Wondering Thoughts

I'm writing two sermons for this morning, one for our school's Giving Tree service on Friday morning and the other for Sunday's service. Both sermons will focus on Mary and her Magnificat. As a Baptist, it is always a learning curve to study and preach on Mary. I am reminded at this time each year, though, of what a tremendous instrument of God she was. She was right in saying, "Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed."

Clergy drop in poll rating honesty and ethics of professions

Americans' views of the honesty and ethics of clergypersons has dropped to a three-decade low, according to the latest Gallup poll.

via www.abpnews.com

"Singing Karaoke in the Dark"

"Singing Karaoke in the Dark" from john henson on Vimeo.

Sorry for the long-distance camera work on this in the beginning of the video.  We are working on better camera placement.

Follow the star . . .

Our church has focused on one of our phrases from Advent Conspiracy this year:  Worship Fully.  We have had some great opportunities to do this corporately this season, with more to come.  But, each of us can, and need to, worship throughout the rest of the week.  Below is a wonderful online Advent devotional that can be done each day.

Check it out here:
  
 

Best Christmas Pageant ever

 


Jack played Claude Herdman.  It was great to see the pageant go well, to see a great crowd and to think of future plays by folks in our church.  We have so many gifted people and something great happens when everyone pools their efforts together. 

Re: The Voice

Any literary project reflects the age in which it is written. The Voice is created for and by a church in great transition. Throughout the body of Christ, extensive discussions are ongoing about a variety of issues including style of worship, how we separate culture from our theology, and what is essential truth. At the center of this discussion is the role of Scripture.

via www.hearthevoice.com

I just downloaded the Kindle version of The Voice, which is for free. I'm starting to think of some possibilities with this.

Best Christmas Pageant Ever

I'm waiting for Jack at the rehearsal for tomorrow's Best Christmas Pageant Ever. It will be performed at 5:30 tomorrow in our Sanctuary at 5:30. Jack is Claude Herdsman.

Any guesses?

I took this with my trusty iPhone the other day at church. As I walked by it, I couldn't help but feel followed by this pair of eyes. You definetely don't want it flying near your nose. Any guesses?

Good Ol' Zephaniah

I'm preaching from the passage below, warming up to a prophet who finally gets to a happy note in chapter 3.  I've enjoyed spending  some time with this prophet this week, though he isn't someone I think I would have hung out with much.  My focus on Sunday is on singing, which is something we get to do a lot of this time of year.  Zephaniah gives us some good reasons to do so.  

 

Zephaniah 3:14-20

¹⁴Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! ¹⁵The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. ¹⁶On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. ¹⁷The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing ¹⁸as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. ¹⁹I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. ²⁰At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.

It's Ok to Say Merry 40th

  
Happy 40 my love!   You are an amazing wife and mother. 

"When I passed forty I dropped pretense, 'cause men like women who got some sense" By Maya Angelou

"Just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up speed."
By Charles Schulz

A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age.  ~Robert Frost (guess I'm not a diplomat)