Download audio file (20090823.mp3)

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Study Resources:

ELCA

ELCA Vote

Acts 10, 11

As you may know, I’ve been working on a book on Grace for almost a year now and I need your help. For those of you who have listened to me preach, it will come as no surprise to learn that the book centers on Paul and Galatians, in particular the transformative role that Grace can have on our lives, faith, ideas, and relationships. It isn’t an autobiography (I already did that) and I don’t want to rely only on my own experiences. That’s why I need your help.

I’m looking for your stories that show Grace in action: not just opinions, but actual stories with a beginning, middle, and end. What’s the one event/idea/encounter that changed everything for you or someone you know? Have you seen someone challenged or redeemed by Grace (maybe yourself)? Has it turned their life around? How? What, specifically, did it?

Or maybe the opposite has happened. Has Law or judgement thrown up roadblocks in your relationship with God? Has someone you know been driven from a church – or even from their faith in God – by the judgement and closemindedness of others?

My intention is to use these stories to illustrate aspects of the book and bring the ideas to life. We won’t take the stories verbatim; we’ll edit them to fit into the larger storyline. But we’ll credit you if you want. Or, if you prefer, we can keep your name out of print.

A few pointers on how to to get the best stories:
- give us a feel for the characters: who are they, what do they look like, talk like, etc.?
- where and when did it take place? Include details about the particular place (a specific neighborhood or shop or club). How old were the people in the story? When did the events happen?
- Give us as much rich detail as possible… we’re happy to edit it down. The more you can tell us, the more powerful the story can be.

Please send your stories to jaygracebook@gmail.com with the subject line: “story for the book”. Include the line “I hereby give you permission to use this story in your forthcoming book on grace” in the body of the email so we’re sure we have permission. And please send them by September 1st so we’re sure we have time to incorporate them into the book.

Thanks so much. I look forward to reading your stories and sharing the book with you.

In Grace,
Jay

Download audio file (20090614.mp3)

Study Resources:

The Fidelity of Betrayal by Peter Rollins

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon

Mark 14:10, 14:41

Acts 1:15

John 6:70

Matt. 26:38

Mark 14:3

Matt. 26:24

Download audio file (20090607.mp3)

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The Sacredness of Questioning Everything by David Dark

David Dark on Twitter

[audio http://www.revolutionnyc.com/audio/20090510.mp3]

Study Resources:

CNN Torture Survey

Galatians 1:6-9

Galatians 2:19-21

“With God On Our Side” by Bob Dylan

[audio http://www.RevolutionNYC.com/audio/20090503.mp3]

Study Resources:

Genesis 1:2-4

Psalm 24:1-2

2 Corinthians 12:9

Psalm 46:10

Isaiah 66:1

John 3:16

Luke 10:25-37

James 4:17

Serve God, Save the Planet by J. Matthew Sleeth

The Green Bible

http://www.energystar.gov

http://www.eco-justice.org

http://www.theregenerationproject.org

http://www.healthyfamiliesnow.org

http://www.restoringeden.org

http://www.webofcreation.org

http://www.nyfaithjustice.org

http://conedisonsolutions.com/residential_green_power.html

Greetings from Revolution Church NYC!

It’s a rainy day here in the Brooklyn. Nothing new. It’s been a cold and rainy April.  I’m looking out my window to the dark and dreary skies. Right outside my front door is a newly planted tree, struggling to live through it’s first tumultuous spring. You can see only the tips of the buds, pushing through, yearning to reveal their splendor to our little neighborhood.

To me, this tree represents the Easter moment that we find ourselves in. I love Easter. Always have. And we did Easter up here at Revolution. We had a choir, and Easter lilies. We partook of the sacrament, opened to all. It was such a joyous celebration of life.

Then came Monday. As I mentioned in last weeks sermon, Monday brings the Easter hangover. In Easter Sunday lies the promise that life wins, and life abundantly. Come Monday we realize that though the promise is real, the struggle continues.

Just like that tree on my street, we the children of God, struggle to reveal our essence. We struggle to announce our unique beauty to the world. We push and grow attempting to fulfill God’s purpose in us. Along the way, we doubt if it will ever happen. Will the Kingdom come?

To me, this struggle is the Kingdom of God.

I have seen it first hand here in Brooklyn and with the online congregation. We are a community that shares our struggles to one another, and in that sharing, God is truly present.

Thank you for sharing your struggle with us. Your stories inspire us. We hope that ours inspire you.

Yours in the Easter moment,

Vince Anderson

Assistant Pastor, Revolution Church NYC

[audio http://www.RevolutionNYC.com/audio/20090419.mp3]

Study Resources:

Fidelity of Betrayal by Peter Rollins

1 Corinthians 15:12-20, 9:1-2

Galatians 1:15-16

Acts 9, Acts 22

Jesus by Marcus Borg

How (Not) To Speak of God by Peter Rollins

Wishful Thinking by Frederick Buechner

John 20:19-29

Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg