Difference between revisions of "Sermon for May 12th, 2019"

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After a few minutes God said, "So...You want two lanes or four on that bridge?"
 
After a few minutes God said, "So...You want two lanes or four on that bridge?"
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For the past few weeks, we've been talking about our church's new vision statement:  To be a church for Wanderers, Wonderers, and Seekers of Wisdom.  Two weeks ago, I talked about what it means to be a spiritual wanderer, to be on a journey that sometimes leads us on different paths through different faith traditions and divergent beliefs.  Last week, Dr. Craig Field spoke about those who wonder and question, and his own journey of faith through doubt.  This week, we conclude the series by talking about the pursuit of wisdom.

Revision as of 16:24, 10 May 2019

Proverbs 4:5-9

5 Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight. 8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. 9 She will place on your head a fair garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Luke 7:31-35

31 “To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.’33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon’; 34 the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

Wandering, Wondering and Seeking Wisdom – Part III

Today is mother's day. We recognize and thank all the mothers among us, and also those who care for and nurture us in a mothering sort of way, including aunts, grandmothers, step-mothers, mothers-in-law, big sisters, teachers, mentors, female role models, and all strong and loving women who contribute so much to the fabric of our society.

I'm reminded of the story of a man walking along the California beach one day in, who was deep in thought, pondering all the women who had been influential in his life, and in particular his mother, who lived in Hawaii. All of a sudden he said out loud, "Lord, grant me one wish."

Suddenly the sky clouded above his head and in a booming voice the Lord said, "Because you have tried to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish." The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii, so I can drive over anytime I want to and visit my mother." The Lord said, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the logistics of that kind of undertaking. The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific Ocean...the concrete and steel it would take! I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for such worldly things. Take a little more time and think of another wish, a wish you think would honor and glorify me."

The man thought about it for a long time. Finally he said, "Lord, if I cannot drive to Hawaii and visit my mother, then grant me this wish: Help me to understand the mind of all women--my mother, my wife, my daughters. I want to know how they feel inside, what they are thinking when they give me the silent treatment, why they cry, what they mean when they say "nothing" and how I can make a woman truly happy."

After a few minutes God said, "So...You want two lanes or four on that bridge?"

For the past few weeks, we've been talking about our church's new vision statement: To be a church for Wanderers, Wonderers, and Seekers of Wisdom. Two weeks ago, I talked about what it means to be a spiritual wanderer, to be on a journey that sometimes leads us on different paths through different faith traditions and divergent beliefs. Last week, Dr. Craig Field spoke about those who wonder and question, and his own journey of faith through doubt. This week, we conclude the series by talking about the pursuit of wisdom.