back in the saddle

So it when I checked in I see it has been quite a while since I posted anything here. I know that is not a good thing when it comes to blogging but that is the way life goes sometimes.

Starting a new study on stewardship and will be preaching it as well so hopefully will get some good input and will maybe even change my perspective on stewardship as a Christian.

For this Sunday September 23, 2012 have scriptures as  Ecclesiastes 1:1-11;  Romans 5:1-8; Mark 12:41-44.

For the moment just letting them sink in a bit but want to approach from the perspective of the Gospel reading and that God watches and we need to understand that everything about our stewardship is known.
What you give is known.
What you hold back is known.
The way you use what you hold back is also known.

For some of us a brand new thought what does it mean in the grand scheme of things?
Does this make stewardship more or less personal?
Will you sleep better or worse?

There are a gillion questions that come to mind here so help me journey through some of them and see what we find on the other side.

The Genesis story a myth???

Some have taken the approach that the story of creation along with a lot of other old writings are myth. Now before you go balistic we need to think about the word. In the genre the word myth does not mean untrue. It is a way of saying the writing was written as the belief in something and therefore becomes the descriptor of that belief.
I am not sure if the world was created in 6 literal 24 hour periods of time. I am certain that God created it as he says in Genesis. Seems conflicted I am sure but then that is the beauty of the faith, we never quite know what it all is.
Pastor WaynO

Begin to study Genesis

Okay so today I begin. This morning in worship I read from the book, you know the Genesis one and it was about the apple or forbidden fruit incident. I got quite a varied response from those in worship when I asked who sinned first. It was from Eve to God. That's correct God made sin and temptation and all the other stuff.
So what do you think? I challenge you to put your thoughts up about the creation account. For some fodder to excite you I ask these questions: Was the world created in 6 actual 24 hour periods of time? Did creation happen just as described or is the like a story made up by a people to explain to the world and themselves the God they worship??
That ought to be enough to get us started.
Pastor WaynO

Not so sure

Hello all, I am not so sure when I will begin the study as we are entering into the season of Lent and that promises to be a full time this year. I do still want to have a study in Genesis as I have some thoughts and provocations I would love to put before you for your comment. I will begin ASAP however not knowing when that will be.
I invite you to the newpreachin' blog as it will address some of the mess I am in life and hopefully keep you connected until I get this up and running.
Susie if you are out there and checking on this, keep in touch. I have not forgotten about your questions and would like to hear more from you concerning them. That may be the way to begin the study, do any of you have specific questions about Genesis or the beginning of God's story as told by the nation of Israel????
Pastor WaynO

Apology

I must apologize as I have as yet to post anything remotely resembling a study. My hope was to read and study Genesis with you. I will have two funerals this week so may not get any further than I am already. I will check in and see what questions might arise so we can at least attempt to address those.
Pastor WaynO

Genesis Study

I hope I don't dissappoint to many. Keep reading and post any questions. I had one of those real pastoral days and spent from 6:30 am until 8pm so missed getting my post together for all of you. Pastor WaynO

Study in Genesis

I have been praying and thinking about what to post here. I have come to the conclusion that what I need to do is start at the begining and move from there.
Genesis 1.1 - 2.4a is the story of creation and where I will begin.
I will offer to set this as a reading and then we will study for a week on each section. Here is the first reading. One of my favorite resources for its ease of use and good information is http://www.blueletterbible.org/index.html. It is a great place and has several translations as well as commentaries and Hebrew and Greek word info.
Will be back tomorrow with some of my own commentary.
Pastor WaynO