09/11/2023
Great Quote that Just Missed
‘The Cut’ to be Included In the Sermon
Jen Wilkins, in her excellent exposition of the ‘Ten Words’ writes:
“If I am walking into my home and see a ladybug on my doorstep, I smile and take care to relocate it to the nearest plant. But if I see a cockroach, I have a different response. Why? Because I feel affection for one and contempt for the other. Any decent entomologist would tell me that these two creatures are essentially equals, but I have devoted myself to elevating one to “delightful” and the other to “despicable”. A faulty entomology has its consequences, but how much more so a faulty anthropology? Contempt directed at an image bearer breeds all manner of violence.”
As the father of an entomologist, I love the line that says: “A faulty entomology…(vs.) a faulty anthropology. I would add a faulty theology—a misunderstanding of who God is and what God desires for his earthly children. The difference between a cockroach and a ladybug is a difference in point of view and nothing more. The difference from a Maga Republican and a Progressive Democrat is a difference of two competing visions of what is best for our nation and the world. Nothing more. No insidious conspiracies, no passion to take away anyone’s rights, just two citizens of the same nation who want that nation to live up to its highest ideals.
Anger that leads to outrage and outrage that is harnessed by “anger merchants” and turned into contempt—that is a deadly influence to the heart of a Christian. It poses a clear and present danger to neighbors living with neighbors as well as our shared love of constitutional democracy. As we have been seeing among United Methodists, it also has the power to break down the body of Christ into little homogeneous islands of like-thinking denominations/congregations.
Archived Posts
You Might Be Thinking It’s All About You If…
In working on Sunday’s sermon I asked my computer’s AI if she/he could come up with a few suggestions in answer to the above: "You Might be thinking it’s all about you, if…."
Prayer Changes Things
Here is a transcript of the prayer I prayed at the end of yesterday’s sermon.
Optimism, Faith, and Hope:
Practical Steps For Increasing All Three
Here are some practical, spiritual, and relational ways to grow faith, hope and optimism:
Listening Heart
It’s kind of crazy when you think about it. Wisdom in the Bible is all about listening. Of course it makes sense that wisdom would start with listening to God, to God’s law and commandments, as well as the promptings and leadings of the Holy Spirit.
Here are some quotes that
didn’t make it into Sunday’s sermon.
(But it doesn’t mean that they don’t offer real insight into the power of risk over the fear of failure...)
Such A Rich Passage (Luke 19:1-10)
I reflected a lot on the passage about Zacchaeus because it has been written off as “been there, read that, little guy in a tree.” But it is so rich in getting to the heart of what it means to be saved by grace through faith—to live our lives out of gratitude rather than obligation.
The Power of Presence
This last Sunday I had so much more to share than time to share it. The last Emotional Management Technique was to stay present in the process. Just as Jesus stayed with the woman who was judged and found guilty by the angry crowd, we stay by our children and our friends, especially when they need us the most. Here a couple of examples...