Date: 08 Jan 2001
Time: 03:03:47
"Wedding Bands and Holy Lands" Every once and again, it does my soul good to remind myself that this world is not my final destiny. There still awaits an existence that is more real and true than what the eye can see, the ear can hear, the nose can smell, the mouth can taste, the hand can feel. There is a sweet "Beulah Land," a holy place where the church and Christ are of one and the same spiritual body. It is a marriage land where ultimate consumation takes place. This is such a powerful image that I fear that I may lack the courage to do it justice, but think I'll give it a try anyway. TN Mack
Date: 09 Jan 2001
Time: 02:24:55
It really looks as though the greater interest is in exploring the wine country. I may go it alone this time but would welcome anyone who would like to join in. TN Mack
Date: 09 Jan 2001
Time: 10:31:47
Mack,
You won't go alone... I think I will preach this text this week. I am still struggling with it, but I think I will preach "living on this side of shall" In my version of this text, shall is written 9 times. This scripture and its contect reminds me that God is not finished with us; it is a message that that we who are overwhelmed by sin and failure need to hear
God will vindicate, God's salvation will be like a shining light... and we can claim that and live that even though it has not happened yet on "this side of shall"
Peace jjinchassc
Date: 09 Jan 2001
Time: 16:24:25
jjinchassc,
Good to hear from you. Your note reminded me that I have jumped to the re-interpretation of this text in the context of Christian eschatology. Truly the Hebrew saw this marriage between God and his chosen people in the context of a this-worldly kingdom. I certainly need to begin with your observation of "living on this side of shall." This helps to keep in balance the kingdom is now and the kingdom is coming. Here and now, we are God's "Delight" "Engaged or Promised" to God. Our Christian tradition would have us to go on and claim that the consummation of the marriage is "Other Worldly." Our Holy Land is not present day Israel but is instead the Beulah Land (literally married land) or heaven.
If I have misunderstood the direction you are taking, please let me know. I am interested in your comments. TN Mack
Date: 09 Jan 2001
Time: 16:32:58
I too will preach this text. Preach the message of Salvation. A new name! When we accept the joining togehter with God we are given an new name. It is like taking on Gods Name. When I took my vow into the ministry God called me to it was as serious as any wedding vow. I pledged to God I would serve God as a partner would in a marriage. I fall short sometimes but it doesn't matter, what matters is that I keep going with God. There is a glory from God that shines in me/us when we serve God with our life. There were times in my life when I was put down, laughed at and called names. (Most of us have that experince as kids growing up) But in being who God has called me to be makes my name join with God! Through the message of acceptance/salvation God brings us from the pits of hell. God brings us from being forsaken into God delight. God rejoices over us and that is powerful. revtlminCA
Date: 09 Jan 2001
Time: 17:01:14
Hi!
As an interim minister I am serving two different congregations:
One is a congregation of senior anglophones in Québec, many of whom have seen their children move to other provinces and their community shift from predominately English to predominately French. Sunday School in 1960 boasted 200 children. This past week there were 2. A little over a year ago their minister died suddenly. 11 and a half months after that the 'young' (in her fifties) chair of the Board dropped dead.
Boy, do they need to hear these poetic words of Isaiah: You shall no mored be termed Forsaken...
The second congregation is in a Native community. There was major conflict between the native community and the neighbouring white town 10 years ago which led to the army coming in. The Church, seen as a white institution, lost some significant support. As well, they just have not had the best experiences in some other ways. The worshipping congregation is of about a dozen committed people.
Boy, do they need to hear these poetic words of Isaiah: You shall no mored be termed Forsaken...
peace
kent in Québec
Date: 09 Jan 2001
Time: 23:44:57
Kent, Mack, and the other brave OT preachers for the week:
The congregation I serve is much like the first one Kent described. Yes, TN Mack, you got what I think I am preaching this week. For so many of my folks vindication/salvation will only come on the other side of Heaven's Gate.
But what I see and claim in this text is that God makes us/ gives us a new identity (or shall). We can count on it... and live it NOW... live victoriously NOW... not after we die, but on this side of shall.
I think about what this text must have meant to the first hearers of it. More than likely recently returned from Babylon with scars of failure and ridicule... how depressed and overlooked they must have felt.
My church (and I) need this message...
jjinchassc
Date: 11 Jan 2001
Time: 23:40:37
One of the joyfully frustrating things about being a Baptist using the lectionary is, the Sunday after I do a message on the baptism of the Lord, somebody asks to be baptized the next Sunday. Mixed blessings like that happen sometimes.
In some countries, when a person gets baptized they take a new name since their names are often based on false gods which they now renounce. So here, with adult baptism, these people take a name even as names are often "given" officially during infant baptisms. I plan to consider this theme in the message to the man I'm baptizing.
What I'm seeing now...
I. God wants to publicly declare our Salvation II. God wants to publicly proclaim our new name III. God wants to publicly wed us into a relationship with Him
Your comments will be helpful. Peace, all. JG in WI
Date: 12 Jan 2001
Time: 14:36:12
Kent in Quebec
I'm in the N Ga Mountains (base of the Appalachians) and boy, does that relate to MY 2 congregations! They're about 10 miles apart (one North of the other) and, as Atlanta sprawls up this way, they're in the position of having to "re-up" their ministry after years of isolation and years of halfhearted (or distracted) student pastors. I'm their 1st full-timer EVER. I like the idea of "this side of shall," as well as "You shall no more be forsaken" - taken in context with spiritual gifts and the promise of a wedding, this might be an empowering message with a great deal of comfort to it, too. Sometimes I feel like all we talk about is "church growth," and while we've made some good foundational changes in the last 3 1/2 years, the attendance has only increased from 18 to about 22 in the last year. (Of course, when I got here, it was around 6).
Anyways, praying for your churches down in Georgia - pray for mine, too!
Revo
Date: 12 Jan 2001
Time: 17:12:47
I will be focussing on God's desire to change our name; Abram to Abraham, Sari to Sarah & Joseph to Israel, among others. Why? To help us leave our past behind - we are new creations ----. If we need a name change to see ourselves as new than so be it. My sermon title is, "It's all a matter of perspective." Any help would be appreciated. sc in midland where Goerge W. will be next Wednesday.
Date: 12 Jan 2001
Time: 21:11:52
Anybody heard the Celtic song, "I Will Change Your Name"? Words are:
I will change your name. You shall no longer be called: Wounded, Outcast, Lonely, or Afraid.
I will change your name. Your new name shall be: Confidence, Joyfulness, Overcoming One! Faithfulness, Friend of God, One Who Seeks My Face.
We'll teach it to the congregation and speak of radical changes in the nature of persons converted by grace.
Yell"Arose!"nTx
Date: 13 Jan 2001
Time: 13:10:01
A wee note to sc in midland
I saw the title you were intending for your sermon: "It's all a matter of perspective" and thought you might be interested in the following illustration. It may or may not suit. I used it a few years ago to start a sermon entitled "Putting things into perspective" (preached a few Sundays after the death of Princess Diana). Can't remember where I got it from (it wasn't an original idea but there again very few of my ideas ever are).
I started my sermon as follows:-
I’d like to share with you a letter received by parents in America from their student daughter:
Dear Mum and Dad, Greetings from your loving daughter! Freshman year at college is really lots of fun. I don't have to study much at all. Really I’m more tired from the parties than studies.
Well, since I’ve not written for a while I thought I’d bring you up to date on things. I know you won’t like it but I don’t go to mass any more on Sundays. You see, I met this really cool guy Guru Maharishi Umnapat. He teaches me my Mantra and my Chants and my Yoga exercises. We fell in love. He promised t marry me in a few months. I will be his Number 5 wife. He has fifty - so that means I make the top 10%. Our baby is due in 3 months - so I’ve started to slow down on my drugs, grass and booze for the third trimester of my pregnancy. Being a mother is a big responsibility as you can see.
We’re going to give the baby up to a commune in Pakistan since they want to raise the number of cult members there.
Now I HAVE to tell you something and this is even harder. I quit college last month. I’m moving to North Alaska. The Maharishi has a friend who has a room over the General Store and Gas Station. He’ll let me live there free if I pump gas on the midnight to 6am shift - a really good deal!
I know you won’t mind but I gave the $4000 you gave me for the next semester to the new commune we’re starting in North Afghanistan. We have few true believers there and they need the money bladly. That’s all for now. Write soon!
Love Maria xxx
PS None of the above is true but I did fail chemistry and I wanted you to put it into the right perspective.
The congregation loved it!
Blessings Rev Shirley in Scotland