It’s gonna be a wild ride
We are embarking on a new spiritual adventure, a new phase of our faith journey. This path is not smooth; this horse is not tame; this car has no brakes. It’s gonna’ be a wild ride. Fair warning.
First sermon in our new space, for our new worship service. First Sunday in Advent. Before you listen, read Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44, or nothing else makes sense. Also, if you dare, read Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World, but fair warning: it will inflame your x-ray vision, and it will hurt.
We looked at two texts from Matthew's gospel about John the Baptist and his complicated relationship with Jesus the Savior: Matthew 3:1-12 and 11:2-19. John predicted that Jesus would come burnin' down the house -- but it didn't quite turn out that way.
What happens if you say "yes" to God and God ruins your life? Come on, it could happen. In fact, it usually does. Just ask Joseph and Mary, Matthew 1:18-25.
The text for the first Sunday after Christmas: the slaughter of the innocents from Matthew 2:13-23. Oh, joy. Where is the good news in that?!
And yeah, for those with ears to hear, that's a Foofighters song I'm quoting near the end, and yeah, Paul sang it for us after the sermon. "I am a little divided / do I stay or run away / and leave it all behind?"