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<P><FONT size=4>A passage like this provides an opportunity for reflection on
centres of powerful influence in our local communities. What are these gods? We
need to name them. For some they will still be in families. Liberation will come
as they learn to say no to family authorities, whether in real life outside or
in the real life of the mind. Grace invites us to stand on our own two feet, to
say No, to grow up, to be born again. If you touch on this, be prepared to
ensure there is support for those who dare such a change. It can be lonely and
painful. </FONT></P>
<P><A href="http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/LkPentecost12.htm"><FONT
size=4>http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/LkPentecost12.htm</FONT></A></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>William Loader</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>So "why do you not know how to interpret the present
time?" The word for "time" denotes a "critical time," a "time that will
shape and form all future time," a "time that will govern the way you live and
think, for it holds within it, as it were, all time in its hand." He is
not urging them to watch the skies or natural phenomena or historic events in
general around them. He is pointing to himself!</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/predigt.php?id=414&kennung=20070819en">http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/predigt.php?id=414&kennung=20070819en</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Hubert Beck<BR>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT size=4>A recent book caught my attention. The title is <I>If It Ain't
Broken, Break It</I>, written by two corporate executives. What they do in this
book is to try to challenge the corporate leaders of our nation to think beyond
the typical traditional modes and attitudes to look at that which probably
should be broken and not remain.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>It is a challenge to us. What needs to be broken? What needs to
be changed? What needs to have a new perspective? Break it! It is a different
message.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4><></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>There's a French saying, <I>noblesse oblige</I>, which freely
translated means, "the more you have, the more you owe to others." Those of us
who have been blessed and enriched by so many advantages have a responsibility
now to those who have not - to reach out to those who have not.</FONT></P>
<P><A href="http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/white_3911.htm"><FONT
size=4>http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/white_3911.htm</FONT></A></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Woodie W. White, 1995 </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT size=4>Not just committed
to Christ. Some people only want to be committed to a personal, private
relationship with Jesus and avoid the church and Christ’s mission in the world.
Such people quietly think to themselves, “It is me and Jesus, having our little
prayer life together. Just the two of us. Reading the Bible and talking to
Jesus. We have our sweet little time together in the morning and the night.
That’s what devotion is, isn’t it? <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O
/><O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT size=4>Not just committed
to the church. Some people unconsciously minimize their personal relationship
with Jesus or minimize the mission of Christ in the world. Such people
<I>emphasize how important the church is to their personal existence</I>. Such
people often think to themselves, “I will come to the church and see all my
friends. I will see all my friends before and after worship, have a latte and go
out for breakfast with the gang.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>That’s what church is, isn’t it? To have your primary friends and social
patterns be through the church.” <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoBodyText><FONT size=4>To be a disciple of Christ is to be
committed not only to Christ and not only to the church but also committed to
the mission of the church as well. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_c_christ_brings_division.htm">http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_c_christ_brings_division.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Edward F. Markquart<BR>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#400000 size=4>The Gospel today continues the emphasis on
urgency in the message of Jesus. He is not praising family quarrels. Nor is he
advocating them. But he is saying that, however essential family ties may be, we
cannot permit them to interfere, in the really and truly important things in
life. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#400000 size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#400000 size=4><A
href="http://www.agreeley.com/hom01/aug19.htm">http://www.agreeley.com/hom01/aug19.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Andrew M. Greeley, 2001</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT size=4
face="Times New Roman">The August homilies continue to stress the urgency which
was one side of the coin of Jesus’ message – the other side being reassurance.
We must read the warnings in conjunction with the
reassurance.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.agreeley.com/hom07/aug19.htm">http://www.agreeley.com/hom07/aug19.htm</A></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Andrew M. Greeley, 2007</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
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