Date: 06 Jan 2003
Time: 14:43:09
The first day - of the rest of eternity.
Remember that commercial, "This is the first day of the rest of your life, start it right with Total." This is the first day of the rest of eternity - start it right with total commitment to God. (to add the gospel theme).
I guess I don't really have much direction yet,a fter all.
Sally in GA
Date: 08 Jan 2003
Time: 14:01:36
Paul Harvey tells a story about the man who was chaplain for the naval ship yards in Chicago during World War II "Lord, I know you read the Trib (Chicago Tribune) and I know you see what I see-the world's a terrible mess"
Those are the exact same words that Dr. Powers, professor of Hebrew and Old Testament during my days at Perkins, used to translate tohu wevohu-terrible mess
These words were composed when Israel was in captivity in Babylon, and the younger generation, who were probably born in Babylon, had begun to utter the unthinkable- that the Babylonian god, Marduk, was more powerful than Yahweh. So the elders composed a service of worship emphasizing that our very thinking is to start with Yahweh> From what I remember about Hebrew, "in beginning" is every bit as possible a translation as "in the beginning" (something about leaner doggies and fortified doggies)
It was also very honest. Tohu wevohu-terrible place (been there done that, got the t-shirt)darkness everywhere-oh, yeah-in exile, not seeing much hope of getting back home (Tehvye's comment in Fiddler "God, I know we are your chosen people-but every once in a while, couldn't you choose somebody else).
But something else, in the middle of this dark muddle mess,God's spirit is there. God speaks, and the word is light in spite of the darkness.
So even when life is a terrible mess (as it often is), even when we are surrounded by darkness, the Spirit of God can speak the word of light.
Maybe just enough light for us to see the next step in the path, the path that will lead us home. Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead Thou Me On. The night is dark, and I am far from home Lead Thou me on. Keep Thou my feet - I do not ask to see the distant scene One step enough for me.
grace and peace,
revgilmer in Texarkana
Date: 08 Jan 2003
Time: 20:45:14
Rev Gilmer! I too was a student of Dr. Powers at Perkins in the early 1990s. Glad to have someone else who knew him too! Great insights - we are in a terrible mess in today's world too. Just watched one of those 20/20 or 48 hours things that showcased child pornography and stuff.... Tevye had it right! There is plenty of terrible stuff out there but this theme of God and the light and Jesus being the Light of the world (from John)is what we really have to share with our congregations. The darkness cannot overcome the light no matter how bad it sometimes seems...
MCW in West ARkansas
Date: 09 Jan 2003
Time: 12:55:01
"The word is light in spite of the darkness" - from Rev. Gilmer - thank you!
I think that makes a good title - "In Spite of the Darkness." We are made new, made the light of Christ, given the gift of the Spirit, and are called children of God "In Spite of the Darkness" and in spite of the darkness we can prophesy and proclaim his name
Sally in GA
Date: 10 Jan 2003
Time: 09:52:36
Revgilmer, Took part of your posting and created a call to worship. Thanks. Judy
Date: 10 Jan 2003
Time: 10:10:46
When I was a kid, my very quiet, passive father loved to watch Big Time Wrestling on Saturday afternoons in Amarillo.The division between good and bad was always very clear. And the one thing thta I remember most about the "bad" guys was that they were terrible losers.They had lost the match, and they carried on, they wreaked havoc in the studio, and di all kinds of terrible things. But no matter what they did, none of it changed the fact that they had lost.
So, when we talk about the world as sometimes being a terrible place, let us please remember that the end does not belong to the darkness, but to the light
Thanks be to God who gives us the Victory in Christ Jesus!
revgilmer in Texarkana
Date: 10 Jan 2003
Time: 14:53:34
Judy
I really would like to see what you did for that call to worship (and did you use the Lead, Kindly Light hymn)
revgilmer in Texarkana
Date: 11 Jan 2003
Time: 04:30:36
I'm not sure about the line splits, or how closely the hymn used the original poem, but since I typed it I thought I might as well share it.
JLM in Detroit
"Lead Kindly Light" (Hymn from The Hymnbook (PCUSA, 1955,”Magenta”)) Words by John Henry Newman, 1833
Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on; The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead Thou me on; Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene – one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on. I loved the garish day, and spite of fears, Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.
So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on; O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till The night is gone; And with the morn those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.
Date: 11 Jan 2003
Time: 04:33:18
I forgot about the double CR for a line break. Here it is in the usual form.
JLM in Detroit
Lead Kindly Light (Hymn from The Hymnbook (PCUSA, 1955,”Magenta”)) Words by John Henry Newman, 1833
Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead Thou me on;
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene – one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.
So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on;
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.
Date: 11 Jan 2003
Time: 20:37:57
revgilmer, here is the call to worship. The hymn is great but not where I am going with my sermon. Judy
Call to Worship: L: In the beginning… God’s spirit was there. P: In our beginnings and endings, God’s spirit is there. L: Out of chaos, God created and saw it was good. P: Into darkness, God spoke and there was light. L: When life is chaotic (as it often is), even when we are surrounded by darkness, P: God’s Holy Spirit moves and breathes and speaks – and the Word becomes our light. All: Praise be to God!