That James would think about the Bible should come as no surprise but he shares some thoughts in his blog:
http://www.jehenry.com/2012/04/the-bible-as-living/
James Thinking about Bible
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Category Archives: Thoughts
Week 2 of Will of God and I am wondering…
This week we will take on the circumstantial will of God. Given specific circumstances, will God’s will adapt and even change to fit that specific set? I’ve entitled the message, “What Will God Settle For?” but I don’t really think now that God settles- I think God adjusts to meet an ever-evolving world.
An instance of how this might play out is in the cross. I know there are plenty of people who believe that before even the world began God had set in place a plan to satisfy the need for justice; hence, Jesus is sacrificed once, for all. What if, however, God’s plan was to create and love us and the universe in which we live? What if the plan for us to be in this eternal relationship and connection with God is derailed by our rebellious and prideful decision? If the cross was preplanned, why not just get it over with in the very beginning? Why do we need the story of the Hebrew Bible and all the prophets, kings, priests, angels, emissaries, patriarchs and matriarchs? Just get the cross done and move on.
Or is it possible that God worked through us in successive attempts to reach us, to draw us back, to woo us back from our own hell-bent, misguided pursuits? Is it possible that as each attempt met with failure, God chose to intervene in person? Is it possible that after becoming one-of-us and embodying love, it became clear that only through sacrifice, through giving-life-away, that we might reconcile with God? Not a foregone conclusion but a necessity given the circumstance.
I am working with these questions this week and would of course welcome thoughts and responses. Word.
New Will of God series…
What is the will of God and how do we figure it out? I’m three days into a new week and still trying to get a handle on it. I do have some hope that my small group might give me some insights tonight when we gather. Of course, maybe someone will write an wise comment here or I’ll run into someone in line somewhere or have a random conversation that’ll make it all clear. God works in mysterious ways- sometimes I just wish it was more in my timing… oh well, that’s God for you!
2011 October 23- The Real Life Is Freedom
Galatians 5:1-15. What is freedom really? This message talks about it…
Sermon Test Post- different widget
I am merely trying a different tool for posting sermons to see how it works. I am re-posting a recent sermon with that in mind.
Sermons Behind
I am now trying to catch up on two months of back sermons. We should be up-to-date by August 15th. Sorry- the summer has been crazy…
Retreating
I almost always relish the opportunity to retreat. It offers the chance to think and to remain undistracted by phones and the like. It also means there are no easy excuses for avoiding God and the agenda he may have for this time. Retreating is in its own way a double-edged sword.
Caught up on online sermons…
They are all caught up now… take a listen and if you have comments, please share them!
The Doubt of Faith
I am considering preaching this Sunday after Easter about doubt. Years ago I remember preaching about the place of doubt in our faith and my mind keeps being drawn back to that sermon. I am trying to take on this sermon as a wholly new set of thoughts but it is easy to fall back to known places, to things said before that had profound meaning (at least in our own minds).
Where does doubt find a place in our faith? Does it have a place? Are we wrong to sometimes, or even more often than that, doubt? Thomas doubted the resurrection and Jesus appeared to him and then offered a warning:
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
I wonder what I might say about my own struggles with doubt and what might be helpful for us all in this consideration…
2010 March 21- Endurance
Colossians 1:9-14. How do we endure and for that matter what does endurance do for us? Listen to see…
Click here to play the recording