A little girl comes home from her Grandmother's house bursting with the story of Snow White that she saw on DVD. "Mom, Snow White met a prince at the end, and guess what happened then?" Her mom said, "they lived happily ever after". "No, Mom. Wrong."
-"they got married"!!
And so began the sermon on, of all texts, Ephesians 5:22-33. I dare you to look it up! It is a passage I have avoided like the plague for 14 years. Enough said. I can't even bring myself to type those words of Paul. Peaked your curiosity yet?
First Baptist church is full of the joy of the Lord, so to speak. My friend Bettejane attends with 2 other friends on the island. I can see why. Talk about the "comfortable pew". It is like entering a theatre - greeters on the sidewalk and again inside; one of them has a tag "I'm a hug tester!" - the "sanctuary" is complete with sloped floor with comfy padded seats, large stage platform, 22 piece orchestra (you heard me!) and 52 in the choir with 4 song leaders out front and a grand piano - hundreds in the "pews" and that's on a "low" Sunday when some of the snowbirds have already left for home. Last week's attendance - 1,230! Oh, and this note for my church family folk and colleagues - the offering from last week was $35,294.64. No signs of a drooping economy here.
Pastor Rick is nowhere to be seen before the sermon. It is all about the singing! And everyone seems overjoyed with the love of God in the spirit. There is lots of clapping, smiling - and of course during the greeting - hugging! I love it that people are happy there. The sermon begins and is really very well done - Pastor Rick is a great speaker and he wanders in and out of the text and everyday life. He is traditional and engaging and knowledgable. His only mistake in my mind - 45 minutes is just too long no matter how good it is. I found out what it is to be a pew sitter once again - end of sermon!
I am glad to have experienced this worship service. The best part - the hug tester - who was very careful and appropriate - and the height of friendly.
Blessings on all!
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You mean this passage:
ReplyDeleteEphesians 5:22-33 (NIV)
Not too worried as ray doesn't readily submit to "the Lord" anyway, he's to busy submitting to me. Hahaha
I see the weather in the sunshine state was 87 degrees today.
Wives and Husbands
22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[b] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Footnotes:
I can see why you've avoided this text, Joyce! Might not be popular at WP! Should KITT be giving some thought to a "Hug tester"?
ReplyDeleteGlad you are having nice weather! We had a cold windy one today.
Lois
How well I remember the warmth, the singing, the harpist, the bell ringers and the huggers at Mom and Dad's place of winter worship in Lakeland. Awesome experience but from what I have seen, WP, and Joyce, has its own sense of amiability and God's purpose.
ReplyDeleteBlessings. Big HUGS, Evelyn
Sounds like you have had a wonderful beginning to your sabbatical!
ReplyDeleteLove & Blessing, Maggie
You are truly having an experience of a lifetime. Thanks for allowing us to share you amazing journey!!
ReplyDelete