Date: 21 Apr 2002
Time: 23:28:31
Hello. This is my first time @ this site. I joined up a few weeks ago. I'm a baptist in England and I've had a conversion to the RCL. I'm Thinking of looking at the investment that Jesus has made in the lives of the disciples. That despite who they are Jesus risks all as he places the plan of salvation in the hands and lives of the disciples.
Luke's Account of the ascension speaks to us of 3 vital assurances that Jesus gives to the disciples, assurances that are his final mandate for the church. This mandate becomes a burning reality in the life of these early disciples.
Sermon Outline: Luke 24:44-53
Introduction:
1. His place in eternity. · Luke 24:51 Experienced in Luke. 'Taken up into heaven'
· Eph. 1:15-23 Prayed in Ephesians.
· Dan. 7:9-14 Prophesied in Daniel.
2. His purpose for the world · Luke: 24:47 & 48. Repentance and forgiveness will be preached in his name to all nations · Acts: 1:8 · Matt: 28:19 · Mark: 16: 19 & 20 · John: 20: · 3. His partnership in the church · Luke 24:47 'In his name' · Mark 16:20 · Matthew 28:20.
Can some one comment on this as I'm hitting in the dark and need feedback
Bye Revgd
Date: 28 Apr 2002
Time: 12:21:58
Ok, revgd, here is some feedback from the other end of the theological spectrim. I like your 3 parts; Jesus place in eternity, his purpose for the world, and his partnership with the church. They are 3 clear themes, 3 important themes, 3 related themes and there is a natural progression in your order. It moves from a foundation to a broad view to specifics where it would be fitting to focus on specifics and our (christian's) participation in the plan. This alows you to move from some broad general principles and to end up with some personal stories that can really carry the freight emotionally. This outline alows you inform and educate and still hit the emotional aspect of inspiration, including a call to action.
On a cautionary note, I don't know your congretgation or how inclusive you aim to be, or need to be. In some congregations the Daniel passage might evoke some excess baggage, but then again it might work great in your congregation. Blessings on your process. Manzel
Date: 28 Apr 2002
Time: 13:28:45
verse 49 reminds us there is a dramatic difference between the story of Penticost in John and that in Luke-acts. Maybe it is not important wheather it happened before or after Jesus assention.
But if it was as grand and dramatic as Luke says and it caused the instant growth of the church, how can John writing 20 years later (after Luke) get away with saying the disciples recieved the holy spirit from Jesus before his assention with no mention of 3000 converts that day?
What early church would alow such a huge change in the story of their church's beginning?
Date: 28 Apr 2002
Time: 13:47:48
What difference does it make if Penticost was before or after the assention?
Have you ever noticed certain stories or versions of stories that were obviously the official party line? The spin they put on things is pretty deliberate. Little changes are made that deffinitely affirms the party's values. Most of us are a little leary of the party line versions of stories.
I don't remember who wrote: Jesus in the Church's Gospel but the idea there is that the early church does have ulterior; motives, and does have reason for putting deninite spins on stories of Jesus.
Matthew's assention story goes further than Luke's in having Jesus give the command "Go make of all disciples baptizing in my name.." Which is very convenient for church policy.
What difference does the chronology of Penticost make? Just that if John's version is accurate, then the early church is really putting words into Jesus mouth. did Luke change a few things and then Matthew add more party line to that? we don't want to think so. It is not convenient for the church.
Date: 28 Apr 2002
Time: 13:54:52
Is there a difference between being faithful to Jesus and being faithful to the church? (If you love me you will keep my commandments) What is the nature of abuse of power?
Is faithfulness a matter of; shut up, don't question, go along, do as you are told?
Or is faithfulness a matter of integrity and a dedication to the truth even when it is not what we wanted to hear?
Date: 29 Apr 2002
Time: 00:15:40
Thanks Manzel It's good to have some feed back, I'm a Baptist Pastor that finds too often we baptists put people in Theological Straight Jackets. I'm one who is breaking out of old moulds and finding God everywhere. Thanks for you comments once again.
Revgd
Date: 29 Apr 2002
Time: 18:42:38
I intend to pick up on the "you are witnesses of this" part of Jesus comments. A witness is someone who gives his/her life to Jesus. The word martyr is a witness which I think I'll bring into my comments. What is the best way to witness to our faith?
Date: 29 Apr 2002
Time: 18:42:45
I intend to pick up on the "you are witnesses of this" part of Jesus comments. A witness is someone who gives his/her life to Jesus. The word martyr is a witness which I think I'll bring into my comments. What is the best way to witness to our faith?
Date: 01 May 2002
Time: 17:59:36
In 'The Christian Century' magazine this week, we are reminded that the scriptures from the lectionary focus on 'last words' and the power we give to such sayings. The readings this week will literally be the last words spoken by Jesus and so, at least in the Gospel writers eyes, they are some of the most imporant things he will say. In this passage, we are told "I am sending you what God has promised." There is a great sermon/statement of faith for all of us in answering the question, "What has been promised?"
Food for thought for the coming sermon...
TB in MN
Date: 02 May 2002
Time: 09:27:45
If you're going to pick up on "you are witnesses" I have a idea for you. I preached a sermon about the word witness and the new and biblical meaning of the word. A "witness" is someone who has experienced something and can testify about it. The wonderful and yet confusing thing about witnesses is that each of us experiences an event differently, according to our perceptions and thought patterns and what we may have been living at the time of the incident. Thus, we have differing versions of events in the Bible -- subtle differences, but important ones because they shed light on what stood out about the events according to the author of the books and the "witnesses" he/she spoke to and lived with.
Date: 02 May 2002
Time: 09:29:24
If you're going to pick up on "you are witnesses" I have a idea for you. I preached a sermon about the word witness and the new and biblical meaning of the word. A "witness" is someone who has experienced something and can testify about it. The wonderful and yet confusing thing about witnesses is that each of us experiences an event differently, according to our perceptions and thought patterns and what we may have been living at the time of the incident. Thus, we have differing versions of events in the Bible -- subtle differences, but important ones because they shed light on what stood out about the events according to the author of the books and the "witnesses" he/she spoke to and lived with.
Date: 05 May 2002
Time: 11:04:10
This week I will be completing the Catechism Series with an exploration of Sacramental Theology and the Episcopal BCP's Catechetical teachings:
"The Christian hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to await the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God's purpose for the world."
and
"Our assurance as Christians is that nothing, not even death, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Because I'll be dealing with the Sacraments in this, Michelle's parting shot from last week's discussion intrigues me:
"Some traditions commune infants as well, but that does not sit well with me."
Michelle, your use of the word "commune" (rather than "communicate") leads me to believe that you are a Lutheran. Is so? I've seen infants give the Sacrament in Lutheran Churches, and we certainly do so in the Anglican Communion these days. Why do you object to communion for infants?
Blessings, Eric in KS
PS -- Still no word on how the bone marrow recipient is doing.
Date: 05 May 2002
Time: 16:15:34
Good News - life - joy - blessings of God upon all peopole. Up coming mother's day make me think of how we have been blessed with people who share the love of God with us. Give thanks, lift up godly living and a grace giving God this day. The least the lost and the last are cared for by God's people and the Holy Compassion of the Lord. Amen.
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 04:10:23
Welcome, Revgd. I'm also a Baptist but in the United States (Wisconsin). I've been using the RCL for the four years I've been pastoring but I'm not "married" to it. I jump off it a lot.
One of our previous pastors had a great observation about this passage. Notice that Jesus "withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven," and this happened "While he was blessing them..." (as opposed to "after he blessed them"). It seems that Jesus hasn't finished blessing His church; He's still doing it.
JG in WI
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 07:33:16
Erik in KS,
Yes, my tradition is Lutheran, and yes, some Lutheran congregations do commune (or communicate) infants. My concern is with the passage in Corinthians dealing with discerning the body. Some claim that we don't discern the body if we don't commune infants. My view is that infants are unable by nature to see any further than their own needs. It is when a child begins to be able to have concern for the needs of others that discerning the body of Christ (as the church or congregation) begins to happen. Ideally, this would be "handled" individually with each person. Practically, in my congregation, the practice has been to wait quite long. (That's still too soon for those who long for the 'good ol' days,' when you had to be confirmed first.)
I did not intend my final posting last week to be a shot, and I don't hold any animosity to anyone who understands the sacraments differently than I do. I believe strongly that God can work however God wishes to work, and can only pray for forgiveness in those matters in which I fail (or in which others may do so).
My next posting will deal with this week's lesson.
Michelle
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 07:52:48
Michelle: Thanks for your reply. Good points. (BTW, "parting shot" wasn't meant to be a perjorative; just a way to say "last words".)
Blessings, Eric in KS (there's a K in Kansas, but not in Eric, unless misspelled in that weird Skandinavian way.)
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 08:22:22
Michelle, et al,
Thank you for responding to my last minute post last week( also to my unsigned anglican friend). I did not take your statement as a "shot". In fact, I appreciated hearing your assessment. I wanted to hear more. Thanks to Eric in KS for asking first(I mentioned your marrow donation in sermon yesterday, as an example of self sacrificing love fulfilling Christ's command to love "even as I have loved you").
I am Methodist back 5-6 generations on both sides of the family tree. I don't know any other way to think or speak. To me, Prevenient Grace is as obvious as gravity. Free Grace is as sure as death and taxes. So I always am interested in hearing other's perspectives. I say, not to argue but to share mine as you have yours, that yes, children can think no farther than their own needs but, in fact, cannot meet those needs. Which is why loving parents get their children what they need 'til such time they can get their own. So, loving parents wash and feed the kids without advice from the kids. And loving parents bring them to God before they can even name God, to be washed(baptised) and fed(communed) by the Parent that the child's parents recognize as Supreme Loving Parent, able to fill all needs. We claim our kids as part of humanity redeemed by Christ from the first, and then try to raise them into that self-understanding. Hope that didn't sound like a rant. Thanks again for responding.
BTW, theology aside, I did serve communion first, advising the family to sit on the front pew afterwards rather than going back to thier seats, so I could call them back up after all were re-seated. It seemed more practical in terms of time and logistics. God forgive me, I figured the rest of the folks were more interested in making lunch on time than in theolgical statements. Someday I will confiscate all watches at the door. tom in TN(USA)
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 08:45:28
I am looking at verse 53. "And they were continually in the temple blessing God."
Does the word for blessing "eulogountes" literally translate as "saying good words"? And would "ton Theon" as direct object be "to God" or "of God" or what?
Michelle
(My apologies to Eric. I have Scandinavian in-laws.)
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 08:52:47
Oops! I neglected to mention, the same word for blessing is used in verse 51, when Jesus blesses the disciples. My confusion is what difference there may be when a greater one (Jesus) blesses lesser ones, and when lesser ones bless God.
Michelle
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 09:23:26
Re; blessing up and down - I'm no Greek scholar. I'm still working on English. One thing I do well and with gusto is sneezing. I rattle the windows. It is embarassing in public sometimes when folks from several aisles over in a store will chuckle, or in awe exclaim, "Bless you." But I do feel blessed, even by strangers. Even though I know it is a knee-jerk response, a learned courtesy, not usually offered witany theological content. But in that moment when my body uncontrolably explodes others' reveries, I hear them saying,"That's O.K.; I forgive you; Are you all right?; Wow! that was impressive; etc." In this increasingly impersonal world, an accidental sonic exhalation can remind folks we're all in this together. "Bless you!" and the sheepish "Thank you" which follows, sometimes means, in our human shorthand sort of way, "God bless us, everyone!" That won't answer any deep questions, but like a sneeze, was something I had to get off my chest. I'll be quiet now. tom in TN(USA)
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 09:47:25
Tom in TN: Thank you for your comments. Your insights and thoughts make me smile, and that is always good. God Bless you, my friend. I am also a United Methodist pastor in the Southern Tier of NY. Betty
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 10:06:08
Michelle:
"ton Theon" would be "to God" (or "towards God") ... to be "of God" it would have been "tou Theou".
"eulogeo" is a compound verb, derived from "eu" which means "well" and "logos" meaning word, so I suppose you could give it the meaning you suggest. It really does just mean "to praise" in its basic meaning; it is the root of the English word "eulogy".
As to your "up-down" question (as Tom described), my lexicon tells me that when God is the actor, "eulogeo" means "to bestow favors upon, to cause to prosper".
Blessings, Eric in KS
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 12:19:09
In Verse 49b we find: "Stay here in the city until lyou have been clothed with power from on high." My mind starts to explore what it might mean to be a "naked Christian?"
And then I remember a show I saw on Public Television on the life of Bonhoffer. He is sent to the gallows and in the movie he is stark naked, but he is not spiritually naked, but truly "clothed with power from on high."
jmj
Date: 07 May 2002
Time: 08:18:40
Anybody speaking specifically to mothers in their sermon this week? I am thinking of contrasting this verse "you are witnesses" with Mary's magnificant in which she is a prophet. Mothers, I believe, are called to a special ministry of both witnessing and prophecing to and for their children. if a mother doesn't witness to the work of God in their lives and prophecy to their children how God will be at work in their lives the children are often lost. What a better way to reach the world than the upbringing of our children and sending them forth? I also see mothers as witnesses to the world specifically on issues such as drugs, guns and the things killing our children. Mothers need to band together as God's witnesses to change the world.
Pastor Sarah (mother for 1 year)
Date: 07 May 2002
Time: 09:01:17
I'm at a loss of what to preach this Sunday. I want to include the festival of the Christian home. I've been a mother for almost 13 years (longer, if you count the in-utero time) and, while I love the blessing of being a mom, I'd hate to listen to a preacher wax poetical about godly mothers. I'd always wonder about motherless children or women who are not mothers. I'd also wonder about the men. My old CPE supervisor told me I was a champion for the underdog.
Besides, Mother's Day isn't a Christian holiday.
I've considered straying from the lectionary to find a more apt scripture for mother's day, but the cussed side of me wants to stick so we make sure (religious) days are observed.
Now that I've had my say ...
Sally in GA
Date: 07 May 2002
Time: 09:09:05
I seem to recall from somewhere back, that Mother's Day (and Father's Day) were invented by a card company. Maybe I'll look this up on-line.
Anyways, maybe Jesus' withdrawing while still blessing could be a good example for the Christian Home. It is not healthy for families to "enmesh," yet total separation is not healthy, either. A Christian home is one where family members are able to be themselves, with blessing, and can bless others for being themselves.
Sally in GA
Date: 07 May 2002
Time: 09:42:39
Sally in GA: A couple of year's ago I researched the history of Mother's Day for a sermon ... here's what I found out:
"....a bit of history about Mother's Day. Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948) first suggested the national observance of an annual day honoring all mothers because she had loved her own mother so dearly. At a memorial service for her mother on May 10, 1908, Miss Jarvis gave a carnation (her mother's favorite flower) to each person who attended. Within the next few years, the idea of a day to honor mothers gained popularity, and Mother's Day was observed in a number of large cities in the U.S. On May 9, 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. He established the day as a time for "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of ourcountry." By then it had become customary to wear white carnations to honor departed mothers and red to honor the living, acustom that continues to this day."
That's from that sermon which otherwise is irrelevant since the lectionary day was Easter 4.
Blessings, Eric in KS
Date: 07 May 2002
Time: 10:30:23
Pass the crow, please, and I'll eat a heaping helping. I'd plum forgot about it (at least in the US) beginning as a day for mothers to demonstrate for peace! I found all kinds of stuff just by going to Google.
My apologies.
Sally in GA
Date: 07 May 2002
Time: 10:42:44
Words from Julia Ward Howe, the mother herself.
Check out this site: http://www.prism.net/fcarpenter/howe.html
Sally in GA (and still with a red face)
Date: 07 May 2002
Time: 20:12:53
Sally your red face is from looking up at the sun to see the ascension :-). Nancy-Wi
Date: 08 May 2002
Time: 02:21:53
Eric in KS, thanks for the information on blessing. As someone has said already this is how Christ leaves earth, as he blesses the disciples (and the church). He leaves this earth doing what he had been doing since the manger at Bethlehem... blessing the world. As has been said, Luke leaves us with the impression that the blessing does not end.
The last verse shows the followers of Jesus blessing God. They carry on the blessing of God as Jesus showed by his life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
I am leaning toward a sermon called the continuing blessing or the unending blessing.
jjinchassc
Date: 08 May 2002
Time: 05:04:18
I love all the discussion on the meaning of words and the hermeneutics of the authors of the gospels this week. It has always been fascinating for me to recognise that each word we use is so rich with imagery and purpose. Knowing exactly, or at least a little better what was intended assists greatly in determined the context of the passage. I have found that our translation from Greek to English often misses the target.
Whilst we are not celebrating the Ascension this Sunday, having celebrated the feast on Thursday, I notice that Luke uses a familiar series of sentences in the opening of this passage, as with the incident on the road to Emmaus.
"He opened their minds to explain the scriptures." I would just love to have been there!! What did he reveal that we have once again lost or can no longer see? What does it seriously mean to have your mind opened? To open my mind, is the process of repentance for me. Repent meaning to "rethink", "reconsider", "reassess" my position and attitude about my thoughts, words and actions.
I am more than willing to proclaim such things to others as well, in his name. I think it is the only way, that the Church can achieve change.
Regards to all,
KGB
Date: 08 May 2002
Time: 11:21:33
hello?????....
anybody else working on a sermon for Sunday?
just wondering....
Blessings, Eric in KS
Date: 08 May 2002
Time: 12:48:32
Eric -
Sorry to say, it's just me ;) I'm going with the blessing/withdrawing theme - that being witnesses is a result of Jesus' blessing & withdrawing. Two sub-themes I'm working on - 1) God's love holding back, from Bill Mallard, one of my professors. Like a parent teaching a child to ride a 2-wheeler, runs alongside them to hold them up, eventually the parent has to let go so the kid can get the feel and learn how for himself. As part of that, I thought of how that indicates Jesus' trust for us, which leads to 2) "you shall be my witnesses." Just what does that mean, and what kind of "bumper sticker" for Jesus do we put on our lives. To what do our lives, attitudes, actions testify? - When we realize how blessed we really are, there's no more excuse for spiritual laziness, and the flip side of that is that sometimes witnessing, however we do it, is a burden. For example, I knew a pastor who had to literally MAKE himself go visit, even hospital visits. His "burden" was just that - a burden.
Any ideas for a title?
Sally in GA
Date: 08 May 2002
Time: 12:51:18
Eric et al
I am working on a sermon for Sumday but I only just started - sitting here in the evening in Hertford, UK with a heavy cold and work up to my ears (I'm a lay preacher). Before I join the main discussion I wanted to add my bit on Mothers Day from a UK perspective. Check out this link http://www.shoptheplaza.com/taste/mothers.html for some history on the British mothers day (which we celebrate in March!)
Blessings (a-a-a-a-chooo) to you all
Adam in Hertford, UK
Date: 08 May 2002
Time: 12:53:42
Adam -
Glad you joined us! Sorry to hear of your cold. Thanks for the info.
Sally
Date: 08 May 2002
Time: 13:08:52
I am intrigued by the blessing theme, and the fact that the two words mean the same, even though one is God (Jesus) blessing us and then the other is us (they) blessing God. There's got to be a sermon in this somewhere. jm in NC
Date: 08 May 2002
Time: 19:41:31
I believe blessing is much more than simply saying "good words". The "logos" referred to in John's gospel extends beyond the words, to the inference behind the words, the whole encapsulation as to what is intended by using the word. This Word "logos", became enfleshed and became a living being.
Blessing implies, in the Old Testament at least, a direct association with physical property and a range of other non physical elements such as status and future glory. A blessing was often passed on to the oldest son, so that they would become heirs of everything that the father owned. It implied that this person would now carry the authority of the father. To be blessed by God then, (and this is dangerous connection) is to essentially achieve a status and a future glory equal to the Father. This is what Christ achieved.
The paradox lies in the mystery, that to be blessed by God is to bless God. To achieve a "position" (unsure what word to use here) equivalent to the Father, is to glorify Him who is in that "position".
As the disciples recognised and realised that Christ had achieved the divinity of humankind, they were now in a position of sharing in the glory of God. This was the essence of the Ascension. It was not a rising up, but a glorification of Christ's status, to the right hand of God.
We have no ability to bless God, until we have been blessed by him. We simply did not have the capacity or the adequacy.
Well there my thoughts. Keep up the good discussion.
Regards, KGB
Date: 09 May 2002
Time: 07:11:25
The phrase "not really left behind" caught my attention from the information on the members' side. My husband just finished going through Bruce Metzger's study on Revelation with some of my church folk, and some of them equated the "Left Behind" series with Revelation. Now that the study is over, one of them feels free from that burden, and two others still cling stubbornly to it, becasue that's what they've grown up believing.
Anyway, I'm going with "Not Really Left Behind" as my sermon title, saying that Jesus didn't ascend to leave us behind, but is still with us in the work he calls us to continue. As a sub-theme, I'll also encourage people not to stay stuck in the "Left Behind" mentality, with all the fear and trying to scare people into salvation, but to read on to the end of Revelation, where we see the river for the healing of nations (something like that in the 21st chapter).
Carol in Iowa (USA)
Date: 09 May 2002
Time: 09:15:14
Thanks to whom ever posted the call to worship. Nancy-Wi
Date: 09 May 2002
Time: 11:51:42
The first part reinforces Christ full fillment of the hebrew texts. The second part is first a blessing and then a praise, with the promise of great power to come. Christ seem confident enough that they have learnd his teachings well enough to proceed with out any more direct teachings. A lot of confidence in humankind is shown. They stayed together. (ramblings) nancy-Wi
Date: 09 May 2002
Time: 12:02:17
I too am toiling with the blessing, and withdrawing, plus the promise to come. my lexicon tells me that when God is the actor, "eulogeo" means "to bestow favors upon, to cause to prosper". Since not all believers are bestow with material favors, perhaps we are blessed to prospers faith. A strong faith that enables us to be witnesses to others. Nancy-Wi
Date: 09 May 2002
Time: 13:10:11
Sorry I did not quote this, it was in a prior posting. "my lexicon tells me that when God is the actor, "eulogeo" means "to bestow favors upon," to cause to prosper". Nancy-Wi
Date: 10 May 2002
Time: 09:26:24
What wonderful directions we are all going in.
Sally in GA, you asked last week if I am from Idaho. Yes. And I am very familiar with the UM churches in Idaho Falls. Rather than take up space about the details here, would you like to email me at <bcarlson3@mindspring.com>?
Also Sally in GA, I can really relate to your ambivalence about Mother's Day. In the past I have sometimes chosen to ignore it, other years it has been a strong theme in my sermon, but I always acknowledge that not everyone celebrates Mother's Day, i.e. not everyone has been blessed by their mothers (or fathers). I do like your theme of withdrawing while blessing.
I decided to preach from Ephesians, on the theme of the riches we inherit--from the ascended Christ, from the saints, from our mothers and fathers. I will take time to celebrate the wealth of love, patience, wisdom, etc. our parents have bequethed us, and again, I will acknowledge that not all of us have inherited "riches" from our parents. The assurance is, that even if we have not received a life-enriching legacy from our parents, Christ, who is "above every name" (even "mother"!) gives us immeasurable riches. And what about us? What riches will we pass on--not only to our children by birth or adoption, but to the heirs of our communities and faith?
Throughout I'm going to use inheritance, heir and bequeth methaphors. Does anyone have any good (poignant or funny) stories about wills or inheritances, or any good jokes? There has got to be some good attorney jokes about writing a will or reading wills to the inheritors. Eric? Anyone else? There must be a website of jokes about lawyers. Since there's not too much action on the Epistle, I'd thought I'd seek help from you Gospel preachers. I know it's late in the week for some, but I will be checking this site as late at Sunday morning, 8:30 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. Thanks!
JGBinID
Date: 10 May 2002
Time: 12:03:29
Right now I am also going to pull from Act 6-14 and talk about community specifically how in the process waiting we do it in community, we find strengh and support in community. The very base of the Church is found in praying and praising together as a group, a community of people who care for each other and there for we are not left behind, instead we are empowered through everyones faith together. Nancy-Wi
Date: 11 May 2002
Time: 07:08:34
KGB Good post on blessing very helpful. Nancy-Wi
Date: 11 May 2002
Time: 13:44:58
JGB: Was just checking back one last time, looking for illustrations (the bane of my existence). Don't know if you'll get this in time, but I remembered a well-worn joke that folks like hearing even if they've heard it before.
A man's beloved, devoted dog dies and, even though the man is not a member of a church wants to give it a proper burial. He goes to the _____(whichever OTHER church is in your area), and the pastor says, "I'm sorry, I can't go along with giving a dog a Christian burial." So, the guy goes to _________ (again, insert another church here) church and the pastor/priest says, "I'm sorry; it's not our custom to give a Christian burial to animals." So, the man sadly goes to Utmost United Methodist church and again, the minsiter says, "I just can't see giving a Christian burial to a pet, even though I know you loved it." The man feels dejected and says, "Gosh, and I was planning to give the church $10,000 in his memory." The minister says, "Well, now!!! You didn't tell me it was a METHODIST dog!"
it's old and corny, I know ...
Sally in GA
Date: 11 May 2002
Time: 17:01:44
Sally in GA: What? Saturday afternoon too late? Not for me. I'll be working on this sermon through Sunday morning, 10:30 a.m. when the worship service starts! And believe it or not, I don't think I have heard that joke and I'll definitely use it tomorrow. It'll be a big hit with all those seldom-attending folks who get dragged to church by their mothers or wives because its mother's day. Thanks! JGBinID