Money that Matters

Sermon November 8, 2009 on Mark 12:38-44.

Often we spend money without even thinking.  We complain when our bills are too great.  We long for that special something we do not have enough money to purchase.  We can spend $20 in one day, and look back and ask where it went.  Money is important.  It provides for our nourishment, even if we over consume.  It provides for our transportation.  It provides for a roof over our heads, electricity in the wiring, water in the faucets, heat when it is cold, and cool air when it is hot.  We know our money is important, but does our money matter?

Healthy Grieving

Sermon November 1, 2009, All Saints Day, on John 11:32-44.  Also on the recording is Raylene Hendrix singing "I Can Only Imagine." 

Transformed

Sermon October 25, 2009 on Mark 10:46-52.  The beautiful pianist before the sermon is Caitlin.

In the sermon I referenced a story about Jody.  A member of my congregation was Jody's sponsor at a Kairos weekend at the prison in which he was incarcerated.  During introductions, Jody, a young man, said that he was only coming for the cookies and the food.  On the last night he was sobbing on his sponsor crying out, "I'm going to die in here."  The sponsor did not understand, and during a conversation later with a clergy person working the weekend found out that Jody's sentence was life without parole.  This greatly disturbed the sponsor and he agonized and prayed all night long.  During the early morning hours, the sponsor distinctly heard God speak to his heart, "I can give him as much purpose in here as I give you out there."  The next morning a very tired sponsor came to breakfast to see Jody bouncing in like it was the greatest day of his life.  He told his sponsor that he just had his best night of sleep since arriving in prison.  The sponsor thought he had his worst. Jody was completely transformed.  Isn't it amazing what God can do. 

Student Teacher

Youth Sunday Sermon October 11, 2009, by Allison Farmer, Youth Lay Speaker, on Luke 6:40.

Too Busy...not to Prioritize Relationships

Sermon October 4, 2009, World Communion Sunday, on Mark 10:2-9, 13-19.

Too Busy...Not to Keep Perspective

Sermon, September 27, 2009.  This is the second sermon in the "Too Busy" series entitled "Too Busy...not to keep perspective."  The text is Mark 9:38-42.

Too Busy...not to Resist Temptations

This is the beginning of a sermon series entitled "Too Busy."  This is the sermon for September 20, 2009 on James 3:13 -4:3, 7-8a.

Doesn't Sound Good

Sermon on September 13, 2009 based on the text Mark 8:27-38.  The recording is missing the prayer for illumination and scripture reading, so I have included the scripture text below. 

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ ²⁸And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ ²⁹He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’^{* 30}And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

31  Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³²He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel,^* will save it. ³⁶For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? ³⁷Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? ³⁸Those who are ashamed of me and of my words^* in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’

Aida Refugee Camp

I have been putting pictures on my sight of the places I visited while in Israel and Palestine.  I found that my pictures turned out better than I thought (I took so many of them, some were bound to turn out okay.) 

One of the places that moved me was Aida Refugee Camp.  What originally started out in tents in 1948, is now in ramshackle buildings, built on top of each other.  The United Nations has set up schools and various other things for them until Resolution 194 is followed and they are given the right to return to their homes, if their homes are still there. 

Here are some images from this portion of my trip.

The key is symbolic of the door keys they have kept from their homes.  It signifies their hope in their return to their land.  This is the gate of the refugee camp.

These are children who were playing on the street during the time of our visit.  I have several pictures of them, they were so cute.

 The Pope visited the holy land in May.  He spoke at Aida Refugee Camp.  The people of the camp wanted him to speak outside, but the government did not want the wall in the film footage, so the Pope spoke in the gym of the UN Girls' School.

Again another key signifying their hope in their return.

There is graffiti on the walls, but there are also murals which depict their life and their history.

These are shots of some of the living conditions found in their camp.

 Olive trees amid the rubble. 

The UN Girl's School

The garden at the Lajee Center.  I think the garden is the best, because by planting something it means you have hope for the future.

The best place to seek God is in a garden.  You can dig for him there.  ~George Bernard Shaw, The Adventures of the Black Girl in Her Search for God, 1932


I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day.  ~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace



 

Preferential Treatment

Sept. 6, 2009 sermon based on James 2:1-10, 14-17