Track:
Prayer of Self-Emptying (Part 2)

Artist:
Rob Droste

Album:
Rob Droste's Album

This week, my sermon explored the prayer of self-emptying, looking at the example of Jesus preparing himself to enter into Jerusalem for his utter self-emptying on the cross. This is Part 2 of the sermon.

Track:
Prayer of Self-Emptying (Part 1)

Artist:
Rob Droste

Album:
Rob Droste's Album

This week, my sermon explored the prayer of self-emptying, looking at the example of Jesus preparing himself to enter into Jerusalem for his utter self-emptying on the cross. This is Part 1 of the sermon.

Track:
The Power of Imaginative Prayer: Paradise Regained

Artist:
Rob Droste

Album:
Rob Droste's Album

In his 1671 masterpiece Paradise Regained, English poet John Milton creates a rich retelling of the story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert. While we aren’t Milton, we are invited to use our imaginations to engage in new ways with the scriptures.

Annie Dillard on A Life With God

God does not demand that we give up our personal dignity, that we throw in our lot with random people, that we lose ourselves and turn from all that is not him. God needs nothing, asks nothing, and demands nothing, like the stars. It is a life with God which demands these things.

Experience has taught the race that if knowledge of God is the end, then those habits of life are not the means but the condition in which the means operates. you do not have to do these things; not at all. God does not, I regret to report, give a hoot. You do not have to do these things—unless you want to know God. They work on you, not on him.

You do not have to sit outside in the dark. If, however, you want to look at the stars, you will find that darkness is necessary. But the stars neither require nor demand it.

An Expedition to the Pole

Can Wealth Block Happiness? Jesus Says So.

Sermons at All Saints Episcopal Church, San Leandro CA

October 14, 2012 - The 20th Sunday After Pentecost (Year B)

Text: Jesus and the rich young man (Mark 10:17-31 - click, then scroll down)

When we hear today’s gospel reading, it’s hard to re-create its shocking intensity. We’ve heard it so many times. We’re not out among the crowds with Jesus, in the dust and noise. We’re not watching as these things happen in front of us.

We’re not there, where the message – one that can only be described as extreme, or radical – could make us see the shock in the young man’s face or feel the fear that the disciples felt. Rather, we’re all here, where we can keep Jesus’ challenging message at a comfortable distance.

Jesus has spoken not just to the young man and the disciples, but to you and to me. Tomorrow morning, will we look back and see that we have learned anything new? Tomorrow morning, here at the church, most copies will go into the recycle bin. Will hearing it have made a difference?

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Drowned By Millstones, Cutting Off Feet and Hands - This is A Compassionate God?

Sermons at All Saints, September 30, 2012

Gospel Text: Mark 9:38-50

Sometimes, when I come across a Gospel passage like this, and all the reading and research I’ve done doesn’t help it make sense as an entire lesson, I find that it’s useful to try to write it out in my own words. I’m going to read that to you now, and I hope it will help you to grasp what Jesus is saying to you, and to gathered Christians all over the world this morning.

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You -- Poor Person There!

One of the most important themes in Jesus’ preaching is care and consideration of people who happen to be poor. This is my sermon from September 9, 2012 on this difficult subject — particularly for middle class people.

Paris 2012 - Day 1

          We’re here, and settled into the Hotel Emile, a freshly renovated place in the Jewish Quarter that overlooks the Rue de Rivoli. The trip over was incredibly smooth — literally, two of the smoothest flights I’ve ever been on — and other than a truly horrendous Monday morning traffic jam coming into Paris — a jam rivaling anything I’ve ever seen in the Bay Area — it was easy getting here. I even slept for several hours on the plane. Thank you sleep meds.
          I was still pretty wasted when we got here — had to wait two hours for the room to be ready — so we wandered around in a fog for a bit, getting our bearings, and I went and sat in a lovely little park while Karla (not surprisingly) found energy to buy a new dress. I fell asleep twice in the sun on the park bench and was thankful that I was sitting up because who knows about the French police? I could have been one of those guys where they poke you with a baton and yell, “you! you! get up!”
          Anyhow, we eventually got checked in. The staff here is very friendly, made us laugh, and got us settled. The usual minuscule French room, but we carefully made it home and it will be that for the next few days. Then slept for four hours and went out about 8:00 for dinner — early by French standards. The streets were full of energetic crowds, walkers, bikers, cars, horns, the two-tone French sirens off in the distance. Definitely Paris. Remembered the neighborhood from past visits, and found our favorite falafel place where we chatted with a charming American couple in line (and who eventually were seated in the table next to ours). They were engaged three days ago in Rome. As I said to him: he set a very high bar for romance indeed. 
          Started feeling the jet lag wear off; went for a stroll down to the magnificent Place des Vosges, pleasant memories of past trips too, noted that at 9:30 p.m. the cafes and restaurants were packed; and called it a night. We’re here.