Peace

Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. 1 Samuel 1:4-20. Painting all people of an entire culture or skin color or religion or nationality with one brush does not help.  And violence met with violence only produces more violence. Threats of violence and getting tough only produce more violence.  Terror met with terror only produces more terror. War met with war only produces more war.  We have to work for a better way, a better future, rooted in peace.


Video sermon preview
"Peace" podcast

Salaam

Topday's sermon podcast from St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Violence creates more violence.  Peace creates more peace.
"Salaam" podcast

Great Anxiety

This week's Bible reflection (Bullies) sheds some light about the times I feel most like acting "unpastoral" -- but there's more to this week's reading and we even get to more in Sunday's sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"Great Anxiety" text
"Great Anxiety" podcast

Bullies

God loves all.  No exceptions.

I have a real hard time being a person who shares God's love with folks who bully others.

Let's take Peninnah from this week's Bible reading from 1 Samuel 1:4-20.

I don’t like her. Peninnah treated Hannah cruelly. She provoked her just to irritate her. What she did to Hannah was awful, unkind, unconscionable and simply mean.

Peninnah was jealous. Elkanah was more generous with Hannah than with her. Peninnah acted out that jealousy. But what she did was bullying. It was cruel and unnecessary.

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey . . . you’re welcome here,
God loves everyone – not just the people you like or agree with – EVERYONE.

Oh, but I still have a real difficult time showing kindness and love for folks who bully, manipulate, exploit, ridicule, and abuse others.

I have a real difficult time showing kindness and love for folks who make up lies, distort what other people say, use fear and hate as weapons, call some of God’s children evil and cruel names, and do it all while calling themselves Christian.

“Why don’t you tell us how you really feel, Kirk?”

Some folks look at the relationship between Peninnah and Hannah and said that Peninnah, out of a kindness that is difficult to understand, did what she had to do to keep Hannah praying -  so that Hannah would have a child.

My single word response to that one isn’t appropriate to say. Let me temper it somewhat.

No.

There is no justification for bullying, manipulating, exploiting, ridiculing or abusing anyone.

At all.

Ever.

Bitterness of Soul

This week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc (When it's hard to be kind) provides the somewhat ranting beginning for this week's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL
"Bitterness of Soul" text
"Bitterness of Soul" podcast

When it's hard to be kind

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

Peninnah treated Hannah cruelly. She provoked her just to irritate her. What she did to Hannah was awful, unkind, unconscionable and simply mean. In this week’s reading from 1 Samuel 1:4-20, her cruelty is glaring.

I am one who seeks to live the phrase, “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey . . . you’re welcome here,” I also say, and try to live the words, “God loves everyone – not just the people you like or agree with – EVERYONE.”

And I have a real difficult time showing kindness and love for folks who manipulate, exploit, ridicule, and abuse others.

I have a real difficult time showing kindness and love for folks who make up lies, distort what other people say, use fear and hate as weapons, call some of God’s children evil names, and do it all while calling themselves Christian.

Hannah prayed. She poured out her soul to God. I wonder if she had trouble showing kindness and love for Peninnah?

I sure do.