Biblical Unicorns?!

http://maggietalksbacktotheologybooks.tumblr.com/post/133782664821/from-st-justin-martyrs-dialogue-with-trypho

Imitate Christ - Sermon Philippians 2:1-18

Typically when this passage from Philippians is read we stop at verse 11. For a congregation grieving the departure of a pastor I think it may appropriate to read through probably verse 13. However most pertinently, for members of the body of Christ needing to stand in solidarity with brothers and sisters in Christ who, for the second Sunday in a row met this morning also without a pastor, without many of their pastors, because of them I think we need to read through verse 18.

            This is what struck me very keenly last Sunday as the names of the 9 killed were read aloud. We were able to say goodbye to our pastor with thanksgiving and a celebration that we were able to share with him.  Mother Emanuel AME Church gathered last Sunday and this morning following incidents of murder and hate that stole their pastors and loved ones from them. We should, and must grieve. Change IS hard and much love has been shared in this place.  While we hold our own grief, let us not do so in isolation from those suffering immensely in our world. We are still needed to be the church in this place and Jesus Christ continues to call us into reconciliation with God and one another.

            In these verses we hear the apostle Paul pleading with the congregation at Philippi to imitate Christ. Paul is asking for Christ’s sake, that the gospel may be shared and God’s love may be known.  Paul is also asking for their sake, that they will care for, look after, and love one another. Finally He is asking this for his own sake as he, who has been a pastor to them, is apart from them and knows he may never see them again.

And so we, the portion of the people of God present here today, who call ourselves Maplewood Presbyterian Church hear now -from Philippians Chapter 2 verses 1-18-  the word of God for ALL the People of God:

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, ²make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. ⁵Let the same mind be in you that was^* in Christ Jesus, 

"I Am Not That Good" Seminary intro-assignment poem

I Am Not That Good

A piece of my "Introduce Yourself" project for orientation. What sort of writing is it? I don't really know... The title being 'I Am Not That Good"

I am not that good,
I'm a child of God.
And often I would rather not be.

I am sanctified through the profane,
Psalms of Discontent mark the road of my persistent faith
AND
In such a way,
I. Am. Biblical.
Though THAT word makes me cringe.
"Praise Cheesus!"
My "carefree" youth always found a man's observation of grief more compelling than his 'Narnia'

I am one to pray moving forward on my feet,
Arms open and hands working
But then, far be it from me to suggest We speak these days
It's been a long time since I felt I had anything to say
And so to my God who will not be defined:
Allow me a failed attempt to define myself

I.Am.Not.That.Good
But I sure as hell put a fair effort into trying.
Albeit with a more than fair effort into not,

I have disappointed you more times than I can count,
But even you have shouted to yourself, feeling forsaken.

I am, as you have made me,
Full of imperfection, faults, weaknesses, dark ugly corners.
And...
Beauty, confidence, gifts, strengths
And, brief, flashes of brilliant light.

I am my father's daughter,
the annoyance of my brothers,
object of my mother's pride
and her frustration.

Even though I would rather not be
I'm a child of God
and it is probably for that reason, not in spite of it, that
I.AM.NOT.THAT.GOOD

July 21st 2012 (Old sermon recording)

http://maggietalksbacktotheologybooks.tumblr.com/post/56614321869/last-sunday-i-was-invited-to-preach-at-my-church