Drew's Journal

08/21/2007 12:51 #40655

Preparation for Sunday.
Category: sermons

I'm going to try something new: This is the beginning of a sermon for NEXT Sunday. It's not done yet. I want to see what you all think of the text and my reflections on it, and encourage you all to add comments/feedback.

Here's the text: Luke 13:10-17

It seems as if this, coming after a series of teachings for the disciples, is Jesus showing how he lives out these teachings. I'm thinking this is going to be a Christian Ethics lesson.

The occasion is Jesus teaching in the Synagogue, but none of the teaching is recorded, instead, Jesus uses healing to teach. This brings us to value number #1:

We value actions over words.

We also see that this is a power struggle between the synagogue leader and Jesus. My guess is that the leader felt threatened--a healer like Jesus could steal his power, so he jumps on Jesus (and the healed woman!) in an attempt to maintain his own power.

This points out value #2:

We value service over power.

Jesus, in healing this woman, shows mercy and disregards the law.

3: We value mercy over law.

Of course, this woman waited 18 years. She could have waited one more, right? But Jesus took action when he saw her, even though he was teaching at the moment.

Value #4: We value moving in the moment over waiting.

I'll find a nice way to wrap it up, and that's my sermon! But I want to hear how you all would preach this text, and see what you think of my way.

tinypliny - 08/22/07 04:44
I think your analysis of the passage is very comprehensive. I am with Lauren, in that I have never preached, and I don't think I ever will. :)

This was my main interpretation of that little story. Doing good and healing never had, and never will have any "assigned days". They never have a "rest-day". As long as there is sickness in this world and people are suffering, there can be no day on which healing is restricted. Setting such limits on healing is equivalent to artifically thrusting a spanner in the works of inherent goodness of people. Restriction has no role in reaching out to people and following your intuition.

lauren - 08/21/07 20:47
Huh...well lets see, I certainly can't tell you how I would preach this text, as I have never preached but I can tell you what I think.
It seems to me that this is another example of Jesus, doing. Doing what he knew to be right, what needed to be done, no matter what or who disagreed with him. And this coincides with your 4 values and certainly with who Jesus was and stood for.

ladycroft - 08/21/07 15:29
What do I see when I read this passage:

Actions speak louder than words.
People are hypocrites to their own demise.
Doing what's right may require doing what's wrong.
Patience is a virtue rewarded unexpectedly.

So yah, I can see your 4 points there.

08/21/2007 10:45 #40651

Brewfest?

What's up with the Beer festival happening at the same time as the Elmwood Arts fest? If I were mayor, there would be a law against that. The proper time to celebrate Beer is the fall. I know it looks like fall now, but really, it isn't yet. I still believe it is summer until school starts, no matter what the weather outside looks like.

To make matters even worse, this week there is a Polish Harvest Festival. I am very happy to be 25% Polish, and I love the fact that I can celebrate said heritage here and stuff my self with pirogies.

The German in me wants to drink beer. As a polish guy, I want to be at the harvest festival, and as an estripper, I want to be at the Elmwood Arts fest!

Saturday is spoken for, as church responsibilities will keep me here all day. Sunday morning is also taken, and I am normally super tired after that, but it looks like I will have to press on.

lauren - 08/21/07 12:04
Hmm lets see...drink some beer, eat a pirogie or five to sober up a bit, and then go check out some art.

fellyconnelly - 08/21/07 11:42
i too am very excited for all of these things.

i am also creating the possibility that I will not have to work on any of these days.

drew - 08/21/07 11:19
yeah. He does. He also wants to make some ice. If only he could find the recipe. . .

jbeatty - 08/21/07 11:17
Oh c'mon Drew the Pole in you should want to drink beer as well. Well that and eat unbelievable amounts of dumplings.

08/17/2007 12:52 #40595

Fridays off (sort of)
Category: work

Because I work on Sundays, I tend to take Fridays off. That would explain why I just returned from Wegman's and why I am doing nothing at 12:30. It means I can take Buckly for a long walk, and enjoy the day.

But...

I did have to go in this morning, because the work that I wanted to do with my assistant yesterday I couldn't do (she was sick--pukey, stay home sick).

And I have to go in tonight, because the rest of the world is on a M-F schedule, and that means that the vacation Bible School ends tonight and I have go back and talk about Joshua and be nice to kids.

But I shouldn't complain because I really do love my job and I don't have to do anything at all tomorrow.

08/16/2007 20:43 #40583

Citizen's bank closes at 4pm
Category: dissatifaction

What's up with that? I gotta get a new bank, but its a pain in the butt to change everything over so I won't.

I am also dissatisfied with the crazy marketers that try to sell stuff to my church over the phone.

That's all the whining for tonight. Tomorrow is some work, (even though its supposed to be my day off), grocery shopping, banking, then (after leading an evening Bible study,) hanging out with Janelle's friends from Pittsburgh. (I like them, too, but Janelle knows them a lot better than I do.)

tinypliny - 08/18/07 08:46
FYI, HSBC is an awesome bank, but definitely NOT in terms of staying open late. They close promptly at 4 too. But they always have a bank in town which is open on Saturdays (e.g. the Utica/Elmwood branch). Helps people who are imprisoned the rest of the week (e.g. yours truly)

I have to check out if the Amherst thing is really open late...

james - 08/16/07 22:44
HSBC has branches open late. But the one closest to you on Potomac and Elmwood isn't and doesn't have Saturday hours. There is a branch on Amherst near military that has crazy hours. I am sure you could go there to get something notarized at 3 in the morning.

I am sure they have crazy marketers as well.

08/15/2007 14:50 #40560

We got some press. Sort of.

Kids from my church caused havoc on Elmwood, and Buffalo Rising was there to cover it. BR haters don't have to follow the link, everyone else, can see the pictures of the Robot here:

leetee - 08/17/07 10:35
Drove by the robot yesterday evening at about 5.30 or so... gave a big wave and a honk!

tinypliny - 08/16/07 16:36
Hey, the robot waved at the bus I was on, I think it was Monday. :) I was wondering what the occasion. This makes it clear... uh, somewhat.

lauren - 08/16/07 13:07
Well, I thought I was cool playing 13 bells, but you got me beat! I am certainly open to the possibility of playing...haven't had the chance except for the occasional Christams Eve service and wedding. Keep me posted if anything comes up and if my schedule permits, I would love to get back into it.

twisted - 08/16/07 12:29
omg. I rang handbells for like, eight years. I even played a handbell solo (!) when a member of the adult choir got married. You haven't lived until you've single-handedly performed a 2-octave piece in front of a packed church. Brought the house down.

If I could do it with one, you can do it with three. ;-) But five would be much less stressful and more fun.

janelle - 08/16/07 11:36
I wanna be a handbell ringer. That makes two. And Drew makes three. I think we're well on our way to having a handbell team!

fellyconnelly - 08/16/07 11:25
lauren comes from a family of handbell ringers... i've seen them at christmas services - but i haven't seen lauren play...

drew - 08/16/07 11:09
the handbell choir is, at the moment, dormant, but there is some interest in resuscitating it in partnership with St. John's Grace.

But we have bells and music. All we need is some ringers! (and good stuff can be done with just 5 people--well, less than that if the people are good, but I like to have 5)

lauren - 08/16/07 11:07
PS: what are the chances that you have a hand bell choir at your church? Or know where there is one?

drew - 08/15/07 20:40
estrip is great. One partner says she is considering a visit to my church, and the other asks where a good sex shop is.

You should visit the church sometime. We'd love to help you. Can't help with the sex shop though.

drew - 08/15/07 20:35
Robot week is whatever Kirk (the guy in the suit) thinks it is. The Robot is the mascot for this weeks vacation bible school.

james - 08/15/07 19:32
That is awesome.

I don't get it fully, but it is awesome.

lauren - 08/15/07 19:05
Funny, Felly and I were considering the possibility of you being Presbyterian as we drove past what I now know to be your church this afternoon. Now it seems to be true. I was raised Presbyterian for the first 18 years of my life. Most people have never heard of it.

zobar - 08/15/07 17:39
That is so bizarre and awesome.

What is Robot Week?

- Z

mrmike - 08/15/07 14:53
That's pretty cool. Nice work by the robo-builders.