Audio Sermon 05.31.2009

"Earth, Wind, and Fire" (Acts 2:1-13)

A Prayer for Pentecost

O God the Holy Spirit, come to us and among us. Come as the wind and cleanse us. Come as the fire and burn. Come as the dew and refresh. Convict and consecrate us to our great good and your greater glory.

Grant, O Lord, to all of us to know what is worth knowing, to love what is worth loving, to praise what is pleasing to you, to esteem what is most precious to you, to spurn what is evil in your eyes.

Grant us true judgment to distinguish all things that differ and, above all, to search out and do what is pleasing to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

F. Donald Coggan (1909-2000)

The Archbishop of Canterbury

We Now Know With Certainty Why the Chicken Crossed the Road

Quote of the Day 2009.8: Do Liberals and Conservatives Think and Feel Differently?

"If you want to tell whether someone is conservative or liberal, what are a couple of completely nonpolitical questions that will give a good clue?"

"How’s this: Would you be willing to slap your father in the face, with his permission, as part of a comedy skit?"

"And, second: Does it disgust you to touch the faucet in a public restroom?"

"Studies suggest that conservatives are more often distressed by actions that seem disrespectful of authority, such as slapping Dad. Liberals don’t worry as long as Dad has given permission."

"Likewise, conservatives are more likely than liberals to sense contamination or perceive disgust. People who would be disgusted to find that they had accidentally sipped from an acquaintance’s drink are more likely to identify as conservatives."

"The upshot is that liberals and conservatives don’t just think differently, they also feel differently. This may even be a result, in part, of divergent neural responses."

"The larger point is that liberals and conservatives often form judgments through flash intuitions that aren’t a result of a deliberative process. The crucial part of the brain for these judgments is the medial prefrontal cortex, which has more to do with moralizing than with rationality. If you damage your prefrontal cortex, your I.Q. may be unaffected, but you’ll have trouble harrumphing."

You can read Nicholas Kristof's entire editorial, "Would You Slap Your Father? If So, You're a Liberal," here.

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Cross-Posted at RedBlueChristian

Opinion Central Poll 2009.22: Final Results

What overall grade would you give President Obama after his first one hundred days?

Books That Will Always Stick With You

On Facebook Jonathan Marlowe tagged me to list 15 books that I have read that will always stick with me. Here is the list:

1. Easter in Ordinary by Nicholas Lash

2. The Peaceable Kingdom by Stanley Hauerwas

3. Doxology by Geoffrey Wainwright

4.The Moral Vision of the New Testament by Richard Hays

5. The Original Jesus by N.T. Wright

6. The Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder

7. Rethinking Christ and Culture by Craig Carter

8. Who's Afraid of Postmodernism by J.K.A. Smith

9. Menace in Europe by Claire Berlinski

10. Practical Divinity by Thomas Langford

11. The Confessions by St. Augustine

12. The Seven Story Mountain by Thomas Merton

13. Handbook of Christian Apologetics by Kreeft and Tacelli

14. Social Ethics by Roger Betsworth

15. Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Robert Schnase

Anyone is welcome to post their list (it doesn't have to be fifteen) in the comments.

The Church as the Glimpse of Revelation 7:9-10

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,'Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!'

Audio Sermon 05.24.2009

"Seeing Is and Is Not Believing" (Matthew 11:1-11)

A Prayer for Ascension Sunday

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer

The Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup 2009.17.196

Submit your post to umweeklyroundup@yahoo.com by noon EST on Saturday to guarantee that your post is included.

*Rules for Inclusion

Important Note: There will be no MBWR next weekend. We will be hosting our daughter Courtney's graduation party next Saturday, and our sons Joshua and Jason will be confirmed next Sunday. So there will be no time to surf the Methoblogosphere. The MBWR will return the first weekend in June.

The week in review in the Methoblogosphere:

Andrew Thompson comments on Constitutional Amendment 1 without the baggage.

Bishop Robert Schnase writes on the five practices and the four areas of focus.

Thoughts on the Coniston Water Triptych from David Perry.

Craig L. Adams posts on muddying the waters on the homosexual issue in the church.

Are atheists the new evangelists? William Chaney says, "I don't think so!"

"He Ascended into Heaven"-- A sermon by Mitch Lewis.

John Meunier says, "Let pastors be pastors." Best of the Methoblogosphere!

Pieces of wisdom from Ken Hagler.

Jim Parsons blogs on benedictions.

Joseph Yoo on being affirmed.

Ethics and preaching-- just tell the truth, counsels Chris Roberts.

Is Methodism all about relationship? Dave Warnock asks the question.

Dave Faulkner is home from the hospital. Have a quick recovery, Dave.

David Hallam's brother passed away. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

It was a strange day for Questing Parson.

Matt Kelley writes on funding for Metro General Hospital.

Deb Spaulding speaks on the universal language of love.

Steve Heyduck wonders if our land is addicted to chemical fertilizers and antibiotics.

Greg Hazelrig posts his thought for the day on Mark 1:40-42.

Radical faith according to Kim Matthews.

"The Next Step"-- A sermon by Tony Mitchell.

Andrew Stoddard reflects on Ascension Day.

Olive Morgan insists that the church must not dodge money discussion.

On being from Sally Coleman.

Andy Bryan wonders if he can get a witness.

Ken Carter asks, "Who needs the church/The wisdom of the crowds?"

Brian Russell gives the TED Commandments.

There are two temptations and one certainty for Joel Betow.

Shane Raynor rethinks how to make the new United Methodist Hymnal work. Best of the Methoblogosphere!

Daniel Hixon reviews Angels and Demons.

The Ascension is important for Joseph Slife as it should be for all of us.

David E. Nicols believes that the United Methodist amendments will further divide.

"Love According to John: True Vine"-- A sermon by Beth Quick.

Mark Winter, the Circuit Rider, has hit the campaign trail.

Sky McCracken writes on the cloud of witnesses.

There ought to be a law... not so fast... says Henry Neufeld.

David Morris posts on trust, anxiety, and fear.

Michael Daniel suggests that if Congress is the shepherd, we should pity the sheep.

Doing is harder than knowing according to Kevin Watson.

I'm Now on Twitter

So, now what do I do?

The World According to Calvin and Hobbes 2009.5

Click on the image to enlarge

Opinion Central Poll 2009.21: Final Results

Should the Justice Department prosecute Bush Administration officials over possible acts of torture?

The Voice of the Preacher Will Not Fall Silent

Last week word reached me that one of my former seminary professors and the one time Dean of Ashland Theological Seminary had died. Charles Munson was one of the most deeply spiritual individuals I have ever known. His gregarious personality, his gracious way of life, and his deep piety were obvious to those who knew him. His close walk with Jesus Christ inspired others to deepen their walk with Christ as well.

As a professor, Dean Munson taught me much about preaching. Just listening to him preach was a delight to the heart and a feast for the soul. I once took a course from him entitled, "Dynamics of Preaching." At first I wasn't going to register because the class was being offered on a Saturday morning, but I thought better of my decision and devoted a quarter of Saturday mornings to the task before me.

I was not disappointed. After every class I was so inspired that I could have walked straight into a pulpit and preached without notes for probably far too long. During each week I looked forward to Saturday mornings and I was disappointed when the course was over. Dean Munson instilled in us that the life-transforming nature of the gospel meant that preaching must be for transformation as well. He was clear to us that the sermon was one of the most significant moments for the pastor every week, and great importance should be placed on adequate sermon preparation. Every pastor should avoid the temptation of cutting corners on preparation time to meet the weekly demands of pastoral ministry. To do so is to rob the congregation from hearing a profound word from the Lord and is theft leveled against the people who are paying the pastor's salary. If the weekly sermon was to have any credibility, the preacher needed to live a credible life. If the message of the sermon was to be believable, the hearers needed to know that the one preaching deeply believed the words being spoken. And there could be no profound and prophetic preaching without much prayer.

Last week, at ninety years of age, the voice of Charles Munson fell silent in this life. But many of the voices of all those preachers who learned from his wisdom, and who were inspired to become better preachers simply because their professor inspired and challenged them to do so, are still proclaiming the gospel. And they know that without the tutelage and inspiration from their tall and lanky professor, their preaching would be different-- it would be less profound, it would be less a feast for the soul.

Yes, the voice of The Preacher fell silent last week, but the proclamation of The Preacher, through his students, continues.

A Profound and Prophetic Voice in United Methodism

Bishop Timothy Whitaker is a welcome and timely voice in United Methodism. His latest commentary on abortion is one more fine example of his insight and wisdom.

Here is a two paragraph quote to whet your appetite:

Often we rationalize our avoidance of this subject by pointing out that there are other moral issues to consider besides abortion: the threat of the modern way of life to the natural world, the continuing existence of stockpiles of nuclear weapons, the human misery of global poverty and disease, and a system of global economics tilted against under-developed nations. All of these other issues must be addressed as profound moral concerns and urgent practical problems. Yet their rightful demand for our attention is no excuse for failing to be concerned about abortion. We are capable of dealing with more than one, or several, moral concerns at the same time.

Also, we often hear the truism that it is foolish to become obsessed with a single issue, such as abortion. Of course, it is a mistake to single out one moral concern to the practical exclusion of others in our daily discourse, ethical reflection and political attention. Nevertheless, the fact that a few would be so foolish is no excuse for the rest of us avoiding being engaged in an issue. The narrowness of others who are obsessed with abortion is no excuse for the rest of us to narrow the scope of our own moral attention by excluding abortion from our view.

Bishop Whitaker's entire editorial can be read here.

A Prayer for the Sixth Sunday in Easter

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, though your people walk in the valley of darkness, no evil should they fear; for they follow in faith the call of the shepherd whom you have sent for their hope and strength. Attune our minds to the sound of his voice, lead our steps in the path he has shown, that we may know the strength of his outstretched arm and enjoy the light of your presence for ever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup 2009.16.195

Submit your post to umweeklyroundup@yahoo.com by noon EST on Saturday to guarantee that your post is included.

*Rules for Inclusion

The week in review in the Methoblogosphere:

David E. Nichols writes on the proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United Methodist Church.

Joseph Slife posts on a UM African response to the proposed constitutional amendments.

Daniel Hixon also reflects on the UM constitutional amendments.

What might the seven letters to the churches in the Book of Revelation say to the church today? Read Bishop Robert Schnase.

Shane Raynor ponders what the UMC can learn from McDonald's.

Richard Hall reflects on an ethic of blogging and Methodists having a downer on themselves.

A post on best practices from practitioners of preaching from Brian Russell.

Ken Carter asks, "What if church was not a verb?"

Craig L. Adams reminds us that real debate is scary. Best of the Methoblogosphere!

Dave Camphouse reflects on his experience with a lectionary study group.

We are commanded to love, says Andy Bryan.

Thoughts from Sally Coleman on the art of being.

Olive Morgan proclaims that more than half a million people are being invited back to church.

Tony Mitchell gives us two things to think about.

Andrew Stoddard posts reflections on Joshua 22:7-20, Romans 14:1-12, and Luke 8:26-39.

Surely goodness and mercy... er grace... will follow me-- A post from Kim Matthews.

Greg Hazelrig posts his thought for the day on Luke 5:8-10.

What are they, you, we here for? Steve Heyduck asks the question.

Ever wonder what it takes to grow a great church? Read Richard Heyduck.

Deb Spaulding cogitates on the Book of Acts and a hand-holding session.

Matt Kelley writes on participation in civil religion.

Question Parson posts on the fruit of the garden.

Words fail David Hallam on the disclosure of government allowances.

It's a matter of Amazon vs. Christian bookshops for Dave Faulkner.

Some thoughts from Dave "one record" Warnock.

John Battern shares his possible speech he is going to give on Consitutional Amendment 1 at Annual Conference.

Chris Roberts posts part one of his series on ethics and preaching.

Scott McKay publishes poetic on The Trinity.

Rick Mang says "thank you" to someone who lived an abundant life.

Mainstreaming evangelicalism-- Reflections from Guy Williams.

Are you the Saul type? Read Joseph Yoo.

Jonathan Marlowe is not sure if he is progressive.

Jim Parson's DS reads his blog.

It's Kathy James' birthday. Happy birthday Kathy!

Stephen Taylor writes on his work with Aldersgate Special Needs Ministry. Best of the Methoblogosphere!

A lesson in grace from mom and Ken Hagler.

John Meunier is communicating for a change.

The More You Dig, the Deeper the Hole Gets

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi has created a real firestorm for herself when it comes to what she knew and approved of in reference to the practice of waterboarding by the CIA. At first she insisted that she did not know it was actually happening, but then briefing documents were released by the CIA clearly showing that she knew that waterboarding had been used There was no reference at all that she protested. In fact, it has been suggested by Porter Goss and other members of the CIA that Speaker Pelosi expressed concerned that not enough was being done to extract information.

This is not a post in defense of the practice of waterboarding, but what must be said is that politicians get themselves into this kind of a hypocritical mess, especially those who represent people who generally have extreme political views on the left or the right. The Loony Left is so hell bent on payback when it comes to the Bush Administration for a whole host of things they didn't like, that their representatives are feeling the pressure to criminalize and humiliate somebody. Because of the influence of the Wacky Right, the Republicans attempted to do this with the impeachment of Bill Clinton and they paid the price. One would have thought that Speaker Pelosi would have learned from that whole affair (pun intended), but apparently not. It would be all well and good to have a bipartisan commission to look into the practice of interrogation techniques and where things got out of hand, because we know that at times they did. But when one even hints at the possibility of prosecution for illegalities, the one doing the accusing better be squeaky clean and above moral reproach on that specific matter.

That's what presents Speaker Pelosi with a huge problem. She has done more than hint that in her view some former Bush Administration officials could very well be prosecuted for their involvement in the torture of detainees, but it looks now as if she herself knew it was happening but did not object. So, now Ms. Pelosi is attempting an all out CYA publicity campaign even accusing the CIA of willfully misleading Congress (Note to Speaker Pelosi: Never accuse the CIA nor the FBI of lying. They have ways of getting even.) Every time she holds a press conference in an attempt to dig herself out of the hole she has made for herself, she digs it even deeper. I have noticed over the last few days in watching the "talking heads" of all political stripes, that she has very view defenders, except for those on the extreme left who realize that their hope of enjoying the humiliation of the previous administration is quickly going up in smoke.

Political payback is a powerful motivating force for people whose obsessive convictions are surpassed only by their belief in the righteousness of their political agenda. What that means is that those who disagree with their politics are not only wrong, but they are evil and criminal. The dilemma for such persons is that they are so deeply involved in the furtherance of their own cause, that they discover as they are on their crusade to bring down their political enemies, others in response find out quickly that they too live in glass houses.

What is most unfortunate about all of this is that now that the accusers have revealed their hypocrisy on the matter of torture, over time there will be less and less interest in getting at the truth of interrogation abuse, and attempting to understand how things went wrong over time; how well-meaning people in government let circumstances dictate behavior that, more than once crossed the line, not for the purpose of prosecution, but in figuring out how to avoid such things in the future.

Sometimes it is best to be silent. Speaker Pelosi should have heeded that advice three weeks ago. It just may be the case that if she now refuses to talk further, it will only reinforce the truth of the deception she has attempted to perpetrate in front of the American people.

Life in a glass house is difficult.

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Cross-Posted at RedBlueChristian

Opinion Central Poll 2009.20: Final Results

What percentage of the restaurant bill do you generally tip?

Aquinas on Virtue #6 (The Theological Virtues: Hope)

Without faith in God, one cannot hope in God. As faith perfects the intellect, so hope perfects the will. The primary focus of hope for the believer is the movement toward eternal happiness and bliss. Faith assents to the truth (intellect) that the promises of God will come to pass. Hope puts faith into practice (will) as one lives in a way that those promises will indeed become a reality. One moves intentionally in hope, with the help of God, toward the future. Hope is not synonymous with optimism; for optimism puts too much trust in what can been seen and places too much emphasis on human ability to secure the future.

While the vision brought by hope looks to the future, the practical emphasis on hope is centered in the present. As Aquinas states, "The perfection of hope lies not in achieving what it hopes for but embracing its standard." To equate hope with a feeling or a wish is more indebted to modern understandings of sentimentality than to the profound understanding of virtue displayed by Thomas. Hope is based on faith which is the evidence of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hope is more than wishful thinking; it has its roots in history as one learns and appropriates the story of God's people from the hope of Abraham traveling to a land unknown to the hope of Mary that her son would one day "bring down the mighty from their thrones."

"Christian hope unfolds from the beginning of Jesus' preaching in the proclamation of the beatitudes. The beatitudes raise our hope toward heaven as the new Promised Land; they trace the path that leads through the trials that await the disciples of Jesus. But through the merits of Jesus Christ and of his Passion, God keeps us in the 'hope that does not disappoint.' Hope is the 'sure and steadfast anchor of the soul . . . that enters . . . where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.' Hope is also a weapon that protects us in the struggle of salvation: 'Let us . . . put on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.' It affords us joy even under trial: 'Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation.' Hope is expressed and nourished in prayer, especially in the Our Father, the summary of everything that hope leads us to desire" (Catechism of the Catholic Church).

Aquinas suggests that once the state of eternal blessedness is achieved, then faith and hope will no longer be necessary, because we will finally know perfect happiness in all of its fulness; what we previously had only assented to in faith and longed for in hope. The third theological virtue of charity, however, will always be necessary.

Some (Not So Connected) Thoughts on Major League Baseball

I love baseball! I grew up in Cleveland as a die hard Tribe fan (emphasis on die hard). I remember as a young boy going to many a game with my twin brother, father, and sometimes my grandfather. The old Municipal Stadium seated 78,000 people. That, combined the fact that the Indians were consistently bad, meant that one could walk up to the ticket counter twenty minutes before a game and purchase choice box seats.

I wouldn't say I idolized my sports heroes, but I sure looked up to them. "Sudden" Sam McDowell on the mound, Ray Fosse behind the plate, with Greg Nettles on third base, and then Buddy Bell. In those days it seemed that the Tribe was really nothing more than a farm team for the New York Yankees, as any good player for the Indians ended up playing for championship teams in "The House that Ruth Built." It was frustrating every year to watch my team end up in the cellar most years, but no matter; the Cleveland Indians were indeed MY team, and I loved the game-- the sights and the sounds and gentle evening breezes of summer brushing by my face as I watched my heroes play their best, even if their best was often not nearly good enough to win.

But, somehow things changed. The game changed. I changed. The sport I loved began to lose its luster. I am still a fan, to be sure, but a healthy and sometimes cynical dose of realism has kicked in. I know that part of it is that I no longer view America's pastime through the eyes of a young wide-eyed boy. Life is more complex at forty-seven than it was at seven. As I said, I have changed.

But, something has changed about major league baseball as well, at least it seems that way. I do not mean to suggest that there was some golden idyllic age of the game. We can only label any time and place as "the golden era" by willfully employing amnesia when it comes to the foibles of the past. The boys of summer, who were my heroes, were imperfect on and off the field; and scandals have rocked the world of baseball long before the days of steroids.

But, still... it seems as if something has changed. It's difficult to rejoice in the record-breaking accomplishments of today's players because we can't help but wonder if they "juiced" themselves up in order to get into the record books. And then when players are caught actually using steroids, the lame response is basically the same-- the team doctor or the personal physician gave them the drug and they had no idea. At least, Manny Ramirez was somewhat creative in suggesting that he was taking female fertility drugs, not because he was trying to hide the signs of steroid use, but that it was for a personal medical problem, which is somewhat believable-- after all, many individuals Manny's age want to get pregnant.

Perhaps, however, the game hasn't really changed. Just maybe, baseball's problems amount to nothing more than "the same dance, just a different tune." The current steroid problem in baseball seems to be just another chapter in the age old drama of the willingness of human beings to do whatever it takes to succeed, even if the means are unhealthy, dishonest, and yes, downright corrupt. It must be difficult for an aging sports star to wake up one morning and realize that he is no longer a young Turk in the game, and that there are new young Turks looking to take over his turf. The Fountain of Youth is really attractive in our culture, whether that fountain comes in the form of steroids, Botox, or the nip-and-tuck.

I have some friends who are so disgusted with major league baseball that they have given up on the sport. I have not. Perhaps what we need is not retreat and surrender, but redeployment. Like all of the institutions of life, baseball will not get better if people with moral scruples abandon it in self-righteous anger. Perhaps we need to stick with America's pastime if for no other reason than many of our sons and daughters are growing up with the same enchanted passion for the game as that young boy many years ago watching his favorite team on the shores of Lake Erie. We need to stay with the game because our children need to learn that there is a better way than the way of Manny Ramirez, and they need the moral fortitude to resist such illegitimate temptations when they come their way. They will be unable to do so if those who love baseball and the moral character it is capable of displaying, abandon the sport leaving it to those who place winning above everything, including what is right and true. Perhaps we need to stay with the game because it reveals so much about ourselves with our hopes and disappointments, our failures, and our possibilities. Baseball, like so many endeavors in life, is not only about what is, but what can be. It reminds us that even when our team is in last place, there are always possibilities.

Hank Aaron once said, "I'm hoping someday that some kid, black or white, will hit more home runs than myself. Whoever it is, I'd be pulling for him." Perhaps Aaron's words reveal that the game has indeed changed; for we can no longer trust that the kid hitting more home runs is playing by the rules while doing it. That makes it quite difficult to "pull for him."

How to make sense of all this, I am not sure. But there are two things I do know-- I love baseball and I love the Tribe. Both give me joy and plenty of disappointment.

The Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup 2009.15.194

Submit your post to umweeklyroundup@yahoo.com by noon EST on Saturday to guarantee that your post is included.

*Rules for Inclusion

The week in review in the Methoblogosphere:

Andrew Thompson reminds us that practice makes perfect. Best of the Methoblogosphere!

Beth Quick preaches on "The Good Shepherd."

Mark Winter is in the lions' den.

Thoughts on predatory gambling from Joseph Slife.

Dave Faulkner posts on ministry and personality type surveys.

Reflections on what we take for granted from Sky Lowe-McCracken.

David Hallam is haunted by racist abuse.

Questing Parson narrates on the cross on Uncle Robert's rock.

One the danger of supporting torture according to Matt Kelley.

Deb Spaulding comforts us with the truth that His love will NOT let us go.

Richard Heyduck writes on church growth, Grace Point UMC, and eating cake.

Some thoughts on order in chaos from Steve Heyduck.

Andrew Stoddard posts reflections on Joshua 10:28-43, Colossians 1:15-23, and Luke 6:12-26.

Henry Neufeld blogs on boldness to be fools.

Greg Hazelrig posts his thought for the day on Ephesians 4:17.

Reflections on the darkest valleys from Kim Matthews. Best of the Methoblogosphere!

Truth in labeling according to Tony Mitchell.

Olive Morgan posts on centenary anniversary celebrations.

Sally Coleman offers personal reflections on spirituality in Britain today.

From success to significance from Andy Bryan.

"The True Vine"-- A sermon by Mitch Lewis.

Dave Camphouse shares his thoughts on the National Day of Prayer.

Brian Vinson shares a cool description of the church.

Grace and the unevangelized-- Thoughts from Craig L. Adams.

Ken Carter writes on life and grace, abortion and torture.

Brian Russell asks emerging questions for a missional reading.

Joel Betow posts on the character of polished shoes.

Truth is Stranger than Fiction 2009.13

Accused car thief arrested at Conn. church

From Associated Press

May 05, 2009 8:05 PM EDT

NORWICH, Conn. - Police arrested a 29-year-old man on car theft charges at a church on Sunday, the same church Police Capt. Timothy Menard attends regularly. Menard told the Norwich Bulletin that it seemed like every time the suspect needed gas, he stole a new car.

Police said the suspect went from one car dealership to another to steal cars and had left the church pastor's contact card at a Plainfield dealership before stealing a car from there.

Menard said the pastor of Norwich Alliance Church alerted him to the suspect's presence. Menard cuffed the suspect and walked him out.

Police said that they found a Honda Civic stolen Friday from a Groton dealer in the church parking lot.

The Quotable C.S. Lewis #18: Rational Creaturely Obedience

"But when we have said that God commands things only because they are good, we must add that one of the things intrinsically good is that rational creatures should freely surrender themselves to their Creator in obedience. The content of our obedience-- the thing we are commanded to do-- will always be something intrinsically good, something we ought to do even if (by an impossible supposition) God had not commanded it. But in addition to the content, the mere obeying is also intrinsically good, for, in obeying, a rational creature consciously enacts its creaturely role, reverses the act by which we fell, treads Adam's dance backward, and returns."

--The Problem of Pain

A Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

God our Father, may we look forward with hope to our resurrection, for you have made us your sons and daughters, and restored the joy of our youth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup 2009.14.193

Submit your post to umweeklyroundup@yahoo.com by noon EST on Saturday to guarantee that your post is included.

*Rules for Inclusion

The week in review in the Methoblogosphere:

Bishop Robert Schnase writes on the silence that speaks.

Daniel Hixon ponders the preference the unchurched have for traditional church architecture. Best of the Methoblogosphere!

Reflections from Andrew Thompson on the trouble with Christian America.

Brian Vinson puts forth a vision for the UMC.

A post on congregational care circles from Dave Camphouse.

Dave Morris is dreaming of an absurd church.

Mitch Lewis reflects on Jesus' words "Peace be with you."

"Christians without Christ"-- A post from Joseph Yoo.

Andy Bryan shares his thoughts on Papa Larry.

Citizenship and allegiance, Christ and nation according to Guy Williams.

Sally Coleman is dealing the Jesus Deck.

Olive Morgan writes on the urging of the churches to take action ahead of the European elections.

"What's Love Got to Do With It?" A sermon by Tony Mitchell.

Kim Matthews ponders miracles.

Greg Hazelrig posts his thought for the day on Matthew 5:48.

Are sermons a waste? Henry Neufeld asks the question.

Andrew Stoddard posts reflections on Daniel 5:13-21, 1 John 5:13-21, and Luke 5:1-11.

Steve Heyduck on the practice of name-calling.

Richard Heyduck is reading Tribal Church.

Deb Spaulding writes on coming home.

Hunger und Durst-- A post in English from Matt Kelley.

Questing Parson offers vacation advice.

David Hallam posts some thoughts on the suggestion that the flu pandemic is God's judgment for America's election of Barack Obama.

An account of a strange solicitation by Michael Daniel.

Sky Lowe-McCracken counsels us to change lives with grace, not law.

Lorna Koskela cannot believe it's Friday.

Body image, self-esteem, and the Gospel-- A post by Dave Faulkner. Best of the Methoblogosphere!

Dave Warnock is cycling for Christians Against Poverty.

Abi Carlisle-Wilke offers an idea for Sunday worship.

John Battern offers three cheers for the Judicial Council.

Further thoughts on the Judicial Council's recent decisions from Joseph Slife.

Mark Winter is fishing in Mexia.

Beth Quick posts on 30 things for her 30th year of life. Happy birthday, Beth!

Chris Roberts is moving to a new appointment. Godspeed, Chris!