Sunday October 25, 2009
Preacher: Pastor Kendra Mohn
Readings:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36
Audio sermon file:
http://fileresource.sitepro.com/filemanager/74/filecollections/742/58C601D0-DCE7-3A92-D3CC-F0C2A1474183.mp3
Pastor Mohn started off today by remembering somewhat vividly the actual day she was confirmed by saying …
“We’re not supposed to be old enough to remember anything that happened 18 years ago!!”
Welcome to thirty-something!
She remembered there was “no film in the camera” and she has only memories of that day. She remembers the feeling of the Pastor’s hand on her head. It prompted her to add that it’s really a pity we don’t stop to recall this moment or other significant moments in our lives much more often.
In the life of a believer, affirming one’s Baptism is very profound. The Gospel made Pastor Mohn mildly (?) upset as it conjured images of a culture that thrives on competition and designating fault. We like to think we have some handle on “THE Truth”, some license on it, so to speak.
But the REAL truth is not a dogma or ideology. We spend a ton of capital trying to convince others that we have some ownership of the one truth, that we have the best, most compelling argument. As a culture, we stress competition over cooperation, education and tolerance.
Luther was tormented by the notion that he could not be righteous enough … because, as h realized, righteousness is a gift.
TRUTH is a lot like righteousness. Truth is also a gift … given freely. It comes in the name and form of aJesus, bestowed in the waters of Baptism, a promise that frees us to live better … no matter what the truth us.
We should ask God more often to guide us through unchartered territory rather than seeking the truth we can not find. Like some of the qualities like humility and character and goodness of heart spoken of in this blog back in September, these gifts come from what C.S. Lewis calls the great principle of inattention – they come when, rather than seeking them in futile vain, we focus on something more eternal. God will then provide the gift.
Maurice Boyd described a friend who said “I wonder if I’m licking the right boots?” He thought, “How terrible to be licking anybody’s boots!!” He then said something I’ll never forget …
The greatest quality of friendship is its disinterestedness!
It, like the truth, comes not when you’re willing to over reach to find it or attain it (when that will never work). It comes when you’re just being yourself. THAT unlocks the door behind which you eventually taste true friendship.
And truth, humility, righteousness, character, all live on the other side of that door .
http://fileresource.sitepro.com/filemanager/74/filecollections/742/58C601D0-DCE7-3A92-D3CC-F0C2A1474183.mp3
Pastor Mohn started off today by remembering somewhat vividly the actual day she was confirmed by saying …
“We’re not supposed to be old enough to remember anything that happened 18 years ago!!”
Welcome to thirty-something!
She remembered there was “no film in the camera” and she has only memories of that day. She remembers the feeling of the Pastor’s hand on her head. It prompted her to add that it’s really a pity we don’t stop to recall this moment or other significant moments in our lives much more often.
In the life of a believer, affirming one’s Baptism is very profound. The Gospel made Pastor Mohn mildly (?) upset as it conjured images of a culture that thrives on competition and designating fault. We like to think we have some handle on “THE Truth”, some license on it, so to speak.
But the REAL truth is not a dogma or ideology. We spend a ton of capital trying to convince others that we have some ownership of the one truth, that we have the best, most compelling argument. As a culture, we stress competition over cooperation, education and tolerance.
Luther was tormented by the notion that he could not be righteous enough … because, as h realized, righteousness is a gift.
TRUTH is a lot like righteousness. Truth is also a gift … given freely. It comes in the name and form of aJesus, bestowed in the waters of Baptism, a promise that frees us to live better … no matter what the truth us.
We should ask God more often to guide us through unchartered territory rather than seeking the truth we can not find. Like some of the qualities like humility and character and goodness of heart spoken of in this blog back in September, these gifts come from what C.S. Lewis calls the great principle of inattention – they come when, rather than seeking them in futile vain, we focus on something more eternal. God will then provide the gift.
Maurice Boyd described a friend who said “I wonder if I’m licking the right boots?” He thought, “How terrible to be licking anybody’s boots!!” He then said something I’ll never forget …
The greatest quality of friendship is its disinterestedness!
It, like the truth, comes not when you’re willing to over reach to find it or attain it (when that will never work). It comes when you’re just being yourself. THAT unlocks the door behind which you eventually taste true friendship.
And truth, humility, righteousness, character, all live on the other side of that door .
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