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A Calming Psalm for Anxious Days
Dear Friends,
There is much in our lives, our country, and our world to be anxious about. As we consider where we are in life now and where we want to be, or will be, in 10 years from now, there’s a lot of things to be concerned over.
But what about rest? What about biblical rest, calm, and peace?
- What do you need to accomplish before you can feel fulfilled?
- What do you need to hear before your soul can be quieted?
- What needs to be resolved before you can be calm?
Trust me; I have a list of things just like you do.
But, is resting, having a quieted soul, being calm in your heart, is this even a good thing? Aren’t we meant to be stretching, achieving, battling, and climbing?
The topic of peace and calm is an interesting and challenging one for our time. Our national history, culture, and ethos are all about achievement, progress, and accumulation. The newer version of the American Dream, where arriving isn’t necessarily measured by the accumulation of things, but rather by authenticity and coolness (according to various definitions), is ironically, still about self-sufficiency, self-promotion, and pride.Read More
Why Should a Church Spend Money and Time to Celebrate BIG Regularly?
“Show me what you celebrate, and I will tell you who you are.”
Alexander Schmemann, 1973. For the Life of the World
“If they want me to believe in their god, they’ll have to sing me better songs. . .
I could only believe in a god who dances.”
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900).
Dear Friends,
I hope you have blocked off Friday evening, October 14, for our All-Church Party! If you haven’t yet, would you be willing to take a step of faith and pencil it in today?
If you are new to Church of the Redeemer (or “COVID-new”), any lack of excitement, skepticism, or hesitation you might have about committing to attend “a Church Party” is understandable! I mean honestly, considering what Christians and church can be like, if you had to choose between going to the dentist or attending a “church party,” it would be fair for you to ask, “Is there a third option?”
This Sunday, we will be turning to Leviticus 23:33-44 to consider what God’s Word has to say in response to an appropriate question: “Why Should a Church Spend Money and Time to Celebrate BIG Regularly?”
A Sermon for When You are Waiting on God for Mercy
Dear Friends,
“Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can. It’s seldom found in women, but never found in man.”
When I think of the virtue of patience, it always reminds me of the above saying. It’s a phrase that was quoted wryly by my mother when she was chagrined about the lack of patient males around her. I grew up with two brothers, so we heard it a lot.
As technology has advanced, we have become less and less patient and increasingly expectant of instant gratification. When Wi-Fi on planes was new, I remember watching a comedian lament how absurd it was that the passenger next to him got irritated when the Wi-Fi went out on their flight. He quipped, “Like how quickly the world owes him something he only knew existed ten seconds ago!” It’s true, right? Maybe you are old enough to remember the days before cell phones, or even answering machines, when getting someone on the phone, or hearing back from them, could take 24 hours. Now, we are quickly indignant and irritated if we have to wait more than a few minutes for someone to respond to a text message!Read More
