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~~~~~~~AN ALMOST SIXTY SIX SECOND SERMON~~~~~~
As the insightful John O'Donohue observes "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."
One of my favourite preachers is Frederick Buechner. His sermons (and quotes) always
have something deep to say to the listener, and apply easily to everyday ordinary living.
My very favourite Frederick Buechner quote is one which I have used in a couple of sermons
along the way, and serves to remind both the preacher and listener how we often save and
savour our "best" anger for those whom we say we love. Anger divides and destroys.
Perhaps, quite possibly, the very first anger management seminar was led by Saint Paul
himself as he taught the Ephesian Christians a thing or two about anger, some 2000 years ago.
Paul wrote, "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down
while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
To sit and listen to a sermon, and every sermon needs a listener, is to come before God and risk a life changing experience beyond anything you could ever ask for or even imagine. The power of a sermon comes not from the preacher, but from God, through Christ who is the Word of God in human form, and through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit at work in our everyday lives.
“Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack
your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter
confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you
are given and the pain you are giving back--in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.”
--- Frederick Buechner ---
~ all photgraphs are the propery of cathcart photos ~
One of my favourite preachers is Frederick Buechner. His sermons (and quotes) always
have something deep to say to the listener, and apply easily to everyday ordinary living.
My very favourite Frederick Buechner quote is one which I have used in a couple of sermons
along the way, and serves to remind both the preacher and listener how we often save and
savour our "best" anger for those whom we say we love. Anger divides and destroys.
Perhaps, quite possibly, the very first anger management seminar was led by Saint Paul
himself as he taught the Ephesian Christians a thing or two about anger, some 2000 years ago.
Paul wrote, "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down
while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
To sit and listen to a sermon, and every sermon needs a listener, is to come before God and risk a life changing experience beyond anything you could ever ask for or even imagine. The power of a sermon comes not from the preacher, but from God, through Christ who is the Word of God in human form, and through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit at work in our everyday lives.
“Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack
your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter
confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you
are given and the pain you are giving back--in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.”
--- Frederick Buechner ---
~ all photgraphs are the propery of cathcart photos ~
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