Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Craig Kelly
David O. Bales
Contents
"Glorious" by Craig Kelly
"All This Over a Coin?" by David O. Bales
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Glorious
by Craig Kelly
Exodus 33:12-23
Man, I loved Uncle Edward.
It was always a blast coming to visit his estate in the summer. I would spend hours in his study, looking at all the framed pictures of my uncle that adorned the richly stained oak walls. Each one featured my uncle, and each one had him posing with a different person, each one famous: Eisenhower, Churchill, Kennedy, Gandhi, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe, Walter Cronkite... the list just went on. Many of them were signed, each one with a small note:
"To Edward, all the best…"
"To my dear friend Edward..."
"Fondest regards..."
"Best wishes..."
"Glorious" by Craig Kelly
"All This Over a Coin?" by David O. Bales
* * * * * * * *
Glorious
by Craig Kelly
Exodus 33:12-23
Man, I loved Uncle Edward.
It was always a blast coming to visit his estate in the summer. I would spend hours in his study, looking at all the framed pictures of my uncle that adorned the richly stained oak walls. Each one featured my uncle, and each one had him posing with a different person, each one famous: Eisenhower, Churchill, Kennedy, Gandhi, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe, Walter Cronkite... the list just went on. Many of them were signed, each one with a small note:
"To Edward, all the best…"
"To my dear friend Edward..."
"Fondest regards..."
"Best wishes..."
Scott Dalgarno
Timothy J. Smith
Contents
What's Up This Week
"We Are, None of Us, Our Own" by Scott Dalgarno
"The Word from God" by Timothy J. Smith
What's Up This Week
Like the coin with Caesar's image in the passage from Matthew, many passages in scripture have more than one side to them. This week's StoryShare looks at the gospel passage in Matthew from two different perspectives. In "We Are, None of Us, Our Own," Scott Dalgarno shows us that the main point of this narrative is not necessarily what we may think. Instead of looking at the main theme of the passage, "The Word from God" looks instead at the antagonist, the Pharisees, reminding us that even today, we must take care lest we find a little of the Pharisee nature in ourselves.
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We Are, None of Us, Our Own
By Scott Dalgarno
Matthew 22:15-22
What's Up This Week
"We Are, None of Us, Our Own" by Scott Dalgarno
"The Word from God" by Timothy J. Smith
What's Up This Week
Like the coin with Caesar's image in the passage from Matthew, many passages in scripture have more than one side to them. This week's StoryShare looks at the gospel passage in Matthew from two different perspectives. In "We Are, None of Us, Our Own," Scott Dalgarno shows us that the main point of this narrative is not necessarily what we may think. Instead of looking at the main theme of the passage, "The Word from God" looks instead at the antagonist, the Pharisees, reminding us that even today, we must take care lest we find a little of the Pharisee nature in ourselves.
* * * * * * * * *
We Are, None of Us, Our Own
By Scott Dalgarno
Matthew 22:15-22
John E. Sumwalt
I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand... (v. 22)
My grandfather, James Archie Sumwalt, died over sixty years ago in March of 1961. It was by all appearances an ordinary winter day. My brothers and I were sledding under the yard light just after dusk on the small hill between the house and the barn. Mom and sister were in the kitchen fixing supper. We could tell something was wrong the moment Dad got out of the car. His shoulders sagged and there was no light in his eyes. “Daddy’s gone,” was all he said, his voice breaking and his eyes filling with tears, as he passed us on the way to the house.
Two words and my whole ten-year old's world collapsed. Death had come home for the first time in my life. I had seen cows die, had buried favorite dogs and cats and attended the funerals of relatives and neighbors, but I had never lost someone I couldn’t imagine living without.
My grandfather, James Archie Sumwalt, died over sixty years ago in March of 1961. It was by all appearances an ordinary winter day. My brothers and I were sledding under the yard light just after dusk on the small hill between the house and the barn. Mom and sister were in the kitchen fixing supper. We could tell something was wrong the moment Dad got out of the car. His shoulders sagged and there was no light in his eyes. “Daddy’s gone,” was all he said, his voice breaking and his eyes filling with tears, as he passed us on the way to the house.
Two words and my whole ten-year old's world collapsed. Death had come home for the first time in my life. I had seen cows die, had buried favorite dogs and cats and attended the funerals of relatives and neighbors, but I had never lost someone I couldn’t imagine living without.
David O. Bales
Contents
“Danger From Both Sides In Jerusalem” by David O. Bales
“And The Most Difficult Of These” by David O. Bales
Danger From Both Sides In Jerusalem
by David O. Bales
Matthew 22:15-22
“No, I’m not what you call a ‘Jew-lover,’” Caepio said. “The Jews call me a ‘God-fearer.’ There’s a lot of people like me — taught by Greek scholars, working for our Roman homeland, yet once we get to Palestine can’t be satisfied with Rome’s worn-out gods. They only bolster the empire’s strangle-hold on the world. After years of being away from Rome, people begin to see that Rome’s religious patriotism only bolsters the nation’s greed.”
“Not me,” Gabinius said and laughed. “And better be careful who hears you say such things. If you weren’t my favorite cousin, I might be turning you over to the tribune of the cohort right here.”
“Danger From Both Sides In Jerusalem” by David O. Bales
“And The Most Difficult Of These” by David O. Bales
Danger From Both Sides In Jerusalem
by David O. Bales
Matthew 22:15-22
“No, I’m not what you call a ‘Jew-lover,’” Caepio said. “The Jews call me a ‘God-fearer.’ There’s a lot of people like me — taught by Greek scholars, working for our Roman homeland, yet once we get to Palestine can’t be satisfied with Rome’s worn-out gods. They only bolster the empire’s strangle-hold on the world. After years of being away from Rome, people begin to see that Rome’s religious patriotism only bolsters the nation’s greed.”
“Not me,” Gabinius said and laughed. “And better be careful who hears you say such things. If you weren’t my favorite cousin, I might be turning you over to the tribune of the cohort right here.”
Peter Andrew Smith
John Fitzgerald
Contents
"What We Give to God" by Peter Andrew Smith
"Praise The Lord!" by John Fitzgerald
What We Give to God
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 22:15-22
Vince flipped the burgers on the barbeque. “So how is married life treating you?”
“Pretty good.” Dave looked back at the house. “Although, I suspect Tina is getting the real scoop from Barb as we sit out here in the cold.”
Vince laughed. “Are you following the advice I gave you in the summer?”
“I listen, always keep our marriage in mind, and apologize when I’m wrong.” He rubbed his arms with his hands. “Why do you insist on cooking outside when it’s this cold?”
“Tina made it very clear that she wanted some alone time with her new sister in law so I fired up the grill.” Vince passed a travel mug to Dave. “This will help.”
Dave took a sip. “Hot coffee does hit the spot.”
"What We Give to God" by Peter Andrew Smith
"Praise The Lord!" by John Fitzgerald
What We Give to God
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 22:15-22
Vince flipped the burgers on the barbeque. “So how is married life treating you?”
“Pretty good.” Dave looked back at the house. “Although, I suspect Tina is getting the real scoop from Barb as we sit out here in the cold.”
Vince laughed. “Are you following the advice I gave you in the summer?”
“I listen, always keep our marriage in mind, and apologize when I’m wrong.” He rubbed his arms with his hands. “Why do you insist on cooking outside when it’s this cold?”
“Tina made it very clear that she wanted some alone time with her new sister in law so I fired up the grill.” Vince passed a travel mug to Dave. “This will help.”
Dave took a sip. “Hot coffee does hit the spot.”
Keith Hewitt
C. David Mckirachan
Contents
"Wayward Child" by Keith Hewitt
"Coat Racks" by C. David McKirachan
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Wayward Child
by Keith Hewitt
Exodus 33:12-23
If a sewing machine could sound angry, this one did.
Or maybe it wasn't so much the whirring of the machine as wheels turned and bobbins spun, but the constant stopping and starting, the erratic clicking of the foot pedal, the pauses punctuated by not-quite-suppressed sighs and grunts. To John Randall, long a student of the art of reading such sounds, it was a clear expression of anger. He took a deep breath and opened the door to his wife's sewing room -- really just a spare bedroom that she had taken over.
"Wayward Child" by Keith Hewitt
"Coat Racks" by C. David McKirachan
* * * * * * *
Wayward Child
by Keith Hewitt
Exodus 33:12-23
If a sewing machine could sound angry, this one did.
Or maybe it wasn't so much the whirring of the machine as wheels turned and bobbins spun, but the constant stopping and starting, the erratic clicking of the foot pedal, the pauses punctuated by not-quite-suppressed sighs and grunts. To John Randall, long a student of the art of reading such sounds, it was a clear expression of anger. He took a deep breath and opened the door to his wife's sewing room -- really just a spare bedroom that she had taken over.
John E. Sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
Stories to Live By: "Seeking God"
"Seeing God in Our Neighbor"
"Show Me Your Glory"
Shining Moments: "Is It Asking Too Much?" by C.B. "Cleve" Bishop
Sermon Starter: "Pascal's Night of Fire"
Scrap Pile: "In the Thick Darkness Where God Is" by John Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
What's Up This Week
Stories to Live By: "Seeking God"
"Seeing God in Our Neighbor"
"Show Me Your Glory"
Shining Moments: "Is It Asking Too Much?" by C.B. "Cleve" Bishop
Sermon Starter: "Pascal's Night of Fire"
Scrap Pile: "In the Thick Darkness Where God Is" by John Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
What is StoryShare?
StoryShare is a treasure house with hundreds of good stories to share, stories which relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. Many are intensely personal accounts that concern visions, healing, or answers to prayers, but all bear witness to the indescribable joy, comfort and peace that come from a personal encounter with the divine. Our "Good Stories" section includes short fiction, parables much like those Jesus told.
Can I share stories that I have?
Yes, you can. You have good stories to share too, probably more than you know: personal stories, and stories from others that you have used over the years. StoryShare is always looking for stories involving personal experiences of the presence of God. Have you or someone you know heard the voice of God or been healed as a direct answer to prayer? If you have a story that you can share send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here (storyshare@sermonsuite.com) and email your story to us.
