Free Sermon Illustrations For July 18, 2010 From The Immediate Word
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
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Object:
In a recent Los Angeles Times article titled "Book Bloggers Catch on with Publishers", Carolyn Kellogg noted that blogging has become the new venue for book promotion. Blogging began with the first software in 1999, but it was not until 2005 that the first group of individuals, 20 in all, formed a group to discuss books. Today there are over 300 active book blogging fellowships. And "fellowship" is the correct terminology, for these meetings are really online book clubs. Beyond the love of books, what draws individuals into these groups is a sense of "hominess." Some have even described it as being a part of a "quilting party."
The advantage that publishers have discovered is the ability of these blogging groups to promote a book at no expense. Many books do not warrant the costs required for print advertisements, or the genre is too small to make the book appealing to a morning television talk show, but bloggers can provide a book with limited but needed exposure. Thus, publishers are now sending advance copies of books to the various groups. And remember, these bloggers are only involved from because they enjoy sharing their love of reading with their cyberspace friends.
Every once in a while it is fun to think about a Bible passage by sort of reminiscing instead of engaging in an extensive exegetical study. I wonder if Martha's problem in this week's gospel text is that she was working in the kitchen not with a sense of joy, but rather with a sense of duty and obligation. This would of course cause some resentment toward her "lazy" sister and anger that she was doing all of the work alone. But what if Martha was working in the kitchen with the attitude of a book blogger? She knew she was making a contribution to the visit of her guest, but her motivation was one of joy by being a part of the "hominess" of the day.
Would not this attitude transform our churches -- if parishioners worked in the kitchen and did odd jobs around the building not out of obligation, but because they felt a sense of "hominess"?
*****
According to a New York Times article by Marlisle Simons, the world's radio astronomers are not too happy with the boom in satellite communications. It seems that with all the new satellite systems going into orbit to provide us with more programming and better cellular service, the scientists are having a hard time hearing anything from space. Says Stefan Michalowski, an American physicist, "What's going on now is like a neighbor turning on a boom box while you are listening for the sound of an insect." The scientists were so concerned that they asked for government help in establishing a noise curfew between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., when satellite providers would have to reduce their service capabilities.
It all goes to show that in order to listen well, you have to eliminate outside noise and distractions. Mary knew this and was able to put aside her household chores and listen to Jesus' teaching.
*****
When discussing the story of Mary and Martha with groups, I like to take polls. "How many would side with the sister who did all the preparation?" I ask. Most women tend to sympathize with Martha. It's no fun doing all the work while some couch-potato relative sits leisurely. One of my sisters always got a bathroom call when it was time to do Sunday dinner dishes. When loved ones consistently do that, we need to have frank conversations with them.
Whether Mary always shirked work, we don't know. What we do know is that on that particular day, Martha was so angry with her sister that she became upset with Jesus and even tried to order him around. Have you ever been so angry with God that you began making demands of him?
Jesus didn't strongly condemn Martha. He gently instructed her not to let anxiety over propriety, niceties, and elegance take precedence over a loving relationship with the Lord and her family. Do anxiety and worry distract you from serving God and loving your family?
*****
It all began at a red light. Kevin Salwen was driving his 14-year-old daughter home from a sleepover. While waiting at a traffic light, they saw a black Mercedes on one side and a homeless man begging for food on the other.
"Dad, if that man had a less nice car, that man there could have a meal," Hannah protested. The light changed and they drove home, but Hannah would not let the matter drop. She pestered her parents about inequity, insisting that she wanted to do something.
"What do you want us to do?" her mother responded. "Sell our house?" Never make such a statement to a teenager, Kevin would learn. Hannah seized upon the idea of selling the luxurious family home and donating half the proceeds to charity, while using the other half to buy a more modest replacement home.
Eventually they did just that. The project -- crazy, impetuous, and utterly inspiring -- is chronicled in a book by her father, The Power of Half. The Salwens offer an example of a family that came together to make a difference.
It's tough being a prophet and being charged to confront people of their wrongdoing. The Old Testament prophet Amos, speaking the Word of God, challenged the people: "Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land." It was a call to change, to pay attention to the poor. It was also a call to action.
*****
Someone once asked a great man who had arisen out of humble beginnings, "What did your father teach you that was most important?"
The man thought for a moment, then replied, "He taught me that whatever he happened to be doing at the time, that was the most important."
What Jesus is trying to teach Martha is a similar quality of attentiveness, of living fully in the present. Her sister Mary is gifted at living in the present; yet Martha, perpetually "distracted by many things," is not so adept.
*****
The late Anthony de Mello, a native of India, was a Roman Catholic priest. In his short but remarkable ministry as a teacher of spirituality, he brought together eastern and western thought as few others have. In a series of taped lectures he shared this ancient Chinese proverb:
When the archer shoots for nothing, he has all his skill.
When he shoots for a brass buckle, he is already nervous.
When he shoots for a prize of gold, he goes blind.
"The archer's skill," says de Mello, "has not changed: but the prize divides him. He cares. He thinks more of winning than of shooting."
*****
There is a Zen Buddhist fable of a woman who's seeking the meaning of life. So eager is this woman to find life's meaning that she sells all she has and sets off on a worldwide spiritual quest.
In a distant land, she hears rumors of one who knows the answer: an old man who lives in the mountains. Finally, in a small hut in the Himalayas, she finds him. She knocks on the door of his hut. He opens it and invites her in for tea.
"No, thank you," she says, "I haven't come for tea. I'm seeking the meaning of life."
"You must have tea," the teacher says, and motions her to sit down.
All the time the water is boiling, the woman talks. The words tumble out of her mouth rapid-fire. Having sought the wise teacher for so long, she now wants him to know everything about her. She tells him all her worries and doubts and anxieties, all the troubling thoughts that have kept her from sleeping at night. All the while the teacher sits quietly, making the tea.
When it has reached the proper strength he begins to pour her a cup; but she's oblivious to what he's doing. He keeps pouring until the cup is full, then he pours some more. The woman looks down. She notices her cup is overflowing, that the tea is running to the edge of the table and dripping onto the floor. "Stop!" she exclaims. "There's no more room!"
"Just so," says the teacher. "You come here wanting something from me, but what am I to do? There is no more room in your cup. Come back when it is empty, and then we will talk."
The woman never did have to return to the master, for in the simple act of pouring her a cup of tea he had taught her all she needed to know.
*****
Kathleen Hom recently asked in the Washington Post "Whatever Happened to… the Woman on the Senator's Lap?". She wondered what became of Donna Rice -- the 29-year-old woman who was photographed in 1988 sitting on the lap of presidential frontrunner Gary Hart, wearing his "Crew of the Monkey Business" t-shirt. The revelation that the married senator from Colorado was having an affair with a cute young blond model forced Hart to quit the race. So now, at the age of 52, what is Rice doing?
Rice said it took a year and a half to emotionally recover from all the media attention. She said, "It felt like I was drowning in a sea of shark-infested waters." But during that time she returned to her abandoned Christian faith and stayed out of the limelight for seven years. She went on to marry Jack Hughes, and in the process became the mother of two stepchildren. She then got a job with (and eventually became president of) the nonprofit group Enough Is Enough, which focuses on the protection of children from sexual exploitation. In June 1995 she reappeared before the public as she testified before the U.S. Senate about protecting children from internet pornography, which contributed to the passage of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. It was not until several months after her Senate presentation that the media realized that Donna Hughes was the infamous Donna Rice. But when the story went public, Donna had no problem with sharks in the water, for she had regained her self-confidence. Looking back over the time spent on the Monkey Business, Donna says, "I lost everything I put my identity in. But at the darkest hour, it was my greatest time to grow, learn, and develop my character."
Amos put before the people of Israel "a basket of ripe fruit" as a warning of what would become of them if they continued with their "monkey business." It was a time of decision for them. Though they failed to yield to the advice of Amos, in time they realized the foolishness of their actions and Israel was once again restored. We do have choices -- but if we fail at first, grace does provide us (like Donna Rice Hughes) with an opportunity for restoration.
*****
Amos had an important message to share regarding the pending destruction of Israel if the people do not forsake their debauchery. Amos even had a vivid illustration to make his point -- "a basket of ripe fruit." Even though Amos was adamant, loud, and forthright, his message was not heard by the people of Israel.
A recent item from advice columnist Dear Abby makes me wonder if Amos went about it all the wrong way. A lady who calls herself "No Visible Wounds" tells Abby that she is divorcing her husband of 15 years because of emotional abuse. She describes him as "extremely narcissistic and passive-aggressive, controlling and manipulative, as well as emotionally, economically, and sexually abusive." The problem, according to "No Visible Wounds," is that outside the home Ted is able to project a "good guy" image -- so much so, she contends, that no one would suspect or believe that he is abusive. "No Visible Wounds" wants to know how Ted's "dirty little secret" can be made public. Her question to Abby is: "What do women do in situations like this?"
Abigail Van Buren's response? "They 'confide' their problems -- with specific examples -- to a couple of their closet girlfriends. The truth will spread like wildfire."
One must wonder if Amos' mistake was to preach instead of gossip. Are our parishioners more attuned to what is said in the church lobby than they are what is said from the pulpit? Preachers and Christians who desire to witness cannot lower themselves to gossip; but we must be mindful that people are more interested in the "dirty little secret" than in a "basket of ripe fruit." Yes, our calling to be a prophet that is heard is indeed a most difficult calling.
*****
Sometimes the choices we make are not immediately recognized as correct. Some thought Joseph-Armand Bombardier was destined to enter the priesthood. But Bombardier was much more interested in working with his hands on mechanical things, so he opened a garage in Valcourt, Quebec. Many might consider this a wrong choice.
In 1934, Joseph received an urgent message to come home. When he arrived, he found his son Yvon sick with appendicitis. In order to live, Yvon needed to go to a hospital immediately -- however, heavy snow made the roads of Quebec impassible. Yvon died in Joseph's arms.
That tragic death spurred Joseph to work hard on an idea he had for an all-terrain vehicle. Not long after, he hit on the technology that made possible a seven-passenger B-7, a vehicle that traveled atop the snow. Over the years, Bombardier continued to invent and improve. His Ski-Doo snowmobile was lighter, cheaper, and smaller than the B-7, and was the start of a whole new recreation industry.
Despite his success and the success of his company, Bombardier remained in his small community, supported his church, and valued his family. His life motto was simple:
love of work, love of your children and the future, and love of God" -- all from a simple choice made years before.
*****
This story of a person who was distracted has made the rounds in several different versions. One of the versions takes place in a tiny, picture-postcard New England village -- a town where the actor Paul Newman is said to have been fond of vacationing.
A Michigan woman and her family were vacationing in this seaside town. Late one Saturday morning, the woman felt a craving for a double-dip chocolate ice cream cone, so she stopped by the local cafe and general store. As she walked in, she noticed there was only one other customer in the place: a man in jeans and a t-shirt sitting at the counter having a donut and coffee. The woman idly glanced his way, then she did a double-take. One further look at those baby-blue eyes confirmed it: her fellow customer was none other than Paul Newman.
Newman noticed her presence and nodded graciously in her direction. Then he went back to his coffee. "He just wants his privacy," the woman thought to herself. So she resolved not to make any sort of fuss -- to simply order her ice cream and pretend there wasn't a famous movie star sitting a few feet away.
That's exactly what she did (although, as she later told the tale, her heart was thumping the whole time and her hands felt clammy). Calmly she watched the clerk scoop out her ice cream and pack it into the cone, never looking once in Newman's direction. Then she handed over the money, accepted the ice cream cone and the change, and headed out the door without even a sideward glance. As the screen door slammed shut, she congratulated herself on how coolly she'd handled the whole situation -- as though running into a movie star were an everyday occurrence in her life.
When the woman reached her car, she realized something was not right. Something was missing. In one hand she held her change, but her other hand was empty. "Now where's my double-dip chocolate ice cream cone?" she asked herself. "Could I have left it in the store?"
Feeling a bit embarrassed, she went back in, hoping she'd see the cone still in the clerk's hand or maybe in one of those holders on the counter. But no. She looked to the left, and she looked to the right: no sign of the ice cream cone. She was just about to ask the clerk if he remembered handing it to her when she happened to glance over in Paul Newman's direction. This time those blue eyes met hers; they sparkled with amusement.
He shot her his trademark pearly white grin as he said: "You put it in your purse!"
The advantage that publishers have discovered is the ability of these blogging groups to promote a book at no expense. Many books do not warrant the costs required for print advertisements, or the genre is too small to make the book appealing to a morning television talk show, but bloggers can provide a book with limited but needed exposure. Thus, publishers are now sending advance copies of books to the various groups. And remember, these bloggers are only involved from because they enjoy sharing their love of reading with their cyberspace friends.
Every once in a while it is fun to think about a Bible passage by sort of reminiscing instead of engaging in an extensive exegetical study. I wonder if Martha's problem in this week's gospel text is that she was working in the kitchen not with a sense of joy, but rather with a sense of duty and obligation. This would of course cause some resentment toward her "lazy" sister and anger that she was doing all of the work alone. But what if Martha was working in the kitchen with the attitude of a book blogger? She knew she was making a contribution to the visit of her guest, but her motivation was one of joy by being a part of the "hominess" of the day.
Would not this attitude transform our churches -- if parishioners worked in the kitchen and did odd jobs around the building not out of obligation, but because they felt a sense of "hominess"?
*****
According to a New York Times article by Marlisle Simons, the world's radio astronomers are not too happy with the boom in satellite communications. It seems that with all the new satellite systems going into orbit to provide us with more programming and better cellular service, the scientists are having a hard time hearing anything from space. Says Stefan Michalowski, an American physicist, "What's going on now is like a neighbor turning on a boom box while you are listening for the sound of an insect." The scientists were so concerned that they asked for government help in establishing a noise curfew between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., when satellite providers would have to reduce their service capabilities.
It all goes to show that in order to listen well, you have to eliminate outside noise and distractions. Mary knew this and was able to put aside her household chores and listen to Jesus' teaching.
*****
When discussing the story of Mary and Martha with groups, I like to take polls. "How many would side with the sister who did all the preparation?" I ask. Most women tend to sympathize with Martha. It's no fun doing all the work while some couch-potato relative sits leisurely. One of my sisters always got a bathroom call when it was time to do Sunday dinner dishes. When loved ones consistently do that, we need to have frank conversations with them.
Whether Mary always shirked work, we don't know. What we do know is that on that particular day, Martha was so angry with her sister that she became upset with Jesus and even tried to order him around. Have you ever been so angry with God that you began making demands of him?
Jesus didn't strongly condemn Martha. He gently instructed her not to let anxiety over propriety, niceties, and elegance take precedence over a loving relationship with the Lord and her family. Do anxiety and worry distract you from serving God and loving your family?
*****
It all began at a red light. Kevin Salwen was driving his 14-year-old daughter home from a sleepover. While waiting at a traffic light, they saw a black Mercedes on one side and a homeless man begging for food on the other.
"Dad, if that man had a less nice car, that man there could have a meal," Hannah protested. The light changed and they drove home, but Hannah would not let the matter drop. She pestered her parents about inequity, insisting that she wanted to do something.
"What do you want us to do?" her mother responded. "Sell our house?" Never make such a statement to a teenager, Kevin would learn. Hannah seized upon the idea of selling the luxurious family home and donating half the proceeds to charity, while using the other half to buy a more modest replacement home.
Eventually they did just that. The project -- crazy, impetuous, and utterly inspiring -- is chronicled in a book by her father, The Power of Half. The Salwens offer an example of a family that came together to make a difference.
It's tough being a prophet and being charged to confront people of their wrongdoing. The Old Testament prophet Amos, speaking the Word of God, challenged the people: "Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land." It was a call to change, to pay attention to the poor. It was also a call to action.
*****
Someone once asked a great man who had arisen out of humble beginnings, "What did your father teach you that was most important?"
The man thought for a moment, then replied, "He taught me that whatever he happened to be doing at the time, that was the most important."
What Jesus is trying to teach Martha is a similar quality of attentiveness, of living fully in the present. Her sister Mary is gifted at living in the present; yet Martha, perpetually "distracted by many things," is not so adept.
*****
The late Anthony de Mello, a native of India, was a Roman Catholic priest. In his short but remarkable ministry as a teacher of spirituality, he brought together eastern and western thought as few others have. In a series of taped lectures he shared this ancient Chinese proverb:
When the archer shoots for nothing, he has all his skill.
When he shoots for a brass buckle, he is already nervous.
When he shoots for a prize of gold, he goes blind.
"The archer's skill," says de Mello, "has not changed: but the prize divides him. He cares. He thinks more of winning than of shooting."
*****
There is a Zen Buddhist fable of a woman who's seeking the meaning of life. So eager is this woman to find life's meaning that she sells all she has and sets off on a worldwide spiritual quest.
In a distant land, she hears rumors of one who knows the answer: an old man who lives in the mountains. Finally, in a small hut in the Himalayas, she finds him. She knocks on the door of his hut. He opens it and invites her in for tea.
"No, thank you," she says, "I haven't come for tea. I'm seeking the meaning of life."
"You must have tea," the teacher says, and motions her to sit down.
All the time the water is boiling, the woman talks. The words tumble out of her mouth rapid-fire. Having sought the wise teacher for so long, she now wants him to know everything about her. She tells him all her worries and doubts and anxieties, all the troubling thoughts that have kept her from sleeping at night. All the while the teacher sits quietly, making the tea.
When it has reached the proper strength he begins to pour her a cup; but she's oblivious to what he's doing. He keeps pouring until the cup is full, then he pours some more. The woman looks down. She notices her cup is overflowing, that the tea is running to the edge of the table and dripping onto the floor. "Stop!" she exclaims. "There's no more room!"
"Just so," says the teacher. "You come here wanting something from me, but what am I to do? There is no more room in your cup. Come back when it is empty, and then we will talk."
The woman never did have to return to the master, for in the simple act of pouring her a cup of tea he had taught her all she needed to know.
*****
Kathleen Hom recently asked in the Washington Post "Whatever Happened to… the Woman on the Senator's Lap?". She wondered what became of Donna Rice -- the 29-year-old woman who was photographed in 1988 sitting on the lap of presidential frontrunner Gary Hart, wearing his "Crew of the Monkey Business" t-shirt. The revelation that the married senator from Colorado was having an affair with a cute young blond model forced Hart to quit the race. So now, at the age of 52, what is Rice doing?
Rice said it took a year and a half to emotionally recover from all the media attention. She said, "It felt like I was drowning in a sea of shark-infested waters." But during that time she returned to her abandoned Christian faith and stayed out of the limelight for seven years. She went on to marry Jack Hughes, and in the process became the mother of two stepchildren. She then got a job with (and eventually became president of) the nonprofit group Enough Is Enough, which focuses on the protection of children from sexual exploitation. In June 1995 she reappeared before the public as she testified before the U.S. Senate about protecting children from internet pornography, which contributed to the passage of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. It was not until several months after her Senate presentation that the media realized that Donna Hughes was the infamous Donna Rice. But when the story went public, Donna had no problem with sharks in the water, for she had regained her self-confidence. Looking back over the time spent on the Monkey Business, Donna says, "I lost everything I put my identity in. But at the darkest hour, it was my greatest time to grow, learn, and develop my character."
Amos put before the people of Israel "a basket of ripe fruit" as a warning of what would become of them if they continued with their "monkey business." It was a time of decision for them. Though they failed to yield to the advice of Amos, in time they realized the foolishness of their actions and Israel was once again restored. We do have choices -- but if we fail at first, grace does provide us (like Donna Rice Hughes) with an opportunity for restoration.
*****
Amos had an important message to share regarding the pending destruction of Israel if the people do not forsake their debauchery. Amos even had a vivid illustration to make his point -- "a basket of ripe fruit." Even though Amos was adamant, loud, and forthright, his message was not heard by the people of Israel.
A recent item from advice columnist Dear Abby makes me wonder if Amos went about it all the wrong way. A lady who calls herself "No Visible Wounds" tells Abby that she is divorcing her husband of 15 years because of emotional abuse. She describes him as "extremely narcissistic and passive-aggressive, controlling and manipulative, as well as emotionally, economically, and sexually abusive." The problem, according to "No Visible Wounds," is that outside the home Ted is able to project a "good guy" image -- so much so, she contends, that no one would suspect or believe that he is abusive. "No Visible Wounds" wants to know how Ted's "dirty little secret" can be made public. Her question to Abby is: "What do women do in situations like this?"
Abigail Van Buren's response? "They 'confide' their problems -- with specific examples -- to a couple of their closet girlfriends. The truth will spread like wildfire."
One must wonder if Amos' mistake was to preach instead of gossip. Are our parishioners more attuned to what is said in the church lobby than they are what is said from the pulpit? Preachers and Christians who desire to witness cannot lower themselves to gossip; but we must be mindful that people are more interested in the "dirty little secret" than in a "basket of ripe fruit." Yes, our calling to be a prophet that is heard is indeed a most difficult calling.
*****
Sometimes the choices we make are not immediately recognized as correct. Some thought Joseph-Armand Bombardier was destined to enter the priesthood. But Bombardier was much more interested in working with his hands on mechanical things, so he opened a garage in Valcourt, Quebec. Many might consider this a wrong choice.
In 1934, Joseph received an urgent message to come home. When he arrived, he found his son Yvon sick with appendicitis. In order to live, Yvon needed to go to a hospital immediately -- however, heavy snow made the roads of Quebec impassible. Yvon died in Joseph's arms.
That tragic death spurred Joseph to work hard on an idea he had for an all-terrain vehicle. Not long after, he hit on the technology that made possible a seven-passenger B-7, a vehicle that traveled atop the snow. Over the years, Bombardier continued to invent and improve. His Ski-Doo snowmobile was lighter, cheaper, and smaller than the B-7, and was the start of a whole new recreation industry.
Despite his success and the success of his company, Bombardier remained in his small community, supported his church, and valued his family. His life motto was simple:
love of work, love of your children and the future, and love of God" -- all from a simple choice made years before.
*****
This story of a person who was distracted has made the rounds in several different versions. One of the versions takes place in a tiny, picture-postcard New England village -- a town where the actor Paul Newman is said to have been fond of vacationing.
A Michigan woman and her family were vacationing in this seaside town. Late one Saturday morning, the woman felt a craving for a double-dip chocolate ice cream cone, so she stopped by the local cafe and general store. As she walked in, she noticed there was only one other customer in the place: a man in jeans and a t-shirt sitting at the counter having a donut and coffee. The woman idly glanced his way, then she did a double-take. One further look at those baby-blue eyes confirmed it: her fellow customer was none other than Paul Newman.
Newman noticed her presence and nodded graciously in her direction. Then he went back to his coffee. "He just wants his privacy," the woman thought to herself. So she resolved not to make any sort of fuss -- to simply order her ice cream and pretend there wasn't a famous movie star sitting a few feet away.
That's exactly what she did (although, as she later told the tale, her heart was thumping the whole time and her hands felt clammy). Calmly she watched the clerk scoop out her ice cream and pack it into the cone, never looking once in Newman's direction. Then she handed over the money, accepted the ice cream cone and the change, and headed out the door without even a sideward glance. As the screen door slammed shut, she congratulated herself on how coolly she'd handled the whole situation -- as though running into a movie star were an everyday occurrence in her life.
When the woman reached her car, she realized something was not right. Something was missing. In one hand she held her change, but her other hand was empty. "Now where's my double-dip chocolate ice cream cone?" she asked herself. "Could I have left it in the store?"
Feeling a bit embarrassed, she went back in, hoping she'd see the cone still in the clerk's hand or maybe in one of those holders on the counter. But no. She looked to the left, and she looked to the right: no sign of the ice cream cone. She was just about to ask the clerk if he remembered handing it to her when she happened to glance over in Paul Newman's direction. This time those blue eyes met hers; they sparkled with amusement.
He shot her his trademark pearly white grin as he said: "You put it in your purse!"
