Reconstructing Faith

In case you've been wondering where my messages have been this past month, wonder no longer.  We did things a little differently at Vision in May.  Rather than create my sermons from a manuscript, I worked with a freer format, sometimes interactive conversations, sometimes an outline.  As such, there is no text of these messages, just our regular podcast.  You can listen to them on Vision's sermon page or subscribe to the podcast.

Here's a preview of the podcasts:

In Ruins

Have you ever had an experience of losing your faith?  Were you ever sure about something, only to have it crumble and lay in ruins?  Have you looked around at the pieces of your faith with no idea how to put it back together again?  We enter the story of Nehemiah and discover how God invites us into the experience of reconstruction.

Critical Reconstruction

When we respond to God’s call in our lives, when reconstruct our faith, we will encounter criticism.  In fact, the closer we get to where God wants us to be, the more  resistance we will encounter.  We explore how to overcome criticism and resistance in the midst of reconstruction.

Ambidextrous Faith

Nehemiah tells the story of the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem.  He says the people worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.  Some of us are comfortable building our faith, always questioning and exploring.  Some of us are more comfortable defending our faith.  God calls us to do both – at the same time.

Pure Danger

The Bible tells the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.  Afterwards, the people purified their religion and relationships.  But is building a wall always a good idea?  Sometimes, nothing is as dangerous as purified faith.

 

Comments

[Lisa]

OK you didnt repond to my eccentric comment about time so here is the bear story.Remember these people were in their 80's when this happened. Mom volunteered to be the church treasurer (i suppose because she was a retired accountant and always volunteers for stuff) so she went to a meeting at the church and Dad stayed home. She drove home after the meeting. It was dusk and as she made the turn into the driveway cathes sight of my father standing on the deck with a shotgun. She was perplexed to say the least. As she gently rolls down the gravel towards the house he starts waving the gun and shouting something. She rolls down the window and he is yelling at her to "STAY IN THE CAR' and "DON"T COME ANY CLOSER". Now after 60 years of marriage my mother, filled with faith and trust, can only think "oh my god he finally lost it and he is going to shoot me". Typical of most of the reactions I remember my mother having to a fearful thought; she opens the door to jump out of the car and confront the crazy old coot. At this point she can hear him a clearly and he is saying "get back in the car there is a bear in the trash cans" (which by the way are right next to the front fender) and by golly there is. So she gets back in the car shuts the door and rolls up the window. He fires a few rounds into the air and the bear lumbers off into the woods (probably because the trash was non-productive more than the gun). After a few minutes he waves her in and she gets out and scoots into the house. Of course her only comment to him is "geez Penny what if that thing didn't scare him off and he came after you"

[Don Heatley]

Hi Lisa,
Thanks for the info about leap seconds and the bear story. Sounds like your parents had some interesting adventures!
Don

[Lisa]

my parents were they best. I had an Idyllic childhood. Fathers day and I miss my father deeply everyday even after 6 years. Mom was sick with an infedtion recently and I was afraid I would lose her too then I would be an orphan.