Shocking Inclusion: A sermon on Mark 7:24-37 and James 2:1-10, 14-17

Mark 7:24-37
James 2:1-10, 14-17

Comedian Mike Birbiglia has a great line. In the early years of his comedy it became a sort of signature line in his particularly vulnerable style of story-telling.  In one version of a set called “My girlfriend’s boyfriend” he’s interrupted a story about a woman he recently dated to talk about the first girl he fell in love with in high school.

I find that when you fall in love, you tend to overlook certain red flags. One of them was that she would say really mean stuff to me, but then she would pull it back. She’d be like, “no one likes you at all. Only kidding.” Or, like, “you’re like a nerd, but you’re not even smart. Just joking.”

Second red flag with Amanda was that she was a liar. And I don’t… I don’t mean that in an offensive way.

The final red flag with Amanda was that she told me not to tell anyone that she was my girlfriend.    

I know. I’m in the future also.1

Continue reading

Choose this Day: A sermon on Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 and James 1:17-27

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
James 1:17-27

As we as a country have made our final turn toward election day, I’ve noticed a picture being shared quite a bit on some social media platforms, and, for once, its a picture or post that doesn’t make me cringe. It’s a list of suggestions for how to post an interact on-line around political discussions that, hopefully, will prevent discord and vitriol. I know some of you have seen it as well, because you’re some of the folks who are resharing it in your social spaces. The text on the picture reads:

Between now and Tuesday, November 5:

POST WISELY!

  • Contribute to discussion – not division.
  • Don’t take the bait!
  • Check. Your. Facts.
  • Resist memes, cheap digs and name calling (That one is a little funny coming from a meme.)
  • Create constructive content.
  • We can transcend bitterness and be our better selves – even when we disagree.
Continue reading