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<DIV><FONT size=4> He was the most unlikely person to be
elected class captain. He never said a word and could hardly ever look you in
the face. But then, we were teenage high school students, out of control and in
total rebellion mode. Why support the system by electing the typical
self-confident "leader of man". We wanted someone who would never push us
around.<BR> Self-esteem is a quality difficult to measure.
With it we are self-controlled, self-contained, self-assured.... without it,
well! There are many elements that can contribute to a sense of low self-esteem.
Our family background can damage us, or the school playground can destroy us.
With our self-worth eroded, we then lose confidence and are inevitably
immobilized.<BR> Religion too can be a destructive element
in our lives. If we believe that our worth in the sight of God is somehow
related to religious performance, we soon become worthless, because our
performance is always second rate. We are then forced to hide our worthlessness
with a created self-worth - a self-righteous pharisaism.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/sunday22cg.html">http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/sunday22cg.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Bryan Findlayson</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=4><FONT
size=2><FONT size=2>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>In a world that has grown frighteningly guarded and
harsh, Christian</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>congregations are called to imitate the “table
manners” of Jesus by being</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>sacraments of God’s hospitality in the world.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=2>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>Christian congregations are not immune to these
forms of barrier</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>building. “Christians tend to break bread within
socioeconomic</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>monocultures, homogenized enclaves where nearly
everyone is of</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>the same color and tax bracket,” Patrick McCormick
has written.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>Some churches rally around political agendas of the
left or right,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>and pitch their programs to an ideologically chosen
few. Their</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>evangelism looks suspiciously like brand
advertising.</FONT></DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/53394.pdf"><FONT
size=4>http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/53394.pdf</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Robert B. Kruschwitz</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - -
-</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=4
face="Times New Roman">There is always a tendency to feel that it is enough to
look after one’s own - and that is no bad thing - but excessive exclusivity is
dangerous. It becomes self-seeking and proud and ignores the rightful calls to
care for those whom we have chosen to exclude. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/weekly_wellsprings/year_c/sunday_22.htm">http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/weekly_wellsprings/year_c/sunday_22.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>We need to start by 'recapturing' the humility principle Jesus
enunciates so clearly here. Our world is more & more ego-driven. Once,
mainly the high & mighty were so driven. Now any of us can be, & are
encouraged to be by forces all round us.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/laterallyluke/LLK14114PENT13.html">http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/laterallyluke/LLK14114PENT13.html</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Brian McGowan</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>...not only must higher class people temporarily accept lower
status for themselves, they should also pay to extend higher class privileges to
the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind - knowing full well that they
will never receive reciprocal treatment in this lifetime!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.holytextures.com/2010/08/luke-14-1-7-14-year-c-pentecost-august-28-september-3-proper-17-ordinary-time-22-sermon.html">http://www.holytextures.com/2010/08/luke-14-1-7-14-year-c-pentecost-august-28-september-3-proper-17-ordinary-time-22-sermon.html</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>David Ewart, </FONT><A
href="http://www.holytextures.com"><FONT
size=4>www.holytextures.com</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The other guests seem to be taking their places, but Jesus
stands apart watching them, then shaking his head he says, “See that is the
problem with you people, choosing the best spots.” Paraphrasing Proverbs 25:6-7,
he says, “Don’t you know you are going to humiliate your selves? I’ll tell you
what to do. Take the worst spots, then the host asks you to move up, and
bingo—everyone there will honor you!” Again the others say nothing. What
are they thinking?
<P>After he is done insulting the guests he turns on the host. “And you know
what your problem is? You invite people just so you will be honored, paid
back. What are you thinking inviting your friends and relatives to eat with
you, you should invite the poor, the crippled, and people that can never pay you
back. Do that and you’ll get paid back — when you die!” The host says
nothing. What is he thinking?</P>
<P><STRONG>How not to humiliate yourself.</STRONG></P>
<P>What is the point of all this? The first part is about hypocritical
adherence to the law; the second part is some helpful advice on how not to
humiliate yourself at a dinner party, and how to instead bring honor to
yourself; and the third part is about how you should never bring honor to
yourself. Instead bring shame on your self by inviting unclean
guests. </P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://thehardestquestion.org/yearc/ordinary22gospel/">http://thehardestquestion.org/yearc/ordinary22gospel/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Russell Rathbun, 2010</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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