Preaching with a purpose

I'm getting ready for a trial service at the end of this week. Also I will be visiting a synagogue on Friday evening, so it's quite an eventful time. I'm working on unit 7 which is all about worship past and present. My readings for Sunday are Jeremiah 20 v1-11; and Luke 10 v 1-20. I have an awful desire to thoroughly lash my congregation. It's to do with my childhood when I was not in the Methodist church. Mind you we all need to be challenged about our treatment of God, as to whether we do give Him anything like enough attention. But I don't suppose the dear ladies in my congregation have sacrificed any children lately, so I must build in some encouragement for them also. Isn't it wonderful how human nature works. I find myself giving extra attention to this service just because it is a trial service. Perhaps I can use it to raise my game and not slip back into a lower standard again. Find more like this on http://www.squidoo.com/Preach

I know preachers in training would find my lens on Squidoo helpful but are there any passing this way. Here is the link http://www.squidoo.com/preach

So what do you do, when you need to take the pews out of your church building, in order to make the place usable for more people in the village and you have two elderly people who are adamant that the pews should stay? The majority think they should go, the pews that is!It looks as if we have to say,"Sorry but they are going" and risk losing two members. I suppose that is their choice. The pews are standing in the way of progress. We have a pre-school which could do with extra space. They are our outreach and should be encouraged.

I'm reading through Jeremiah at the moment. I have a service to prepare around Jeremiah 20 1-11 for July 5th. I like to think well ahead and as I am retired I have the time for that.When did you last hear a sermon that warned your congregation, indeed when did you ever deliver such a sermon? I have a strong desire to warn, and so have to remember to encourage as well.There is a great need for warning when we are all so inclined to put other things before God.We all say,"Oh God won't mind, He'll understand." this is foolishness and presumptious folly at that. God is not some jolly old gentleman in the skies. He is totally other and all powerful, and the only one who deserves our praise. But is He getting our praise? Even we christians only allow Him one hour a week and even then we spend part of the service thinking about what is going to happen in the up-coming week.Our God deserves far better than that.

I'm 62 and struggling to keep up with technology, but determined to succeed. One's children have no patience so have to struggle on as best as I can.(Not altogether fair, they do help sometimes.) The books I've worked through seem very basic now. Everything that is available to do I want to try out. Squidoo has been a huge learning curve but no doubt there are even more mysteries to conquer. I guess more and more things are being invented as I write.

The Internet is a funny place. There is the potential to reach out to millions upon millions of people and yet you can get stuck in a little by water all of your own and just be speaking to yourself. Hopefully, eventually I will break through and actually make contact with someone. Today I had another glorious walk through the Devon Lanes, taking photos as I went. Otherwise I have been working on my Squidoo lenses. I feel tranquil and satisfied.

Had a smashing day. Had three ladies round for coffee to discuss prayer. We decided not to have a prayer meeting as such as people didn't feel happy with that. Instead we are going to have a prayer chain in which we will phone around to let people know what needs praying for. I can understand why prayer meetings are not popular. They can be boring if unenthusiastic and can be taken over by the person with the biggest ego. Prayer is just thinking, but acknowledging that God is listening in and taking an interest. So carry on thinking. In the afternoon I had a glorious walk of almost three miles and took more plotos for my Squidoo lens Down a Devon Lane http://www.squidoo.com/DevonLane which you are invited to view oh lonely stranger who has strayed to this solitary spot.