Top Borrower for May

It was a close race, but we do have a clear winner. John Barlow is the Resource Center's Top Borrower for the month of May. Congratulations John! What makes this even sweeter is that John has won this meritorious designation two months in a row. (John, we recommend that you list this prestigious award on your CV.) We salute you, John, for your commitment to loving God with your mind. We also salute you for returning items in a timely fashion.

One of the important questions facing this presbytery is who can unseat John in the month of June. Who will wrestle this illustrious title from his able grasp?

Sitting at the Master's Feet

One of our Christian educators, Debby Madden, has written a very creative piece in the summer issue of Advocate. Her article, "Spiritual Discipline: The Year I Didn't Buy Shoes," describes a yearlong spiritual discipline she took up in 2006. Jesus said, "Wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matt. 6:21) She discovered that her love of shoes had become the treasure of her heart. They had, in her words, "become a god to me."

The article recounts how difficult it was for her not to buy a pair of shoes for an entire year. Some may dismiss Deb's discipline because of her admission that she already owned 137 pairs of shoes before she started. Those who look deeper will see a challenge to uncover what is the treasure of their heart. What they will find is a challenge to remove whatever it is that impedes their relationship with God.

DVD Study Promo

Are you looking for an adult education resource from a progressive perspective? Living the Questions is a high quality DVD resource featuring many of the most significant voices in progressive Christianity. Click here to view sample clips from this exciting resource.

Bible Study Resources

The "For Today" series is a great series of books that can be used to lead bible studies or book discussion groups. The books are current. Chapters are compact and concise. Discussion questions are found at the end of each chapter. The series includes volumes on the Beatitudes, Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Life of Jesus. Check one out today!

Another Immigration Resource

A feature film addressing the immigration issue is playing at a local theater. The critically acclaimed film The Visitor is playing in Harrisburg at the Midtown Cinema. Showtimes can be found by clicking here. If I have a chance to see it this weekend, I will post a review next week.

Resources on the Immigration Issue

Immigration is a huge concern these days. In our culture, different interests are lined up on opposite sides of the debate. Below are a few resources to help your congregation sort out this complex issue.

1.) Debating Immigration, edited by Carol M. Swain. This collection of 18 essays on the immigration debate explores the issue from the perspectives of religion, law and policy, economics and demographics, and race.

2.) Immigrant America: A Portrait by Alejandro Portes and Ruben Rumbaut. Recognized for its superb portrayal of immigration and immigrant life in the US, this book probes the dynamics of immigrant politics, examining questions of identity and loyalty among newcomers, and explores the psychological consequences of varying modes of migration and acculturation.

3.) Vicki Lantz at Second Carlisle is tackling the issue this month. Kudos to Vicki for taking this on. We look forward to hearing about your experience.

4.) David True is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Wilson College in Chambersburg and a member of Carlisle Presbytery. Dave is very interested in this topic. He taught a class at Wilson on it this spring and is giving a paper on it at the American Academy of Religion meeting in the fall. He made a very interesting presentation on the topic in the fall of 2007 at Market Square Church.

And the Winnner Is...

The Top Borrower at the presbytery Resource Center for the month of April is John Barlow. Congratulations John! Since we could not find a picture of you, we celebrate your achievement with an image of a true American hero.

My Two Cents on Preaching

I have heard (and preached) a few sermons in my day. Below are my current thoughts on the art of proclamation.

A sermon needs to have a point. Retelling the scripture lesson is not a sermon. A series of random thoughts which include an incident from the preacher's life, something he or she has read in a commentary, a piece of news, and a quote from the Christian Century is not a sermon. A sermon without a clear point is vague and leaves the hearer wondering what the point of the sermon actually was.

There are several possible points that can be developed in each scripture passage. Pick one.

A sermon needs to have a story. Please don't obtain this story from a book of illustrations. Unearth something from your reading. Or, mine your own life. Pay attention to your day. Live with the text. What is God saying to you this week in coversation with this text?

A sermon is different from an essay or an article. It does not develop a point. A sermon illustrates the point the preacher is trying to make. I like to think of a sermon as having four scenes. The different scenes include the point of the sermon, the connection of your point with the text, a good story, and a bit of nuance that comes from something the preacher has read in a commentary, theology text, or novel. The creativity comes in as the preacher arranges the four scenes to fit the message of the day.

Caring for Children as Spiritual Practice

Caring for and raising children is an extremely demanding job. One of the many difficulties it raises is finding the time to practice one's spirituality. If we think of the spiritual life in terms of silence and solitude, does this mean that parents with children must postpone life with God until the kids have left the nest? Renowned practical theologian Bonnie Miller-McLemore's newest book examines how parents can reconceptualize the spiritual life to find God in the midst of all the demands of life with children.

The difficulty of this work is that it is targeted at a group of people who have little time to read! I think this book can serve as the basis of a fantastic study for parents at your church.

Pray as You Go

Looking for something to help you practice your spirituality, but simply too busy to find five minutes of quiet time? If you have an mp3 player, the Jesuits of Great Britain offer an incredible resource at http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/. This site has free, downloadable audio files for each weekday. The files contain soothing music, a scripture lesson, and a questions to help you reflect on the passage. Perfect for commuters and other busy people who need to take their spirituality with them (rather than leaving it at home).