Goodwill

This week's Bible study post (Things that irk me) provides a nice rhyme to soften the rant in what seems to be a very uplifting sermon for this week at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL
"Goodwill" text
"Goodwill" podcast

Things that irk me

I don't like to be manipulated or to see folks being manipulated.  It really irks me.

When Paul wrote to Philemon, he was really manipulative. Paul wanted Philemon to release Onesimus from his servitude. I think he also wanted to challenge Philemon to do more than simply do the right things in his life.

In the short chapter of Philemon, Paul used cleverness to drive home his manipulative agenda. He played on Onesimus’ name, (it means “useful) by calling him formerly “useless” but now useful. He played on Philemon’s sense of fairness, too. (“I preferred to do nothing without your consent.” and “If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. . . I say nothing about your owing me even your own self!”)

Paul masterfully manipulated this letter into one that seems to have no appropriate response except for Onesimus’ freedom and equality.

If the intent is good in the end, is it OK to use blatant manipulation of another person to achieve the results you want? 
When is manipulation appropriate?
How is persuasion different than manipulation? 
Why does the presense of manipulation irk me so?

Banquet

This week's Bible study blog entry (So serious) started the process of lightening things up a bit.  This Sunday should be fun at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Banquet" text
"Banquet" podcast 

So serious

I’ve been so serious for the past few weeks. Faith and doubt. Why doesn’t God fix all this stuff? Wedge issues from the pulpit . . .

I’ve remembered to have a sense of humor and an open and welcoming attitude as I talked about these serious things, but things have still been so serious.

One friend commented, “Rock on, dude. You may also want to duck.”
I think I also need to heed the advice given by Sergeant Hulka in the 1981 movie, ‘Stripes:’  “Lighten up, Francis.”

I think I need to laugh some more. I probably do need to duck. And it’s also a good week to simply lighten up. This week’s Bible reading from Luke 14:1, 7-14 put a smile on my face. It’s party time – Jesus style.

Don’t take yourself so seriously. Don’t take your position so seriously. Don’t take the rules of “who’s in” and who’s out” so seriously. Instead, throw a party and invite the people with no money, the people who can’t stand up without help, the people who can’t walk at all – and those who can’t see. Invite the people who work hard, but still don’t seem to ever have enough to live. Invite the people you’d just as soon ignore. Invite the people who everyone else thinks is unimportant.

And then have fun. Everything doesn’t have to be so serious.

Fireflight - For Those Who Wait Study

I wrote this music video Bible study for Interlinc's latest Music Video magazine.  (MVL 70)  You can catch the digital version of the magazine (I'm linking to the Fireflight study) here.  And you can compare the final version with this pre-edit!

Artist: Fireflight
URL:  fireflightrock.com
Album: For Those Who Wait
Label: Flicker Records
Song: For Those Who Wait
Writer: Kirk Moore
Ministry: Union Congregational United Church of Christ
Location: Somonauk, Illinois
Email: kirk@revkirk.com

Theme:
Perseverance, Patience, Advocacy

Objective:
Students will discuss patience in their lives as they follow God’s guidance. They’ll also be challenged to be advocates for those who wait.

Warm- up
Wait for it. These are a series of games to communicate patience. One game is played exactly like “Simon Says,” with one exception. Each move is done after a long time of waiting. If a player doesn’t wait for the move, they must sit and wait for the rest of the players to finish the round. Another game is a relay with eyedroppers, water, and small cups. Each team must fill the cup to a certain level using only the eyedropper. Teams may not run and the game is only over when the leader declares all students patient enough and ready to move on to what is next. 

Transition: 

Say:  It was hard to wait for the next instruction of the leader or for the cup to be filled with the tiny bits of water from the eyedropper. But I must congratulate all of you for showing extraordinary patience as you waited for both of these games to be over. Are you ready for a reward? I’m going to play a song about . . . patience!

Play For Those Who Wait from Fireflight

During the song, have students write as many words that communicate patience. Ask them also to write words of encouragement that they could share with those who wait.

Transition: 

Say: Our lives are filled with times of waiting.  And as tough as it is to hear when we are in the seemingly endless waiting times, our patience helps to build our character. It helps us to be stronger people. It helps us to rely on God for strength instead of relying on ourselves.

Bible Study 1:
Invite students to read

• Isaiah 40:31
• Romans 15:4-5
• James 1:19-20

Ask:

• What do you think “Wait upon the Lord” means?
• How are patience, comfort, and hope connected?
• How does “quick to listen, slow to speak” work for you?
• How to these verses encourage you to have patience in your life?
• How has patience helped you to grow?

Bible Study 2:
This song expresses the benefits of living patiently. The video also adds an element of advocacy for the violin player who has been so patient. A teacher becomes the student’s advocate and helps them to persevere in their dream of getting a music education. The Bible has much to say about advocacy for those who are waiting for food, homes, or just enough to get by.

Have the students read

• Proverbs 31:8-9
• Micah 6:6-8
• Luke 14:12-14

Ask:

• How do you think you can defend the rights of the poor and the needy?
• Where can you act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God this week?
• What do you think it would be like if we hosted a banquet like the one Jesus described?

How can we weave together patience in our lives and advocacy for those who wait for even basic life necessities?

Wrap-up: We’ve learned today about patience and growth. We’ve also learned about advocacy for those who wait for even basic life necessities. Let’s remember to trust God as we continue to learn patience and continue to be advocates for God’s justice.

Closing prayer: Thank you, God, for giving us patience and strength. Thank you for helping us to grow in our walk with you. Help us, as we grow in faith, to share your good news with all and to be advocates for your justice for those who wait. Amen.

Wonderful Things

This week is a little bit "ranty" again.  The Bible study blog post (Lawbreakers!) started the ball rolling for a sermon that begins with a little controversy, but ends on a very positive note.  Did I give too much away?  Will the spoken version be the same?  Come and see Sunday at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL. (Or listen to the podcast . . . .)
"Wonderful Things" text
"Wonderful Things" podcast

Lawbreakers!

“These people are in the country illegally!”

If a law is unjust, then working to overturn, protesting or even breaking that law is really the only moral choice one has. 

In this week’s Bible reading from Luke 13:10-17, Jesus noticed a woman who was unable to stand up straight for 18 years. While knowing the rules of conduct for what was allowed and not allowed on the Sabbath, Jesus healed the woman. What he did was against the detailed rule structure – the laws relating to the Sabbath.

Jesus was a lawbreaker!

Shouldn’t that be the end of it – no more debate about anything else related – Jesus broke the law and that was wrong, right?

Wrong.

It’s more complicated than that, isn’t it?

Jesus showed that strict adherence to the law while ignoring God’s two most important rules  (Love God!  Love Everyone!) makes the law something that harms rather than helps.

Today we have issues that bring out similar responses. Two of them are immigration and marriage equality.

With Jesus’ lawbreaking in mind, I pose these questions:

• Is drawing a connection between today’s issues and Jesus’ response taking the Bible reading out of context?
• Is drawing a connection between today’s issues and Jesus’ response taking the Bible reading in the direction that was intended?
• How would Jesus respond?

Stir up your might

This week's Bible study reflection (Wake up!)  starts off Sunday's demanding lament sermon at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk, IL
"Stir up your might" text
"Stir up your might" podcast 

Wake up!

Here's this week's Bible study reflection:

Have you ever felt neglected by God?

God!  Where are you?  Things aren’t going so well here!  What are you thinking?  How could you just let all this stuff happen?  You’ve done great things before, so how come you’re not doing it now?  There’s devastation everywhere!  People are dying!  People are sick!  Every one of those sick or dying people is the child of someone who is inconsolable!  What is wrong with you?  Could you look over here?  Could you do something about all this?  Save us!
Come on, God.  Wake up!

Have you ever prayed a prayer like that?

The writer of Psalm 80 did.

Faith

This week's Bible study post (Hey - it's called Faith too!) forms some initial thoughts for what is now Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk, IL.

"Faith" text
"Faith" podcast

Faith

This week's Bible reading from Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 praises the faith of Abraham and Sarah. It describes faith as "assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

I've also heard faith also described as

• Believing without seeing
• The belief or trust that something is true
• Taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. (Martin Luther King, Jr)

But all too often I have doubts bigger than what I believe.

I think that doubt and faith must exist together:

• Faith without doubt isn't faith at all -- it's certainty. (Thank you, Anne Lamont, I think)
• Faith without doubt isn't faith at all -- it's indifference. (Thank you, Elie Wiesel)

• If you know for sure - there's no need for faith.
• If you don't care -- there's no need for faith,
• When you doubt -- faith is what keeps you seeking.

I love the words of the poet Kahlil Gibran:
Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.

Treasures

This week's Bible study post (Stuff) has a cooler title, but I still think you'll like Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Treasures" text
"Treasures" podcast

Salt

I saw the Angelina Jolie double agent movie. Here's my short review.

I'm afraid of Evelyn Salt. Jason who?

Here's a little more.

This film is really, really violent. And everyone in it is bad. The challenge is to find where there is good.
Angelina Jolie is simply awesome in this film.
Bourne or Salt? Salt. (And I like Bourne!)
Is this a masterpiece film? No - but if you're looking for an action flick - you'll like it.

I will, of course, see the followups.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

I caught a Regal Cinemas' 'Value Days' ($5 admission all day weekdays, free popcorn and a soda) showing of the Mickey Mouse inspired Nicholas Cage movie. Here's my short review:

Nothing epic here, but it's pretty good.

Here's a little more:

Nicholas Cage looks the best he's looked in years in this film. It also looks like he was having fun!
The mopping scene made me smile.
This is the first movie where I've seen a nerdy kid who talks like Christian Slater act a little bit like Indiana Jones.
Alfred Molina is excellent as Maxim Horvath. He is definitely the go-to actor for a comic bad guy. Any movie he is in seems worth seeing just to enjoy his performance.
Best stupid term in this film: "The Prime Merlinian"

There's a setup for a sequel, though I'm not sure there's enough steam in the engine to get one moving.

Stuff

Here's this week's Bible study post:

How much stuff do you have? How much of your stuff do you hold onto simply because having more stuff makes you feel more secure or powerful?

In this week’s Bible reading from Luke 12:13-21, Jesus addresses stuff.

• Stay away from greed
• Stop accumulating so much stuff
• Focus on having a rich relationship with God
• The sum of your life is not measured by how much stuff you have.

• So how much stuff is too much?
• When do our earthly possessions become things we are just accumulating instead of investing in a rich relationship with God?
• What do you think the sum of our lives should be measured by?

That Prayer

This week's Bible study post (Rote) has grown into a series of mini-sermons for Sunday at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk, IL.
"That Prayer" text
"That Prayer" podcast