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.

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.

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.

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?”