I've considered, off and on, getting back to writing on here. Since I'm no longer a supply pastor, I can't really post my sermons, so what to do?
I suppose I could make this another "seminarian blog" where I write about all the blessings and woes of seminary life. Arguably there are already too many of those out there, and I could just as easily post my thoughts as statuses on Facebook, so why bother?
Well, I guess to some extent I have a "unique voice," though I don't really use phrases like "unique voice," and it sounds a bit egotistical to claim to have one. But, that said, I could think of it the same way I used to think of preaching, I don't need to be original all the time, just me...
Plus, posting on here is, in some ways, a more "stable" and "open" format than the Facebook status and note.
So, here I'll be... from time to time. I won't commit to anything more than one post a week. That sets the bar of discipline just low enough that I might meet it.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thought for the day
I don't think "why" is a very fruitful question when it comes to spiritual development. That's because I don't think it's a question God is in the habit of answering. It's a better idea to ask "what did I learn from this" than to ask "why did this happen?" The reason, I think, is because "why" puts things on a sliding scale; does the answer to "why" justify the "what" that occurred, which is completely dependent upon our feelings at the time.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
No Sermon This Week
I attempted to utilize more notes this Sunday and less of the "written-out" approach. Hence, no post. I apologize. I may try to type it up later this week, but more than likely you'll have to wait till next Sunday. Have a good week and God Bless.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Salt and Saltiness (Sermon 2-13-11)
Matthew 5:13-20
Who else is grateful for the recent turn in the weather? I know we live in Indiana and we ought, by now, to be used to the often dramatic swings in temperature from one day to the next. But I am so glad to be able to be here today, I missed you all last week. And I’m trying to keep myself from becoming too excited about predictions of 50 degree weather for the coming week and the possibility of little to no snow left in our Winter; I’m afraid I might jinx it all if I allow myself to adjust to the idea.
Now, technically speaking, if we were following the lectionary to the T, we would’ve skipped this particular passage from last week and moved on to the next section of the Sermon. However, I simply like this passage too much to do that. Plus, I think last weeks storm gives us at least one useful mental image to think on with today’s passage.
On an average Sunday your typical pastor called to preach upon this passage for the week might get up and ask “what do you think of when you think of salt?” And there could be several potential responses: everything from “McDonalds French Fries” to “my water softner.” We have a lot of uses for salt. But, after recent events, one particular use is probably at the front of our minds: rock salt.
Who else is grateful for the recent turn in the weather? I know we live in Indiana and we ought, by now, to be used to the often dramatic swings in temperature from one day to the next. But I am so glad to be able to be here today, I missed you all last week. And I’m trying to keep myself from becoming too excited about predictions of 50 degree weather for the coming week and the possibility of little to no snow left in our Winter; I’m afraid I might jinx it all if I allow myself to adjust to the idea.
Now, technically speaking, if we were following the lectionary to the T, we would’ve skipped this particular passage from last week and moved on to the next section of the Sermon. However, I simply like this passage too much to do that. Plus, I think last weeks storm gives us at least one useful mental image to think on with today’s passage.
On an average Sunday your typical pastor called to preach upon this passage for the week might get up and ask “what do you think of when you think of salt?” And there could be several potential responses: everything from “McDonalds French Fries” to “my water softner.” We have a lot of uses for salt. But, after recent events, one particular use is probably at the front of our minds: rock salt.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Don't Run (Sermon 1-30-11)
Matthew 5:1-12
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” That’s probably on the top-ten list of things little kids get asked on a regular basis. It’s right up there with “what did you do in school today?” and “can’t you just sit still for a minute?” It’s a cutesy type thing to ask a kid. It’s a fun way of finding out who there current set of heroes are.
Like, when I was a kid, after I gave up on being Superman (too complicated of a process), I wanted to be (in order) a fighter pilot, followed by a short stint as a lawyer, rounded off by concluding my life as a writer. If none of those worked out, I’d settle for being either Indiana Jones, or Sherlock Holmes.
Think about your own list for a moment. What qualified a choice as a good one? Adventure? Respect? Money? All those great and exciting things which are meant to go along with being the “good guy.”
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” That’s probably on the top-ten list of things little kids get asked on a regular basis. It’s right up there with “what did you do in school today?” and “can’t you just sit still for a minute?” It’s a cutesy type thing to ask a kid. It’s a fun way of finding out who there current set of heroes are.
Like, when I was a kid, after I gave up on being Superman (too complicated of a process), I wanted to be (in order) a fighter pilot, followed by a short stint as a lawyer, rounded off by concluding my life as a writer. If none of those worked out, I’d settle for being either Indiana Jones, or Sherlock Holmes.
Think about your own list for a moment. What qualified a choice as a good one? Adventure? Respect? Money? All those great and exciting things which are meant to go along with being the “good guy.”
Sunday, January 23, 2011
God messes stuff up (Sermon 1-23-11)
Matthew 4:12-23
How do you deal with stress? What are your habits? I don’t mean like chewing your fingernails popping your knuckles, but time consuming ways of managing stress. For example, some people, when the world gets to be too much for them, go exercise, maybe out for a run, or out for a game of golf. Others might read a book, or veg out in front of the TV, some form of escapism. Some people have projects they work on, like building something, or getting some place organized. Most folks use a combination of any of these and more depending on how the mood suits them.
How do you deal with stress? What are your habits? I don’t mean like chewing your fingernails popping your knuckles, but time consuming ways of managing stress. For example, some people, when the world gets to be too much for them, go exercise, maybe out for a run, or out for a game of golf. Others might read a book, or veg out in front of the TV, some form of escapism. Some people have projects they work on, like building something, or getting some place organized. Most folks use a combination of any of these and more depending on how the mood suits them.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Behold the Lamb of God (Sermon 1-16-10)
John 1:29-42
Last week, I mentioned briefly our current culture’s increasing obsession with all things paranormal and drew a connection between that and a decreased attendance at churches. Now, of course, that connection is not absolute. Not everyone who enjoys Twilight or Ghost Hunters is an unbeliever, and not every unbeliever is a fan of those types of shows.
In fact, in the interest of being entirely candid, when it comes to some of those ghost shows, I have to admit that I find them entertaining, too. Actually, this past week, one of my coworkers lent me his copy the second season of a show called Ghost Adventures. And within a few days I had watched most of it.
Last week, I mentioned briefly our current culture’s increasing obsession with all things paranormal and drew a connection between that and a decreased attendance at churches. Now, of course, that connection is not absolute. Not everyone who enjoys Twilight or Ghost Hunters is an unbeliever, and not every unbeliever is a fan of those types of shows.
In fact, in the interest of being entirely candid, when it comes to some of those ghost shows, I have to admit that I find them entertaining, too. Actually, this past week, one of my coworkers lent me his copy the second season of a show called Ghost Adventures. And within a few days I had watched most of it.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Hide and Seek (Sermon 1-9-11)
Matthew 2:1-12
You know, when I first visited Bethesda, one of the first things they told me was that their's was a more “casual” church. I didn’t have to wear a tie when I stepped up on Sunday mornings. Who knew that, for me anyway, I actually just feel better if I do wear a tie? It’s kind of weird the way we adjust as adults into habits which we hated when we were kids.
But I was relieved, because, even though I still wear a tie, they seem to have accepted, or at least looked the other way, with regards to some of my other departures from normative attire. For example, only one person has ever mentioned the fact that I tend to wear Chuck Taylors instead of dress shoes, and that was in a positive regard. Also, as of yet no one has made a disparaging remark when I come in on a Sunday morning less-than-clean-shaven.
But one of the more casual aspects of my appearance which I was kind of in between about at first was the D-ring. I know it seems insignificant, but it really sets a tone. On-casual; off-formal. I wasn’t sure if it might not have been a step too far. But, in the end, it had to be done, I had to wear it. Not because I wanted to look more casual, but because I’m dependant upon it.
But I was relieved, because, even though I still wear a tie, they seem to have accepted, or at least looked the other way, with regards to some of my other departures from normative attire. For example, only one person has ever mentioned the fact that I tend to wear Chuck Taylors instead of dress shoes, and that was in a positive regard. Also, as of yet no one has made a disparaging remark when I come in on a Sunday morning less-than-clean-shaven.
But one of the more casual aspects of my appearance which I was kind of in between about at first was the D-ring. I know it seems insignificant, but it really sets a tone. On-casual; off-formal. I wasn’t sure if it might not have been a step too far. But, in the end, it had to be done, I had to wear it. Not because I wanted to look more casual, but because I’m dependant upon it.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Resolutions and Why We Stink at Them (Sermon 1-2-11)
John 1:1-18
Ephesians 1:1-14
Happy New Year! This morning I’m going to ask the same question that I would guess about 95% of pastors are going to ask their congregations: It’s been 24 hours, how are you doing on your resolution? Anybody doing great? Anybody doing so-so? Anybody already give up? Anybody decide that their resolution was going to be not to make a resolution?
That’s been my resolution for the past couple years now. For a long while, every New Years and Lent, it always seemed like I was making up a decision at the last minute, remembering that “oh yeah, everybody else is going to have one, I need one too.” I wonder, am I the only one, or do most people make these resolutions just because “it’s the thing to do.”
Do any of us really put that much stock in the power of having to hang a new calendar and remember to put ‘11 instead of ‘10 when you date a check? Did anyone wake up yesterday morning and say to themselves “Ahhhh, it’s a fresh year”? I imagine a pretty large number of folks woke up yesterday morning and instead said “ooohhh, owww, why did I do that to myself?”
Ephesians 1:1-14
Happy New Year! This morning I’m going to ask the same question that I would guess about 95% of pastors are going to ask their congregations: It’s been 24 hours, how are you doing on your resolution? Anybody doing great? Anybody doing so-so? Anybody already give up? Anybody decide that their resolution was going to be not to make a resolution?
That’s been my resolution for the past couple years now. For a long while, every New Years and Lent, it always seemed like I was making up a decision at the last minute, remembering that “oh yeah, everybody else is going to have one, I need one too.” I wonder, am I the only one, or do most people make these resolutions just because “it’s the thing to do.”
Do any of us really put that much stock in the power of having to hang a new calendar and remember to put ‘11 instead of ‘10 when you date a check? Did anyone wake up yesterday morning and say to themselves “Ahhhh, it’s a fresh year”? I imagine a pretty large number of folks woke up yesterday morning and instead said “ooohhh, owww, why did I do that to myself?”
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