20250302 - 10am Service

please do say she has

this is strange thing to think we move through this world and we never actually see ourselves. That you should look in the mirror, right? But it's a reflection it's the reverse. That's why we hate looking at photos of ourselves because it doesn't look like us because we saw used to seeing as cells in reverse. when I hear these ratings today, this collection in this Gospel of multiple little bets, the thread that runs through it is that when we are part of something bigger, We at one end of it, should resemble what it comes from? So if we are linked to the body of Christ, we should resemble christ-like Behavior. If we are bearing fruits, that fruit should look like that with which we are aligned.

But more often than not. we think we see other people will clearly We spend most of our time, looking out through at lies at the woo. So, we become a spiritual food on seeing others seeing how they behave categorizing it, good. Babes, not so good. Good Christian good. Religious Busan evil person. And so are we become expense and that and if we're not careful, we can become subject spirits and looking out here that we drinks. Become an experience and ourselves. We're familiar with ourselves when we get to choose what we do and how we do is and it becomes familiar, but we not experience. The passage that talks about speaks in. Logs is actually one of those really strange ones but it's actually quite true. We can always point out what's wrong with someone else, but we may not be able to say as our inflows particularly well. We know that because if someone draws attention to it, we were. So if we spend too much time with that family, for example, And we really struggle with a particular parent and a sibling can say, well that's cuz you're very much like them. We don't want to hear that, because we seem that behavior in someone else's, no prison to me. Same goes when it comes to politics or religion or any of those lovely watercolor topics that we come up with what I need to do. Whatever. But very seldom do we say, could you please tell me tell me about myself. What's wrong with me that I need to be sorting out? Please tell me. I'd really like some help with it. Why? Because well,

It's confronting and painful. But I think the point of this particular passage and the gospel is to remind us that we are not supposed to correct devils. Not that we aren't supposed to be in relationship with them when there is something that needs to be dealt with. Deal with it.

but that if we have it, she spent any time

truly dealing with out on stuff. Annoying. How vulnerable that makes us and how hard it is sometimes. And what a life's work at conveyance outen things.

Ben when we approach others. We can do it in a way that it's not helps. I know about you but I really love getting. And I, when someone's got themselves, a little bit of wood stuck in the finger, and it's so painful. And the, like, give me the, give me the hand. Sanitizer, let's get this puppy out. But I am terrible. If it's May I won't be anyone touch me. So I wasn't allowed to come near me buffets in a lot of come near me. I will deal with it. Thank you very much by myself just in case they want to do it because it is the points of the space of scripture.

I have, as many of, you know, I'm take two children at the moment IRA. And so this way, time flip to the next video on them, for my own Amusement, but it was legitimate, I don't have appropriate learning outcomes. I asked them to do or what they think a religious person looks like.

I'm curious what? People look like I got a few self portraits of may. They were quite gorgeous. I put one on Facebook. And then others would draw up the papers. So we got a nun. And the nun was looking up to heaven. She had a smile on his face cuz she loves what she does. She was wearing a rosary and she carried. That could scriptures one. That was a guy in a cowboy hat. He likes cooking brisket. He says, howdy. And he had all sorts of things going on there and if you ain't even his watch Young Sheldon, you will recognize the influence of the Southern Baptist, caricature that was going on there. I hate omena of pictures and notes. The pictures was a like it was I had the very predictable response when I asked about the activity was. Well, I'm sorry, but external appearance. Doesn't have an internal and I saved you a fresh.

but there was a lot about it that

I really appreciate the diversity of religious expression that was always something and knows that you could pull together. The idea that stars who are religious belief that there is life beyond us that we have a spirit Or a soul that, we believe something happens with this.

That we choose to engage with whatever that ultimate divine presence is that it affects our lives.

That we choose practices and behavior, and actions that align with what we believe. We should do in order to be in relationship with the divine. And regardless of the picture from Cowboy, to none.

These elements were very much present.

We're about to hit the season of Lent. We have it every year. We have Ash Wednesday this week if you want to come to the service at 7:30 in the evening if you'd like an ash Tuesday morning service, she can come on Thursday at 10.

3 things a bit differently, but the point of leaves is open to either give up or put in something a practice, maybe join a group, maybe give something up for Lent. And depending on how long you have been doing this practice, you'll have your favorites. You'll have decided with you. Yeah, you and I want you guys to tell me about the point of us.

The point behind it, as it strips us, back to see ourselves a little more clearly.

We get to discover what a caffeine addiction in the morning. Is really like when we not having us if we give up coffee. Will household. We get to see what it's like. If we have to commit to a small group for a several weeks in a row and we discover we don't like the study we doing. We don't like the people we're at, in the group with and been an option to coming up and we trying to wake her with a way, should give an apology or notes.

we get to discover that actually, we do spend quite a bit of time scrolling on the incident and we thought this would be an easy one and now we're feeling quite anxious is the withdrawal states and

And if we a kind and hold ourselves in that space, we allow for the spirit to move. We allow for the possibility that oh I've discovered something about myself. I took an order.

And we can have a curiosity about it and we can pray about it and even if we brave enough, we can be accountable for it with somebody. We trust.

And as we experience that, I think we approached how we correct others about vittetoe. When I was 16, I knew everything. Absolutely everything on your everything, and I get to the site and I know, and it's a massively humbling to discover that everything that I think I should be out of control. I can't control. I cannot control one iota of what I do but for the grace of God.

And it's humbling.

May I encourage you? 2. What does the pipes and Lynch?

And experience set. Really Livin to us.

And as you do so, sorry, experience the grace of God.

Okay, and it's a wonderful abundance Old Spice. We licked all something. We didn't know we were holding on the toe.

And we can talk about something. I'm tired of the way that testimony Witnesses people. Wash it. When God, his has been prison and they life, but you can't share until you've dealt with the phone. Why? Because you feel some Shame about it which means there's still something that you haven't let go of in relation to it.

And I think the one thing that I didn't come out of, with all these beautiful Cowboys, nuns and self-portraits about religious people, is this still is still a hunger to know if there are people who believe that there is something more than what we Look what's right now? and that he regards her to explore that with who are willing to listen to about that is Broad to

And that you might just have some people who watch you and see that you are the fruit. Of Gods. Do you have something to offer? You are your own cowboy.

You are an expression of the face and the spirit of God that someone hadn't necessarily saying was there, but recognizes is good.

And is you able to demonstrate humility in your arm? Challenges. It opens up room to have conversations with others about Dez and we deepen our relationship, me thief and a community. And we do something in the world doesn't sorry. Race against.

I mean.