Date: 09 Dec 2002
Time: 07:03:46
Seems like this is a good way, to make way for Jesus to be in your heart. Nancy-Wi
Date: 09 Dec 2002
Time: 12:56:44
This seems to continue the theme from last week: "repent and prepare!" I got a little more moralistic than I'd hoped, but I still think an occasional accountability is called-for.
"Abstain from every form of evil" - interesting that what I know to be evil is the attitude of racism from some in our church, and yet, they believe my desire for more racial integration is an evil encroachment on "their" church.
I'm not sure this kind of message would work well with our choir presentation this Sunday at worship. I also am TRYING (and I confess, sometimes it's hard) to stay positive and affirming in a "you can do it" way.
Sally in GA
Date: 09 Dec 2002
Time: 15:07:32
I came across some interesting words from Barbara Brown Taylor:
"Joy has never had very much to do with what is going on in the world at the time. That is what makes it different from happiness, or pleasure, or fun. All of those depend on positive conditions -- good health, good job, happy family, lots of toys. The only condition for joy is the presence of God. Joy happens when God is present and people know it, which means that it can erupt in a depressed economy, in the middle of a war, in an intensive care waiting room."
Doesn't that seem to clarify much of what Paul is saying about rejoicing always and about praying without ceasing? MTSOfan
Date: 10 Dec 2002
Time: 08:59:27
Thank you MTSOfan for the BBTaylor quote. What is the source - do you know?
I am really befuddled with the gospel reading again on John the Baptist - so I think I am going with the epistle. There is a Homiletics sermon (which I havent read in its entirety yet) that talks about "living in waiting rooms rather than waiting in living rooms" - these "commands" in the text: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks..." are great ways to cultivate living in any circumstances... joyful or otherwise, but especially in in-between, ordinary, daily living.
Looking forward to more discussion here.
...amma in FLA
Date: 10 Dec 2002
Time: 09:37:37
"Pray without ceasing"
There is a lovely little book from the Eastern Orthodox tradition called "The Way of a Pilgrim" that tells the story of a simple man who takes this single line of scripture to heart and sets off on a journey to learn how to pray continually. Helen Bacovcin did a worthy translation. The thrust of the book is to ponder what life could be like if lead solely by prayer. Another interesting book along these lines, more specifically written as guide to prayer, is 'The Cloud of Unknowing'. Each book is deceptively simple but I have found that they get under your skin and make you think. Give either some consideration this week for preaching material...
The basic thrust of my sermon will be to give some thought to this idea of rejoicing always and prayer without ceasing (Do we go about muttering to ourselves all day in prayer or shouting out loud to the world?) and broaden our definition of prayer from the folded-hands-head-bowed type of prayer (worthy and good as it is) toward a vision of prayer as life itself.
For inspiration, I leave you this-- "It is not who you are or what you were that is of interest to God but what you desire to be." --St. Gregory.
Happy Human Rights Day (did you get your shopping done?) TB in MN
Date: 10 Dec 2002
Time: 15:47:05
amma in FLA: I'm glad the quotation is helpful. I got it from BBT's full article in "The Living Pulpit", October-December, 1996. I no longer subscribe to that periodical, because it became too expensive, but I've saved all my copies. Best wishes as you mine this powerful section of a passage! MTSOfan
Date: 11 Dec 2002
Time: 12:15:17
We clergy often exhort our members to keep the real spirit of Christmas. I have never seen a better description of how to do that than what Paul has written in this passage. All of it it pertains to that theme, but verse 23 speaks so clearly to it. "May the God of peace (through God's own self to stay away from the gender reference)sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The totality of our being must anticipate Christ's coming both at Christmas and in his final coming. TN Mack
Date: 12/30/2003
Time: 10:33:23 AM
in all things be thankful