Sunday, March 25, 2018

Reflections From Sunday Evening

The 10:45 Traditional Service was the only one this weekend that recognized the author of the 1957 novel, "On the Road", as Jack Kerouac.  So it appears this is the service with the greatest literary knowledge.  The other services related more to "On the Road Again", by Willie Nelson.  Therefore, by and large, we are more musical than literary.  (Pretty unscientific survey)
The Kerouac novel was about his experience travelling across America.  His experience put a different slant on the American experience. 
Our experience makes a huge difference in how we understand and relate to life. 
Our experience makes a huge difference in how we understand and relate to God.
There was a idea that did not make the sermon this week.  Here goes.
Is your faith formed by your experience of God?
Or, is your faith formed by the God you experience?
These sound similar.  But think of it like this.  When faith is formed by our experience, experience actually determines our understanding of the nature and character of God.  Another way to put it is that our experience may create God according to how we experience life.
On the other hand when we experience God in the course of life we discover God is the one who meets us and forms us.  Personally this seems like a more biblical view.  We meet God in the day-to-day of life.  Our gracious God invites us into relationship and sustains us and changes us.
Something to ponder.
On another note...
This afternoon Cindy and I had the joy of sharing in the retirement celebration of Dr. Marty Kanne.  It was a joyful afternoon.  His accomplishments are legion.  Of course, I am most interested in his leadership of mission in Central America.  Well done.  Have a great retirement.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

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