GableMay 5, 2019 Those of you who follow the liturgical calendar are probably wondering why we are talking about the ascension today when today is not the Ascension Day. (Those of you who aren’t even sure what...
4/28/19 Can I Get a Witness?
Can I Get a Witness? by Rev. L. John GableApril 30, 2019 I have a pastor friend who, at the end of every sermon he preaches, asks, “So what?” Regardless of the passage or the topic, he asks the congregation to consider the implications and applications of...
4/19/19 In Hell of All Places (Good Friday)
In Hell of All Places by Rev. L. John GableApril 19, 2019 You may not recall it now, but I feel fairly confident I can tell you what you were doing last July 8th, 9th and 10th. You, along with the rest of the world, were watching with rapt attention as...
4/21/19 The Four Easters
The Four Easters by Rev. L. John GableApril 21, 2019 (Easter Sunday) We opened our service this morning by reading the Gospel writer John’s account of the first Easter morning. At the break of day John tells us Mary Magdalene went to the tomb of Jesus who...
4/14/19 Walk a Week with Jesus
Walk a Week with Jesus by Rev. L. John GableApril 14, 2019 In January of 2012 I had the opportunity to visit the Umoja Project in Kenya. I know I have told you many stories about my experiences visiting that partner in ministry as they care for the needs...
4/7/19 A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities by Rev. L. John GableApril 7, 2019 “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light,...
3/31/19 A Necessary Change
3/24/19 Rightly Related
Rightly Related by Rev. L. John GableMarch 24, 2019 During these past several weeks we have been talking about Jesus’ “I AM” statements, and I think it would be safe to say that we want what Jesus offers. He says He is the “Bread of life” and we...
3/17/19 Help for the Directionally Impaired
Help for the Directionally Impaired by Rev. L. John GableMarch 17, 2019 The Tab staff meets together every Tuesday morning beginning with devotions at 9:00 am, and this past Tuesday was my day to lead. In recent weeks I have had Jesus’ “I AM” statements...
3/10/19 First Things First
3/3/19 There’s More!
There's More by Rev. L. John GableMarch 3, 2019 I think you would agree with me that it changes the way we hear or read a story when we know how the story is going to end. We get far less engaged in the drama on the screen when, in the back of our minds,...
2/24/19 The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd by Rev. L. John GableFebruary 24, 2019 I heard a story on the news recently about a man who fell through the ice on a frozen pond while trying to rescue his dog that had broken through the ice before him; fortunately both man and dog were...
2/17/19 Access and Egress
Access and Egress by Rev. L. John GableFebruary 17, 2019 Can you recall ever having the experience of knowing exactly where you were when you heard a new word and learned its meaning? For some reason, I can recall many such occasions, but two in particular...