Wednesday
May202009
A Brief Follow-up and a Briefer Taunt
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 5:36PM
First for the follow up:
More than one person has said that Sunday's message got them to thinking. It also got them talking with each other. That's about the best thing I could hope for in a sermon. The egotistical side of me also hopes that you think I'm brilliant, but I'm learning to let that go.
What I hope for is a message that stays with you and makes you want to talk about it with others. I'd love for you to talk about it with me if you want. I've said this before: My big problem with the idea of preaching is that it's such a one-way enterprise. It's necessary and important and there are people who are really good at that kind of communication. But I still prefer teaching, because dialogue is possible.
My other problem with preaching is that it pushes me to be simple rather than complex. There's something to be said for simplicity and clarity. But it's harder for me. I prefer being able to talk to both sides of the issue.
All that to say, I realize that the way God is working in our world can't be reduced to one analogy (card game, GPS, or anything else). God works in a bunch of different ways. I further realize that "why" isn't always a bad question to ask. I just think it's important to ask the "what" question alongside it.
Now for the taunt:
You probably won't hear much from me between now and the end of the month. Most of you know that we're leaving tomorrow on a Caribbean cruise. I'll be much too busy snorkeling, swimming, eating, drinking, playing, sightseeing, reading, shuffleboarding, etc. All of that leisure is not to be taken lightly and will thus demand my utmost attention.
I will miss being with you this Sunday, but not enough to cancel the cruise. See you on the 31st.
More than one person has said that Sunday's message got them to thinking. It also got them talking with each other. That's about the best thing I could hope for in a sermon. The egotistical side of me also hopes that you think I'm brilliant, but I'm learning to let that go.
What I hope for is a message that stays with you and makes you want to talk about it with others. I'd love for you to talk about it with me if you want. I've said this before: My big problem with the idea of preaching is that it's such a one-way enterprise. It's necessary and important and there are people who are really good at that kind of communication. But I still prefer teaching, because dialogue is possible.
My other problem with preaching is that it pushes me to be simple rather than complex. There's something to be said for simplicity and clarity. But it's harder for me. I prefer being able to talk to both sides of the issue.
All that to say, I realize that the way God is working in our world can't be reduced to one analogy (card game, GPS, or anything else). God works in a bunch of different ways. I further realize that "why" isn't always a bad question to ask. I just think it's important to ask the "what" question alongside it.
Now for the taunt:
You probably won't hear much from me between now and the end of the month. Most of you know that we're leaving tomorrow on a Caribbean cruise. I'll be much too busy snorkeling, swimming, eating, drinking, playing, sightseeing, reading, shuffleboarding, etc. All of that leisure is not to be taken lightly and will thus demand my utmost attention.
I will miss being with you this Sunday, but not enough to cancel the cruise. See you on the 31st.
tagged Messages in Amen Corner, Blog
Messages in Amen Corner, Blog
Reader Comments (3)
Bob and I have been batting around ideas to do with Sunday's sermon as well.
And I know from experience that those cruise liners have a gym on them.....you left that part out! 8^)
How about batting a few of those ideas our way? I'll respond if I can or when I get back.
Thanks again (as we already discussed) I love to hear a sermon that leaves me with a need to talk it out with Ray. This one did. I think most of our discussion always came back to the need to have a personal relationship with God that is always evolving. It was also interesting to me that Ray and I seemed to interpret things in very different ways. There was lots of great discussion over this one and I don't think we're finished yet.
I hope the rest and relaxation of the cruise is fabulous and leaves you ready to hit another one out of the park on your return. No pressure though.