ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S
UNITED CHURCH(ELCA)

Pastor's Page

Rev. Steven E. Thomas, Pastor

Rev. Steven E. Thomas, Pastor

     Pastor Steven Thomas was born in Houston, Texas. He graduated from New Mexico Tech with a BS in Chemistry. He was working as a chemist in Baltimore for a few years, and then decided to pursue the dream of being a pastor. In 1993, Pastor Steve graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg.

      Pastor Steve enjoys hiking, kayaking, and reading. Pastor Steve’s passion is always looking for greater understanding - especially in how our expanding scientific knowledge reveals additional wonders of God.

      Some of his favorite books are The Bible (of course), Awareness by Anthony DeMello, One Minute Nonsense by Anthony DeMello, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, E=mc2 by David Bodanis, and the Tolkein trilogy.


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Sample Sermon

Nathan and David


John 18:12-27


Joel 2:12-14


The Prodigal Son


Theodicy Sin Suffering


What Life Is All About


Keeping Sabbath


Jesus the Prism of Life


Isaiah 40:1-11


A Ray of Hopefulness

           


     Over these past several years, the public mood in our society has really become pessimistic.  The news from every news source focuses on all of the negative events in our world.  And now, with constant TV and internet coverage, every negative event throughout the world can be broadcast and shared and commented on over and over forever.

     And yet, when you look at many of the larger trends over the course of the last century or two, you can actually see a very positive progression.  The author, Steven Pinker in his book, Enlightenment Now makes a pretty good case that we are living in amazing times.  And there is a good possibility that the future will be even brighter.

     You can see this in areas like the massive increase in our life span over just the course of this past century.  Prior to 1880, the average life span was about 35 years old - and had been that way for centuries.  In 1900, the American life span was 40 years old.  Of course, those statistics includes many children and mothers who died in childbirth.  Today the average American life span is 75 years old.  That is almost doubled in just over one century.

     A couple of the reasons that this has increased so greatly is because we understand about germs.  We have created clean drinking water for everyone in our society.  We have vaccinations for some of the worst diseases throughout human history.  Horrible diseases like the black plague, yellow fever, smallpox, and the measles are gone.  Polio is on the edge of being completely eliminated from humanity.

     When Jonas Salk invented the polio vaccine in 1955, New York City wanted to throw him a ticker tape parade throughout the city.  Today, we seem to have completely forgotten the catastrophic toll that these everyday diseases used to take on people.

     In 1900, about 20% of children died before they were 5 years old (statistics from Sweden).  That is one out of every five children.  Now it is close to zero.

     The percentage of people with a basic education throughout the world has gone from about 30% in 1900 to about 80% today. 

     Our daily lives have improved dramatically due to running water, electricity and helpful household machines like the refrigerator, the washing machine, stove, microwave, vacuum cleaner, and dishwasher.  Housework has gone from about 60 hours per week in 1900 to about 19 hours per week today.

     Pinker estimates that poverty has decreased from 30% in 1960 to about 10% today.

     The work week is shorter than it used to be.  And people are far more likely to be able to retire than they used to be.  In 1900, 75% of men over 65 were still in the work force.  Today, only about 22% of men over 65 were still in the work force.

     Active wars in the world have decreased dramatically throughout the past century. 

     These various statistics and positive measures of our quality of life do not erase the challenges that face the world.  But, even as we try to deal with today’s problems, we would do well to keep in mind the many many blessings that we live with every day - even without knowing it.  In this way, we may live with just a little less pessimism about the hopelessness that the news and end-of-the-world movies continue to saturate us with.

     And, in addition, God has the power to guide us through dealing with the problems that we face.  You never know what amazing force or technology that God will enable humanity to harness.  God has certainly brought humanity through some amazing challenges.

     And finally, in our transcendent hope and faith, we say to our Lord, “Amen, Come Lord Jesus”.

 

- Pastor Steve

Pastor Messages of Special Interest

Suicide - Surviving Life’s Darkest Moments



Video of Archived Sermons

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