“A person can write about himself from angles that are charmed, fond, delightfully nervy; alter the lens just a little and he crosses over into gloating, pettiness, defensiveness, score settling (which includes self-hate), or whining about his victimisation. The truck is to realize that one is not important, except insofar as one’s example can serve …
The power of repentance
A sermon by Rod Benson Jonah 3:1-10 No sooner have Jonah’s wrinkled, fishy hands gripped the coarse sand of a Jewish beach, than he hears the now familiar voice of God once more. It is the same message, the same words – a message previously disregarded, presenting a challenge previously disobeyed: “Go to the great …
How to turn blame into blessing
A sermon by Rod Benson Matthew 5:23-24 None of us likes to be blamed for things we did not do or say, especially if we are sure it’s not true. And we don’t like to be blamed for things we did say or do either! This is especially the case when the words or actions …
Ethics and prayer (part 2 of 2)
Together, the seven petitions in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) express our restless discontent with the way things are in the world, in our communities, and in our hearts. They offer a daily rhythm, challenging us to refocus on what matters most, calling us to remember the unfailing goodness and mercy of God. As German …
