Author Archives: tmrichmond3

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About tmrichmond3

I am the pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Medford, Oregon. I believe that faith should be able to sustain us, not oppress us.

Diner Theology

Posted on October 20, 2018 by tmrichmond3

I love eating in diners. You how to tell if you are in a good diner? Your coffee cup is never empty. There is always a waitress coming by to fill it. You get to half a cup and this … Continue reading →

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A Holy Yielding

Posted on October 17, 2018 by tmrichmond3

    This is a piece I wrote in 2008, after doing a workshop for the Quaker national gathering. At the time I was worshiping at a Quaker meeting, and considered myself to me more Quaker than anything else. I … Continue reading →

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That One Thing…

Posted on October 15, 2018 by tmrichmond3

  I was 17 when I had a faith encounter that changed my life. The story of the encounter was not so dramatic, but what happened immediately after was. At the time I was working in a professional summer stock … Continue reading →

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Posted on October 8, 2018 by tmrichmond3

  It has been a little quiet here the last few weeks. I have been busy doing the editing on a book of sermons, and it has just come out! It is published by Parson’s Porch Press, and is available … Continue reading →

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A Global Faith

Posted on October 8, 2018 by tmrichmond3

This sermon was preached on World Communion Sunday.  In the early 1970s the government of Peru did an extensive survey of their population, to find out how they could best serve their population. Some of the results were really puzzling, … Continue reading →

Posted in Church Growth, Communion, Global Christianity, ministry, Mission, Preaching, Sermons, World Communion Sunday, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Quality of Mercy

Posted on September 11, 2018 by tmrichmond3

  Back in the early ’90s I was in the market for a new car, and decided, with a family of four, maybe we needed a mini-van. (It was the ’90s!) I saw a used one for sale, a model … Continue reading →

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There’s No Place Like….Where’s Toto?

Posted on September 6, 2018 by tmrichmond3

  We are almost at the end of our journey on the Yellow Brick Road. Today we will learn how Toto, the mythic Trickster, helps Dorothy see what life is all about.    Romans 8:28-30 28We know that all things … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Musings, Preaching, Sermons, Spiritual Growth, spirituality, Wizard of Oz | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Of Witches, Flying Monkeys, and Munchkins

Posted on August 29, 2018 by tmrichmond3

  When I mentioned I was doing a series on the Wizard of Oz, I got a very common reaction from people—that movie scared me to death. Whether it was the Wizard, who really scared me, or the Wicked Witch … Continue reading →

Posted in Evil, Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Musings, Preaching, Sermons, Spiritual Growth, spirituality, Wizard of Oz | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Very Bad Wizard

Posted on August 21, 2018 by tmrichmond3

  One of my favorite movies is Bruce Almighty.  In one scene Bruce encounters God, who encourages Bruce to pray. Bruce prays. “Lord, feed the hungry, and bring peace to all of mankind.:” he turns to God and asks, “How’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Healing, Musings, Preaching, Sermons, Spiritual Growth, spirituality, Wizard of Oz | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Beams of New Oxford Hall

Posted on August 17, 2018 by tmrichmond3

I love a good story, and this is one of my favorites. I first read it in Stewart Brand’s The Next Whole Earth Catalog. It was told to him by the anthropologist Gregory Bateson. New College, Oxford, is of rather … Continue reading →

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