Sermons as Story Telling

Stories work.  They have a way of getting past our intellectual defenses and impacting us on a gut level.  That is why a good sermon almost always has a great story or three.  For years I’ve occasionally preached sermons that are one single story, told from the viewpoint from a character, often in the Biblical narrative.  I like to preach that style.  There was a period when I did it a lot.  The joke at my then congregation was, “Who is Roy going to be today?”

For a number of reasons I have done it less often at my current congregation and hadn’t preached a sermon in that style at all since we began videoing the sermons and putting them up on YouTube over a year ago.  Well, I preached a 1st person sermon this past Sunday - Looking for Jesus.  Here it is.  Let me know what you think.

I’m Angry...

Yesterday the US opened its new embassy in Jerusalem.  That is another post.  What I’m really angry about today is that two “Christian” clergy were invited to pray at the dedication - Robert Jeffress and John Hagee.  Not only are they fundamentalists but they represent a certain strain of fundamentalism that is actively hopping for and hoping to help institigate Armageddon.  They believe that a war which will basically destroy the world is slated to begin in Israel and they want to see it happen.  Of course, it also means that any Jews who do not convert to their brand of Christianity will go directly to Hell and not pass go along with everyone else who does not fit their definition of Christian.

Let me say this as clearly as I can.  They want war to begin in Israel and they believe this step will help that to begin.  They believe it is God’s plan for the horrors of war to come to that land and that people and they are excited to be part of making it happen.  They have no political reason for wanting the embassy moved.  They have no vision for how to get to peace, indeed, they do not want peace.  Their desire is for a religious war.  It is that simple.  They are no better and no different than ISIS except they wear suits and ties and wield the power of the US state rather than small arms and suicide bombs.

Now, I don’t think Trump believes their twisted and radically unchristian theology.  I doubt he even understands it.  I don’t believe he even sees how playing into their hands may indeed be a self-fulfilling prophesy.  I think he is just continuing his “I want to undo anything Obama did regardless of the cost” and a big part of that is playing to this sick, twisted, heretical sect who claim to be following the Bible.  It is the worst blending of religion and state that I can think of in the history of this nation and we, along with millions around the world, will pay for it.  Israel will pay dearly as it will help to bring war to their doorsteps and will help continue their path to a nation that either will no longer be a Jewish state or it will not be democratic because as Ehud Barack has said, this path leads to a place where Israel cannot be both.

Vote

I've been thinking about the train wreck this current administration is...

in no particular order and by no means a complete list...

• They've been installing judges who will impact the courts in horrific ways perhaps for decades.
• They are destroying environmental protections that, in spite of not being perfect, have made a significant impact on the state of our air, water, and wildlife.
• They have changed the tone of our public discourse and emboldened hate groups.
• They are shredding safety nets upon which scores of people depend.
• They have turned our federal government into a kleptocracy.
• They have damaged, perhaps beyond repair, the reputation of people who claim to follow Jesus.
• They have made the United States the laughingstock of the world.
• They have destroyed our reputation as a dependable partner.
• They have worked against every positive institution in our society including law enforcement, education, religion, healthcare, etc.
• Today, they decided to tear up the Iran agreement which could lead to yet another war, causing millions of needless deaths and untold suffering... and the only reason seems to be spite.  

Now, anybody who has read anything I wrote knows that I place at least some of the blame for this at the feet of third party candidates and the folk who voted for them, especially those who said that HRC was a terrible choice and so voted for someone with zero chance of winning or who stayed home and didn't vote at all, helping this current administration to win in states that were assumed to be "safe."  I'm not going there today... except to say...

Votes count.  Decisions have consequences.  We can make a difference going forward.  We must make a difference going forward.  This administration is bent on destroying our nation, selling whatever they can, and running off with the profits, whatever the cost to the world. As we come up to the mid-term elections, THINK.  Think about the possible consequences of not throwing every single one of these Republicans out of office.  If you live in a place where they seem safe. VOTE AGAINST THEM ANYWAY.  Who knows, maybe enough folk will vote to get them out of office.  At the very least, they'll hear that somebody is watching.