As I watch interviews I often see people having a fun time and spouting some inane drivel. Late night talk shows tend towards this type of thing. Afternoon talk shows can drive me crazy.
But I like to listen to others when there is a nugget that sparks a new direction or thought. Here is one on singing cross-centered songs in worship services. The passion builds as you listen – and the thinking grows as you take time to cogitate on what is said.
For days we had been watching the weather. I’ve decided that’s much like watching a cricket decide where to jump next. The only place it will go is where you don’t expect it to venture!
So, our weather forecast mid-week was for extreme rain and cold. Well, we sort of got half of that. The picnic was not bad if you dressed the layered look. Otherwise, as Jill found out, the skin begins to turn purple and feel clammy to the touch.
Otherwise those who were able to attend (many decided the day was a little “iffy”), we enjoyed games, fire, and ice cream. The ice cream was great, but the warmth therefrom was negligible. And finally, the time to pack up and go home arrived!
I’ve just finished a sermon series. The idea was to read the four biblical stories of Jesus (the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) in eight weeks (or the two months of summer).
Today I gave a final sermon in the series, attempting to summarize some of the big ideas from each book. As I listened to the sermon over again, it struck me that this might be something others would like to listen to. I haven’t seen the content of this sermon in other sermons (OK, I did use Brian McLaren’s Jesus Creed as part of the sermon, but that wasn’t really a sermon – technically speaking).
I called the sermon – Dust Jacket Jesus. If you’d like to hear the sermon, head over to this site – http://www.sermoncloud.com/kindersley-alliance/dust-jacket-jesus/. Click on the headphones to listen, or the down arrow to download the sermon.
The last few days I have been resting. Yesterday was a true sabbatical. Taken away from work, encouraged by co-workers, today feels like the beginning of a new week.
And it’s only Friday.
I entered a meeting first thing this morning. For most there, this was the end of the week. Thinking was like molasses in January – thick, black and slow. As for myself, I sat back feeling like this was the headwaters of a stream of life.
So, there I was feeling like I was out of place – or more rightly – out of time.
And perhaps that’s what a sabbatical is all about – returning life to time.