• Not drowning but thriving – sermon from 10 August 2014

     

    Turn your eyes upon Jesus
    Look full in his wonderful face
    And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
    In the light of his glory and grace

     

    When I was growing up – that’s exactly the kind of thing that I would have been singing on a Sunday morning.

    And it came to mind when I was starting to think about what to say about the gospel this morning.

    You see, the gospel reading that we have today tends to lead to sermons which represent that kind of mawkish sentimentality that suggests that Jesus will solve everything.

    I’ve found in life that Jesus doesn’t solve everything. If he did, the world would already be a very different place.

    I’ve learned that if Jesus does anything he calls us to build that better place not simply with him but with people of goodwill wherever we find them.

    Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

    That’s the thing about this passage – the evangelist lays on that sentiment with a trowel. Peter leaps out of the boat and starts to sink – only when he looks at Jesus is he safe. And thus, so many sermons will say – we need to fix our eyes on the saviour and all will be well.

    Well, I certainly think that Jesus can be a brilliant inspiration and I look on him as Saviour and Lord.

    But when I look at Jesus I find that he is looking at the world and asking me to gaze with compassion upon it with him. (more…)

3 responses to “New Year Predictions 2017”

  1. FakePete Avatar

    I think you are underestmating Trump, he’s not going anywhere, and the Le Pen prediction seems very bold of you considering recent history…

    Thanks for writing your blog, happy New Year!

  2. David Allen Avatar
    David Allen

    #8 happened in the US about a year ago. The DC Madame’s little black book. I posted about it at Episcopal Cafe that meny clergymen were listed and I was lambasted for posting. That if their rector was on the list that wasn’t anyone’s concern but he and his wife.

    That’s either head in the sand or way too liberal for me.

    I’m not into facial hair either. Clean cuut & clean shaven is what I like.

  3. The Rev. Dr. C. Eric Funston Avatar

    I think you’re right about Trump and, in fact, i think he will be gone within the first year (the Republicans will figure out they can’t control him and will find a reason to impeach, or he’ll resign in a fit of pique). Don’t bet on beards leaving; mine’s certainly not going anywhere (I hate shaving!)

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