Mindful Leader

Hosea: God has not given up on us ...

The Northern Kingdom has been conquered.  But God continues to act in the role of loving parent and shows love even for the child who has spurned him.  This has some elements of personal reflection on my time at Central UMC in Arlington, VA.  Finding my voice and all of that ... but as much as anything it is a hopeful gesture that says that the God of the Hebrew Bible is a God of Love, Forgiveness and Mercy ... 

Ruth -- God's Loving Kindness within Displacement

While the reading is from Ruth 1, the sermon is as much all of Ruth as it is Ruth 1. 

 Ruth is the outsider, the one of dubious origins (Moab) but she is the one who shows what God's chesed looks like. We explore the idea of displacement in many ways. 

This is from the 10:30 service.

Deuteronomy 5 -- Covenant Relationship

Moses reading of the Decalogue the second time, this time before entering the Promised Land brackets the Wilderness narrative.  There are hints of the "ancient future" idea I find so resonant.  The ancient words apply to us in this future time.  But at the key this is about relationship -- God initiates, we are invited to respond.  God loves us ... it would be so easy to see Grace as conditional, but it isn't.  

(Note:  we split the reading and I pick up the reading on the podcast about 5:17.  Had read 5:1-16 or so earlier.)

This is from October 11, 2015 @ 9:00.  The 10:30 version was not useable.  

Exodus 3: 1-15 -- Called by God

This is a little from both 9 and 10:30.  The scripture reading and introduction is from 9 and the actual sermon is from 10:30.  Moses is called by God.  He key is the issue of "po" (here) and "hineni" (here I am but with a spiritual commitment.)  Probably need to listen close to the sermon but when getting ready to exit a USAF aircraft, while still in flight, the commitment is made by a statement of "All OK".  In.  100% in and ready.  

Genesis 32: 22-30 -- Jacob Wrestles with God

I love this passage.  I really should preach four or five times on this come next summer.  But if Sara/Abraham are us, Jacob is really us.  A trickster who fools himself for a while but then his ways meet someone better at it than he is ... and God calls Jacob back to face his brother.  We all wrestle with God and I would hope and pray are marked by that struggle, but then I love this passage.  

Genesis 1 -- "In the Beginning" (September 13, 2015)

This is from Genesis 1 and 2.  My initial foray into the "Narrative Lectionary."  I type this at the two week mark, and so far, I find it to be an excellent way of "teaching" the bible during worship.  

This week the 10:30 service was when I remembered to record myself.  On September 20th, it would be at the 9:00 service.  I hate it when I do that.  But ... 

Finally, Why Hilltop?

This wraps up the four part series on Why?  Hilltop has a vision of being a place where all can belong, believe and become.  This sermon is drawn from Galatians 3 ... 

Then, Why the Wesleyan Understanding of "Church"?

The two readings were from Genesis and Hebrews -- with an attempt to focus on the idea of Grace.  This was not a particularly scripturally based exposition of God's word.  A little history and a lot of Wesleyan Theology.  

May 24, 2015 -- Pentecost and Confirmation Sunday

The reading is from Acts 2 (1-21).  That said, I focus more on the idea of 'what does this mean?'  The real "audience" (if one doesn't mind using that term here) is not everyone there, but the 12 youth being confirmed.  

April 5, 2015 -- Easter Sunday

The sermon is drawn from Mark 16: 1-8.  I like the short ending.  It is quite rich.  Jesus is not there?  Say what?  It works for me for some reason.  Big ideas were (1) Who will roll away the stone, (2) Who, me?  and (3) Who isn't a little afraid?  

Marilyn White helped me with some of the "order".  I had the ending illustration earlier in the service.  It clearly worked better here.