After 2 1/2 days of darkness, power to our home was restored tonight. It was fun, interesting, frustrating, maddening, and humbling. Many in our area are still without power, but it seems that things are slowly getting better for more and more people. Hopefully, the power will be restored for all just in time for the snow and 20 degree temps predicted for this weekend.
Should I even work on a sermon tomorrow?
If so, what text would you recommend preaching after the largest blackout in Oklahoma history?
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Wade said: “…what text would you recommend preaching after the largest blackout in Oklahoma history?”
That’s easy: John 1:3-5
you said your physical darkness was less than three days. you already mentioned some were still in darkness. the good news is GOOD NEWS….not to have to contine in darkness. a text? well, examples like wandering in the desert for umteen years, returning to Jerusalem after exile. There were persecutions of Christians in Persia and other places the first few hundred years….and today. Those folks will continue to be in darkness until repressive regimes make major political adjustments in Persia… Another would be the John Miltons who have to wait until their life on earth and be with God in Heaven to have their light
returned to them….or coming out of an illness where one
has been kept sedated for several days…and has a long
recovery ahead.
This had never happened before in Oklahoma. Because things
have never happend before does not mean they won’t.We have seen this happen before…just not to this extent. Preparedness, preparednes,etc….
Glad you have your light restored and easier to write with a computer, send pictures, etc…and in one way glad you had the experience…not so long ago folks lived without electricity all the time…some still do. Those of us of a certain age can remember kinfolk who still lived with kerosene lamps, etc…Ask your mom and dad about uncle or aunt so and so…..you and your other friends have so much to contribute to the knowledge of the world…the older folks have something to contribute too.
A final note…how was it different? How was that better? How about telling those you have influence toward to turn their physical lights off once in a while, to better see the LIGHT ? You can see the stars in the sky better at night.
Jay G.
Do you guys to Advent? If so, there’s much you could do with the lighting of the candles. Most Advent liturgies have something about how we start the service in darkness and progress with the coming of light into the world. Too easy? Maybe. Right on? I think so!
Joshua 10:1-15 ?
Some years ago I was startled by the reaction to a major ice storm on the East Coast. Dallas headlines kept on saying: “Millions Still Without Power.” Noodling with that thought led to my writing a course on prayer…our source of power. I ended up teaching that course 5 times at HO because it was so well received. I still encourage my students to plug in…or stay plugged in…to the only source of Power that really matters. rtrr
The sermon should be titled, “Ressurecting Hell: If You Think This Week’s Been Tough.”
That darn Global Warming.
I think you should teach on the subject of the Kingdom, of the reason that Christ came to the earth, to serve. And we had a great oppertunity to serve. Thousands of our neighbors, friends, family, and strangers around us were in need this week, and what did we do for them? …I don’t mean it for you to put a guildt trip on people, because we all know that’s not the way to go, but to open people’s eyes to the world around them and to the oppertunities they have to love others and to share Christ with those they come in contact with. Jesus got out of His comfort zone to help others; he went out of His way to meet people’s needs; He always served others, always loved, and never forgot anyone. We fail to do this everyday. Our eyes need to be opened to the world around us, even to the world that is right outside our door. We need to be taking care of our fellow man, be God’s hands and feet. Do unto others…because I know that I would want someone with heat and power to take me into their home if I was without…I will do the same if the oppertunity presents itself…I pray God gives me the oppertunity to do so, and the eyes to see the oppertunity. I want to live as Christ lived, I want to live for others. (Matthew 25:35-36; Phillippians 2:2-11) Our attitudes should be that of Christ Jesus.
So that’s my 2 cents.
I say you complain and lament about your most recent situation with great vigor and conviction…and I mean do it to the fullest. After about 10-15 minutes of that you should move into how the people of Tulsa (and other areas who’ve been affected by the storms) have a great line of witnesses who join them in their suffering. People like Moses, Job, Paul, and Jesus. I would do this for about 5 minutes. And then in the last 5 minutes you should talk about the deep connection you now share with those who regularly go without electricity, food, or shelter. You should end the sermon by screaming, “Why, Lord? Why?” while sitting down in a pile of ashes and scraping boils off your skin. (You’ll probably have to go to Texas, though, to get the boils.)
Global Warming.
It’s always fun to hear what preachers think other preachers should be saying in other churches. 🙂
Thanks for the ideas.
No question; Exodus 10 – The Plague of Darkness
No brainer–2 Samuel 22, David’s song, with emphasis on verse 29, You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
Peace.
That should read “Resurrecting Hell” . . . that’s what I get for not preaching/speaking/writing about the resurrection enough . . . I write it incorrectly on blogs.
Ok so I’m a little late commenting – since you are probably in the middle of preaching right now. (And no I’m not a heathen skipping church – being Catholic has its advantages – I went last night!) I think what I would preach would be preparedness. Had we known we were about to experience a major power outage – we would have done things differently. We wouldn’t have stocked the fridge with groceries that would end up spoiled. We would have done all of the laundry before the storm hit. We would have filled up the car with gas and stocked up on D sized batteries. Or perhaps we would have just bought a generator. We would have done things differently, we would have been prepared.
How prepared are we to meet the Lord and answer for how we have lived our lives? Much like the power outage, the day may come unexpectedly. One day we are going about our business of living our lives, and the next day we are answering for it. No take-backs, no do-overs….all the things you should have done (or shouldn’t have). Don’t wait until tomorrow to start living the life you know you should. Start today. Be prepared.