Gulley, Berkeley the Cat and Preaching, Oh My!

Well, it's March already.  My sabbatical has been a true blessing to me.  I have had some great experiences so far, learned a lot, read a lot (and have more to read), and have been able to rest, spend time with family and some friends.

I started March with yet another "Gulley encounter".  As you know from my past posts I have read one of Philip Gulley's books while on sabbatical, If The Church Were Christian.  This is a wonderful book.  On Saturday, March 3rd I attended the Spirituality Gathering at Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana.  It was a great day with Philip (the Key note speaker) and a host of Quaker and other Christians gathered there.

Philip Gulley at Earlham School of Religion - Richmond, IN

I hope to bring Phil Gulley to St. John Church some time in the future.  I'm already working on setting this up.  (Oops, I'm not supposed to be working now am I?  I'm always working, what can I say.)

Berkeley Elizabeth Haithcock
(He doesn't like his middle name)

Before leaving on sabbatical some asked how Berkeley (my cat) is going to deal with me being away so much.  All but one week that I have been out of town, Jimmy (thank you Jimmy) has graciously taken care of Berkeley.  Truth be told, Berkeley likes Jimmy more than me anyway, so I think Berkeley is happy.

While in town I've had more time at home with Berkeley.  I'm not sure he likes that so much.  He thinks he runs the house and often tells me what to do and how to do it.

He seems to be dealing well with my sabbatical schedule.  I can tell (he would never mention this) that he has missed me when I've been away.

Berkeley is one of God's smartest creatures.  At least that's what he has told me.





My current reading is from Good News Preaching by Gennifer Benjamin Brooks.  According to this book my sermons should be much longer.  Now I've got your attention.  Just kidding.

Although much of what Brooks offers is a re-visit to the basics in my peaching classes in seminary (such as sermon structure, laying the Biblical foundations, Theological constructs and constraints, shaping and formating the sermon and connecting and contextualizing the text)  Brooks says, "The good news of the sermon is not merely the interpretation of a scripture text or topic brought to life through the in-depth study, or even particularly the preacher's internalization of the Word and connection with the hearers.  And although we may preach the good news that we have experienced in our relationship with God, the good news of our sermons is not about us.  It is about God's grace present and available to all people for all time.  And when we offer it to the people of God in our sermons - that's good news preaching."

Pray for me, that my preaching may come alive to offer the Gospel (Good News) in every sermon I preach.