Proper 24 B - Psalm 19:1 - Faster than Light - Herbert O'Driscoll

"... (W)e have always believed that there were certain (not many but a few) unchanging truths in that vast expanse beyond us. One of these "givens" is the speed with which light travels. For some reason it's one of life's statistics that most of us remember. The speed of light is 186,000 miles a second. Think about it and the mind stretches.

But we have always believed that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. We still do. yet in the past couple of years that belief has been shaken to the core. For it seems that far far out in the universe, near the edge of our present capacity to probe, there are galaxies whose component parts are moving apart at speeds which are several times the velocity of light! The issue is not yet resolved, and no one knows when it will be. I mention it as something awesome and wondrous, because I think a sense of awe and wonder is very necessary. For awe and wonder are amoung the elements of life which lead us to worship. There are other things, but awe and wonder are such a way.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."
~Psalm 19:1 "

Herbert O'Driscoll, City Priest City People, One Man's Journal, Book 2; Anglican Book Centre; Toronto, Ontario; 1983; Pg 93.

Proper 24 - B - James 3:10 - Love and Language - Dwight Lyman Moody

"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not so to be."
~James 3:10

" People often ask, "How can I keep from swearing?" I will tell you. If God puts His love into your heart, you will have no desire to curse Him. I was preaching one day in the open air, when a man drove up in a fine carriage, and after listening a little while, he put the whip to his fine-looking steed, and away he went.

Later, I visited him at his home. "I am told that God has blessed you above all men in this part of the country. He has given you wealth, a beautiful Christian wife, and seven lovely children. I do not know if it is true, but I hear that all He gets in return is cursing and blasphemy."

The man said, "What you say is true. But you don't know anything about a businessman's troubles. When he is harassed and tormented the whole time, he can't help swearing."

"Yes," I said, "he can. I used to swear at myself." I began to tell him about Christ in the heart and how that would take the temptation to swear out of a man. At the next church prayer meeting, the man was there. He said, "My friends, I want to have you pray for my salvation."

Thirty-odd years later I spoke to the man. He said, "I have never had a desire to swear since then. It was all taken away." He was not only converted but became an earnest, active Christian, and all these years has been serving God. "

Proper 24 - B - Mark 8:35 - Thinking About Growth - Harold Percy

" In my work with church leaders I often encourage them to give up the burden of trying to save the church or even of helping it to survive. Instead, I suggest that they take up the much more invigorating work of developing a congregation that can penetrate their community with the gospel.

In so doing, there is a very good chance that in the process they just might discover that their congregation is beginning to thrive as well - but only as a by-product. After all, we are trying to follow the one who taught that those who seek to save their lives will lose them, while those who are willing to lose their lives for the sake of the gospel will save them (Mark 8:35). This is as true today as it was when Jesus said it. "


Harold Percy, Your Church Can Thrive; Abington Press, Nashville, Tennessee; 2003; Pg 21.

Proper 24 - B - Mark 8:34-35 - A Gentle Thunder - Max Lucado

" On one side stands the crowd.

Jeering. Baiting. Demanding.

On the other stands a peasant.
Swollen lips. Lumpy eye. Lofty promise.

One promises acceptance,
the other a cross.

One offers flesh and flash,
the other offers faith.

The crowd challenges, "Follow us and fit in."

Jesus promises, "Follow me and stand out."

They promise to please.
God promises to save.

God looks at you and asks...
Which will be your choice?

Thank you for setting us free. may we be spurred on by your love to do great works, yet never substituting those works for your great grace. Keep us amazed and mesmerized by what you have done for us. "

Max Lucado, God's Inspirational Promise Book; Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas; 1996; Pg 41.