This week's sermon

Here is the link to this past Sunday's sermon:

Sermon 22 - Truthiness is a Word, Really

It is a little later than normal since I was busy getting ready for the Da Vinci Code class. I will write about that more later.

peace,

will

Which Came First, The Chicken or the Egg?

It is good to know scientists are working on this question.

Check out the story on cnn.com:

Chicken and egg debate unscrambled

peace,

will

Sunday Preview

Sunday Preview

Sunday, May 28, 2006 (Seventh Sunday of Easter)

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

John 8:30-33

Sermon: “Truthiness is a Word, Really”

Have you seen The Da Vinci Code yet? Have you read the book? Do you have questions? Have any of your friends of family members asked you about it? Do you have answers? Join us in worship Sunday at we talk about the book and movie everyone is talking about.

Don’t worry if the book and movie are not on your “must read” or “must see” list. The sermon will not simply be a review of Dan Brown’s work. It will address the issue of truth and how and why we believe what we believe. If you have friends or family members with questions, bring them along.

Don’t forget, on Tuesday evening from 6:30-9, Grace will present “Da Vinci Discussed” an evening of learning and conversation. We will cover some of the issues raised in the book and movie including: other gospels not included in the New Testament, how the New Testament came to be, and what we know about the “historical” Jesus.

peace,

will

God's Reaching

I want to post a message from an old and dear friend of mine. He has given me permission to post it on the blog. Two pieces of background: First of all, I have known Blake since before I found my way to Christianity and eventually the ministry. Second, Blake references an online audio sermon. He stumbled upon an experiment from last year where I posted an audio version of the Sunday sermon. I didn't get much response to I stopped doing it, but I guess God put it work anyway.

Here is Blake's message and my reply:

Just listened to the 8.14.05 sermon on the website and I should have listened a LONG time ago. I was engrossed. I’ve been thinking about going back to church after having been absent from it for years. It would really be the FIRST time I’m going in many ways. Yes, I used to go because my “mom made me.” Yes, I enjoyed the community, but no, I didn’t really grasp it. This would be me CHOOSING to go, along with my wife and my 4 year old daughter. I’m 35 years old now, so this is HUGE to me….and although my daughter is very loving and sweet, this would be a more concrete way to introduce her to the source of that love and really educate her about God. She doesn’t really know about God and I haven’t been comfortable with that fact for a while.

It’s easy for me to sit here many miles away from you and type this into an email, but this is something that’s been in my head and weighing on my heart for a while. The 1st part of that sermon appealed to the reader in me…the 2^nd part appealed to the believer buried inside me, and the 3^rd part appealed to the “Will’s distant friend” part in me and the part of me that’s feeling ready to live it more concretely

This isn’t the result of some specific, intense enlightenment or tragedy or moment in my life, which I always assumed would have to happen…and I’m not talking about wanting to become a monk or go to seminary…it’s just been…building…and that’s kinda odd to me. Without being melodramatic, words are falling short here. But I think if there’s anybody in this world that I personally know who would understand, it’s you….and probably my mom. J I actually brought it up casually with my wife the other day, and she said, “Do you want to start going to church? We can do that.” Absolute support from someone who is a sel-proclaimed “non-religious” person. Amazing.

I’m typing this and getting choked up. What’s going on with me? ( I say in half bewilderment and half joy.)

Wow…just thought I’d share. J There is a church right on my corner. I have no idea what kind of church, but I’m gonna start there.

I wanna post this on your blog so others can read it and comment on it (that would actually be very helpful to *me*), but it’s not like a message board where I can just POST something…and it wouldn’t really fit as a posted response to your DaVinci Code discussion…LOL. Feel free to post it on your blog somewhere if you feel inclined and please let me know your thoughts on all of this.

Blake

my reply:

Blake,

Thank you so much for sharing all of that. I am really glad you felt you could open up and lay that all out.

Let me start by speaking theologically. For me, the central point of the Christian message is grace. Grace is the unconditional love that God has for us no matter what. It is a thing that we can’t earn and that we can’t lose. No matter how far away we go from God, God is always there waiting for us. There is a really good parable about this in Luke 15:11-32. (You can read it in a good translation at this link: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=15391769) Theologically, we have realized that God’s grace is presented in many ways. The one you are most likely encountering is what we call prevenient grace. That is God’s reaching out for us. It is happening all the time, but there are times in our life when we especially feel it. I can tell you from talking to lots of people, there is something about children that opens us up to God’s reaching. I don’t know if children lower our defenses or if the absolute miracle of their existence makes us ask questions that God is ready to answer.

A little more practically speaking, God is reaching out to you and you are listening. And for that I am glad. I love your words that it has been “in my head and weighing on my heart for a while.” That is how it felt with me. I didn’t know what was going on but I eventually figured out it had to do with God. We often think these things only happen dramatically, but usually they just sort of slowly happen.

Church is a great place to start. Remind me what part of the city you live in now and I will send you some suggestions for places to try. I really think you might want to try the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ (make sure the United is in there, it is a big difference) or even the Presbyterian Church. There are a lot of good denominations out there, but I know enough about you to guess that you want to be around open minded, thinking, seeking people. I think you will want to be around people who don’t think they have all the answers, but are asking the same questions you are.

I am excited for you. You are about to start (or resume) a wonderful journey. Please let me know how it is going.

peace,

will

Da Vinci Discussed (con't)

I am currently working on this Sunday's sermon which is going to look at the book and movie version of The Da Vinci Code. At the same time, I am outlining the program John and I will be presenting on the 30th. (See Da Vinci Discussed)

While I am working on this, I invite you to post of e-mail me any questions or issues the book or movie has raised for you. I may or may not be able to work them into the sermon of the class, but I may and it will really help me to know what people are wondering about.

peace,

will

This week's sermon

This week's sermon is posted. Some folks who came to church on Sunday may not have heard it. We had the blessing of confirming 15 youth on Sunday at the 11:00 service. Instead of one of the pastors preaching, we let four youth talk about what confirmation meant to them. It was a wonderful service and we were blessed to also have a number of members of the confirmand's families join the church. The Grace family is growing!

So in case you were at the 11:00 service or read the weblog from out of town or just want to see it in print, here is this week's sermon:

Sermon #21 - The One About Grapes

peace,

will

Sunday Preview

In case you don't get it by email, here is what is going on Sunday at Grace:

Sunday Preview

Sunday, May 21, 2006 (Fifth Sunday of Easter)

8:30 & 9:45:

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Sermon: “The One About Grapes”

11:00:

Confirmation

Things will be a little different this Sunday at Grace. During the 11 service, we will celebrate as 15 young people publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ and be confirmed as full members of Christ’s Universal Church, The United Methodist Church and Grace United Methodist Church. Join us as we celebrate what God is doing in the lives of these young people.

During the 8:30 and 9:45 services, I will be talking about grapes. I grew up across the street from a grape vineyard, so I knew about grapes long before I knew about Jesus. Come, as we contemplate together what is means to be connected to the one true vine.

peace,

will

p.s. Off to see the Da Vinci Code this weekend? Pastor John has published an excellent piece “Decoding the Da Vinci Code” in this week’s newsletter. Give it a read before you head off to the theatre.

Reading about a book that became a movie

Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code has spawned not only a movie, but more books about the book than you can imagine. Some of the books try to debunk Brown's book (even though fiction usually doesn't need to be debunked), some try to support the theories presented in Brown's fiction, and some try to take the case even further.

I have stayed away from most of these books. However, when I saw that Bart Ehrman had release a book on the topic, I couldn't pass it up. Ehrman is an actual biblical scholar. He chairs the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina and Chapel Hill.

Sometimes biblical scholars produce books that only other biblical scholars can understand, but this book is really accessible. Closer to the release of the book, Ehrman released a list of ten historical errors in The Da Vinci Code. The author continues Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code in this same vein. He is not arguing theologically and he is not critiquing the value of the work as a work of fiction. What seems to bother Ehrman is related to two things. First, Brown writes on page one of the book, "All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate." Ehrman takes issues especially with the issue of documents. He finds critical factual errors in the author's description of documents. Had the author of this fiction book not made the statement as to their accuracy, this might not be a problem. What also seems to bother Ehrman is that some of the factual errors in the book didn't relate directly to the plot and could have been corrected with the tiniest bit of research.

What is really great about this book is that it addresses some really important issues of early Christianity in really understandable terms. If you are interested in learning a bit about Constantine in early Christianity, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Nag Hammadi Library, other non-canonical gospels, the formation of the New Testament canon and the historical Jesus, this book covers it all in a really entertaining way.

I am off to see the movie tomorrow. Don't forget, if you want to learn more, come to the class!

peace,

will

Da Vinci Discussed

Although it is getting panned by critics, I am off to see The Da Vinci Code on Friday. I am going in the spirit of preperation. Below is an article about my upcoming program on the book and movie.

The Da Vinci Code opens in theatres this weekend. Just like the novel, the film is raising questions and even controversy. While Dan Brown’s work is fiction, its basis in the reality of our faith can cause many to consider their own beliefs. Whether or not you have read the book, seen the movie or intend to see it, you are invited to join Pastors John and Will for a time of learning, questions and answers.

They will cover some of the issues raised by the book and movie, including:

• Other gospels not included in the New Testament
• How the New Testament came to be
• What we know about the “historical” Jesus

They will also talk about the movie itself including some factual inaccuracies and inconsistencies as well as its possible positive and negative impact on Christians and non-Christians.

The session will be held Tuesday, May 30^th from 6:30-9pm. It is totally free and open to all. If possible, please let us know that you will be coming so that we may have plenty of room and materials for all. To RSVP, call the church office or e-mail Will Rice at pastorwillrice@gmail.com.

Crowding Out Jesus

Sometimes you hear sermons on Sunday morning and sometimes they appear on your desk. On my desk sits a bobble-head Jesus that was given to me as a gift. I noticed yesterday in my hectic, busy day, Jesus had been knocked over and trapped under a binder. He was about to be pushed right off the back of the desk.

This is a wonderful metaphor for how life goes sometimes. We get so busy that our relationship with God gets shoved right off the desk. This can even happen when were are doing things that we think are God related.

Busyness seems to be our human condition, but not what God wants of us. I was just reading this morning in Exodus, chapter 16 about the Israelites in the wilderness. They were hungry and God provided the mysterious manna from heaven. God told them that there would be plenty of this bread-like food every morning to last the whole day. On the sixth day, they were told they could gather two days worth for there would be none on the seventh for it was a day of rest. On the sixth day everyone collected enough for two days.

Guess what happened on day seven? Some of the Israelites got up and went to gather some more manna. There was none and God was a little annoyed (to say the least). (You can read the story for yourself in Exodus 16:22-30)

God is pretty clear that we need to take time to rest and to worship and to just enjoy what God has already given us. The world tells us if we are not working, we are lazy. The world tells us if we are not working hard, we better be playing hard. God tells us to just settle down.

I am going to go find some room for my bobble-head Jesus.

peace,

will

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Pt. II Hungry, Hungry Hippo

My sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew are in the U.S. visiting from France. We met them yesterday in San Antonio and spent the day with the kids at the zoo. It was a wonderful day to spend with the animals, although it was a bit muggy since it had rained the night before. It would have been neat so see since here in Corpus it hasn't rained since I moved here.

It is always fun for me to see the amazing variety of God's creatures. I always like the big animals, the cats and the rhinos and the bears. But I had the most fun taking my niece into Lory Landing where she got to feed nectar to the lorikeets while they sat on my shoulder.

See you in worship!

will

Wilderness

Some of you know that I was on vacation the week after Easter. My wife Alisha and I packed Bodhi our Labrador Retriever and our Katrina surviving mutt, Violet, into the car and took off for a week in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Some people head off to Ruidoso to ski, some to take in the horse races, and some to shop. I go for the wilderness.

For me, every step deeper into the woods, every step farther away from the hustle and bustle and complexity of life in the world is a step closer to God. Wilderness is the context in which I can best sense GodÂ’s presence and truly begin to hear the stirring of the spirit. I love to walk alone in the solitude of the forest with nothing but the trees, birds and other wild things. If I get far enough into the backcountry and allow myself to be truly present in the moment I begin to feel simultaneously small and insignificant in comparison to the totality of creation and overwhelming loved as a child of God.

The gospels are full of accounts of Jesus stepping away into the desert or the wilderness. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus got up early, while it was still dark and went out to a deserted place to pray. (Mark 1:35) Knowing that the disciples needed some time away, Jesus invited them to "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31) It was in the wilderness that Jesus truly faced his call and struggled with temptation. (Mark 1:12)

I know not all of us are adventurous outdoor types, but we can all find our own “deserted places” where we can be still enough to sense God’s presence. I found a place the other morning on my back porch watching a solitary hummingbird who has found our feeder after a winter away.

With summer approaching, thoughts are turning to vacations, reunions and lots of busy recreation. I hope in the midst of it all, you will find some time and space to be quiet and alone with God.

peace,

will

This week's sermon

It has been a while since I posted a sermon. That is not because I failed to post, it is because it has been a month since last I preached (not counting the short meditation I gave on Maundy Thursday.) I didn't intentionally take a month of from preaching. It was just how it worked out between Easter and my vacation.

Anyway, here is the link the Sunday's sermon:

Sermon 20 - Doubting, Faithless, Believing Thomas

As always, feel free to return to the weblog for to post thoughts and comments.

peace,

will