Audio of Homily with beautiful pictures

Here is a windows media video from today's homily. Actually, the video portion are beautiful pictures from a slide show, rather than my pug. The audio is not word for word what is shown below. It is as Spirit inspires me to speak what has been given. For example, today inspiration spoke of how to deal with the fear in the financial markets and other places where fear exists.

Hope this works for us.

Be Transformed

Introduction:

The world is changing, a transformation is happening.  This morning let's call upon God for assurance.   It would seem that the world is spinning out of control.  We are faced with surprises everyday that also seem to knock us off balance.  What can we do to survive and thrive?  How can our faith help us?

Several weeks ago, we talked about the "The Will of God".  I hope you spent some time giving it some thought.  Romans 12:2 tells us:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Every year, God's cosmic will is shown in the cycles of the seasons.  We have just gone through the Autumnal Equinox last Monday.  Summer is over and we are now in Autumn. The Earth is beginning a transformation of great beauty.  As in heaven, so on Earth.

With all the changes going on in this world, it can be unsettling.  The Psalmist tells us another way to go through life: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me by quiet waters, He restores my soul.  He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me.  Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love, will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

When we have the Lord as our Shepherd, we are protected and we receive guidance.  The shepherd looks after the flock.  There is an assurance both in this prayer and in the attitude to have.  Follow the guidance given, especially in changing times.

The world seems to be spinning out of balance.  It seems as if every day, there is more to unbalance us in our life:  There have been fears of shortages of food, such as rice.  There appears lines at gas stations as there where 22 years ago.  Fears of lack of adequate fuel to maintain our daily activities.  There are other shocks too, such as the Chinese placing a vehicle in orbit and their first space walks.  While in our country, there appears to be a near meltdown in our financial system.  Who would have thought that our banking industry would be subject to failure?  Washington Mutual, one of the largest banks had a run on it that withdrew over 16 billion dollars causing it to fail, then being purchased.  What has driven the prices of food and fuel up?  Fear.

The world is full of shocks that shake us awake from the sleep of the cocoon we have been living in.  These changes remind me of the humble little butterfly and the transformation they go through in their life.  With the warm temperatures of summer, we have been blessed to see these little creatures of God as they have transformed from the larval caterpillar stage, an inactive pupal stage, and a spectacular metamorphosis into a familiar and colourful winged adult form.  When we accept Christ and God as our shepherd and guide, we too go through a spectacular transformation.  We awaken from our sleep, we are transformed by the Holy Spirit to a beautiful being with like the beautiful butterfly with gossamer wings.

As our transformation by accepting Christ, we turn to our Father in prayer.  We look for his light to guide us.  Prayer becomes a larger part of our life.  We commune with God and follow the still small voice that speaks to us.  Our shepherd is the Christ teaching us to follow in Jesus path, to walk in his footsteps.  Our life is changed forever.  We can't go back once awakened.  When we draw the light of Christ into our daily life, the spinning world is less of concern.  We are more grounded and not upset by the changes that are occurring in the outer world.  Our inner world is more peaceful and content.  I shall not be in want.  I am as the 23rd Psalm speaks with my cup running over.  Jesus also tells us:  Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

In conclusion:

Watch the Earth be transformed by God's will in Fall's grandeur.  Use the 23rd Psalm to bring you peace and contentment in these turbulent earthly times.  Walk with and be protected by the Shepherd.  Be transformed by renewing your mind.  Find your heart and your treasure.  Remember what the Bible tells us in 

2 Corinthians 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.     

God Bless you.  

Closing Prayer:

Eternal God, Father of the human family, through voices raised in song and through the stillness of the silence, we extol Thy Divine Love and Wisdom which has made us heirs to Thy Creative will. In that Love, do we find support in our weaknesses and encouragement in our strengths. In that Wisdom, do we find nourishment and growth. Transform our consciousness from limitation to realization, and our realization into perfection. Grant us the certainty that we may be perfect, even as Thou art perfect.

0 Father, show us the road that leads to Thee. Give aspiration to our hearts that our every thought and action may echo our devotion to Thee. Amen

Homily audio 9-14-08 God's Will

On Sept. 14, 2008, I spoke on a potentially difficult subject: "God's Will".

Here is the audio. I think I missed the opening paragraph getting the recorder to turn on, but that was just a repetitious introduction. The recorder captured the good stuff.

The pictures are of the beautiful Holy Land, where God's Will has been so well documented in writings.

Labor Day Oriented Homily

In honor of Labor Day the following scripture was selected:

Scripture Reading:    Psalm 127

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. 

Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.  

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to [those he loves.   Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.   Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth.   Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame 

when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Our Response Reading is: Work

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, we did not eat anyone's bread without paying;

But with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you.

It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate.

For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone will not work, let him not eat.

For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work.

Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living.

Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing.

2 Thess. 3:6-13