I just posted a huge backlog of sermons, including the one from this Sunday. You can find them all:
http://gracesermons.blogspot.com/
peace,
will
Monday, March 26, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
The Misquitoes Are Back...
I forgot how much I truly dislike the mosquitoes. I was trying to work on something in the garage today and got like a billion mosquito bites. Ugh.
Happy scratching.
peace,
will
Happy scratching.
peace,
will
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Sunday Preview (I actually have most of a sermon!)
Sunday Preview:
5th Sunday in Lent
Scripture: John 12:1-8
Sermon: "Wonderfully, Abundantly Wasteful"
What is the most expensive, extravagant gift you have ever given someone to show that you love them? If you come Sunday morning, I will tell you mine.
This Sunday we continue our Lenten journey with Jesus to the cross with a stop in Bethany for a most peculiar account of Jesus, a woman named Mary and an outrageously extravagant gift.
peace,
will
p.s. Looking for a way to spend a little more time in God's presence during Lent? Join us again Sunday evening at 6:00 in the sanctuary for our Lenten Vesper Service
5th Sunday in Lent
Scripture: John 12:1-8
Sermon: "Wonderfully, Abundantly Wasteful"
What is the most expensive, extravagant gift you have ever given someone to show that you love them? If you come Sunday morning, I will tell you mine.
This Sunday we continue our Lenten journey with Jesus to the cross with a stop in Bethany for a most peculiar account of Jesus, a woman named Mary and an outrageously extravagant gift.
peace,
will
p.s. Looking for a way to spend a little more time in God's presence during Lent? Join us again Sunday evening at 6:00 in the sanctuary for our Lenten Vesper Service
Maybe it is not just the blogging that is blocked.
I posted yesterday about having a bit of blogger's block, but as I sit at my desk this morning I realize that maybe it is not just the blog. Here it is Thursday, a day on which I am usually fine tuning my sermon, working on some powerpoint slides and just generally finishing up. But this week, I am not fine tuning because there is no sermon yet.
But don't panic or make other plans for Sunday. Although I like to work in advance, some of my most inspired sermons have been written Saturday night. There is still plenty of time.
peace,
will
But don't panic or make other plans for Sunday. Although I like to work in advance, some of my most inspired sermons have been written Saturday night. There is still plenty of time.
peace,
will
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Is there such a thing as blogger's block?
I have been staring at a lot of blank posting pages lately with good intentions of writing but nothing to write. Of course, the best cure for writers block is to write. So, I guess the best cure for bloggers block is to blog.
The church is a flurry of activity as we prepare for Easter. During Lent we are offering a weekly contemplative service (technically a vespers service - a service of evening prayer.) There is also a lot to do to get ready for Holy Week with services Thursday and Friday evening and then, of course, Easter Sunday itself.
I have been teaching quite a bit as well. I will actually teach three nights this week. I taught Prayer 101 last night. Tonight I have Disciple Bible Study and Wednesday I will teach the confirmation class about the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. Fortunately I love teaching. Although I don't mind being at home in the evening once in a while.
peace,
will
The church is a flurry of activity as we prepare for Easter. During Lent we are offering a weekly contemplative service (technically a vespers service - a service of evening prayer.) There is also a lot to do to get ready for Holy Week with services Thursday and Friday evening and then, of course, Easter Sunday itself.
I have been teaching quite a bit as well. I will actually teach three nights this week. I taught Prayer 101 last night. Tonight I have Disciple Bible Study and Wednesday I will teach the confirmation class about the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. Fortunately I love teaching. Although I don't mind being at home in the evening once in a while.
peace,
will
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Is it dark, or is it just me?
This earlier daylight savings time adjustment has really left me in the dark. When I left the house on Sunday morning it was so dark, I was pretty sure I had set my clocks too far ahead.
It takes me back to my radio days. In the early part of my d.j. career, I often had to move day parts. In my first job after college, I worked midnight to 6 a.m. However, whenever someone went on vacation or was sick, I was called on to fill in their shift and have a part-time person fill in my overnight shift. So it wasn't that unusual to work midnight to 6, go home, take a nap and then fill in mid-days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sometimes, in the same week, I would end up filling 7 p.m. to midnight or even 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and then back to the overnight. It is amazing what this sort of thing does to a body's internal clock. I would often wake up in the dark and wonder what that meant. Was I up late or up early? Even looking at the clock didn't help, especially in the dark of winter. The clock says six, it is dark. Is it a.m. or p.m.? And does that mean I should get up, or just go back to sleep? It all makes getting up in the dark on Sunday morning seem not so bad.
May you find light in the darkness.
peace,
will
It takes me back to my radio days. In the early part of my d.j. career, I often had to move day parts. In my first job after college, I worked midnight to 6 a.m. However, whenever someone went on vacation or was sick, I was called on to fill in their shift and have a part-time person fill in my overnight shift. So it wasn't that unusual to work midnight to 6, go home, take a nap and then fill in mid-days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sometimes, in the same week, I would end up filling 7 p.m. to midnight or even 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and then back to the overnight. It is amazing what this sort of thing does to a body's internal clock. I would often wake up in the dark and wonder what that meant. Was I up late or up early? Even looking at the clock didn't help, especially in the dark of winter. The clock says six, it is dark. Is it a.m. or p.m.? And does that mean I should get up, or just go back to sleep? It all makes getting up in the dark on Sunday morning seem not so bad.
May you find light in the darkness.
peace,
will
Thursday, March 08, 2007
In Case You Missed it or Don't Get our Newsletter
This was in the last issue of the Grace newsletter:
During the season of Lent, as I prepare my own heart for the wonder and glory of Easter, I have decided to pay more attention to my commitment to sabbath rest. You have probably heard me talk about the fourth and longest commandment:
Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
-Exodus 20:8-11
Most Christians observe Sunday as the Sabbath, many considering it simply as a day of worship. Sunday is rarely restful for me. Although I enjoy worshipping, three back-to-back services along with various other pastoral duties makes Sunday the hardest day of my week. So, on most weeks, I observe Friday as a day of sabbath rest. What that means for me is less about legalism and more about the spirit of the commandment. I try not work. That can be pretty tricky. I don’t work on sermons, but I will write in my journal. I will read, but I try to limit myself to books I enjoy. I don’t mow or trim the yard, but I will go fishing. I try not to drive unless it is necessary, which is it if I want to go fishing!
I think that it is legalism that keeps most Christians from truly experiencing the gift of disciplined sabbath rest. My father in law, when he worked as a Sheriff’s Deputy truly found rest and recreation working on his yard. A professional fisherman might not find relaxation at the fishing pier. And there are some things that just have to be done. I don’t think I am missing the spirit if I change Josh’s diaper or take him to the doctor.
I think a less legalistic question may be, “Am I finding this activity (or lack of activity) restful?” And, if not, “Is this something that I need to be doing today?”
Sabbath, for me, is truly about discipline. For in a day set apart for rest, the world does not just tempt me, it screams at me, laying before me demands and temptations. As I sit and read or play with Josh, I can become overwhelmed with the need to go to Home Depot to pick up some fertilizer, (the parsonage lawn doesn’t get that green all by itself,) or to Wal-Mart to get some diapers. My laptop beckons from inside my briefcase, “Don’t you just want to see if you have any email?” My nap might be interrupted by thoughts of a small matter that I left undone at the office.
Sabbath, for me, is not just avoiding these temptations and resting, it is about considering why these temptations are so tempting. On a day that I have dedicated to rest and be in God’s presence, why can I not let go of the desire to produce and consume? Won’t Home Depot have fertilizer when I drive by tomorrow? Don’t I have enough diapers to last until the next trip to the grocery store? Is the email going to evaporate in my inbox? Will God’s work through the church halt if I don’t do something? If I take one day to consider these things, that perspective stays with me throughout the week and I have an opportunity to listen to God’s leading in my life instead of being directed by the call and direction of the world in all its busyness.
I pray that you may find, at least some moments of sabbath in your Lent.
peace,
will
During the season of Lent, as I prepare my own heart for the wonder and glory of Easter, I have decided to pay more attention to my commitment to sabbath rest. You have probably heard me talk about the fourth and longest commandment:
Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
-Exodus 20:8-11
Most Christians observe Sunday as the Sabbath, many considering it simply as a day of worship. Sunday is rarely restful for me. Although I enjoy worshipping, three back-to-back services along with various other pastoral duties makes Sunday the hardest day of my week. So, on most weeks, I observe Friday as a day of sabbath rest. What that means for me is less about legalism and more about the spirit of the commandment. I try not work. That can be pretty tricky. I don’t work on sermons, but I will write in my journal. I will read, but I try to limit myself to books I enjoy. I don’t mow or trim the yard, but I will go fishing. I try not to drive unless it is necessary, which is it if I want to go fishing!
I think that it is legalism that keeps most Christians from truly experiencing the gift of disciplined sabbath rest. My father in law, when he worked as a Sheriff’s Deputy truly found rest and recreation working on his yard. A professional fisherman might not find relaxation at the fishing pier. And there are some things that just have to be done. I don’t think I am missing the spirit if I change Josh’s diaper or take him to the doctor.
I think a less legalistic question may be, “Am I finding this activity (or lack of activity) restful?” And, if not, “Is this something that I need to be doing today?”
Sabbath, for me, is truly about discipline. For in a day set apart for rest, the world does not just tempt me, it screams at me, laying before me demands and temptations. As I sit and read or play with Josh, I can become overwhelmed with the need to go to Home Depot to pick up some fertilizer, (the parsonage lawn doesn’t get that green all by itself,) or to Wal-Mart to get some diapers. My laptop beckons from inside my briefcase, “Don’t you just want to see if you have any email?” My nap might be interrupted by thoughts of a small matter that I left undone at the office.
Sabbath, for me, is not just avoiding these temptations and resting, it is about considering why these temptations are so tempting. On a day that I have dedicated to rest and be in God’s presence, why can I not let go of the desire to produce and consume? Won’t Home Depot have fertilizer when I drive by tomorrow? Don’t I have enough diapers to last until the next trip to the grocery store? Is the email going to evaporate in my inbox? Will God’s work through the church halt if I don’t do something? If I take one day to consider these things, that perspective stays with me throughout the week and I have an opportunity to listen to God’s leading in my life instead of being directed by the call and direction of the world in all its busyness.
I pray that you may find, at least some moments of sabbath in your Lent.
peace,
will
Greetings from the Conference Office
I feel like I haven't seen much of Corpus Christi this week. I spent Monday through Wednesday in Kerrville at the annual Bishop's Convocation and then at my Covenant Connection retreat. I came back last night and am now back in San Antonio for a meeting with the conference Future's Committee. Fortunately the Conference office is WiFi enabled so I get a chance to check in.
I will be glad to be back in the coastal bend tonight. Blessings on the rest of your week and weekend!
peace,
will
I will be glad to be back in the coastal bend tonight. Blessings on the rest of your week and weekend!
peace,
will
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