Moses on Mount Sinai, begs to see God. "Please give me just one good look." Woody Allen says, "If only God would give me one solid clue like depositing fifty thousand in my bank account." Skeptics ask, "Where's the evidence?" But God can't be known that way, precisely because he transcends the material and mundane and visible.
Do you remember the best-seller of some years ago called Looking Out For Number One? Did you know that after the book was published, the author's wife divorced him and is now receiving thousands of dollars in alimony. When asked why she did this, she is reported to have said, "I read his book."
Funeral Homily 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9 That Even Better Builder A funeral homily for a builder That Even Better Builder 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9 By The Rev. Charles Hoffacker We read in the biblical book of Ecclesiastes that there is a time to tear down and a time to build up [3:3]. It may be given [...]
Funeral Homily 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9 Pay Attention! A funeral homily for a woman who paid attention Pay Attention! 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9 By The Rev. Charles Hoffacker There are two outstanding things that I have learned about Ellen from you, her family and friends. The first was her grand sense of hospitality, the way she would [...]
Sermon 2 Corinthians 4:16 - 5:9 An Artist in His Own Life A funeral homily for an artist 2 Corinthians 4:16 - 5:9 An Artist in His Own Life By The Rev. Charles Hoffacker For each of us, there are different memorials for Bob King, reminders of his life and our connections with him. [...]
In the movie, "O God" there is a scene where John Denver is in the shower. When he steps out he sees Burns, who is dressed as an old man wearing a fishing hat. Denver says, "So this is what God looks like?" But Burns responds by saying, "If I appeared as I really am, you couldn't handle it."
We live in a "No" kind of world. No, you can’t do this. No, you can’t do that. No, you can’t worship here because you aren’t one of us. No, no, no. Some things never change... that is, unless forgiveness takes place. We are often willing to forgive others, but don’t think we have done anything for which we need to be forgiven.
God's "Yes!" cannot be earned. God's "Yes!" can only be received with thankfulness and joy. Like a Christmas present wrapped in rainbow paper, God's "Yes!" is given to us without preconditions. But once received, what do we do with God's "Yes!"? Do we lock it away in the closet? Or, do we unwrap it like a small child opens Christmas gifts with?
Paul didn't write First Corinthians 15 as a scientific textbook. Instead, he simply gives us a glimpse into eternity, and promises that it will be wonderful. Paul concludes: "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (15:57).
Perhaps the greatest line about the Resurrection comes from the famous preacher of another age, J. S. Whale, who said, "The Gospels do not explain the Resurrection; the Resurrection explains the Gospels."