Volume 2 Issue 14

NOTICE OF SABBATICAL

Dear Friends,

“Then they come to Capernaum, and on the sabbath day he went right to the synagogue and started teaching. They were astonished at his teaching, since he would teach them on his own authority, unlike the scholars.” (Mark 1:21-22 SV)

I have long believed that the most striking characteristic of the historical Jesus must have been his authenticity. Every gospel attests to the ways that Jesus’ authority shown from within as opposed to being a reflection of something outside of him.

I also believe that those who are called to that special form of discipleship commonly referred to as the ministry should attempt to be as authentic as is humanly possible. This requires that, in order to be faithful to the example set by the Master, the minister locates that inner moral compass which points the way.
Being all too human, I find myself needing to reexamine my place in the scheme of things, and to recalibrate my inner compass to verify that I am moving in the direction of true spiritual North. This has traditionally been regarded as sabbatical, a reverential period of rest and renewal.

This website will remain “open” during my sabbatical, most particularly the Bulletin Board. From the beginning, the mission of Growing in Christ has been to serve as a forum for the theological dialogue it attempts to stimulate. My homiletical monologue has not to date inspired widespread debate, but I truly hope that in its absence the stage will be set for such sharing to begin.

I thank the friends who flattered me with their suggestion to archive my sermons, and I especially thank Matt Piper for knowing how to do that. As you may already know, these can be accessed at the bottom of the Sermon page. I will be as interested as anyone to see what changes there will be in my “preaching” when I realize that the sabbatical has ended.

So, for the present, I commend this ministry to the care and safekeeping of those who compose it.

In Christ’s Peace,
Mark

Volume 2 Issue 13

“All glory, laud, and honor, to thee, Redeemer, King!” --Theodulph of Orleans
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I’m running a little behind this week, but some sermons just come together more slowly than others. This is not to say, however, that I am unhappy with the finished product, “On My Honor”. Today’s message comes to you with my ongoing prayer that God finds in me an instrument worthy of communicating the Living Word in such a way that it provides meaning for our existence and inspires us to seek a closer relationship with our Creator.
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Thank you for allowing this ministry into your home or place of work. My prayer is that this site may become for you a time and place of sanctuary, a way for you to draw nearer to the God of All Creation. Your comments concerning ways that the approach or format could be made more meaningful are always welcome. If you are finding this site to be a source of meaning and inspiration, I hope that you will choose to share it with others. “Joining” the mailing list on the home page will ensure that you receive a copy of this newsletter each week (you are able to unsubscribe at any time).
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As I write, the count stands at 1993 persons who have visited the GiC site. This means that someone today is very likely to have the distinction of being our two-thousandth visitor. If you know who you are, be sure to notify me so that I may send you a complimentary annual subscription to this newsletter as your reward! (I pay for it, so I get to be funny or not :-)
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I failed to alert you to the broadcast of “Martin Luther” on PBS this past week. Sorry about that! Hopefully it will be repeated at some future date, and I strongly recommend it for your viewing. Our world has been blessed and made a better place by those who were willing to take a stand for their convictions. Let us hope that there are such heroic personalities in our midst today.
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Be sure to spend a little time at the Bulletin Board. I continue to be very impressed, as I think you will be, by the depth and breadth of thought that is found in this open forum for the GiC community of faith.
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Until next week…….Shalom!

Volume 2 Issue 12

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me;
let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God our creator, children all are we.
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow:
to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
--Sy Miller and Jill Jackson
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I managed to shame myself this past week. Our air-conditioning went out the Friday before last, and wasn’t restored until this past Tuesday. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself since the average high outside those days was 105, and inside the house it was getting up to 98. I was pretty insistent with the service contract provider and the heating and cooling company that this constituted an emergency which needed immediate rectification. And then on the evening news tonight I watched the report of Iraqis who are enduring 115 degree heat without much hope that their electrical power and running water will be restored any time soon. Wasn’t there a book entitled “The Ugly American”?
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If you haven’t already, I invite you to spend a little time with the Bulletin Board (after you’ve read my sermon, of course). There’s some good stuff there, and you are always welcome to respond to what’s already posted or to add something of your own. This is an excellent opportunity for the depth and intelligence of our virtual congregation to be shared, and I once again offer you gentle encouragement to take advantage of it.
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Thank you for allowing this ministry into your home or place of work. My prayer is that this site may become for you a time and place of sanctuary, a way for you to draw nearer to the God of All Creation. Your comments concerning ways that the approach or format could be made more meaningful are always welcome. If you are finding this site to be a source of meaning and inspiration, I hope that you will choose to share it with others. “Joining” the mailing list on the home page will ensure that you receive a copy of this newsletter each week (you are free to unsubscribe at any time).
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Until next week…….Shalom!