Prayer and Others
What did you underline most? What touched you most deeply? Puzzled you? Angered you?
Is prayer a pyramid scheme? How does another benefit from my prayer? Do people on a church prayer list, or on dozens of prayer lists have a better chance of being cured than someone on no prayer list? Are some prayer lists more effective than others?
“Now I see intercession as an increase in my awareness. When I pray for another person, I am praying for God to open my eyes so that I can see that person as God does, and then enter into the stream of love that God already directs to that person. “ What does he me by the stream of love?
Prayer allows me to see others as God see them…..and uniquely flawed and uniquely gifted…how are we all uniquely flawed and gifted?
Praying for enemies is an opportunity for self reflection. Why do our enemies hate us?
Do you pray for your enemies?
Through prayer, we stand beside our enemies and plead to God on their behalf.
God loves his enemies, that is the glory of his love. (Bonhoeffer)
Prayer and God
What did you underline most? What touched you most deeply? Puzzled you? Angered you?
If someone asks me for help in prayer, I tell them to find what they most enjoy and do that, only do it for the glory of God.
Without ceasing? How? Can it become part of your breath? Are you aware of your breathing in and out, yet you do…can prayer be this simple?
Are there inappropriate prayers?
When are you moved to offer prayers of praise?
The story of Helmut Thielicke---how did it move you?
I pray in order to put myself in the stream of God’s healing work on earth. I pray as I breathe--because I can’t help it.
What did you learn about prayer from the book?
Has your attitude toward prayer changed?
What questions do you have remaining about prayer?
Monday, December 10, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sermon, November 25, 2007
Feast of Christ the KingNovember 25, 2007Jeremiah 23:1-6Colossians 1:11-20Luke 23:35-43
Perhaps its came at the stroke of midnight Thursday night, perhaps at 4:00am Friday, perhaps it came as early as some time Thursday itself. I am not sure when exactly it happened, but at sometime over the past few days the Thanksgiving holiday ended and the Christmas holiday season began. At some time, I am not sure exactly when, the turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie were put away, and we began to focus on what has become the most important piece of our thanksgiving weekend, Christmas shopping. Doesn’t Thursday already seem to be so long ago? Isn’t all the attention already focused on the Christmas Holiday that we will celebrate one month from today?
In keeping with the Spirit of the Season, I too would like to focus my sermon for this Feast of Christ the King on Christmas. I would like to focus though not on the Christmas that comes one month from today, but rather on the Feast of Christmas that we celebrated 11 months ago, Christmas 2006. On the Feast of Christmas 2006 we heard the story of the birth of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. In that story we heard of Mary saying yes to the angel as she consented to be the mother of Jesus. We heard of the Spirit of God coming over Mary and by the power of the spirit, that she conceived a son in her womb. We heard of the birth of Jesus outside Jerusalem in a small town of Bethlehem. We heard of him being laid in a wooden manger, and wrapped in swaddling clothes. We heard of shepherds keeping watch over their flocks, and the angels announcing to them “news of great joy” that a savior has been born. We heard of the heavenly hosts filling the heavens and proclaiming this great news.
With that Christmas story from the beginning chapters of the Gospel of Luke in our mind then, I would invite you again to ponder today’s Gospel from the ending chapters of Luke that we just heard proclaimed. Between these stories, we see some very deep connections. The story takes place once again, near Jerusalem, not in Bethlehem but on Calvary. Keeping watch are not shepherds but a crowd of people. Standing guard, are not angels but soldiers. Jesus is not laid in a wooden manger, but nailed to the wooden cross. There is no swaddling cloth, Jesus has been stripped and his garments divided. Instead of angels announcing his birth, there is an inscription which announces the reason for his crucifixion. In just a few verses after the Gospel story of today, Jesus commits the spirit that came upon him in the womb of Mary back to his heavenly Father. After the death of Jesus, a centurion declares news that this was an innocent man.
Luke skillfully frames the life of earthly Jesus with these two connected stories. In between these stories, Luke has focused much of his Gospel on the mercy and compassion of Jesus. In Luke, Jesus is presented as truly one with the people. He is surrounded by ordinary people; women, children, the poor, the lame, the outcasts. He is moved by the sufferings and sorrows of widows and orphans. In Luke Jesus reveals the depth of God’s mercy. In Luke, Jesus tells the story of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son. In Luke the woman, known to be a sinner, washes the feet of Jesus with her hair. In Luke Jesus visits the home of the tax collector Zaccheus. The mercy and compassion of God revealed in Jesus are central in the Gospel of Luke that we have been hearing since last Christmas. Today on this Feast of Christ the King, Luke presents us with one last, great story of compassion and mercy. Today Luke presents us with the story of the thief crucified with Jesus.
Jesus, has ascended to the throne of his cross. As he is crucified, he shares the sentence of death with the outcasts and criminals. He is not a king who is distant from his people, but one who is with them even as he shares in their shameful suffering and death. He is a king, who has been stripped of every symbol of royalty----except one. He still holds his power to pardon. Jesus, the compassionate and merciful king forgives the criminal and promises him that he will accompany Jesus into paradise. Today, the criminal will share the reign of God.
Dear friends, that is the promise given to us this day as well. Jesus is a compassionate and merciful king who promises us that we will share in the reign of God.
Decades earlier, in the hymn that we heard read today from Colossians, Paul proclaims that in Jesus the fullness of power of the creator came dwell on earth. This hymn reaches in climax in the proclamation that on the cross Jesus reconciled all things on earth and in heaven. In Christ all that is destroyed by sin is restored. In Christ all that is torn apart is made one. Even more, the hymn proclaims, the reign that began in Jesus at his birth, the mercy revealed in Jesus at his death, continues in and through his body the Church
Jesus the compassionate and merciful one, continues his reign of reconciliation through us and in us, and with us even to today.
So, dear friends, as we end our holiday weekend celebrating the Feast of Christ the King, let us look forward to the Feast of Christmas that we will celebrate in one month. Let us prepare for that feast not primarily in looking for sales and bargains in gifts to purchase and wrap. Let us look forward to Christmas by looking for ways to seek reconciliation in acts of compassion and mercy. From the cross, Jesus offered the gift of forgiveness to one person. In that one act of mercy, he revealed is power over all creation. Perhaps, in the midst of many gifts of compassion that we will be invited to share in the month to come, we can seek and offer the gift of reconciliation to one person. May we pray for one who has wronged us, one whom we have wronged. May we remember one person in our life who has, like us been forgiven by our merciful God. May we forgive them as we have been forgiven. May Christ, whose death we remember and whose birth we celebrate continue his work of reconciliation and forgiveness through us. May our gifts of compassion, our gifts of mercy, our gifts of forgiveness bring the reign of Christ to reality in our world.
That will indeed be the greatest gift that we can give.
Perhaps its came at the stroke of midnight Thursday night, perhaps at 4:00am Friday, perhaps it came as early as some time Thursday itself. I am not sure when exactly it happened, but at sometime over the past few days the Thanksgiving holiday ended and the Christmas holiday season began. At some time, I am not sure exactly when, the turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie were put away, and we began to focus on what has become the most important piece of our thanksgiving weekend, Christmas shopping. Doesn’t Thursday already seem to be so long ago? Isn’t all the attention already focused on the Christmas Holiday that we will celebrate one month from today?
In keeping with the Spirit of the Season, I too would like to focus my sermon for this Feast of Christ the King on Christmas. I would like to focus though not on the Christmas that comes one month from today, but rather on the Feast of Christmas that we celebrated 11 months ago, Christmas 2006. On the Feast of Christmas 2006 we heard the story of the birth of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. In that story we heard of Mary saying yes to the angel as she consented to be the mother of Jesus. We heard of the Spirit of God coming over Mary and by the power of the spirit, that she conceived a son in her womb. We heard of the birth of Jesus outside Jerusalem in a small town of Bethlehem. We heard of him being laid in a wooden manger, and wrapped in swaddling clothes. We heard of shepherds keeping watch over their flocks, and the angels announcing to them “news of great joy” that a savior has been born. We heard of the heavenly hosts filling the heavens and proclaiming this great news.
With that Christmas story from the beginning chapters of the Gospel of Luke in our mind then, I would invite you again to ponder today’s Gospel from the ending chapters of Luke that we just heard proclaimed. Between these stories, we see some very deep connections. The story takes place once again, near Jerusalem, not in Bethlehem but on Calvary. Keeping watch are not shepherds but a crowd of people. Standing guard, are not angels but soldiers. Jesus is not laid in a wooden manger, but nailed to the wooden cross. There is no swaddling cloth, Jesus has been stripped and his garments divided. Instead of angels announcing his birth, there is an inscription which announces the reason for his crucifixion. In just a few verses after the Gospel story of today, Jesus commits the spirit that came upon him in the womb of Mary back to his heavenly Father. After the death of Jesus, a centurion declares news that this was an innocent man.
Luke skillfully frames the life of earthly Jesus with these two connected stories. In between these stories, Luke has focused much of his Gospel on the mercy and compassion of Jesus. In Luke, Jesus is presented as truly one with the people. He is surrounded by ordinary people; women, children, the poor, the lame, the outcasts. He is moved by the sufferings and sorrows of widows and orphans. In Luke Jesus reveals the depth of God’s mercy. In Luke, Jesus tells the story of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son. In Luke the woman, known to be a sinner, washes the feet of Jesus with her hair. In Luke Jesus visits the home of the tax collector Zaccheus. The mercy and compassion of God revealed in Jesus are central in the Gospel of Luke that we have been hearing since last Christmas. Today on this Feast of Christ the King, Luke presents us with one last, great story of compassion and mercy. Today Luke presents us with the story of the thief crucified with Jesus.
Jesus, has ascended to the throne of his cross. As he is crucified, he shares the sentence of death with the outcasts and criminals. He is not a king who is distant from his people, but one who is with them even as he shares in their shameful suffering and death. He is a king, who has been stripped of every symbol of royalty----except one. He still holds his power to pardon. Jesus, the compassionate and merciful king forgives the criminal and promises him that he will accompany Jesus into paradise. Today, the criminal will share the reign of God.
Dear friends, that is the promise given to us this day as well. Jesus is a compassionate and merciful king who promises us that we will share in the reign of God.
Decades earlier, in the hymn that we heard read today from Colossians, Paul proclaims that in Jesus the fullness of power of the creator came dwell on earth. This hymn reaches in climax in the proclamation that on the cross Jesus reconciled all things on earth and in heaven. In Christ all that is destroyed by sin is restored. In Christ all that is torn apart is made one. Even more, the hymn proclaims, the reign that began in Jesus at his birth, the mercy revealed in Jesus at his death, continues in and through his body the Church
Jesus the compassionate and merciful one, continues his reign of reconciliation through us and in us, and with us even to today.
So, dear friends, as we end our holiday weekend celebrating the Feast of Christ the King, let us look forward to the Feast of Christmas that we will celebrate in one month. Let us prepare for that feast not primarily in looking for sales and bargains in gifts to purchase and wrap. Let us look forward to Christmas by looking for ways to seek reconciliation in acts of compassion and mercy. From the cross, Jesus offered the gift of forgiveness to one person. In that one act of mercy, he revealed is power over all creation. Perhaps, in the midst of many gifts of compassion that we will be invited to share in the month to come, we can seek and offer the gift of reconciliation to one person. May we pray for one who has wronged us, one whom we have wronged. May we remember one person in our life who has, like us been forgiven by our merciful God. May we forgive them as we have been forgiven. May Christ, whose death we remember and whose birth we celebrate continue his work of reconciliation and forgiveness through us. May our gifts of compassion, our gifts of mercy, our gifts of forgiveness bring the reign of Christ to reality in our world.
That will indeed be the greatest gift that we can give.
Yancey 17 and 18
Chapter 17
Unanswered Prayer. Living with the Mystery
What struck you most from the chapter?
Is there anything that surprised you, confused you, upset you?
How did you feel as you were reading the chapter?
Is my prayer at times a desire to escape my human condition?
Why pray if prayers are not answered?
What value is there in “waiting”?
What does it mean to be an occasionist in prayer? What would happen if God never answered prayer? What would happen if God always answered prayer?
Has an unanswered prayer in your life ever opened the door to something better?
What is the difference between a theist and a Christian?
Does asking God for world peace, or justice, or that the hungry be fed, or the sick cared for let me off the hook?
Last paragraph of the chapter, page 247 captures it all for me.
Chapter 18 Prayer and Physical Healing
What struck you most from the chapter?
Is there anything that surprised you, confused you, upset you?
How did you feel as you were reading the chapter?
Unanswered Prayer. Living with the Mystery
What struck you most from the chapter?
Is there anything that surprised you, confused you, upset you?
How did you feel as you were reading the chapter?
Is my prayer at times a desire to escape my human condition?
Why pray if prayers are not answered?
What value is there in “waiting”?
What does it mean to be an occasionist in prayer? What would happen if God never answered prayer? What would happen if God always answered prayer?
Has an unanswered prayer in your life ever opened the door to something better?
What is the difference between a theist and a Christian?
Does asking God for world peace, or justice, or that the hungry be fed, or the sick cared for let me off the hook?
Last paragraph of the chapter, page 247 captures it all for me.
Chapter 18 Prayer and Physical Healing
What struck you most from the chapter?
Is there anything that surprised you, confused you, upset you?
How did you feel as you were reading the chapter?
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Yancey, chapter 13 and 14
Chapter 13 Prayer Grammar
What struck you most from the chapter?
Is there anything that surprised you, confused you, upset you?
How did you feel as you were reading the chapter?
Page 170 Learning to pray is like learning to talk, read or walk. Have you ever thought of that before?
Which phrase of the Lord’s prayer touches you most deeply?
Dorothy Sayers quote on 173 about the psalms. Do you agree?
Are your prayers sanitized?
Do you memorize prayers? Is it artificial to do so?
Does a structure for prayer work for you? How much do you pray using prayers written by others?
Is there a time when you remind yourself to pray? In traffic, before meals, waiting in line, on hold, passing a church? Have you ever tried this? What if I prayed during commercials……..or before the news……or whenever….when I start my car?
Chapter 14 Tongue Tied
What struck you most from the chapter?
Is there anything that surprised you, confused you, upset you?
How did you feel as you were reading the chapter?
What distracts you from prayer? How do you try to deal with these distractions? Can distractions be prayers?
“People of sinking ships do not complain about being distracted”. Any comment to this quote? What focuses you in prayer?
“Keep it simple, keep it honest, keep it up”. Is this enough instruction for prayer?Is your prayer honest?
How does your personality effect the way you pray?
Do we sometimes try to “copy” another’s prayer, and then feel guilty when it does not work for us? Do churches have different personalities….thus, different ways to pray?
He returns to the psalms---how central are they in your prayer?
Have you tried to read prayers aloud---even when you are by yourself? How might this help you pray the psalms?
What struck you most from the chapter?
Is there anything that surprised you, confused you, upset you?
How did you feel as you were reading the chapter?
Page 170 Learning to pray is like learning to talk, read or walk. Have you ever thought of that before?
Which phrase of the Lord’s prayer touches you most deeply?
Dorothy Sayers quote on 173 about the psalms. Do you agree?
Are your prayers sanitized?
Do you memorize prayers? Is it artificial to do so?
Does a structure for prayer work for you? How much do you pray using prayers written by others?
Is there a time when you remind yourself to pray? In traffic, before meals, waiting in line, on hold, passing a church? Have you ever tried this? What if I prayed during commercials……..or before the news……or whenever….when I start my car?
Chapter 14 Tongue Tied
What struck you most from the chapter?
Is there anything that surprised you, confused you, upset you?
How did you feel as you were reading the chapter?
What distracts you from prayer? How do you try to deal with these distractions? Can distractions be prayers?
“People of sinking ships do not complain about being distracted”. Any comment to this quote? What focuses you in prayer?
“Keep it simple, keep it honest, keep it up”. Is this enough instruction for prayer?Is your prayer honest?
How does your personality effect the way you pray?
Do we sometimes try to “copy” another’s prayer, and then feel guilty when it does not work for us? Do churches have different personalities….thus, different ways to pray?
He returns to the psalms---how central are they in your prayer?
Have you tried to read prayers aloud---even when you are by yourself? How might this help you pray the psalms?
Monday, November 5, 2007
All Saints Sermon
Sermon
All Saints Sunday
Sunday November 4
Luke 19:1-10
Ecclesiasitcus 2:2-11
Ephesians 1:11-23
It has been a full week here at St. Andrew’s.
On Monday we remembered and gave thanks to God to one of our charter members. John Van Slooten, was father, grandfather and great grandfather to some in this congregation. John was a friend to many of us who knew him in different ways through the 98 years of his life. There was much in his life to be thankful for. During his funeral we remembered the day of John’s baptism, the day when the church gathered around him and professed the Apostles Creed. The Apostles Creed dates back to the earliest years of the Church and has been proclaimed by Christians at baptism through the centuries. As the Church, we gathered Monday and professed our confident hope that the journey John began at his baptism has reached its fulfillment as he now rests in peace, and lives with all of God’s faithful departed sons and daughters.
On Thursday this week, we celebrated the Feasts of All Saints, and the Day of Remembrance for all the Faithful Departed. On that day we remembered the lives those men and women who have through the centuries lived as disciples of Jesus. On that day we remembered the great saints, the cloud of witnesses from every tribe and people and nation and tongue. On that day we remembered those who lived and died centuries ago. On that day we remembered the saints that we have known, the saints who have touched our lives. We remembered our fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. We remembered the Saints of this Church who are buried in the memorial garden. Again, as we remembered the Saints and the Faithful Departed, we proclaimed the Apostle’s Creed.
It has been a full week here at St. Andrew’s even as it has been a full week in your homes and neighborhoods. It has been a week when perhaps you went to work or school. It has been a week when perhaps you cared for children, grandchildren or parents. A week when perhaps you dressed up in a costume and collected candy, or perhaps you gave candy away. Maybe it was a week when you went to a game or two, or a concert or two. A week when perhaps you experienced illness yourself, or the illness of someone you loved. It was a week when you probably had some successes and some failure, some joys and disappointments. It was a week when you said or did some things that you were proud of and some things that embarrassed you. It was a week when you laughed and cried. It was a week when perhaps you had a disagreement with a member of your family or a co-worker or maybe a week in which you were reconciled with someone. It was a week when perhaps the news of the world left you in despair or perhaps inspired you to hope.
As we celebrated the lives of All the Saints here at Church this past week, it is important for us to remember that saints are not people who necessarily spent a great deal of their time in Church. God forbid. No, the Saints were people who spent most of their life outside of Church doing many of the things that you were about this past week; working, studying, laughing, crying, succeeding and failing, caring for loved ones, facing their own struggles. We do the saints a disservice when we lock them up in church.
Zacchaeus is a great model for us as we gather on All Saints Sunday. The Zacchaeus we meet in the Gospel is not a church goer. In fact, Zacchaeus was despised by righteous church goers of his day. He was the chief tax collector. Everything I said last week about tax collectors being thieves, traitors and extortionists is even more true for Zacchaeus. He is the chief tax collector, and he was rich. That means he was good at what he did. He excelled as a thief, traitor and extortionist. My suspicion is that the righteous Jews of Jericho hated Zacchaeus with a passion. That is why they grumbled when Jesus chose to stay with Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus is a model for sainthood not because he kept the law, he did not. Not because he spent time in Church, he did not. Zacchaeus is a model for sainthood because he was found by Jesus. Zacchaeus, was lost, and Jesus found him. The name Zacchaeus means righteous and pure. When he climbed that sycamore, Zacchaeus was anything but righteous and pure. He became righteous and pure by the mercy of God. Likewise, Zacchaeus was made a saint by the mercy of God.
Zacchaeus is a model for sainthood because he was extravagant in his gratitude. He repaid those he defrauded and cheated over and above what the law required. Extravagantly, he gave half of what he owned to the poor.
God was rich in the mercy he poured upon Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was rich in the thanks he returned to God. Did Zacchaeus become a follower of Jesus? Did he join other Christians in remembering Jesus after Easter? Perhaps. Some say that Luke records his name in the Gospel because Zacchaeus was known among the post Easter disciples. But regardless, Zacchaues lived his life extravagantly in his service, not in the Church, but in the world. That is where the holiest of saints are living their faith. In the world.
This weekend our celebration of All Saints ends with the baptism of Zachary Danks. Isn’t it too ironic that Zachary is to be baptized on the day we hear about Zacchaeus?What a perfect what to end our All Saints celebration! We began on Monday by professing our faith at the funeral of our oldest, charter member John, and we end today by professing our faith at the baptism of our newest member Zachary. The same Apostles Creed we proclaimed for John on Monday, we proclaim for Zachary today. We remembered through the week the fullness of life given to the Saints who have died. We celebrate today the fullness of life promised to Zachary. As we celebrate this baptism, Kim and Brandon, together with his god parents, and maybe his older sister, will make some promises. They will promise to bring him up in the Christian life and faith. They will promise to help him grown into the full stature of Jesus. And, we will make promises as well. We will promise to support Zachary in his life in Christ. We will promise to introduce Zachary to Jesus and to show him by our lives, who Jesus is. We will promise to reveal to Zachary a God who seeks the lost, a God who dines with outcasts, a God who is extravagant in mercy. We will promise to show Zachary how to be extravagant in our gratitude. We will promise to show Zachary how to live as a saint. How to live that as those whom Jesus seeks and finds. How to live as sinners, to whom Jesus brings the fullness of life. How to live lives that are extravagantly grateful.
All Saints Sunday
Sunday November 4
Luke 19:1-10
Ecclesiasitcus 2:2-11
Ephesians 1:11-23
It has been a full week here at St. Andrew’s.
On Monday we remembered and gave thanks to God to one of our charter members. John Van Slooten, was father, grandfather and great grandfather to some in this congregation. John was a friend to many of us who knew him in different ways through the 98 years of his life. There was much in his life to be thankful for. During his funeral we remembered the day of John’s baptism, the day when the church gathered around him and professed the Apostles Creed. The Apostles Creed dates back to the earliest years of the Church and has been proclaimed by Christians at baptism through the centuries. As the Church, we gathered Monday and professed our confident hope that the journey John began at his baptism has reached its fulfillment as he now rests in peace, and lives with all of God’s faithful departed sons and daughters.
On Thursday this week, we celebrated the Feasts of All Saints, and the Day of Remembrance for all the Faithful Departed. On that day we remembered the lives those men and women who have through the centuries lived as disciples of Jesus. On that day we remembered the great saints, the cloud of witnesses from every tribe and people and nation and tongue. On that day we remembered those who lived and died centuries ago. On that day we remembered the saints that we have known, the saints who have touched our lives. We remembered our fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. We remembered the Saints of this Church who are buried in the memorial garden. Again, as we remembered the Saints and the Faithful Departed, we proclaimed the Apostle’s Creed.
It has been a full week here at St. Andrew’s even as it has been a full week in your homes and neighborhoods. It has been a week when perhaps you went to work or school. It has been a week when perhaps you cared for children, grandchildren or parents. A week when perhaps you dressed up in a costume and collected candy, or perhaps you gave candy away. Maybe it was a week when you went to a game or two, or a concert or two. A week when perhaps you experienced illness yourself, or the illness of someone you loved. It was a week when you probably had some successes and some failure, some joys and disappointments. It was a week when you said or did some things that you were proud of and some things that embarrassed you. It was a week when you laughed and cried. It was a week when perhaps you had a disagreement with a member of your family or a co-worker or maybe a week in which you were reconciled with someone. It was a week when perhaps the news of the world left you in despair or perhaps inspired you to hope.
As we celebrated the lives of All the Saints here at Church this past week, it is important for us to remember that saints are not people who necessarily spent a great deal of their time in Church. God forbid. No, the Saints were people who spent most of their life outside of Church doing many of the things that you were about this past week; working, studying, laughing, crying, succeeding and failing, caring for loved ones, facing their own struggles. We do the saints a disservice when we lock them up in church.
Zacchaeus is a great model for us as we gather on All Saints Sunday. The Zacchaeus we meet in the Gospel is not a church goer. In fact, Zacchaeus was despised by righteous church goers of his day. He was the chief tax collector. Everything I said last week about tax collectors being thieves, traitors and extortionists is even more true for Zacchaeus. He is the chief tax collector, and he was rich. That means he was good at what he did. He excelled as a thief, traitor and extortionist. My suspicion is that the righteous Jews of Jericho hated Zacchaeus with a passion. That is why they grumbled when Jesus chose to stay with Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus is a model for sainthood not because he kept the law, he did not. Not because he spent time in Church, he did not. Zacchaeus is a model for sainthood because he was found by Jesus. Zacchaeus, was lost, and Jesus found him. The name Zacchaeus means righteous and pure. When he climbed that sycamore, Zacchaeus was anything but righteous and pure. He became righteous and pure by the mercy of God. Likewise, Zacchaeus was made a saint by the mercy of God.
Zacchaeus is a model for sainthood because he was extravagant in his gratitude. He repaid those he defrauded and cheated over and above what the law required. Extravagantly, he gave half of what he owned to the poor.
God was rich in the mercy he poured upon Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was rich in the thanks he returned to God. Did Zacchaeus become a follower of Jesus? Did he join other Christians in remembering Jesus after Easter? Perhaps. Some say that Luke records his name in the Gospel because Zacchaeus was known among the post Easter disciples. But regardless, Zacchaues lived his life extravagantly in his service, not in the Church, but in the world. That is where the holiest of saints are living their faith. In the world.
This weekend our celebration of All Saints ends with the baptism of Zachary Danks. Isn’t it too ironic that Zachary is to be baptized on the day we hear about Zacchaeus?What a perfect what to end our All Saints celebration! We began on Monday by professing our faith at the funeral of our oldest, charter member John, and we end today by professing our faith at the baptism of our newest member Zachary. The same Apostles Creed we proclaimed for John on Monday, we proclaim for Zachary today. We remembered through the week the fullness of life given to the Saints who have died. We celebrate today the fullness of life promised to Zachary. As we celebrate this baptism, Kim and Brandon, together with his god parents, and maybe his older sister, will make some promises. They will promise to bring him up in the Christian life and faith. They will promise to help him grown into the full stature of Jesus. And, we will make promises as well. We will promise to support Zachary in his life in Christ. We will promise to introduce Zachary to Jesus and to show him by our lives, who Jesus is. We will promise to reveal to Zachary a God who seeks the lost, a God who dines with outcasts, a God who is extravagant in mercy. We will promise to show Zachary how to be extravagant in our gratitude. We will promise to show Zachary how to live as a saint. How to live that as those whom Jesus seeks and finds. How to live as sinners, to whom Jesus brings the fullness of life. How to live lives that are extravagantly grateful.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
sermon October 28, 2007
Sermon for October 28, 2007
Proper 25CJeremiah 14:1-10, 19-22
2nd Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Luke 18:9-14
Whenever I am asked to offer a “humble opinion”. In fact whenever I offer one even that has not been asked for, I will usually build up to it by offering some kind and flattering preliminary remarks. “But” all of us know that the most important words in an opinion are those that come after the three letter word “But”. Everything that comes before might be nice, it might make us feel good, but…... What really counts, what really matters is that which comes after “but”
It was a great meal mom, but….. The meat was a bit overdone…..
Great idea dad, but….. It is really a bit out of date……
I really liked the movie but…… I fell asleep for the last 20 minutes…..
We really like the house, but…..we were looking for something a little more in our price range…..
I really had a wonderful time, and I think you are a great person, but……I wish we could just be friends……
It was a great sermon Mike, but….(you fill in the blank.)
What is true about the word “but” when we are offering our “humble opinions” is also true when we are offering our prayers. Most prayers at some point get around to addressing God. Whether we are praying about the weather, an illness, a request, a concern, or something we are thankful for, soon or later, we get around to voicing these prayers to God. God is the given in prayers. In our prayers, often the most important words we say come after we say “God“.
In our Gospel reading this weekend, the Pharisee and the tax collector are praying, they are addressing their prayers to God. But, do you notice the words which come immediately after the Word, God. For the Pharisee, the next word is I. He can hardly wait to get the most important subject of the prayer. “God, I“. Do you notice the words that follow, “I”? “I thank you that I am not like other people. “ The arrogance and the pride are really quite chilling aren’t they.
The tax collector meanwhile, also begins his prayer addressing God. But, immediately after invoking God’s name, the tax collector begs for mercy. His humility is almost as chilling as the Pharisees arrogance.
It is important to realize that the Pharisee had reason to be proud. He was a man who did his duty. He prayed, he fasted, he tithed. Part of me would love him to be in this parish. I would recruit him in a minute to serve on the vestry, to give our stewardship talk. Heck, I would probably send him off to seminary. And, the publican was a scoundrel. Tax collectors in those days were traitors. They collected taxes for the occupying empire of Rome. They had earned the hatred that came their way. They were thieves. They skimmed money off the top of the taxes for themselves. They were extortionists. If they knew your dark secrets, they would use that knowledge to blackmail you into giving them more money. The more dirt they had on you, whatever it took, the more money they got, the more money it meant for them. The publican was every bit as despicable as Jesus makes him out to be. He deserved to be on his knees, face to the ground begging for mercy.
But, what is most important is not what he has done, but his prayer. “Be merciful to me a sinner.” The Pharisee trusts in his self righteousness. The tax collector trusts in God’s mercy.
But, dear fellow sinners, the Gospel sets a trap for us. The trap of the Gospel comes if we begin to choose sides.
There is a story told about a bible study which was held at a church. The people had a great discussion of the story. And, at the end, there was time for prayer. A very respectable and well loved member of the congregation began the prayer. “God, we thank you that we are not like the Pharisee.”
To avoid the trap in the Gospel, we must face the truth that we are like other people. I know that there are times in my life when I can be just as proud, just as arrogant as the Pharisee. I know, that there are times in my life when I can act just as despicably as the tax collector. I know that I am quite capable of being just as sinful as the worst. In truth, the most honest prayer I can pray arises out of my need for God’s mercy.
Our readings from Jeremiah and Timothy certainly take up the same theme today.
Jeremiah speaks concerning the drought that ravaged his nation at the time. The cisterns are empty, the ground is cracked. They farmers are dismayed. The animals in the forest abandon their young. What makes the drought worse is the people of Israel knows that they have brought this on themselves. Their sinfulness have brought them to this time of terror.
We know what it is like to be Jeremiah, and the people he is speaking to. As we gaze upon the fires, upon the droughts that plague our world today. As we gaze upon so much disaster in our world today, we know that human kind bears responsibility for the shape of our world. We know that we share some or the responsibility for the fires in our life. We know, that as citizens of a small and shrinking world, we are like every one else. We cannot escape the terrors of our day. Whether drought, or fire, or violence, or MRSA, the troubles that plague others in the world, plague us as well.
Our hope rests not in our goodness. Our confidence rests not in arrogance or pride. Our hope rests not in the belief that we are different from every one else. Our hope and confidence rests in the faith that God is in the midst of our world. God is in the midst of us, and will not forsake us. Our hope and our confidence rests, that like Paul, the Lord, in his mercy will rescue us from the punishment we deserve.
Does this mean that disease or destruction or death will not come near to us? Unfortunately, no. Disease destruction, and death fall on all. But, we believe that it does mean that in the end, these terrors will not separate us from the Love of God. In the end, by God’s mercy, we will triumph over all disease, destruction and death.
So, fellow sinners. We acknowledge our sinfulness and w give thanks.
We acknowledge that are as arrogant and proud as the Pharisee. But, God, we give thanks that in your mercy, you love us still.
We acknowledge that we are like the thieves, the rogues, the adulterers and even like the tax collector. But, God, we give thanks that in your mercy, you love us still.
We acknowledge that we are like everyone else and that we deserve your just punishment for our sins. . But, God, we give thanks that in your mercy, you love us still.
Proper 25CJeremiah 14:1-10, 19-22
2nd Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Luke 18:9-14
Whenever I am asked to offer a “humble opinion”. In fact whenever I offer one even that has not been asked for, I will usually build up to it by offering some kind and flattering preliminary remarks. “But” all of us know that the most important words in an opinion are those that come after the three letter word “But”. Everything that comes before might be nice, it might make us feel good, but…... What really counts, what really matters is that which comes after “but”
It was a great meal mom, but….. The meat was a bit overdone…..
Great idea dad, but….. It is really a bit out of date……
I really liked the movie but…… I fell asleep for the last 20 minutes…..
We really like the house, but…..we were looking for something a little more in our price range…..
I really had a wonderful time, and I think you are a great person, but……I wish we could just be friends……
It was a great sermon Mike, but….(you fill in the blank.)
What is true about the word “but” when we are offering our “humble opinions” is also true when we are offering our prayers. Most prayers at some point get around to addressing God. Whether we are praying about the weather, an illness, a request, a concern, or something we are thankful for, soon or later, we get around to voicing these prayers to God. God is the given in prayers. In our prayers, often the most important words we say come after we say “God“.
In our Gospel reading this weekend, the Pharisee and the tax collector are praying, they are addressing their prayers to God. But, do you notice the words which come immediately after the Word, God. For the Pharisee, the next word is I. He can hardly wait to get the most important subject of the prayer. “God, I“. Do you notice the words that follow, “I”? “I thank you that I am not like other people. “ The arrogance and the pride are really quite chilling aren’t they.
The tax collector meanwhile, also begins his prayer addressing God. But, immediately after invoking God’s name, the tax collector begs for mercy. His humility is almost as chilling as the Pharisees arrogance.
It is important to realize that the Pharisee had reason to be proud. He was a man who did his duty. He prayed, he fasted, he tithed. Part of me would love him to be in this parish. I would recruit him in a minute to serve on the vestry, to give our stewardship talk. Heck, I would probably send him off to seminary. And, the publican was a scoundrel. Tax collectors in those days were traitors. They collected taxes for the occupying empire of Rome. They had earned the hatred that came their way. They were thieves. They skimmed money off the top of the taxes for themselves. They were extortionists. If they knew your dark secrets, they would use that knowledge to blackmail you into giving them more money. The more dirt they had on you, whatever it took, the more money they got, the more money it meant for them. The publican was every bit as despicable as Jesus makes him out to be. He deserved to be on his knees, face to the ground begging for mercy.
But, what is most important is not what he has done, but his prayer. “Be merciful to me a sinner.” The Pharisee trusts in his self righteousness. The tax collector trusts in God’s mercy.
But, dear fellow sinners, the Gospel sets a trap for us. The trap of the Gospel comes if we begin to choose sides.
There is a story told about a bible study which was held at a church. The people had a great discussion of the story. And, at the end, there was time for prayer. A very respectable and well loved member of the congregation began the prayer. “God, we thank you that we are not like the Pharisee.”
To avoid the trap in the Gospel, we must face the truth that we are like other people. I know that there are times in my life when I can be just as proud, just as arrogant as the Pharisee. I know, that there are times in my life when I can act just as despicably as the tax collector. I know that I am quite capable of being just as sinful as the worst. In truth, the most honest prayer I can pray arises out of my need for God’s mercy.
Our readings from Jeremiah and Timothy certainly take up the same theme today.
Jeremiah speaks concerning the drought that ravaged his nation at the time. The cisterns are empty, the ground is cracked. They farmers are dismayed. The animals in the forest abandon their young. What makes the drought worse is the people of Israel knows that they have brought this on themselves. Their sinfulness have brought them to this time of terror.
We know what it is like to be Jeremiah, and the people he is speaking to. As we gaze upon the fires, upon the droughts that plague our world today. As we gaze upon so much disaster in our world today, we know that human kind bears responsibility for the shape of our world. We know that we share some or the responsibility for the fires in our life. We know, that as citizens of a small and shrinking world, we are like every one else. We cannot escape the terrors of our day. Whether drought, or fire, or violence, or MRSA, the troubles that plague others in the world, plague us as well.
Our hope rests not in our goodness. Our confidence rests not in arrogance or pride. Our hope rests not in the belief that we are different from every one else. Our hope and confidence rests in the faith that God is in the midst of our world. God is in the midst of us, and will not forsake us. Our hope and our confidence rests, that like Paul, the Lord, in his mercy will rescue us from the punishment we deserve.
Does this mean that disease or destruction or death will not come near to us? Unfortunately, no. Disease destruction, and death fall on all. But, we believe that it does mean that in the end, these terrors will not separate us from the Love of God. In the end, by God’s mercy, we will triumph over all disease, destruction and death.
So, fellow sinners. We acknowledge our sinfulness and w give thanks.
We acknowledge that are as arrogant and proud as the Pharisee. But, God, we give thanks that in your mercy, you love us still.
We acknowledge that we are like the thieves, the rogues, the adulterers and even like the tax collector. But, God, we give thanks that in your mercy, you love us still.
We acknowledge that we are like everyone else and that we deserve your just punishment for our sins. . But, God, we give thanks that in your mercy, you love us still.
Yancey chapter 11 and 12
Here are some questions to ponder after reading chapter 11 and 12 of Yancey's book "Prayer".
Yancey 11 Seek Ask Knock
What particularly caught your eye or your ear?
Is there anything that surprised you, angered you, confused you, excited you?
What was the main point to the chapter?
Page 146 --What does it mean to pray like a salesman with his foot wedged in the doopopening, like a wrestler who has his opponent in a head lock and won’t let go?
When I really want something, I strive and persist. I will do whatever it takes. Why don’t I show that same persistence in prayer?
Do you use the changelessness of God as an excuse not to pray? God’s decisions are set, so, why pray?
When I pray, is God knocking, seeking, asking of me? Maybe that is why I don’t pray. I don’t want God to get what God wants out of me.
We are God’s workmanship. Prayer offers an opportunity to God to make us into God’s work of art.
Yancey 12 Yearning for Fluency
What particularly caught your eye or your ear?
Is there anything that surprised you, angered you, confused you, excited you?
What was the main point to the chapter?
Do you have a routine for prayer?
What does Yancey mean when he says that prayer is like sex? Have you ever thought of that before? Will you again? Its about relationships. The cacophony of life drowns out relationships---there is no time or energy for relationship. This effects all aspects of relationships--prayer, sex and every thing else as well.
How is prayer like learning a language?
Like exercise? Like learning a musical instrument?
I thought that the quote from Yankelovich, on page 164. Was very profound regarding deferred vs. instant gratification. This “change” effects all areas of our life, perhaps most especially prayer.
Yancey 11 Seek Ask Knock
What particularly caught your eye or your ear?
Is there anything that surprised you, angered you, confused you, excited you?
What was the main point to the chapter?
Page 146 --What does it mean to pray like a salesman with his foot wedged in the doopopening, like a wrestler who has his opponent in a head lock and won’t let go?
When I really want something, I strive and persist. I will do whatever it takes. Why don’t I show that same persistence in prayer?
Do you use the changelessness of God as an excuse not to pray? God’s decisions are set, so, why pray?
When I pray, is God knocking, seeking, asking of me? Maybe that is why I don’t pray. I don’t want God to get what God wants out of me.
We are God’s workmanship. Prayer offers an opportunity to God to make us into God’s work of art.
Yancey 12 Yearning for Fluency
What particularly caught your eye or your ear?
Is there anything that surprised you, angered you, confused you, excited you?
What was the main point to the chapter?
Do you have a routine for prayer?
What does Yancey mean when he says that prayer is like sex? Have you ever thought of that before? Will you again? Its about relationships. The cacophony of life drowns out relationships---there is no time or energy for relationship. This effects all aspects of relationships--prayer, sex and every thing else as well.
How is prayer like learning a language?
Like exercise? Like learning a musical instrument?
I thought that the quote from Yankelovich, on page 164. Was very profound regarding deferred vs. instant gratification. This “change” effects all areas of our life, perhaps most especially prayer.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Sermon October 21
Genesis 32:3-8, 22-30
Luke 18:1-8a
Gracious God, help me to preach in a that seeks not my glory but yours, not the growth of this Church but the spread of your kingdom. Help to preach in a way that honors and respects those who will suffer and die today for your Gospel. Help me to preach in a way that is good news to the poor, the weak, the orphaned, the vulnerable, and the widowed.
Do you ever wonder where words come from? The history of words and languages is fascinating. The study of words reveals that some words that we use today are merely years old, while some words we use date back thousands of years. The are some words that exist in our language and our culture that do not exisit in other languages. There are concepts that we attach words too that do not exist in other languages and cultures.
When we understand some of that history, it deepens our understanding of the stories, and the books that contain these words.
This is true of all literature, and it is most certainly true of scripture.
In our reading from Genesis this weekend we are told that the name Israel means “one who has wrestled with God”. Israel the man, and Israel the people are identified as those who have wrestled with God. The faith of the people of Israel, and indeed the person of Jacob/Israel we claim to be our ancestors int he faith. Thus, the tradition of wrestling with God continues in our life as well. We who believe continue to wrestle with God in our life and in the world as God struggles with us to help us become the people God has created us to be, as God struggles to make this the world God created it to be.
Another word that caught my eye today was “widow“. I discovered this week “widow” has its roots in the Hebrew concept of being “mute”. Thus, a widow is one who is voiceless. A widow is voiceless because in patriarchal soiceties then and now, a woman’s voice came only through her husband. Once her husband died, the woman “lost“ her social and economic voice.
The image of the voiceless widow certainly deepens our understanding of the parable we heard today from Luke’s Gospel. In the parable, this voiceless one demands justice from the one whose word is law. Jesus tells us nothing of the circumstance behind her demand. Maybe she was demanding that she be treated as equal to a man. Maybe she wanted economic justice. We are not told the circumstance, but are told that she is wearing the judge out, she is shaming him. In fact the translation is that she is “blackening his eye“ she is causing him to lose face. Can’t you picture her there at his side every time he turns around. There in the court room, there when he breaks for lunch, there when he heads home for the evening. The voiceless one will not go away, and she will not keep quiet. Can’t you picture him offering her, a patronizing word, a little bit here and there in hopes that she will be satisfied and go away?Can you hear him making excuses as why he won’t give her what she demands: “Its just the wrong time.” “Can’t you be patient with me?” “Don’t you appreciate how much I have already done?” The judge has perhaps even tried to buy the widows silence with some crumbs of charity. But, she will not be silenced. The voiceless one continues to cry for justice.
Finally, he realizes that the only way for him to save face is to give in. This pestering widow has made him the laughing stock of the court. This powerful judge cannot silence a widow. The only way for him to save his reputation is to decree for her the justice she demands.
It is clear that Jesus does not want us to equate the unjust judge with God. If even the unjust judge will decree justice for the voiceless widow, surely our God of Justice will decree justice for those who cry out in prayer. This theme is certainly central to the parable. I wonder though, if perhaps we might see God in the other person in the parable. Perhaps we can find the presence of God in the widow. In the scripture, God often reveals Godself in the strangest places. In a burning bush, in a gentle wind, in a baby born in a manger. God’s voice speaks through the most surprising of people. Prophets, kings, queens, shepherds as well as those who are among the least, the lost and the lonely. Is it really any surprise that God might be revealed in the voice of a widow. Might the voice of God be found in the widow crying for justice.
Might God speak in our day through those who are voiceless.
Think of all the voiceless ones in our day, who cry for justice. The poor in the world who cry for clean water. The sick in the world who cry for medicine. The victims of war who cry for peace. Desperate people who cry out for a reason to hope. The unemployed who cry out for meaningful work and a just wage. The outcasts who cry for the right to be welcomed. Those who suffer from prejudice who cry to treated with respect. The young who cry for a future. Creation that cries to be cared for.
Perhaps, we can hear in the these voices the voice of God.
If these voiceless ones are the voice of God then perhaps there are times when we find ourselves in the place of the unjust judge? Perhaps we are there as individuals, or perhaps we are there as a society, or a church, or as a nation. Now, to say that we do not fear God and have no respect for people would not be fair--even on the worst of our days. But, on the other hand, I have to admit that there are times when I try not to hear the cries of the widows, the poor, the orphans, the weak, and the most vulnerable. Often I, like the judge try to silence those who cry for justice with a few crumbs of charity. Often I plead with for them to be more patient, I give my litany of reasons why a truly just world is not possible at this time. I plead with them to bear their sufferings a little bit longer, until justice is more convenient. Sometimes I plead with them to be more understanding, a bit less intense, a little less angry, and certainly less political. Sometimes, I have to admit, I wish that those who continually cry for justice would just be quiet. I wish they would leave me alone. I grow tired of their persevering, relentless plea.
Perhaps, if I were to remember that these cries for justice might be the voice of God, I might be more inclined to listen. If I remember that God is speaking through the cries of those who are poor, weak, orphaned, vulnerable and widowed, maybe, like the unjust judge, might relent and I might work for a world in which they receive the justice they deserve.
The widow wrestles with the judge. He finally relented and granted her justice. By calling him to act justly, the widow was inviting him to live a more blessed life. In Genesis, the man wrestled with Jacob. Jacob’s life was never the same. His hip was out of joint. His name was changed, and he was blessed.
May we recognize God in the cries of those seeking justice. May we feel the presence of God in those who demand justice. May we allow them to change our hearts, and in changing our hearts may we thirst for the justice of God. And when we thirst for justice for the voiceless ones on God, may we be blessed.
Luke 18:1-8a
Gracious God, help me to preach in a that seeks not my glory but yours, not the growth of this Church but the spread of your kingdom. Help to preach in a way that honors and respects those who will suffer and die today for your Gospel. Help me to preach in a way that is good news to the poor, the weak, the orphaned, the vulnerable, and the widowed.
Do you ever wonder where words come from? The history of words and languages is fascinating. The study of words reveals that some words that we use today are merely years old, while some words we use date back thousands of years. The are some words that exist in our language and our culture that do not exisit in other languages. There are concepts that we attach words too that do not exist in other languages and cultures.
When we understand some of that history, it deepens our understanding of the stories, and the books that contain these words.
This is true of all literature, and it is most certainly true of scripture.
In our reading from Genesis this weekend we are told that the name Israel means “one who has wrestled with God”. Israel the man, and Israel the people are identified as those who have wrestled with God. The faith of the people of Israel, and indeed the person of Jacob/Israel we claim to be our ancestors int he faith. Thus, the tradition of wrestling with God continues in our life as well. We who believe continue to wrestle with God in our life and in the world as God struggles with us to help us become the people God has created us to be, as God struggles to make this the world God created it to be.
Another word that caught my eye today was “widow“. I discovered this week “widow” has its roots in the Hebrew concept of being “mute”. Thus, a widow is one who is voiceless. A widow is voiceless because in patriarchal soiceties then and now, a woman’s voice came only through her husband. Once her husband died, the woman “lost“ her social and economic voice.
The image of the voiceless widow certainly deepens our understanding of the parable we heard today from Luke’s Gospel. In the parable, this voiceless one demands justice from the one whose word is law. Jesus tells us nothing of the circumstance behind her demand. Maybe she was demanding that she be treated as equal to a man. Maybe she wanted economic justice. We are not told the circumstance, but are told that she is wearing the judge out, she is shaming him. In fact the translation is that she is “blackening his eye“ she is causing him to lose face. Can’t you picture her there at his side every time he turns around. There in the court room, there when he breaks for lunch, there when he heads home for the evening. The voiceless one will not go away, and she will not keep quiet. Can’t you picture him offering her, a patronizing word, a little bit here and there in hopes that she will be satisfied and go away?Can you hear him making excuses as why he won’t give her what she demands: “Its just the wrong time.” “Can’t you be patient with me?” “Don’t you appreciate how much I have already done?” The judge has perhaps even tried to buy the widows silence with some crumbs of charity. But, she will not be silenced. The voiceless one continues to cry for justice.
Finally, he realizes that the only way for him to save face is to give in. This pestering widow has made him the laughing stock of the court. This powerful judge cannot silence a widow. The only way for him to save his reputation is to decree for her the justice she demands.
It is clear that Jesus does not want us to equate the unjust judge with God. If even the unjust judge will decree justice for the voiceless widow, surely our God of Justice will decree justice for those who cry out in prayer. This theme is certainly central to the parable. I wonder though, if perhaps we might see God in the other person in the parable. Perhaps we can find the presence of God in the widow. In the scripture, God often reveals Godself in the strangest places. In a burning bush, in a gentle wind, in a baby born in a manger. God’s voice speaks through the most surprising of people. Prophets, kings, queens, shepherds as well as those who are among the least, the lost and the lonely. Is it really any surprise that God might be revealed in the voice of a widow. Might the voice of God be found in the widow crying for justice.
Might God speak in our day through those who are voiceless.
Think of all the voiceless ones in our day, who cry for justice. The poor in the world who cry for clean water. The sick in the world who cry for medicine. The victims of war who cry for peace. Desperate people who cry out for a reason to hope. The unemployed who cry out for meaningful work and a just wage. The outcasts who cry for the right to be welcomed. Those who suffer from prejudice who cry to treated with respect. The young who cry for a future. Creation that cries to be cared for.
Perhaps, we can hear in the these voices the voice of God.
If these voiceless ones are the voice of God then perhaps there are times when we find ourselves in the place of the unjust judge? Perhaps we are there as individuals, or perhaps we are there as a society, or a church, or as a nation. Now, to say that we do not fear God and have no respect for people would not be fair--even on the worst of our days. But, on the other hand, I have to admit that there are times when I try not to hear the cries of the widows, the poor, the orphans, the weak, and the most vulnerable. Often I, like the judge try to silence those who cry for justice with a few crumbs of charity. Often I plead with for them to be more patient, I give my litany of reasons why a truly just world is not possible at this time. I plead with them to bear their sufferings a little bit longer, until justice is more convenient. Sometimes I plead with them to be more understanding, a bit less intense, a little less angry, and certainly less political. Sometimes, I have to admit, I wish that those who continually cry for justice would just be quiet. I wish they would leave me alone. I grow tired of their persevering, relentless plea.
Perhaps, if I were to remember that these cries for justice might be the voice of God, I might be more inclined to listen. If I remember that God is speaking through the cries of those who are poor, weak, orphaned, vulnerable and widowed, maybe, like the unjust judge, might relent and I might work for a world in which they receive the justice they deserve.
The widow wrestles with the judge. He finally relented and granted her justice. By calling him to act justly, the widow was inviting him to live a more blessed life. In Genesis, the man wrestled with Jacob. Jacob’s life was never the same. His hip was out of joint. His name was changed, and he was blessed.
May we recognize God in the cries of those seeking justice. May we feel the presence of God in those who demand justice. May we allow them to change our hearts, and in changing our hearts may we thirst for the justice of God. And when we thirst for justice for the voiceless ones on God, may we be blessed.
Yancey 9 and 10
Chapter 9 What difference does it make?
What surprised you? Confused you? Troubled you? What new insights did you gain?
Yancey seems to be struggling about whether prayer makes a difference or not. It did in the USSR and South Africa, and Romania, but not with the holocaust. Do you struggle with this as well?
What did he mean on page 116 by saying: “I must remember that God’s kingdom is not an adjunct to US politics.”
We live on a planet ruled by powers intent on block and perverting the will of God. (p117) Do we think of evil powers ruling the world? Does he mean devils, or something else?
Do you believe that prayer in the face of evil will prevail.
Why are action and contemplation important? Why is “and” the most important word in the phrase? To which do you usually rely on most?
“The message is clear, history belongs to the intercessors who believe the future into being.” (p130) Do you agree?
Most important sentence to me, p130, “What would happen it we followed literally Jesus Command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us?” Do you do this? Why don’t we do this? What if we did it in Church? The enemies of our country?
What difference doesprayer make?
Chapter 10 Does prayer change God?
What surprised you? Confused you? Troubled you? What new insights did you gain?
Does Yancey think prayer changes God?
Is God changeless or does God change? Does it trouble you that Scripture seems to agree with both statements?
Is a willingness to change essential to relationship? Does our love for God change God?
If God is outside time, can I pray for things that have happened before? Does my prayer for past events have an effect on these events?
Is there a quote that stands out for you?
Does prayer change God?
What surprised you? Confused you? Troubled you? What new insights did you gain?
Yancey seems to be struggling about whether prayer makes a difference or not. It did in the USSR and South Africa, and Romania, but not with the holocaust. Do you struggle with this as well?
What did he mean on page 116 by saying: “I must remember that God’s kingdom is not an adjunct to US politics.”
We live on a planet ruled by powers intent on block and perverting the will of God. (p117) Do we think of evil powers ruling the world? Does he mean devils, or something else?
Do you believe that prayer in the face of evil will prevail.
Why are action and contemplation important? Why is “and” the most important word in the phrase? To which do you usually rely on most?
“The message is clear, history belongs to the intercessors who believe the future into being.” (p130) Do you agree?
Most important sentence to me, p130, “What would happen it we followed literally Jesus Command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us?” Do you do this? Why don’t we do this? What if we did it in Church? The enemies of our country?
What difference doesprayer make?
Chapter 10 Does prayer change God?
What surprised you? Confused you? Troubled you? What new insights did you gain?
Does Yancey think prayer changes God?
Is God changeless or does God change? Does it trouble you that Scripture seems to agree with both statements?
Is a willingness to change essential to relationship? Does our love for God change God?
If God is outside time, can I pray for things that have happened before? Does my prayer for past events have an effect on these events?
Is there a quote that stands out for you?
Does prayer change God?
Monday, October 15, 2007
Yancey Chapters 7 and 8
Join our online discussion, or come to disussion group on Yancey's book, Monday, October 15 7:00pm at the Church.
Yancey Chapter 7
Wrestling Match
Anything new from the chapter, what caught your eye? What excited you, made you wonder? Confused? What was the central insight of the chapter?
Can prayer be too polite? Is your private prayer as polite as public prayer.
Have you ever experienced public prayer that made you uncomfortable? Why do we prefer polite prayer?
Often, the expectation is that I as priest will help calm a situation. Is that helpful or should I let emotions be expressed honestly even if they are not “polite”?
As a leader of public prayer, it is much easier to control polite prayer.
I was struck by the insight that with Abraham, God did not put an end to the bargaining for mercy at Sodom but Abraham.
What do the prayers of Abraham, Moses and Jacob teach us?
“Wrestling feels a lot like making love”.
Is our prayer too indifferent? Am I too indifferent to the injustice in the world? Should I call God to task more?
Chapter 8
Partnership
Anything new from the chapter, what caught your eye? What excited you, made you wonder? Confused? What was the central insight of the chapter?
Yancey begins the chapter with the quote: ”History is the story of God giving away power.” What do you think he means?
God is reluctant intervener in history. The kingdom advances now through grace and freedom. What responsibility then do we have?
Prayer is cooperation with God, a consent that opens the way for grace to work. Is this a new insight for you. Does my prayer open me to do God’s will, is it a way of making myself available to do the work of God? What does this say about the importance of our life?
He mentions three stages of prayer.
1. Childlike request.
2. Meditation
3. Submission
Any reaction to these?
“Be slow to pray” cautions Eugene Peterson, p. 109. Why?
God relies on human partners to advance the process of creation.
Does the image of prayer as partnership change your way of praying, your expectation of prayer?
What is the result of prayer, if it deepens the partnership?
If we are God’s partners, in creation, what does that mean for our life?
Yancey Chapter 7
Wrestling Match
Anything new from the chapter, what caught your eye? What excited you, made you wonder? Confused? What was the central insight of the chapter?
Can prayer be too polite? Is your private prayer as polite as public prayer.
Have you ever experienced public prayer that made you uncomfortable? Why do we prefer polite prayer?
Often, the expectation is that I as priest will help calm a situation. Is that helpful or should I let emotions be expressed honestly even if they are not “polite”?
As a leader of public prayer, it is much easier to control polite prayer.
I was struck by the insight that with Abraham, God did not put an end to the bargaining for mercy at Sodom but Abraham.
What do the prayers of Abraham, Moses and Jacob teach us?
“Wrestling feels a lot like making love”.
Is our prayer too indifferent? Am I too indifferent to the injustice in the world? Should I call God to task more?
Chapter 8
Partnership
Anything new from the chapter, what caught your eye? What excited you, made you wonder? Confused? What was the central insight of the chapter?
Yancey begins the chapter with the quote: ”History is the story of God giving away power.” What do you think he means?
God is reluctant intervener in history. The kingdom advances now through grace and freedom. What responsibility then do we have?
Prayer is cooperation with God, a consent that opens the way for grace to work. Is this a new insight for you. Does my prayer open me to do God’s will, is it a way of making myself available to do the work of God? What does this say about the importance of our life?
He mentions three stages of prayer.
1. Childlike request.
2. Meditation
3. Submission
Any reaction to these?
“Be slow to pray” cautions Eugene Peterson, p. 109. Why?
God relies on human partners to advance the process of creation.
Does the image of prayer as partnership change your way of praying, your expectation of prayer?
What is the result of prayer, if it deepens the partnership?
If we are God’s partners, in creation, what does that mean for our life?
Sunday, October 14, 2007
sermon for October 14
October 14, 2007
Ruth 1:8-19
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke17:11-19
Not to rub it in any more, but I am sure some of you remember that two weeks ago the Episcopal clergy of Michigan were invited to a conference on Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel. This was the fourth gathering of the clergy at the hotel, every other year for the past six. In some ways, we knew what to expect when we reached the island. And, I have to say, for the money we spent at the hotel, even with a huge discount gave us the right to some expectations. The food at the hotel was every bit as delicious as before. The service as exquisite. The setting as elegant. Everything about the island met our expectations. The discussions with the Presiding Bishop, the times of prayers, and the closing liturgy filled many of us with a sense of confidence and hope for the life of the Episcopal Church. We were fortunate to have had much time to leisurely walk through the shops on the Island without the crowds that descend in July and August. We were fortunate to have been able to rent bikes and ride around the Island in the peak of its fall colors. Even a year in which the splendors of autumn is a bit muted, the beauty was majestic. I am grateful for the opportunity Linda and I had to be on the Island.
But what I treasured most from our time on the Island, besides being with Linda, was not the meals, or the hotel, or the presiding bishop. What I treasured most was the opportunity I had on Wednesday afternoon to run around the Island. This is something that I began to think of way back in February and March when I was puttzing around in the wheel chair. This is something I dreamed of doing as I sat in St. Mary’s Hospital back in April with my blood clots. I barely dared to hope, and had no right to expect that come October I would have been a to be able to run around the Island. Friends, I did it. Much more slowly than before. And, definitely in more pain than in years past. But, I did it. And when I sat it the tub after I finished, I was also most in tears. I had skipped to famous Grand Hotel Luncheon Buffet to have time for the run. But, the ice water, grapes and the crackers I devoured after the run was the most delicious meal of the week.
Running has never been as joyful as it has been since I broke my leg.
Do you ever wonder what it must be like for someone who has been blind to see a sunrise? Do you ever wonder what it must be like to hear the voice of someone you love, after years of silence? Do you even wonder what it must be like to feel joy after months of depression? Do you ever wonder how delicious food must taste after you have starved? Do you ever wonder how exhilarating it is too laugh, after months of grief?
Think of all you experienced this past week, or just yesterday. The coffee, the apple pie. The voices of loved ones. The things you have seen, heard, touched or smelled. Think of friends you were with. Think of the games you watched or played. Think of the laughter shared. Think of driving your car, walking your pet, reading a book, hugging your children, embracing your beloved. How rich your life is because of each of these moments? Can you imagine these being taken away from you? Can you imagine how grateful you would be to have them back?
In the Gospel this weekend, Jesus cures ten lepers. Can you imagine the gratitude they felt in being cleansed? Not only were cured of a horrific disease. They were also cured of their isolation. After they were cleansed they could be welcomed back to their community, back to their family. After they were cleansed, they could return to the people they loved. In healing them, Jesus gave them back their life. There is no reason to doubt that all ten were grateful for the healing Jesus had granted them.
But, one man returned to Jesus, threw himself prostrate on the ground at this feet and thanked him.
What made him different? Why did he return, and not the others? It seems that the difference is somehow related to the fact that he was a Samaritan, he was a foreigner. Maybe the nine who were Jews expected Jesus to heal them. Jesus was a well known healer. He was a Jew like them, he was one of them, a fellow countryman. They, like him were of God’s chosen people. The Samaritan, had no right to any such expectation. He was despised by the Jews, hated, unclean, unworthy. He shared nothing with Jesus, he had no right to assume that Jesus would heal him. Yet, like the nine countrymen of Jesus, he too was made clean. He had no right to presume he would be healed. Yet he was. All were grateful, but the Samaritan was overwhelmed with gratitude. His gratitude, made him not only clean but well. His gratitude brought him salvation, fullness of life.
Sometimes I fear that we who have so much assume that God owes us. We--or I--have a sense of entitlement. Like the Grand Hotel, sometimes I come to God with my expectations. I almost presume that God owes me the food I eat, the air I breathe, the home I live in, the people who love me. I presume God owes me the right to go where I want to go, do what I want to do, buy what I want to buy. I have so much, and I take so much for granted. Sometimes, too often in fact, I forget to say thank you to God. Sometimes I fear that we who have been given so much assume that God even owes us forgiveness. I am not so bad. We are nice people. Never mind the state of our world. Never mind the violence in our cities, the weapons manufactured in our land, the wars waged in our name, the destruction caused by my standard of living. Never mind my waste, my neglect, my indifference. God will forgive us. Too often I mumble my way through the confession of sin, and too often I am so presumptuous, that I assume God owes me forgiveness. Too often, I barely utter my thanks.
The Samaritan throws himself at the feet of Jesus. How can we do the same? Did you notice that one of the ten returns? Perhaps, in this one in ten we have a clue. The Episcopal Church affirms the tithe as a standard of giving. Tithing means one tenth. Often we assume that tithing is about enriching the church. But it really is not about raising funds for the church. Tithing is about showing gratitude. Tithing is a way to make ourselves well. Perhaps we could move toward tithing. Move toward giving to God one tenth of what we have received as a way of giving thanks. Imagine if we gave to God one tenth of our day. One hour in ten of prayer, study, service to God’s people. If I am awake 15 hours a say…..give an hour and a half to study, to prayer, to visiting a lonely neighbor, to making a phone call, knitting a shawl, to writing congress, to making a meal, to serving as a tutor. When I buy groceries, buy one bag in ten and give it to a food pantry. To tithe my riches, and give one dollar out of ten to the spreading of God’s kingdom.
I do not doubt the gratitude of all the lepers healed by Jesus. The nine did their duty after were cleaned of their leprosy. But, it seems that perhaps they were not cured of their expectations, their sense of entitlement. They expected Jesus to heal them, and he did. May we imitate the Samaritan, the foreigner, the one who was not entitled, the one who had no right to expect healing. May we show our gratitude, not only by what we say but by what we do. May we show our gratitude and thank Jesus by placing our lives at his feet, in service to his world.
May we imitate the faith of the foreigner and like the Samaritan, may our faith filled gratitude make us well.
Ruth 1:8-19
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke17:11-19
Not to rub it in any more, but I am sure some of you remember that two weeks ago the Episcopal clergy of Michigan were invited to a conference on Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel. This was the fourth gathering of the clergy at the hotel, every other year for the past six. In some ways, we knew what to expect when we reached the island. And, I have to say, for the money we spent at the hotel, even with a huge discount gave us the right to some expectations. The food at the hotel was every bit as delicious as before. The service as exquisite. The setting as elegant. Everything about the island met our expectations. The discussions with the Presiding Bishop, the times of prayers, and the closing liturgy filled many of us with a sense of confidence and hope for the life of the Episcopal Church. We were fortunate to have had much time to leisurely walk through the shops on the Island without the crowds that descend in July and August. We were fortunate to have been able to rent bikes and ride around the Island in the peak of its fall colors. Even a year in which the splendors of autumn is a bit muted, the beauty was majestic. I am grateful for the opportunity Linda and I had to be on the Island.
But what I treasured most from our time on the Island, besides being with Linda, was not the meals, or the hotel, or the presiding bishop. What I treasured most was the opportunity I had on Wednesday afternoon to run around the Island. This is something that I began to think of way back in February and March when I was puttzing around in the wheel chair. This is something I dreamed of doing as I sat in St. Mary’s Hospital back in April with my blood clots. I barely dared to hope, and had no right to expect that come October I would have been a to be able to run around the Island. Friends, I did it. Much more slowly than before. And, definitely in more pain than in years past. But, I did it. And when I sat it the tub after I finished, I was also most in tears. I had skipped to famous Grand Hotel Luncheon Buffet to have time for the run. But, the ice water, grapes and the crackers I devoured after the run was the most delicious meal of the week.
Running has never been as joyful as it has been since I broke my leg.
Do you ever wonder what it must be like for someone who has been blind to see a sunrise? Do you ever wonder what it must be like to hear the voice of someone you love, after years of silence? Do you even wonder what it must be like to feel joy after months of depression? Do you ever wonder how delicious food must taste after you have starved? Do you ever wonder how exhilarating it is too laugh, after months of grief?
Think of all you experienced this past week, or just yesterday. The coffee, the apple pie. The voices of loved ones. The things you have seen, heard, touched or smelled. Think of friends you were with. Think of the games you watched or played. Think of the laughter shared. Think of driving your car, walking your pet, reading a book, hugging your children, embracing your beloved. How rich your life is because of each of these moments? Can you imagine these being taken away from you? Can you imagine how grateful you would be to have them back?
In the Gospel this weekend, Jesus cures ten lepers. Can you imagine the gratitude they felt in being cleansed? Not only were cured of a horrific disease. They were also cured of their isolation. After they were cleansed they could be welcomed back to their community, back to their family. After they were cleansed, they could return to the people they loved. In healing them, Jesus gave them back their life. There is no reason to doubt that all ten were grateful for the healing Jesus had granted them.
But, one man returned to Jesus, threw himself prostrate on the ground at this feet and thanked him.
What made him different? Why did he return, and not the others? It seems that the difference is somehow related to the fact that he was a Samaritan, he was a foreigner. Maybe the nine who were Jews expected Jesus to heal them. Jesus was a well known healer. He was a Jew like them, he was one of them, a fellow countryman. They, like him were of God’s chosen people. The Samaritan, had no right to any such expectation. He was despised by the Jews, hated, unclean, unworthy. He shared nothing with Jesus, he had no right to assume that Jesus would heal him. Yet, like the nine countrymen of Jesus, he too was made clean. He had no right to presume he would be healed. Yet he was. All were grateful, but the Samaritan was overwhelmed with gratitude. His gratitude, made him not only clean but well. His gratitude brought him salvation, fullness of life.
Sometimes I fear that we who have so much assume that God owes us. We--or I--have a sense of entitlement. Like the Grand Hotel, sometimes I come to God with my expectations. I almost presume that God owes me the food I eat, the air I breathe, the home I live in, the people who love me. I presume God owes me the right to go where I want to go, do what I want to do, buy what I want to buy. I have so much, and I take so much for granted. Sometimes, too often in fact, I forget to say thank you to God. Sometimes I fear that we who have been given so much assume that God even owes us forgiveness. I am not so bad. We are nice people. Never mind the state of our world. Never mind the violence in our cities, the weapons manufactured in our land, the wars waged in our name, the destruction caused by my standard of living. Never mind my waste, my neglect, my indifference. God will forgive us. Too often I mumble my way through the confession of sin, and too often I am so presumptuous, that I assume God owes me forgiveness. Too often, I barely utter my thanks.
The Samaritan throws himself at the feet of Jesus. How can we do the same? Did you notice that one of the ten returns? Perhaps, in this one in ten we have a clue. The Episcopal Church affirms the tithe as a standard of giving. Tithing means one tenth. Often we assume that tithing is about enriching the church. But it really is not about raising funds for the church. Tithing is about showing gratitude. Tithing is a way to make ourselves well. Perhaps we could move toward tithing. Move toward giving to God one tenth of what we have received as a way of giving thanks. Imagine if we gave to God one tenth of our day. One hour in ten of prayer, study, service to God’s people. If I am awake 15 hours a say…..give an hour and a half to study, to prayer, to visiting a lonely neighbor, to making a phone call, knitting a shawl, to writing congress, to making a meal, to serving as a tutor. When I buy groceries, buy one bag in ten and give it to a food pantry. To tithe my riches, and give one dollar out of ten to the spreading of God’s kingdom.
I do not doubt the gratitude of all the lepers healed by Jesus. The nine did their duty after were cleaned of their leprosy. But, it seems that perhaps they were not cured of their expectations, their sense of entitlement. They expected Jesus to heal them, and he did. May we imitate the Samaritan, the foreigner, the one who was not entitled, the one who had no right to expect healing. May we show our gratitude, not only by what we say but by what we do. May we show our gratitude and thank Jesus by placing our lives at his feet, in service to his world.
May we imitate the faith of the foreigner and like the Samaritan, may our faith filled gratitude make us well.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Yancey, Prayer, Chapter 5 and 6
Here are some questions for Chapter 5 and 6 of Yancey's book "Prayer". Join us tonight, Mnday October 8 for our discussion at Church or post your comments/answers to the questions here.
Chapter 5 Coming Together What new insights did you gain from the chapter? Was there anything that confused you, troubled you, angered you, surprised you? Was Yancey’s comparison to prayer as a dialogue between friends helpful? Do you speak to God as a friend? If you have friendships of different levels, at what level is you friendship with God? An acquaintance? A neighbor? How close is this friendship? Friendships may deepen at times, or they may be more shallow, same with God? Is it hard to express your true feelings to God? The Jews, as many mid Eastern cultures are much more emotional than we in the Midwest. Does our Midwest “niceness” effect the way we pray? If we “hide” our emotions from ourself, how do we reveal them to God? Is serenity overrated in prayer? Maybe God wants our passion? “If I march through life pretending to smile, while inside I bleed, I dishonor that relationship.” Do you tend to smile over your bleeding in prayer? Does public prayer tend to be too nice? Have you ever heard raw emotion from someone in public prayer? Do you pray to know God? How does prayer help you know yourself?
Chapter 6 Why Pray? What new insights did you gain from the chapter? Was there anything that confused you, troubled you, angered you, surprised you? If God did not answer Jesus prayers, what hope do I have? Do you pray for trivia? Jesus prayed before he chose his apostles. Are you troubled by the choices he made? P. 85 Jesus prays for Peter, and perhaps Judas as well--expresses God’s unfathomable respect for human freedom. Even when he senses him close friend will betray him Jesus does not intervene with a freedom crushing miracle. He allows history to take its course, at enormous personal cost, praying all the while that even betrayal and death may be redeemed as part of the outworking of the grace of God. Does praying for a miracle interfere with freedom? Jesus knows the cost of divine restraint. He understood that redemption comes from passing through pain, not avoiding it. (p88) How hard it is to understand this. So much of prayer is about avoiding pain.
Chapter 5 Coming Together What new insights did you gain from the chapter? Was there anything that confused you, troubled you, angered you, surprised you? Was Yancey’s comparison to prayer as a dialogue between friends helpful? Do you speak to God as a friend? If you have friendships of different levels, at what level is you friendship with God? An acquaintance? A neighbor? How close is this friendship? Friendships may deepen at times, or they may be more shallow, same with God? Is it hard to express your true feelings to God? The Jews, as many mid Eastern cultures are much more emotional than we in the Midwest. Does our Midwest “niceness” effect the way we pray? If we “hide” our emotions from ourself, how do we reveal them to God? Is serenity overrated in prayer? Maybe God wants our passion? “If I march through life pretending to smile, while inside I bleed, I dishonor that relationship.” Do you tend to smile over your bleeding in prayer? Does public prayer tend to be too nice? Have you ever heard raw emotion from someone in public prayer? Do you pray to know God? How does prayer help you know yourself?
Chapter 6 Why Pray? What new insights did you gain from the chapter? Was there anything that confused you, troubled you, angered you, surprised you? If God did not answer Jesus prayers, what hope do I have? Do you pray for trivia? Jesus prayed before he chose his apostles. Are you troubled by the choices he made? P. 85 Jesus prays for Peter, and perhaps Judas as well--expresses God’s unfathomable respect for human freedom. Even when he senses him close friend will betray him Jesus does not intervene with a freedom crushing miracle. He allows history to take its course, at enormous personal cost, praying all the while that even betrayal and death may be redeemed as part of the outworking of the grace of God. Does praying for a miracle interfere with freedom? Jesus knows the cost of divine restraint. He understood that redemption comes from passing through pain, not avoiding it. (p88) How hard it is to understand this. So much of prayer is about avoiding pain.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Yancey, Prayer, Chapters 3 and 4
Chapter 3
Anything that particularly stood out to you as you read the chapter? Any thing you really did not understand? Anything that you really disagreed with? Anything that particularly moved you? Any ah hah moments that took your breath away?
How important are words to you prayers? If not words, what is important? Art? Music? Silence?
Why is it hard to come to God “Just as we are?” or as the song says, “Just as I am?”
I love the line on the bottom of page 31, the preacher prays, “God , if these people knew about me what you know about me, they wouldn’t listen to a word I said.” That is true about preachers, how is it true about the rest of us? Why if we all feel guilty, do we hide it so? If we are all so helpless, why do we hide it?
Even in church we like to speak of how well things are going. Our marriage is perfect, our family life is perfect, finances are perfect. We all present the image of having things perfectly together, and any flaw reflects poorly on us. Sometimes we present this same image to God in prayer.
Helpless is not an american description. We like to have it together. How do you experience helplessness? How do we as a nation experience helplessness? As a world?
Are you afraid of being seen a helpless?
How does humility effect prayer? It is not grovelling, but, what is it.
How does doubt enter into prayer? If I doubt prayer, is my prayer doomed to failure?
Do you pray honestly? Do we sometimes try to present the same image of ourself to God as we do to the world. If God truly does know us at our deepest level, why do we hide the truth about ourself? Am I hiding the truth from God or myself?
Why is it hard to trust God with my naked self?
Chapter 4 The God who is.
Any part of the chapter raise questions? Anything you disagree with? Any thing that really caught your attention?
How does the image of God we bring to prayers affect the way we pray. What image of god do you bring to prayer?
Do I enjoy my time as I would enjoy time with a close friend?
How does our vast difference from God make prayer difficult. “Since I is God you are speaking of , you do not understand it. If you could understand it, it would not be God.”
No wonder prayer is so difficult and mysterious!!!! We who do not understand ourselves are speaking to a God we understand even less!!!
How do you reconcile God’s distance and closeness?
Any last comments on the chapters?
What more would you say?
What new insights do you have? What new questions do you have?
Anything that particularly stood out to you as you read the chapter? Any thing you really did not understand? Anything that you really disagreed with? Anything that particularly moved you? Any ah hah moments that took your breath away?
How important are words to you prayers? If not words, what is important? Art? Music? Silence?
Why is it hard to come to God “Just as we are?” or as the song says, “Just as I am?”
I love the line on the bottom of page 31, the preacher prays, “God , if these people knew about me what you know about me, they wouldn’t listen to a word I said.” That is true about preachers, how is it true about the rest of us? Why if we all feel guilty, do we hide it so? If we are all so helpless, why do we hide it?
Even in church we like to speak of how well things are going. Our marriage is perfect, our family life is perfect, finances are perfect. We all present the image of having things perfectly together, and any flaw reflects poorly on us. Sometimes we present this same image to God in prayer.
Helpless is not an american description. We like to have it together. How do you experience helplessness? How do we as a nation experience helplessness? As a world?
Are you afraid of being seen a helpless?
How does humility effect prayer? It is not grovelling, but, what is it.
How does doubt enter into prayer? If I doubt prayer, is my prayer doomed to failure?
Do you pray honestly? Do we sometimes try to present the same image of ourself to God as we do to the world. If God truly does know us at our deepest level, why do we hide the truth about ourself? Am I hiding the truth from God or myself?
Why is it hard to trust God with my naked self?
Chapter 4 The God who is.
Any part of the chapter raise questions? Anything you disagree with? Any thing that really caught your attention?
How does the image of God we bring to prayers affect the way we pray. What image of god do you bring to prayer?
Do I enjoy my time as I would enjoy time with a close friend?
How does our vast difference from God make prayer difficult. “Since I is God you are speaking of , you do not understand it. If you could understand it, it would not be God.”
No wonder prayer is so difficult and mysterious!!!! We who do not understand ourselves are speaking to a God we understand even less!!!
How do you reconcile God’s distance and closeness?
Any last comments on the chapters?
What more would you say?
What new insights do you have? What new questions do you have?
sermon 9/30
September 30, 2007
Amos 6:1-7
1 Timothy 6:11-19
Luke 16:19-31
A few weeks ago, I was late for a meeting on the south side of Grand Rapids. Since I was late, I was getting pretty impatient. I headed down the beltline and, as always, whenever I am late, I find myself stuck in traffic behind a construction vehicle of some sort. Why does it always happen like this? To top it off, I swear, the construction vehicle in front of me began to slow down almost as soon as I got behind it. I put up with this for about 15 seconds, seemed like hours, and then I said to myself, “I have had it.” I pulled out to pass.
Immediately I heard a screech of tires, and the blaring of a car horn.
I swerved back into my lane before I caused an accident that would have most certainly resulted in serious injury.
In my frustration, I had not noticed the car in the passing lane. Thank goodness, the driver noticed me.
Just try to imagine, try to ponder how many things we do not notice every day. Most accidents are caused by those things we do not notice. We do not notice the shoes on the steps, the car on the side of the road, the water on the floor, the ice in the parking lot. We do not notice that more and more sarcasm is creeping into our conversation. We do not notice the pain in our arm, the flutter in our chest. We do not notice the sad looking face of a loved one, when we are not able to give them time that they need or want.
How often we put ourselves at risk of accident because of some things we fail to notice?
Just imagine also how much more rich life could be if we did take more time to really notice life around us?
How much of life today have you already failed to notice? Did you miss the glorious sun rise, or the colors of leaves changing. Did you fail to notice your breakfast as you ate this morning? Did you notice the wonders of creation this morning: the birds singing, the wind against your face, the smells of autumn? Did you notice the greetings your loved ones gave you as you or they awoke?
Sometimes we miss the best of life simply because we fail to notice.
Of course there are reasons we miss so much. We are pre-occupied with stresses and problems at work or home, in our life or the lives of those we love. We have so much on our plates. So much to do and so little time. Our gadgets sometimes prevent us from noticing life. Our cell phones, ipods, computers, and televisions so bombard us with noise and information that we do not notice those who are sitting across the room from us. We do not notice all that we have because we are so focused on that which we do not have. Our lives are filled with so much stuff; so much food, so much drink, so much comfort, we do not notice those who go without. There are many reasons we do not notice life as we pass through it.
Our readings this weekend are about “noticing” or rather, “not noticing”.
Amos speaks against the leaders of Israel because they do not notice the plight of the poor. They lie on beds of ivory, eats lambs and calves from the flock, dress in luxury, drink from bowls, and listen to finest music, yet are not grieved by the ruin of Joseph. Because of this, because they have not noticed the misery of the poor, they will be first to go into exile. It was not for their riches, it was not their luxury that angered the Lord. Israel angered the Lord, because they did not notice the poor in their midst. For not noticing, Amos charges, they will be punished.
In the Gospel, the rich man did not notice Lazarus. He dresses in purple and fine linen. He feasts sumptuously. He does not notice Lazarus longing for the scraps from his table, or the dogs licking his sores. The rich man does not notice Lazarus until he needs him. “Abraham, send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue. Send him to my brothers. Surely they will notice him.”
The rich man does not notice the chasm between he and Lazarus. The rich man has built this chasm by not noticing Lazarus. He built the chasm with the tools of indifference.
Speaking of noticing, did you happen to notice, that the rich man does not have a name, while Lazarus does. This is a theme always present in the Gospel of Luke. In the Kingdom of God, all is reversed, all is turned upside down. The nameless ones are named and the rich and powerful are nameless. The proud are cast down, and the lowly lifted up. The hungry are filled, and the rich are sent empty away.
Notice throughout the Gospel of Luke the radical reversal of fortune that turns the values of this world upside down.
If noticing is important, how can we begin to do so?
Paul gives us some clues in his letter to Timothy. Paul urges generosity. One who is generous, notices. When you are generous with your riches, you notice those who are in need. When you are generous with your time, you notice those who need your assistance. When you have a generous heart and make space in your heart and show hospitality to the stranger, you will notice the presence of God in their life. Generosity is a gift which allows us to notice.
Prayer helps us to notice. You cannot pray the scripture without noticing the poor. You cannot pray sincerely without noticing your sin, and your brokenness. You cannot pray sincerely without noticing the love which God has for you. You cannot pray sincerely without finding hope, without discovering courage, without growing in compassion. The more we pray, the more we notice.
Our study of Philip Yancey’s book prayer and our group spiritual direction meetings are about learning to notice the presence and the actions of God in our life.
So, we give thanks for our minds that think, our eyes that see, noses that smell, tongues that taste, fingers that touch, ears that hear. May our senses help us to notice more in life. May we notice the poor, and give thanks that Christ is present in them. May we notice that poor and see in them the coming of the kingdom of God. May we notice those around us, our friends and loved ones. Those who know us so well, and love us nonetheless. May we notice ourselves, where we are broken and whole, success or failures. We notice those parts of our life that make us proud, as well as those things that cause us shame. May we notice our whole true self, and when we notice our full self, may we notice the love God has for us. May we notice creation, the colors, the smells, the sights the sounds. May we notice the food we taste, the water we drink and the air we breathe.
And, dear friends, when we notice all these blessings in our life, may we notice and give thanks. Thanks be to our God who has blessed us so extravagantly, our God who has showered us abundantly with blessings and gifts.
Amos 6:1-7
1 Timothy 6:11-19
Luke 16:19-31
A few weeks ago, I was late for a meeting on the south side of Grand Rapids. Since I was late, I was getting pretty impatient. I headed down the beltline and, as always, whenever I am late, I find myself stuck in traffic behind a construction vehicle of some sort. Why does it always happen like this? To top it off, I swear, the construction vehicle in front of me began to slow down almost as soon as I got behind it. I put up with this for about 15 seconds, seemed like hours, and then I said to myself, “I have had it.” I pulled out to pass.
Immediately I heard a screech of tires, and the blaring of a car horn.
I swerved back into my lane before I caused an accident that would have most certainly resulted in serious injury.
In my frustration, I had not noticed the car in the passing lane. Thank goodness, the driver noticed me.
Just try to imagine, try to ponder how many things we do not notice every day. Most accidents are caused by those things we do not notice. We do not notice the shoes on the steps, the car on the side of the road, the water on the floor, the ice in the parking lot. We do not notice that more and more sarcasm is creeping into our conversation. We do not notice the pain in our arm, the flutter in our chest. We do not notice the sad looking face of a loved one, when we are not able to give them time that they need or want.
How often we put ourselves at risk of accident because of some things we fail to notice?
Just imagine also how much more rich life could be if we did take more time to really notice life around us?
How much of life today have you already failed to notice? Did you miss the glorious sun rise, or the colors of leaves changing. Did you fail to notice your breakfast as you ate this morning? Did you notice the wonders of creation this morning: the birds singing, the wind against your face, the smells of autumn? Did you notice the greetings your loved ones gave you as you or they awoke?
Sometimes we miss the best of life simply because we fail to notice.
Of course there are reasons we miss so much. We are pre-occupied with stresses and problems at work or home, in our life or the lives of those we love. We have so much on our plates. So much to do and so little time. Our gadgets sometimes prevent us from noticing life. Our cell phones, ipods, computers, and televisions so bombard us with noise and information that we do not notice those who are sitting across the room from us. We do not notice all that we have because we are so focused on that which we do not have. Our lives are filled with so much stuff; so much food, so much drink, so much comfort, we do not notice those who go without. There are many reasons we do not notice life as we pass through it.
Our readings this weekend are about “noticing” or rather, “not noticing”.
Amos speaks against the leaders of Israel because they do not notice the plight of the poor. They lie on beds of ivory, eats lambs and calves from the flock, dress in luxury, drink from bowls, and listen to finest music, yet are not grieved by the ruin of Joseph. Because of this, because they have not noticed the misery of the poor, they will be first to go into exile. It was not for their riches, it was not their luxury that angered the Lord. Israel angered the Lord, because they did not notice the poor in their midst. For not noticing, Amos charges, they will be punished.
In the Gospel, the rich man did not notice Lazarus. He dresses in purple and fine linen. He feasts sumptuously. He does not notice Lazarus longing for the scraps from his table, or the dogs licking his sores. The rich man does not notice Lazarus until he needs him. “Abraham, send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue. Send him to my brothers. Surely they will notice him.”
The rich man does not notice the chasm between he and Lazarus. The rich man has built this chasm by not noticing Lazarus. He built the chasm with the tools of indifference.
Speaking of noticing, did you happen to notice, that the rich man does not have a name, while Lazarus does. This is a theme always present in the Gospel of Luke. In the Kingdom of God, all is reversed, all is turned upside down. The nameless ones are named and the rich and powerful are nameless. The proud are cast down, and the lowly lifted up. The hungry are filled, and the rich are sent empty away.
Notice throughout the Gospel of Luke the radical reversal of fortune that turns the values of this world upside down.
If noticing is important, how can we begin to do so?
Paul gives us some clues in his letter to Timothy. Paul urges generosity. One who is generous, notices. When you are generous with your riches, you notice those who are in need. When you are generous with your time, you notice those who need your assistance. When you have a generous heart and make space in your heart and show hospitality to the stranger, you will notice the presence of God in their life. Generosity is a gift which allows us to notice.
Prayer helps us to notice. You cannot pray the scripture without noticing the poor. You cannot pray sincerely without noticing your sin, and your brokenness. You cannot pray sincerely without noticing the love which God has for you. You cannot pray sincerely without finding hope, without discovering courage, without growing in compassion. The more we pray, the more we notice.
Our study of Philip Yancey’s book prayer and our group spiritual direction meetings are about learning to notice the presence and the actions of God in our life.
So, we give thanks for our minds that think, our eyes that see, noses that smell, tongues that taste, fingers that touch, ears that hear. May our senses help us to notice more in life. May we notice the poor, and give thanks that Christ is present in them. May we notice that poor and see in them the coming of the kingdom of God. May we notice those around us, our friends and loved ones. Those who know us so well, and love us nonetheless. May we notice ourselves, where we are broken and whole, success or failures. We notice those parts of our life that make us proud, as well as those things that cause us shame. May we notice our whole true self, and when we notice our full self, may we notice the love God has for us. May we notice creation, the colors, the smells, the sights the sounds. May we notice the food we taste, the water we drink and the air we breathe.
And, dear friends, when we notice all these blessings in our life, may we notice and give thanks. Thanks be to our God who has blessed us so extravagantly, our God who has showered us abundantly with blessings and gifts.
Monday, September 24, 2007
september 23, sermon
Well, as long as I have this blog, I might as well use it. Here is my sermon for September 23. Maybe it can spur some discussion.
Sermon for September 23
Proper 20C
Amos 8:4-7
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 16:1-13
I wonder how long it has been since I went a whole day without once thinking about money. I wonder when the last time was that I went a whole 24 hours without commenting about how much something cost, or how little money I had. I wonder when was the last time I went to the mail and there was not some piece of junk advertising a sale or great deal on a credit card, or a mortgage or asking me for a donation. I wonder the last time I watched the news, and there was no reference to money, the stock market, the price of oil, state budgets, or team payrolls.
The more I wondered about the last time I went a whole day without thinking about money, the clearer it became that it has been a long long long time. Could it be that there has not been such a day in years….well, decades. Who knows maybe its been 50 years. Maybe I cannot remember a day, because maybe there has not been a day since infancy that I have not thought of money.
I wonder how long it takes each day before we hear something related to money. When I listen to the early morning news chances are better than average that money is mentioned. Check yourself this week, and see how quickly in each day, how early in each morning thoughts concerning money come into your mind.
Maybe if I began each morning in prayer instead of turning on the morning news, I could avoid thinking about money for a little bit longer. Maybe, but I doubt it. The scriptures are filled with references to and stories about money and wealth. I did a word check on “oremus“, a bible browsing website. Here is what I found. In the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (regarded by most to be the most accurate translation of the Scripture) the word “wealth” is found 127 times in the Bible, “riches”, 84 times, “silver”, 366 times, “gold” 544, “money” 186 times. Just, for a comparison, I did a word check on some other words ---“sex” is found 20 times, “adultery” 43 times, “lust” 56, “fornication” 26 times. And, when I did a word count for “homosexuality“, I found it came up zero times. I was even stunned by this. Now that does not mean of course that the concept of homosexuality is not in the scripture…there are some passages that refer to it. But, as far as the word, it is not there. It is clear to me that for the scripture; money, wealth and riches are much more central than is any thing related to sexuality.
Money and wealth are certainly central in our readings this weekend.
The prophet Amos speaks words of harsh judgment from the Lord to the people of Israel. The Lord judges Israel because they trample the needy and bring to ruin the poor. They fix the scales when it comes to selling grain, and they mix in the sweepings from the floor to sell with their wheat. They spend the Sabbath, the day dedicated to the Lord impatiently waiting for it too end so they can get back to their financial scheming. For them, the Sabbath is day of inconvenience, because it gets in the way of their profits.
The Gospel of Luke this weekend is about a wily, clever, and shrewd manager. Commentators and preachers love to debate this parable. Was the manager dishonest or incompetent? Did he steal from the owner or just mismanage the owners wealth? When he cuts the amount creditors owed in half, was he giving up the masters money or only his own commission? I have to confess that discussions of questions like these leave me a bit bored. These may be interesting debates, but I really think they miss the point.
The climax and main point of today’s Gospel is the last sentence. You cannot serve God and wealth.
I believe that this is why the scripture speaks more about money than it does about sex. Money is God’s chief rival. Money is the false god most likely to seduce us and draw us away from the Lord. And as it is with every false god money is the false god most likely to kill us. Think again of the news that fills our news broadcasts and papers. Isn’t 90 % of it about money …bank robberies, drug busts, budget battles, oil prices, foreclosures, recessions. Think of your own family and friends and the many squabbles that are over money? What percentage of marriages break up because of something related to money? How many family squabbles are about money. How much of your worry is about money??? How many nights do you like awake because of stress and anxiety related to money. When money becomes a god, it kills.
You cannot serve God and Money.
We sure are tempted to try.
Even Churches are tempted to try. We seek to be faithful in proclaiming the Gospel, but we also want to keep the doors open, and the lights on. Preachers are sometimes, tempted to preach about controversial issues in a way that might not offend the people who pay their salary. Preachers might avoid speaking on issues related to poverty, immigration, war, environmental concerns, the cars we drive, the homes we live in, the vacations we go on, our style of life so as to shield ourselves from the Gospel truth and not to offend the people who give generously to the church. Sometimes preachers compromise the Word of God out of their own financial concerns. Preachers are sometimes tempted, and ….sometimes they give in to that temptation. Sometimes so have I.
Jesus is clear. You cannot serve God and wealth.
How do we avoid being seduced by money? How can we avoid making a god of wealth.
I think the Gospel story gives us a clue.
The wily manager writes off a portion of the debts of those who owed. He used wealth to make friends, so that they would welcome him to the eternal homes.
I believe that Jesus is telling us, that the way to avoid wealth’s seduction is to give it away. When we give our money away, it loses its control over us. Now friends, I am not, I really am not trying to tell you to give the church your money so you can be free from its power over you. No, what I am wondering is not how we can give more to the Church, but, rather how we as a church can give more of our money away.
Do you know that there are churches, smaller and poorer than we who build hospitals in The Sudan , churches in Liberia, entire homes in Grand Rapids and along the Gulf Coast, schools in Central America, AIDS orphanages in Africa. They have fund raisers not to raise money for themselves, but for others. Why couldn’t we do that? Churches of all denominations are being asked to consider giving .7% of their money to achieve the millennium development goals of fighting the causes of poverty around the world. Why couldn’t we do that?
We can, of course we can, and when we do, we will be acting to loosen the death grip wealth can have on our soul.
Its been a long long time since I went a whole day without thinking about money. Years, decades, probably close to a half century in fact. My hunch is that not much will change in the remaining years of my life. I will probably stop thinking about money, when I stop thinking at all.
In the meantime, as long as I am thinking about money, I think I will pray about it also.
I pray that we in the Church may be as passionate in our discussion about money as we are about sex. I pray that preachers may have the courage to seek and speak the truth about money. I pray that we might begin to think more shrewdly about giving money away, than we do about protecting it. I pray that we may become more committed to using money with an eye not on earthly dividends that pass away, but heavenly rewards that endure eternally. I pray that we may become more clever in using wealth in ways that do not defraud or cheat the poor whom God loves. Instead may we use wealth to care for the poor, and in caring for the poor, may we give to God that glory praise and honor which God alone deserves.
Sermon for September 23
Proper 20C
Amos 8:4-7
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 16:1-13
I wonder how long it has been since I went a whole day without once thinking about money. I wonder when the last time was that I went a whole 24 hours without commenting about how much something cost, or how little money I had. I wonder when was the last time I went to the mail and there was not some piece of junk advertising a sale or great deal on a credit card, or a mortgage or asking me for a donation. I wonder the last time I watched the news, and there was no reference to money, the stock market, the price of oil, state budgets, or team payrolls.
The more I wondered about the last time I went a whole day without thinking about money, the clearer it became that it has been a long long long time. Could it be that there has not been such a day in years….well, decades. Who knows maybe its been 50 years. Maybe I cannot remember a day, because maybe there has not been a day since infancy that I have not thought of money.
I wonder how long it takes each day before we hear something related to money. When I listen to the early morning news chances are better than average that money is mentioned. Check yourself this week, and see how quickly in each day, how early in each morning thoughts concerning money come into your mind.
Maybe if I began each morning in prayer instead of turning on the morning news, I could avoid thinking about money for a little bit longer. Maybe, but I doubt it. The scriptures are filled with references to and stories about money and wealth. I did a word check on “oremus“, a bible browsing website. Here is what I found. In the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (regarded by most to be the most accurate translation of the Scripture) the word “wealth” is found 127 times in the Bible, “riches”, 84 times, “silver”, 366 times, “gold” 544, “money” 186 times. Just, for a comparison, I did a word check on some other words ---“sex” is found 20 times, “adultery” 43 times, “lust” 56, “fornication” 26 times. And, when I did a word count for “homosexuality“, I found it came up zero times. I was even stunned by this. Now that does not mean of course that the concept of homosexuality is not in the scripture…there are some passages that refer to it. But, as far as the word, it is not there. It is clear to me that for the scripture; money, wealth and riches are much more central than is any thing related to sexuality.
Money and wealth are certainly central in our readings this weekend.
The prophet Amos speaks words of harsh judgment from the Lord to the people of Israel. The Lord judges Israel because they trample the needy and bring to ruin the poor. They fix the scales when it comes to selling grain, and they mix in the sweepings from the floor to sell with their wheat. They spend the Sabbath, the day dedicated to the Lord impatiently waiting for it too end so they can get back to their financial scheming. For them, the Sabbath is day of inconvenience, because it gets in the way of their profits.
The Gospel of Luke this weekend is about a wily, clever, and shrewd manager. Commentators and preachers love to debate this parable. Was the manager dishonest or incompetent? Did he steal from the owner or just mismanage the owners wealth? When he cuts the amount creditors owed in half, was he giving up the masters money or only his own commission? I have to confess that discussions of questions like these leave me a bit bored. These may be interesting debates, but I really think they miss the point.
The climax and main point of today’s Gospel is the last sentence. You cannot serve God and wealth.
I believe that this is why the scripture speaks more about money than it does about sex. Money is God’s chief rival. Money is the false god most likely to seduce us and draw us away from the Lord. And as it is with every false god money is the false god most likely to kill us. Think again of the news that fills our news broadcasts and papers. Isn’t 90 % of it about money …bank robberies, drug busts, budget battles, oil prices, foreclosures, recessions. Think of your own family and friends and the many squabbles that are over money? What percentage of marriages break up because of something related to money? How many family squabbles are about money. How much of your worry is about money??? How many nights do you like awake because of stress and anxiety related to money. When money becomes a god, it kills.
You cannot serve God and Money.
We sure are tempted to try.
Even Churches are tempted to try. We seek to be faithful in proclaiming the Gospel, but we also want to keep the doors open, and the lights on. Preachers are sometimes, tempted to preach about controversial issues in a way that might not offend the people who pay their salary. Preachers might avoid speaking on issues related to poverty, immigration, war, environmental concerns, the cars we drive, the homes we live in, the vacations we go on, our style of life so as to shield ourselves from the Gospel truth and not to offend the people who give generously to the church. Sometimes preachers compromise the Word of God out of their own financial concerns. Preachers are sometimes tempted, and ….sometimes they give in to that temptation. Sometimes so have I.
Jesus is clear. You cannot serve God and wealth.
How do we avoid being seduced by money? How can we avoid making a god of wealth.
I think the Gospel story gives us a clue.
The wily manager writes off a portion of the debts of those who owed. He used wealth to make friends, so that they would welcome him to the eternal homes.
I believe that Jesus is telling us, that the way to avoid wealth’s seduction is to give it away. When we give our money away, it loses its control over us. Now friends, I am not, I really am not trying to tell you to give the church your money so you can be free from its power over you. No, what I am wondering is not how we can give more to the Church, but, rather how we as a church can give more of our money away.
Do you know that there are churches, smaller and poorer than we who build hospitals in The Sudan , churches in Liberia, entire homes in Grand Rapids and along the Gulf Coast, schools in Central America, AIDS orphanages in Africa. They have fund raisers not to raise money for themselves, but for others. Why couldn’t we do that? Churches of all denominations are being asked to consider giving .7% of their money to achieve the millennium development goals of fighting the causes of poverty around the world. Why couldn’t we do that?
We can, of course we can, and when we do, we will be acting to loosen the death grip wealth can have on our soul.
Its been a long long time since I went a whole day without thinking about money. Years, decades, probably close to a half century in fact. My hunch is that not much will change in the remaining years of my life. I will probably stop thinking about money, when I stop thinking at all.
In the meantime, as long as I am thinking about money, I think I will pray about it also.
I pray that we in the Church may be as passionate in our discussion about money as we are about sex. I pray that preachers may have the courage to seek and speak the truth about money. I pray that we might begin to think more shrewdly about giving money away, than we do about protecting it. I pray that we may become more committed to using money with an eye not on earthly dividends that pass away, but heavenly rewards that endure eternally. I pray that we may become more clever in using wealth in ways that do not defraud or cheat the poor whom God loves. Instead may we use wealth to care for the poor, and in caring for the poor, may we give to God that glory praise and honor which God alone deserves.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Chapter 1.
Our Deepest Longing
Was there anything in Chapter 1 that surprised you?
Yancey begins the book/chapter describing an accident he had while jogging in Moscow. His injuries were not life threatening. He does however describe his “fear” of getting caught in the Russian health system. So, he went to the email, and sent out a email request for prayer.
Is this what prayer is? “We send signals from a visible world to an invisible one, in hope that Someone receives them.”
Does prayer feel like that to you? How do you know if prayer is “heard”?
Why do you pray?
What prevents you from praying?
Is prayer satisfying to you? Is it a privilege or a struggle?
What disciplines do you have for prayer?
On page 16, Yancey states: “I am convinced that human beings have an inborn desire for God”. Do you agree?
Page 17 Does it help to understand prayer as “that place where God and human beings meet”? If this is true, where are some places where you meet God?
Any comments about the chapter or these questions?
Chapter 2
A View from Above
What is the major theme of the chapter?
Isn’t it amazing how live as if it were all about us. A gaze at the stars at night, or of the vast ocean, a flash of lightening exposes for a “nanosecond what I would prefer to ignore, my own true state of fragile dependence”. What do you think Yancey means by fragile dependence? Have you ever experienced such “fragile dependence”.
Do you find rest in the grace of the world as Wendell Berry describes it?
How easy it is to lose “sight of God’s perspective”!!! How does prayer restore our vision to one that more resembles God’s?
Yancey states that modern life conspires against being still. Is this true? How?
How do you withstand this “conspiracy”?
Some of Yancey’s thought follow:
Prayer invites us to play truant, to step down from our throne and allow God to be God. Prayer is a channel that helps us remember who we are, God’s creation, and faith to imagine what we will someday be, God triumph. Prayer is the act of seeing reality from God’s point of view.
What new insights into prayer did the chapter offer you?
What more would you add? Is there anything you would like to ask prayer for?
Our Deepest Longing
Was there anything in Chapter 1 that surprised you?
Yancey begins the book/chapter describing an accident he had while jogging in Moscow. His injuries were not life threatening. He does however describe his “fear” of getting caught in the Russian health system. So, he went to the email, and sent out a email request for prayer.
Is this what prayer is? “We send signals from a visible world to an invisible one, in hope that Someone receives them.”
Does prayer feel like that to you? How do you know if prayer is “heard”?
Why do you pray?
What prevents you from praying?
Is prayer satisfying to you? Is it a privilege or a struggle?
What disciplines do you have for prayer?
On page 16, Yancey states: “I am convinced that human beings have an inborn desire for God”. Do you agree?
Page 17 Does it help to understand prayer as “that place where God and human beings meet”? If this is true, where are some places where you meet God?
Any comments about the chapter or these questions?
Chapter 2
A View from Above
What is the major theme of the chapter?
Isn’t it amazing how live as if it were all about us. A gaze at the stars at night, or of the vast ocean, a flash of lightening exposes for a “nanosecond what I would prefer to ignore, my own true state of fragile dependence”. What do you think Yancey means by fragile dependence? Have you ever experienced such “fragile dependence”.
Do you find rest in the grace of the world as Wendell Berry describes it?
How easy it is to lose “sight of God’s perspective”!!! How does prayer restore our vision to one that more resembles God’s?
Yancey states that modern life conspires against being still. Is this true? How?
How do you withstand this “conspiracy”?
Some of Yancey’s thought follow:
Prayer invites us to play truant, to step down from our throne and allow God to be God. Prayer is a channel that helps us remember who we are, God’s creation, and faith to imagine what we will someday be, God triumph. Prayer is the act of seeing reality from God’s point of view.
What new insights into prayer did the chapter offer you?
What more would you add? Is there anything you would like to ask prayer for?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Welcome to the blog
This is first effort at creating a parish blog. If it works we will begin an "on line" study of Philip Yancey's book "Prayer". Our plan will be to study two chapters a week. We began our "face to face" study at the Church this past week. In both our Sunday and Monday sessions, we had some good discussion. We answered questions about how our prayer life has change over the years? Is there a place where you go to pray? A time of day? Are there sounds that bring you to prayer? Sights? Smells? Tastes? Feelings? Think about these, and maybe add a blog. I will add some comments later this week. Here is the cover of Yancey's book. We will discuss the first two chapters beginning the week of September 23. Join us on line or, in person on Sunday morning 9:15 or Monday evening, 7:00.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)