RoboPreacher

on borrowed time A sermon on the conclusion to Philippians : Seeing as my second month of sabbatical is about to begin, let’s play a little game !   One of the express intents of sabbatical is to provide rest . And while I could provide of list of the things that tire me out, I think we would all agree that what’s really tiresome about a vocation are its worries . So, let me ask you, what do you think I worry about? What do you think keeps me awake at night? Or, since you all know me, when have you actually seen me worrisome? Go ahead! Really think about it. The rest of the sermon will work better if you engage. What do you think I worry about? I came up with this idea for this game while working on the first draft of the sermon. Initially, I made a list of things I worry about. However , the prospect of reading that aloud seemed so dull and so trying that I couldn’t countenance the thought of subjecting you all to that. Nevertheless, now that I’ve asked, it only seems...

nothing else left to impart: A sermon on the prayers of Peter and Cornelius : We’re not told why , exactly, Peter went out onto the roof to pray that noon. Are we? However, we can guess. And if you haven’t already, let me just ask, when do you pray?   And I mean really pray, too. Like, skipping lunch to pray. Like, clamber out onto a roof to pray! When do you pray like that ? Because I’d be willing to bet you don’t pray like that for fun . Do you? No, you only pray like that when you’re at your wit’s end !   That sweet hour of prayer may sound like a nice IDEA. But it’s only that! Isn’t it? It’s just a NICE idea .   Real prayer, on the other hand, isn’t an IDEA, nice or otherwise. No , prayer, real prayer, is born where all our nice IDEAS are laid to rest ! REAL prayer is a messy affair. Real prayer is a matter of flesh and blood . And I bet you KNOW exactly what I mean. Don’t you? It’s nice to think Peter climbed out on that roof to pray over lunch out of pie...