Interactive Sermon

What's On My Mind?

A mind is a terrible thing to control/alt/delete.

Vacation! ~ Yes, I am presently enjoying lazy days. God is good! Weather has been somewhat cooperative. We had a rainy day yesterday--time enough to visit Mellow Mushroom for lunch with hippies, and to take in a movie. Today the clouds are clearing, and the river is calling my name. I bought two new tubes this morning to replace two of our aging ones that had been running short of air by day's end.

The Bucs ~ Training camp begins TODAY!  I am a little excited.  Been living at www.buccaneers.com the last couple of days waiting for our future to sign his contract.  Today is the day, I predict.  Oh, and speaking of predictions--another season of Pigskin Preacher will launch later today. 

Verbs ~ Got to chapter 14 in my re-read of The Shack this morning.  This is the chapter with the great thought provocation on nouns and verbs.  It is this chapter that drove my decision to revisit the book.  Wow.  Struck me the same way the second time through.  I will have lots to ponder as I float down river today.

Daniel chapters 7 - 12 ~ The rest of the Daniel studies are coming together slowly but surely.

What's on your mind?

Lazy Days & Still Small Voices

Vacation update: We've had several days of wonderful weather (waiting for the downpour--I know this has to end), and as such, we've spent much time in the water.  After church yesterday we spent a lazy afternoon and evening laying around in lawn chairs, poolside, and around a campfire.  We broke out the guitars and sang a bit--but laughed a lot more.  Steph, Chrisine, Amanda and Katie recorded Disney songs amidst roars of laughter.  Thankfully the campground had cleared out, so our raucous behavior didn't bother anyone.

I've continued my studies in Daniel and Mark.  Today I broke out a bit and searched out some wisdom from the Psalms and Proverbs on some other topics.  Good studies all.  On the re-reading front, I've worked two thirds of the way through The Shack.  Got to some emotionally heavy chapters for me today, that sent me to the scriptures, and I look forward to spending time pondering it all as the day progresses. 

Enjoying great talks with family and friends. Today we will be traveling an hour away to visit friends for some swimming and a cookout.  Oh, and the picture--me and Dan's grill making memories.

Wish you were here.

In A Van (er... Tube) Down By The River

A couple of wonderful days in the mountains! A nice clear day in the Rocky Broad River followed by a day of hiking and swimming at Skinny Dip Falls.  No--for those who are wondering, there was no skinny dipping going on. I couldn't afford the therapy bills for my children and friends were I to disrobe and dip.

A good time seems to be being enjoyed by all. My nephew John and Toivo arrived last night. Today we plan to take them tubing.  After I make breakfast for everyone--going with apple pancakes and sausage on the griddle this morning.

Reading continues to be a blessing.  Read through the remainder of Daniel again the last few days, giving some thought now to the next five sermons to finish our study of that book at Christ's Church.  Should be an adventure for sure. I'm also continuing through the gospel of Mark, and enjoying the interactions between Jesus and those He encountered.

In my re-read of The Shack, I am struck this morning by a scene where Mack and Jesus are looking up at the stars, joking and laughing with each other, and Mack concludes that he has never felt this "clean and alive." I'm marveling over that creative writing by W. P. Young. It seems so very artistic a way to depict those encounters I am reading in the gospels--people in Jesus presence feeling clean and alive. Meaningful to me this morning.

On the short story front, I read another Anderson tale last night before bed.  Didn't stir me much. Am I arrogant to think I could have written a better story?

It's time to fire up the coals, heat up the griddle and feed this growing army--at least Toivo and John have brought the male/female ration up a bit. Three men to serve and care for these eight women.

Wish you were here.

Morning Fog

I awoke this morning to a thick fog over the lake blocking the view of the mountains. The song birds were still out. It's morning to them whether it's overcast or not. What a great disposition, eh? I'm hoping for more sun today, and the forecast looks promising.

I spent my reading time this morning in a few different directions. I continued my studies in Daniel and Mark--Daniel 9 and Mark 3 today. A couple of things struck me. First, it was Daniel's prayer at the start of chapter 9. Take a read through it when you have a chance. What contrition and repentance it demonstrates. Even though I read Mark 3 this morning, it was the last few verses of Mark 2 that have hung with me the last 14 hours: "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath." I have been blessed to consider those words of Jesus as I "rest" on this vacation and as I think of the Sabbath.  I don't know, what do you make of those words?

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm also re-reading The Shack.  A handful of reasons that I decided to take a second go-round with it on this trip--not important. But I'm catching stuff this time that I missed when I first read through it. This morning I covered The Great Sadness--and amidst Mack's frantic search for his daughter--was struck by the statement: "He was so desperate to get Missy back, and surely God knew where she was." I don't know why those words stopped me, but they did. So desperate, and God knows, but...

Lastly, from the short story collection I brought along. Last evening I went to sleep having enjoyed a short by Mark Twain called 'The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calveras County.'

And I'm getting a little writing done, too. What a great time. Wish you were here.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,vacation

Arrived

Checked in late afternoon yesterday.  Amanda, Katie and I got set up in record time while the other six ladies did some shopping.  Enjoyed a cold beer looking at my favorite view.  Got supper, a campfire and smores in and then managed a great night's sleep in the mountain breeze. 

This morning is overcast, but the Song Sparrows and Carolina Wrens still came to greet me.  Great time in Daniel 7 and 8 and Mark 2 today.  I also enjoyed a short story by Sherwood Anderson and a few chapters of The Shack (I decided to re-read that book on this vacation).

Bacon, sausage and eggs are the menu for this morning.  Dan--you're a great friend for running to get this grill for me!  Cooking for eight ladies with my small grill would have been quite an ordeal.  This is awesome.  Man, I appreciate you!

Headed to Hickory Nut Falls and Chimney Rock today.  A coke on the front porch at Bubba's is on the agenda.  Wish you were here. 

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,vacation,darin michael shaw

Buts From Sunday's Sermon

Yep, I'm on vacation.  But... I'm continuing to study Daniel while I'm away.  As such, it's not 'work' to post on the big buts of Daniel 6, that we studied together yesterday.

In chapter six we find Daniel to be much older than when we met him back in chapter one, but still a man of impeccable moral character and great faith.  Once again he had come to be recognized and promoted to a position of authority.  This time his peers' jealousy led them to hatch a plan to take him down.  Check verse 4 for this telling but:

"They began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize or condemn.  He was faithful, always responsible and completely trustworthy."

What a wonderful testimony of the man.  Can such be said of you?  In fact, these men went farther, acknowledging that the only way that Daniel could be 'trapped' would be if they could somehow do it in relation to his faith.  In other words, his action and his religious profession were in harmony.  Again, can the same be said of us?

In verse 10, another but appears:

"But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual..."

The rest of verse 10 demonstrates that this was his regular pattern.  This was Daniel.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Daniel 6,Big Buts of the Bible,Bible Study

Bittersweet

I said goodbye to my baby last night.  There she sat--Massachusetts tags on her now.  As I pulled past her, I watched her disappear in the rearview mirror.  In addition to seven years of New England driving, we ran the eastern-seaboard together, at least a dozen times.  Maine to Florida.  DC?  A couple of trips.  NYC?  Five or six times.  Daytona Beach?  At least a half-dozen visits.  And every time I turned the key--she was ready to roll.  The pics?  The day I got her, and the day I said goodbye.

Something to be said for a Ford. 

But bittersweet--the sweet part is that she's in the hands of another Ford Mustang enthusiast.  I mean... at least she's not going to be sitting in a driveway next to a Dodge or something!  I couldn't have done that to her!

I put a new set of tires on her and filled her tank with gas one last time before I delivered the keys to her new owner.  Shari said "the girl has you wrapped around her finger."  She was talking about the girl who bought the car and my wanting her to have a great experience with it.  But, the truth is, she... as in the car... had me wrapped around her finger.  Pray for the old girl, that she gives her new owner as many memories and as strong  a performance as she gave me.

Now... honey... about the money I need to finish the 1967 in the garage?  Or, how about we buy that 1961 Ford Pick-up truck I saw--you remember, the one with a plant growing out of the hood?  I can fix it up.  Really! 

As Promised

A couple of weeks ago I posed a question about Twitter and Worship Services.  You can find that post here.  Once again, the post generated a lot of conversation off blog-way, as many of us have spoken about it in person and a handful of you sent thoughts along in comments and email.  I promised I'd weigh in with my opinion.  No, I warn you--my dad used to have a colorful way of saying this... let me see... "Opinions are like 'rear ends', everybody has one."

The words that catch my attention in the three linked posts from my original article were words like 'engaged', 'participation' and 'active.'  Where worship services are concerned, I welcome thoughts on how to bring those words into reality--Sunday morning worship services are not to be spectator sports.  However--or should I say "BUT"--as much as I am a fan of Twitter, I don't like the idea of Twitter during worship services.

First off, I agree with the majority of your comments (online and in person) and emails.  Secondly, I love the way these two men Joshua Harris and John Piper expressed their thoughts.  Check them out.  I have to say, I couldn't agree more with their contributions to this discussion.  I'd love to express my opinion in my own words--but they've done it.

Check out those two links.  What do you think?  Have their views spoken into your own thinking on the subject?

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Twitter,Worship

Cool Things

Many of you know of my appreciation of the New Living Translation of the Scriptures.  For those of you who don't know, I have preached and taught out of the NIV for 17 years and don't intend to change that, but for my own reading enjoyment, I have been happy to have an NLT on my bedside table and next to my favorite reading chair the last few years. 

I learned that the folks who publish the NLT offer daily tweets from their version, from their study bible, and from their life application bible.  Cool thing.  You can learn more and follow here.

Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Twitter,New Living Translation

Buts From Sunday's Sermon

We covered Daniel chapter five this weekend--'The Writing on the Wall' passage.  The chapter outlines nicely around four appearances of the word 'but.'

The story begins with King Belshazzar throwing a big party and he and his guests doing a fair amount of drinking.  In the first four verses, the fact that they were drinking wine is mentioned five times.  It's sort of amusing to me that verse 5 begins "Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared to them..."  There is a fascinating observation to be made, however.  Notice how quickly the king's world is turned from drunken revelry to terror.  A man who lacks God as his anchor--the things that he is sure of and confident in are so fleeting.  That's reinforced by the text's first big but:

All the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.  So King Belshazzar became even more terrified.

The next section in the passage is a beautiful one.  The queen-mother hears of this matter and comes to remind Belshazzar about Daniel--"Call Daniel," she concludes, "and he will tell you."  I say it's a beautiful section because this woman is likely King Nebuchadnezzar's daughter (Belshazzar's mother).  We read last week, in chapter four, of a tremendous turn in Nebuchadnezzar's life.  She probably witnessed that change--and this is a testament to it.

Daniel is called, and notice that the first thing that happens is that he gives the king a history lesson.  The second but comes mid-lesson:

The Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness... but when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed.

Daniel went on to recount the restoration that followed.  The message: Nebuchadnezzar got it!  But...  And this is really the biggest but of the chapter:

But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself.

The final but of the text is a reiteration of this truth: But you didn't honor the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways.

There's one last observation to make.  It's not technically a 'but', but it may as well be.  The text ends with Belshazzar giving Daniel purple cloth, gold and the third highest rank in the kingdom.  But.  This story ends very similarly to a parable that Jesus taught in Luke 12.  There a rich man was comfortable in his wealth and was building new barns to store it up.  But. 

How are we living our lives? 

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Big Buts of the Bible,Bible Study,Daniel 5