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Ron Love

Ronald H. Love was called into the ordained ministry from a career as a state trooper. He has served Methodist churches in rural, inner-city and suburban settings for 20 years, and also served for four years as an Army chaplain. Dr. Love has also been a corporate librarian for a Fortune 500 company and been a university professor for ten years, teaching history and theology. His writing experience includes denominational publications, magazine articles on religion, and a newspaper devotional column. He holds a bachelor's degree in sociology (Slippery Rock State College), master's degrees in library and information science (University of Pittsburgh), secondary education (Duquesne University), church history (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), and theology (Wesley Theological Seminary), as well as a doctorate in homiletics (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). Dr. Love now resides in South Carolina.
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The Immediate Word

Seeing As God Sees -- 1 Samuel 15:35--16:13, Psalm 20, Mark 4:26-34, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Leah Lonsbury, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Robin Lostetter, George Reed, Christopher Keating -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2015
A recurring theme in this week’s lectionary texts is the great things that come in unexpected
Baby Steps And Bending The Arc -- John 15:9-17, 1 John 5:1-6, Acts 10:44-48, Psalm 98 -- Leah Lonsbury, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Robin Lostetter, Mary Austin, George Reed, Christopher Keating -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
The primary theme of recent weeks continues, with a focus on the subject of love.
A Non-Anxious Presence -- Mark 4:35-41, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, George Reed, Robin Lostetter -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2015
This week’s primary Old Testament and gospel passages each provide vivid illustrations of how many o
What Does The Widow Want Us To Know? -- Mark 12:38-44, Hebrews 9:24-28, Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Psalm 127 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed, Robin Lostetter -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2015
The lectionary gospel reading for Proper 27 features the familiar story of the poor widow and her ti
Of Pentecost, Polls, And Power -- Acts 2:1-21, Ezekiel 37:1-14, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Mary Austin, George Reed, Leah Lonsbury -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2015
The account of Pentecost in the book of Acts is filled with vivid imagery -- but though there are pl
Knowing What We Don't Know -- John 3:1-17, Romans 8:12-17, Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed, Robin Lostetter -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2015
The lectionary gospel text for Trinity Sunday brings us an interesting case study of someone who jus
Unprovable Hope -- Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38, Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Psalm 22:23-31 -- Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
In this week’s lectionary epistle passage, Paul characterizes Abraham’s attitude toward God’s cov
A House Divided -- Mark 3:20-35, 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1, 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15), Genesis 3:8-15 -- Robin Lostetter, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2015
As this past Sunday’s deadline passed without approval in the Senate for renewal of the Patriot Act,
I Need A Vacation! -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, Ephesians 2:11-22, 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed, Leah Lonsbury, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2015
The disciples update Jesus on the demands of their busy schedules in this week’s gospel text:
To Choose Weakness -- Mark 6:1-13, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, Psalm 48 -- Robin Lostetter, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, George Reed -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2015
Paul has a bracing message for us in this week’s epistle lesson -- one that seems just as appr
Je Suis Une Partie Du Corps (I Am A Part Of The Body) -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Psalm 139, John 1:43-51, 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2015
Paul opens this week’s epistle text with a sentence that ought to be a motto for our freedom-lovi
Promises, Promises -- Mark 6:14-29, Ephesians 1:3-14, 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24 -- Mary Austin, Robin Lostetter, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2015
This week’s lectionary gospel text tells the lurid story of John the Baptist’s demise.
Gathering The Fragments -- John 6:1-21, Ephesians 3:14-21, 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Psalm 14 -- Christopher Keating, Mary Austin, Robin Lostetter, Ron Love, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2015
This week’s lectionary gospel text brings us John’s vivid depiction of the feeding of the 5,000.
Simply Sacerdotal -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Mark 10:46-52, Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Robin Lostetter, George Reed, Mary Austin -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2015
In this week’s lectionary epistle passage, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews maintains that Je
Politics 'trumps' Ephesians -- Ephesians 4:1-16, 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, John 6:24-35, Psalm 51:1-12 -- Robin Lostetter, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2015
In the opening verses of this week’s epistle passage, the writer of Ephesians makes a heartfel
Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition -- Mark 12:28-34, John 11:32-44, Revelation 21:1-6a -- Dean Feldmeyer, Robin Lostetter, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, George Reed, Mary Austin -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2015
(This installment contains material for All Saints Day and Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 | Pentec
The University Of Gratitude -- Psalm 34:1-8, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, John 6:35, 41-51, 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Mary Austin, Robin Lostetter, Leah Lonsbury, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2015
This week’s alternate psalm text, Psalm 34:1-8, encapsulates what might be called an attitude of gra
Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition -- Mark 12:28-34, John 11:32-44, Revelation 21:1-6a, Ruth 1:1-18 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Robin Lostetter, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, George Reed, Mary Austin -- All Saints Day - B -- 2015
(This installment contains material for All Saints Day and Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 | Pentec
Night Of The Living Savior -- John 6:51-58, 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20, Psalm 111 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Robin Lostetter, George Reed -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2015
The common thread in this week’s lectionary readings is the importance of wisdom and discernme
This Too Shall Pass -- Mark 13:1-8, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, 1 Samuel 1:4-20, 1 Samuel 2:1-10 -- Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Robin Lostetter, Christopher Keating -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2015
When the disciples marvel at the impressive physical structure of the Jerusalem temple (“What
Does This Offend You? -- John 6:56-69, Ephesians 6:10-20, 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Psalm 84 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Robin Lostetter, Mary Austin, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2015
This week’s epistle and gospel readings provide us with a reality check about the difficult struggle
Highways And Byways -- Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:3-11, Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 1:68-79 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Robin Lostetter, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Mary Austin -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
This week’s gospel text brings us a bare-bones introductory portrait of John the Baptist.
Peanuts, Paste, And Pathways To God -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23, James 1:17-27, Song of Solomon 2:8-13, Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 -- Mary Austin, Robin Lostetter, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2015
In this week’s gospel reading, Jesus loses his patience (yet again) with a group of scribes and Phar
Dreaming Of A Green Christmas -- Luke 3:7-18, Philippians 4:4-7, Zephaniah 3:14-20, Isaiah 12:2-6 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Robin Lostetter -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
In this week’s gospel text, John the Baptist asks a penetrating question: “Who warned you to flee fr
Who Speaks For Those Who Can't? -- Mark 7:24-37, James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17, Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, Psalm 125 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Leah Lonsbury -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2015
By providing cures for a deaf-mute and the daughter of a foreign woman, Jesus does much more in this

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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
The Black Angel. That’s what Michael Christopher calls Herman Engel in his play. Herman Engel is a cruel man, an “angel” by name, but darkest black in his Nazi soul. During World War II, he led his army in a horrible massacre of French villages. And after the war, justice catches up with him at the Nuremberg trials. He is sent to jail.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)
How many of us understand God’s call on our lives? How many of us need a wise advisor to help us understand what God is asking us? Samuel is confused about who is calling him, thinking it is his teacher and mentor. Eli has to explain to Samuel that he is being called by God. Understanding this, Samuel responds to God, “Here I am.”

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
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Dean Feldmeyer
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Elena Delhagen
For June 2, 2024:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message includes a game to play together. Have fun with having the children shout out their answers. It makes the message memorable.

* * *

Hello, everyone! Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Instead of just telling you the story, I thought it would be more fun if we played a game that told the story. Are you ready to play the game? (Let them respond.)  

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” (v. 4)

Back in those days dark was dark.

Really dark.

In a moonless sky, the stars would shine brighter than most of us have ever seen, all the more awe-inspiring their majesty, paradoxically emphasizing all the more the darkness that reigned.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.
-- Deuteronomy 5:12

Schuyler Rhodes
There's something about someone who knows you really well. It is a state of grace that slices across all other interactions. Sit across the table from a spouse of twenty years, a best friend of half a century, a sister or brother who has grown with you through the victories and the defeats. It's an amazing moment to look into the eyes of such a person and know ... that they know.
Michael D. Wuchter
Out of darkness the light shall shine! God's glory shining in the face of Christ. Yet we who have this spiritual gift are like common clay pots.
-- 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (paraphrased)

Charles Curley
It was a time of distrust and disillusionment in the land of Israel. People did not trust those who governed them. Those in positions of leadership were thought to be inept or corrupt, and often both. There was a lack of vision about the future of the people. Because those in leadership seemed helpless, hopeless and corrupt, God looked outside the tents of power to find new leadership with vision.
William G. Carter
A few years ago, I was asked to serve as the worship leader at a regional church conference for teenagers. The enthusiastic recruiter told me about the wonderful experience I could expect from the gathering. "Every summer," she said, "the conference brings together about a hundred or so young people at a camp that has no swimming pool. We gather during the dog days of August. The conference is so much fun, nobody misses the pool!"

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