Rev Bill

I have posted today’s sermon on my sermon blog. Based on the Old Testament and Gospel readings for the Third Sunday in Lent — Isaiah 55:1-9 and Luke 13:1-9 — it is entitled “Will We Get What We Pay For?”.

Here is a portion of it:

Our Old Testament lesson for today is an exception to that rule.
It may be true most of the time that you get what you pay for — and yet — here’s an offer that is for free.
Now — we all know that there’s no such thing as a free lunch — right?
And yet here is Isaiah giving us an image of God as a street merchant — hawking wine and milk that is free — wine and milk that has no price – that is free for the taking.
Now — if someone were to offer us wine and milk that is free — we just might be skeptical.
“What’s wrong with it?” we might ask.
“Has the wine soured?” “Does it taste like vinegar?” “Has the milk curdled”?
There is no such thing as a free lunch – and you get what you pay for.
And yet – here is God offering the very best — and offering it for free. In fact — God says that what we are working for — what we might be able to pay for — will never satisfy us. Only what God offers for free us will.
It makes no sense at all.
It goes against our better judgment.
We know we get what we pay for — don’t we?
And yet – this is God’s offer!

You can read the entire sermon here.

I have posted my sermon from last Sunday on my sermon blog.

Based on Genesis 15:1-12 and Luke 13:31-35, it is my sermon on the texts for the Second Sunday in Lent for this year and entitled “Who’s Afraid?”.

Here’s a portion of it:

My Dad tells a story of an incident in World War II.
The best German fighter plane was the Focke Wulf . It was a terror in the skies for Allied planes. Dad was a Bomber pilot in Europe — and tells this story of how one day in the Mess Hall of his home field in southern Italy there was a sign sporting a picture of the Focke Wulf with this caption:
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG FOCKE WULF?
Without much of a thought Dad took out his pen and wrote under the picture and caption:
I am
Billy D. Hayes
Before long, most of the other pilots at his home field had done the same.
Who’s Afraid?
Fear may be good at times — it at least keeps us from being too rash or too foolish or overconfident. But — at other times — fear is not so good!
Who’s Afraid?
Aren’t there times in our lives when we let the circumstances of our lives scare us?
Aren’t there times when the things happening in our lives strike fear in us?
Aren’t there times in our lives the “big, bad wolves” of our lives intimidate us?
Aren’t there times when the circumstances of our lives cause us to doubt God’s plan for us?

You can read the entire sermon here.

Today is Ash Wednesday — the beginning of the 40 day Season of Lent that lead to Easter.

For many Christians, Lent is seen as a time for reflection on the sacrifice Christ made for us and a time to recommit to Christ and His will for our lives. This is done in a variety of ways, but committing yourself to a renewed emphasis on prayer, worship, study, and service to others in your personal life can be one of the best ways to renew your commitment to Christ and His will.

However you choose to observe the Season of Lent, may it be a blessing to you.

Today is Shrove Tuesday — the day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

A lot of people think of Mardi Gras ( “Fat Tuesday”) when they think of this day — and others think of pancakes. The reason for the Mardi Gras emphasis is that this is the last day before Lent — so the tradition is that you need one more more party before the solemn days of Lent begin. The reason for pancakes is that folks used to feel they needed to get rid of the flour, butter, syrup, and other things that make pancakes so good — but were considered off limits during Lent.

Honestly, it seems to be more of a concession to the general public than a religious celebration — giving everyone one more chance to gorge themselves before the season of solemnity. But — the pancakes and parades are fun.Let’s just remember that the real religious season begins tomorrow!

I have posted today’s sermon on my sermon blog. Based on Luke 5:1-11, it’s entitled “Can We Go Before We Know?”

Here’s a portion of it:

Clarence Jordan was the son of a successful businessman in Talbotton, Georgia. As he grew up in Talbotton he became distressed over the poverty that so may people lived in – especially the white share croppers and the blacks. After graduating from the University of Georgia Clarence felt that he was being called into the ministry, and enrolled in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Upon his graduation from Seminary he felt the call to go back to Georgia – but not to serve a Church as everyone expected him to do. He and his family moved to a rural area outside of Americus, Georgia and established Koinonia Farms — a community where the poor – both white and black – could come, work, and earn a living. Folks in the area called him a communist because everyone at Koinonia Farms shared everything equally. Folks also called him a lot of other names and some refused to buy the products raised on the farm because the whites and blacks lived side by side and fellowshipped and worked together – not the most popular way for folks in southern Georgia to live in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Many people tried to intimidate him and his farm and house were firebombed on many occasions, but Clarence and his family continued to work the farm and work for justice in many other ways.
Clarence was once asked if he ever regretted his decision to work for justice for the poor and begin Koinonia Farms. He replied:
“I have never regretted it. It might be good that I didn’t know what God’s call was going to mean for me – but I have never regretted following.”

You can read the sermon here.