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David O. Bales

David Bales was a Presbyterian pastor for 33 years. He is a graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary. In addition to his ministry he also has taught college: World Religions, Ethics, Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Greek (lately at College of Idaho, Caldwell). He has been a freelance writer for Stephen Ministries. His sermons and articles have appeared in Interpretation, Lectionary Homiletics, Preaching the Great Texts and other publications. For a year he wrote the online column "In The Original: Insights from Greek and Hebrew for the Lectionary Passages." His books include: Gospel Subplots: Story Sermons of God's Grace, Toward Easter and Beyond, Scenes of Glory: Subplots of God's Long Story, and To the Cross and Beyond and Beyond: Cycle A Sermons for Lent and Easter. Dave has been a writer for the CSS online subscription, StoryShare, for five years. He can be reached at dobales.com.

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Render Unto Caesar -- Matthew 6:25-33, Joel 2:21-27, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Psalm 126 -- Frank Ramirez, Sandra Herrmann, Zan W. Holmes Jr., David O. Bales -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2012
Contents"Render Unto Caesar" by Frank Ramirez
The Way To God -- Matthew 5:13-20, Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Psalm 112:1-9 (10) -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2011
Contents"The Way to God" by Peter Andrew Smith
Written -- Matthew 17:1-9, Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Psalm 2 -- David O. Bales, C. David Mckirachan -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
Contents"Written" by David O. Bales
In The Arms Of Love -- Matthew 26:14--27:66, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16 -- Judy Sepsey, David O. Bales -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2011
These Christians And Their Money -- John 10:1-10, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, Psalm 23 -- David O. Bales, Larry Winebrenner -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Contents"These Christians and Their Money" by David O. Bales
Rauch -- John 20:19-23, Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- C. David Mckirachan, David O. Bales -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2011
Contents"Rauch" by C. David McKirachan "Claustrophobia" by David O. Bales
All Earthly Fathers -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Genesis 28:10-19a, Romans 8:12-25, Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 -- David O. Bales, Sandra Herrmann, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2011
Contents"All Earthly Fathers" by David O. Bales
Nice Feet! -- Matthew 14:22-33, Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b -- C. David Mckirachan, David O. Bales -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2011
Contents"Nice feet!" by C. David McKirachan
Glorious -- Matthew 22:15-22, Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Psalm 99 -- Craig Kelly, David O. Bales -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Contents"Glorious" by Craig Kelly "All This Over a Coin?" by David O. Bales
I Tertius, The Writer Of This Letter -- Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Psalm 149 -- David O. Bales, Craig Kelly -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Contents"I Tertius, the Writer of this Letter" by David O. Bales
The End Of What? -- Matthew 25:14-30, Judges 4:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Psalm 123 -- David O. Bales, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2011
Contents"The End of What?" by David O. Bales "The Aqueduct" by John Sumwalt
I'll Be The One In Black -- Luke 2:22-40, Isaiah 61:10--62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Psalm 148 -- C. David Mckirachan, Sandra Herrmann, David O. Bales -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2011
Contents"I'll Be the One in Black" by C. David McKirachan
I'll Be The One In Black -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Psalm 8 -- C. David Mckirachan, Sandra Herrmann, David O. Bales -- New Year's Day - A -- 2011
Contents"I'll Be the One in Black" by C. David McKirachan
The Book -- Mark 10:2-16, Job 1:1; 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Psalm 26 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Book" by David O. Bales
The Radiant Life -- John 3:1-17, Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, Psalm 29 -- Frank Ramirez, David O. Bales -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Radiant Life" by Frank Ramirez
The Scribe -- Mark 12:28-34, Ruth 1:1-18, Hebrews 9:11-14, Psalm 146 -- Larry Winebrenner, David O. Bales, Frank Ramirez, Lamar Massingill, Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Scribe" by Larry Winebrenner
The Scribe -- John 11:32-44, Isaiah 25:6-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, Psalm 24 -- Larry Winebrenner, David O. Bales, Frank Ramirez, Lamar Massingill, Sandra Herrmann -- All Saints Day - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Scribe" by Larry Winebrenner
The Greatest Glory -- Mark 1:29-39, Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Greatest Glory" by Keith Hewitt
The Lamb -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35, Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales, Larry Winebrenner, Peter Andrew Smith, Sandra Herrmann -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat’s Up This Week "The Lamb" by Keith Hewitt
The Lamb -- John 18:1--19:42, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, Psalm 22 -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales, Larry Winebrenner, Peter Andrew Smith, Sandra Herrmann -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat’s Up This Week "The Lamb" by Keith Hewitt
Discovering What We Will Be -- Luke 24:36b-48, Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Psalm 4 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales, John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Eunuch -- John 15:1-8, Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, Psalm 22:25-31 -- David O. Bales, C. David Mckirachan -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Eunuch" by David O. Bales
The Third Heaven -- Mark 6:1-13, 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Psalm 48 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Third Heaven" by David O. Bales
Reunion -- Mark 8:31-38, Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Psalm 22:23-31 -- David O. Bales, Larry Winebrenner, Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Reunion" by David O. Bales
The Final Robert -- John 6:35, 41-51, 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, Psalm 130 -- David O. Bales, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Final Robert" by David O. Bales
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
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Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me. (v. 4)

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One of the stories I tell in response to this question, was sent to me by Robyn Bradley of Oxford, Wisconsin. She’s a therapist and licensed clinical social worker who is the Director of Psychological Health for the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

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Object: A hearing aid.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s go!

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There was a farmer living in a remote part of the Norfolk countryside who had been burgled a number of times. On the last occasion he was disturbed in middle of the night, he went downstairs with his gun and when a torch was shone into his face, he pulled the trigger several times.

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(See Lent 4, Cycle A, and Easter 4, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

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... the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...

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__________

I have spent nine years here at the hospital. In the course of those nine years I've witnessed and experienced many strange things. I've watched events occur that made me stop and think and wonder. I've found myself doing something or I've found others doing something that made me scratch my head. I've come across many coincidences that made me wonder if indeed they were coincidences.
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It is hard to find a more bold expression of the Easter faith than what we hear from Peter today in our first lesson.

Peter and John had just healed a lame beggar at the gate of the temple. Without hesitation Peter proclaimed to the astonished crowd that the healing was the work of God who had raised Jesus from the dead. Almost immediately, the Sanhedrin arrests Peter and John and puts them on trial. They ask. "By what power or by what name did you do this?" (v. 7).

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Easter is in springtime for a reason. Springtime is that time of year when new life emerges from the old. Easter is that time of history when New Life emerged from the old.

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