Enjoyment at Arm's Length  (Mark 6:14-29)
Delivered on July 12, 2009 to Smith Chapel UMC

  

What I Didn't Say

Intro--I'm always a little embarrassed that the sermon intros (delivered by our Lay Leader, Peter Henderson) sound better than the sermons themselves.  He has a great voice and really good diction.  I, on the other hand, am an old country hick and sound like it.  Oh well...

Anagram--I used that term incorrectly.  I meant to say "acrostic."  I always mess that one up.

Fear--We often think we can manipulate our circumstances to avoid what we DON'T want and to gain what we DO want.  We do that because we fear that God will not give us what we want.  Even worse, we sometimes fear that God will not give us what we NEED.  I guess that could be termed a lack of faith.  I'm often the biggest offender.  I tend to be a big time manipulator...wretched man that I am!

Politicians--I mention at one point that Herod is a typical politician.  That thought came quickly to mind during the sermon because politicians seem to promise anything their momentary audience wants to hear.  Do they think we don't watch and listen to what they're saying?  One day they promise one group something, and the next day they promise another group the total opposite.

The thing that really slays me is that we seem to eat it up!  I don't care what party they belong to, they ALL seem to do it.  I'm sure there are a few good ones, but my opinion is that they should all resign so we can replace them next November.

Unfortunately, we'd probably replace them with people just like them...or people that would BECOME just like them.  Maybe it's the system.  Why don't we hold public officials to their word?  Everyone slips up, but these guys seem to think they can say anything and get away with it. 

They appear to be right...