This work contains a number of homilies I presented at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Payson, Arizona, over the last ten years. During that time period, I served as a subdeacon and licensed lay preacher.
Initially, Father Tantimonaco recommended that I be licensed to preach, and the then-presiding bishop, the Right Reverend Kirk Smith, saw to it that I was licensed to preach in the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. However, neither is responsible for any errors of omission or commission committed by me during my time period as a licensed lay preacher. Hence, any errors appearing in this book belong solely to me, period!
The title of this piece, A Sinner Looks at Scripture: A Collection of Homilies, reflects the fact that I make no claim to be a theologian nor paragon of virtue. This work simply represents my reflections on certain pieces of scripture, buttressed by what I believe to have been a careful reading of works authored by numerous scholars in the field.
It is my hope that this work will serve as a catalyst for individuals and/or groups seeking to delve more deeply into Scripture. The scriptures examined in this piece are drawn primarily from both testaments. In addition, a prayer attributed to Francis, along with pieces taken from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer serve as discussion points in this work too.
If this material proves to be thought-provoking, then I shall have achieved my goal. And no, it is not incumbent upon the reader that she/he agrees with my analyses. It is crucial, however, that potential readers employ their own intellect in discerning the overall value of the presentations herein as they relate to their understanding of Scripture.