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size=4>forwarded:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: 'Perpetua Titling MT'; COLOR: red; FONT-SIZE: 36pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Sermon<?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: 'Perpetua Titling MT'; COLOR: red; FONT-SIZE: 28pt">Writer<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Resources
for Lectionary Preaching<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> <FONT
face=Arial>
</FONT></o:p><SPAN
style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-VARIANT: normal !important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Proper
7 <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><SPAN
style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-VARIANT: normal !important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Ordinary
Time 12<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H1>
<H1 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><SPAN
style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-VARIANT: normal !important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Year
C<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<H6 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><SPAN
style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; FONT-VARIANT: normal !important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">June
20, 2010</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></H6>
<P class=MsoNormal><A name=Preaching></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">A THOUGHT ON PREACHING:</SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></B>The preaching event is a
modeling of praise, an act of lyrical articulation that breaks the muteness and
shatters the deathly control in which our life is held. It is the task of the
preacher to permit such praise, to summon to such praise, and to legitimate it.
That task requires an enormous act of poetic imagination. (Walter Brueggemann 末
courtesy of Fr. Charles Hoffacker)<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: red"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: red"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: red"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A name=Title></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">TITLE:</SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></B>The Exorcist!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A name=Sentence></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">SERMON IN A SENTENCE:</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Christ delivers us from the evils that
threaten to destroy us.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A name=Scripture></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">SCRIPTURE:</SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> </B><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Luke 8:26-39</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LAYOUT-GRID-MODE: line"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LAYOUT-GRID-MODE: line"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A name=Exegesis></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red"></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A name=Sermon></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">SERMON illustration:</SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.lectionary.org/Secure3/2010-06-20,%20Proper%207C,%20Luke%208.26-39,%20SW.htm#Top"></A><o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The late 1960s were enormously successful years for Johnny
Cash.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He had many gold albums, was
hosting <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Johnny Cash Show</I> on
television, and was country music's most popular performer.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>But not everything was as it seemed.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Cash had been abusing drugs for years,
and they were having their deadly effect.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He wrecked cars, smashed footlights at the Grand Ole Opry, and was jailed
for drug possession.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His wife was
divorcing him.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His health was on
the brink.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>In 1967, Cash hit bottom.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One night, high on drugs and full of
despair, he drove to the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Nickajack</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Cave</st1:PlaceType> near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Chattanooga</st1:City></st1:place>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Nickajack</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Cave</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> is deep, wandering for miles
underground.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Cash walked inside,
flashlight in his hand.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He walked
deeper and deeper into the cave until his flashlight burned out.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Then he lay down to die.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But then, in Cash's own words: </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>"I felt something 末
</P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>that love, the warm
presence of God that I knew as a boy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>I understood that I
wasn't going to die, </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>there were still
things I had to do. </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>'But how can I?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I don't know how to get out of
here.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I got no light.'<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>Then the voice seemed
to answer back, 'Get up and go.'"</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Cash got up and started moving through the darkness.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At some point he smelled a bit of fresh
air, and he followed that to the cave's exit 末 and new life.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Cash's struggles with his demons were not over.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Drug relapses haunted him for
years.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He said: </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>"I've been in that
dark place.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>I fight the beast in
me every day.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>I've won a few rounds
with God's help.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>And that's what
matters most to me now 末 </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>feeling good about my
relationship with God."<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p><> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><A name=MoreSermons></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">FOR MORE SERMONS ON THIS TEXT, GO
TO:</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><A
href="http://www.lectionary.org/SermLinks/NT/NT03luke.htm">http://www.lectionary.org/SermLinks/NT/NT03luke.htm</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Scroll down to Luke 8.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are links to two sermons on this
text posted there.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><A name=Story></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">TRUE</SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; COLOR: red"> </SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">STORY:</SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">See the story of Johnny Cash and t</SPAN>he
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Nickajack</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Cave</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in the sermon
above.<SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><A name=Provokers></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">THOUGHT</SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; COLOR: red"> </SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">PROVOKERS:</SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.lectionary.org/Secure3/2010-06-20,%20Proper%207C,%20Luke%208.26-39,%20SW.htm#Top"></A></B></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>Today as never before
</P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>it is important that
human beings should not overlook </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>the danger of the
evil lurking within them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>It is unfortunately
only too real, </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>which is why
psychology must insist on the reality of evil </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>and must reject any
definition that regards it as insignificant or non-existent.</P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>Carl Gustav Jung,
Swiss psychiatrist</P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>Our culture does not
believe in wickedness 末 that is, in culpability.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>The "conviction of
sin" is hardly possible to us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>We believe not in sin
and forgiveness </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>but in illness and
recovery.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>It is the endless
message of our culture that everyone is basically good </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>and that most of our
problems will be solved when we realize this 末 </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>in other words, when
we build up our self-esteem.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>Brian Abel Ragen</P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA" lang=EN-CA><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>You probably know of Paul Tillich, the German-born American
theologian and author who died in 1965.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>And you probably know of Rollo May, psychologist and author.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>May tells about an incident that took place in Tillich's
classroom.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tillich said, "If there
is a devil, I do not know."<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
class responded with uproarious laughter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Rudolf Bultmann had demythologized the bible.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Nobody believed in the devil.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tillich's students could not believe
that one of the century's most brilliant theologians was taking the devil
seriously 末 leaving open the possibility of the devil's existence.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rollo May comments, "No doubt most of us
did not pause to recall that this speaker had just come from his experience with
Hitler."<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The amazing thing is that anyone who had "just come from his
experience with Hitler" could have any doubt that there is a devil.</P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA"
lang=EN-CA><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>If only there were
evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>and it were necessary
only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>But the line dividing
good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>And who is willing to
destroy a piece of his own heart?</P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>Alexander I.
Solzhenitsyn, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Gulag
Archipelago</I></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>It is tempting to
deny the existence of evil </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>since denying it
obviates the need to fight it.</P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Alexis Carrel</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA" lang=EN-CA><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA" lang=EN-CA><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">*<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>*<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
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<P style="tab-stops: .25in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">HYMN</SPAN><B><SPAN style="COLOR: red">
</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: red">STORY:</SPAN><B><SPAN
style="COLOR: red"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></B>At
the Name of Jesus (Based on Philippians 2:5-11)</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Caroline Noel, the daughter of an Anglican clergyman, was
born in London in 1817.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Early in
life, she discovered her talent for poetry, and by age twenty had written
several hymns.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Then she pursued
other interests and wrote nothing for twenty years.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At age thirty-five, however, she
became an invalid 末 whether through illness or accident I do not know.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Five years later, she once again picked
up her pen with a view toward writing hymns that would comfort people in her
circumstances.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She named a
collection of her works <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Name of Jesus
and Other Poems for the Sick and Lonely</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was in that collection that she
published this hymn, "At the Name of Jesus."</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">This hymn, however, is not what we
would expect in a collection aimed at comforting the sick and lonely.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is, instead, a hymn about Jesus 末
how God glorified Jesus 末 how we should glorify Jesus 末 how Jesus bore his
suffering on the cross so that he might rise victorious over
death.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">However, properly understood, the
last verse is comforting, because it promises strength to those who place Jesus
on the throne of their hearts 末 who let him subdue all that is unworthy within
them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It calls us to "Crown him as
(our) captain in temptation's hour," and to "Let His will enfold (us) in its
light and power." <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">While this verse doesn't mention
suffering, it does reflect Caroline Noel's understanding that all people 末 even
the sick or lonely 末 can find strength by making Jesus captain of their lives
末 by wrapping themselves in Jesus' will so that they might experience his light
and power.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">You might or might not be sick or
lonely.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You can be sure, however,
that you will at some point experience troubled times 末 times when you need
God's help 末 God's strength.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When
that happens, come back and read once again the words of this hymn 末 especially
the last verse.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It will tell you
how to become strong so that you might move through the troubled times to the
light that lies beyond.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">NOTE:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>See other hymn stories at <A
href="http://www.lectionary.org/hymnstories.htm">http://www.lectionary.org/hymnstories.htm</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><A
href="http://www.sermonwriter.com/">www.sermonwriter.com</A></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><A
href="http://www.lectionary.org/">www.lectionary.org</A></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal
align=center><o:p>Dick Donovan </o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal
align=center><o:p></o:p></P><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>