More Than Hearing

Hey everyone! We know that many of you are adapting your worship services to online formats and we have some tips for how to move Multiple Intelligence Theory online! We are working from the Zoom platform; you may be using something different with other tools. That’s okay. We’re pretty sure what we suggest in this video will translate to other applications. Worship is a living experience, so don’t fret if you are having difficulties or receiving feedback that is mostly “Why do we have to do it THIS way?” or “I wish we could meet at the church.” We do not worship the way our ancient Hebrew ancestors worshipped, and we don’t worship the way the first Christians worshipped. We don’t even worship the way our grandparents worshipped for the most part. We are rapidly evolving into this new world where the Ancient foundation of God’s love shapes our new walls. So this week’s episode is an adventure, because it is both audio and VIDEO! If you subscribe to our regular feed, you’ll get the audio from the video automatically, or you can download it here or in the usual places. But if you want the full treatment, you’ll want to click on the video on this page! You’ll get to see us at work with some general examples of special effects, plus you can see our swank MTH logo t-shirts! Our first video episode! The sound quality is lousy, because we recorded through Zoom. We truly hope this helps as you make your way in the new world. Please be in contact if you have any questions!

Hey everyone! We’ve been swamped this week. A lot of new ways of doing ministry has kept us away from producing a show. We are re-posting our episode from three years ago for these texts. You can see our show notes and download our worksheets at this link. Our intention in the next week is to post a video with some suggestions for presenting illustrations and special effects for online worshipping. When we started this podcast five years ago, we never dreamed we would need to distance ourselves from hands on worship. This is a new world, and I suspect that online worship will truly go mainstream even after we can gather again safely. We pray you all are well, and that this time, while unnerving, will provide you with new and creative ways to be the Body of Christ. Keep the faith, pray for everyone on the frontlines, pray for those suffering through the disease and grief of lost loved ones, and know you are mightily loved. Grace and peace,Molly and David

Hey all! We suspect you are listening to this podcast being careful to keep a social distance from others. The spread of COVID-19 has caught many of us unprepared and is stressing our resources and sense of security. Introverts the world over may be happy to stay away from people while extroverts are itching to get back out to their people as soon as possible. In this episode, David and I spend a little time talking about what this means for worshipping communities in the weeks ahead and offer a prayer I found online. Technology can be a wonderful thing! We pray you are well and are finding this unexpected fast from everything this Lent to be a time for reflection and re-ordering priorities. May your lives be blessed. Three years ago, we titled the podcast for this episode Seeing is Believing. Samuel saw one thing when he saw Jesse’s sons but maybe didn’t believe he had heard God right when each one was rejected as king. We explored the way humans respond to physical stature when looking for a leader. Paul tells the Ephesians that they’ve received light through Jesus, so go live like it. We found a lot of poetry in the passage! In John, we have another long narrative that we transformed into a Reader’s Theater. Which we mentioned again in this podcast, so go have a look at the script already written! By the way, as we did last week, we recorded this “live,” as we call it. That means we are coming up with ideas while we are recording without as much preparation. It makes it a lively exercise, although it’s a little more chaotic. What do you think – Are we as creative and clever when we go live? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page. John 9:1-41 – [06:47] John 9:1-41 – worksheetDownload This passage is one long drama – full of PEOPLE smart elements! We wrote a Reader’s Theatre script three years ago, so download it and see if you can get it to work for you. I ran across a fascinating essay by Barbara Brown Taylor (linked below) about a man’s experience with his own inner light after he lost his sight as a child. Is is possible we all have this? Jesus uses mud and saliva to heal the blind man’s vision which we talked about three years ago, as well. Is it possible there were some healing properties in each? Jesus tells the man that he is the light of the world before he applies this mixture. In this passage, the man knows he has received this light and his sight, but others are still in the dark about the whole thing. They can’t see the light, so does it exist? Break out some fluorescent markers and a black light (see Ephesians below) and explore what we can, can’t, and won’t see. BODY smart – commentary by Barbara Brown Taylor Ephesians 5:8-14 – [19:42] Ephesians 5:8-14 – worksheetDownload Paul spends most of these verses talking about light; it made me wonder if the author of John’s gospel – who uses light and dark throughout – had read any of Paul’s letters! In the podcast, we spent a lot of time talking about light and its forms. Paul’s light is spiritual and metaphorical but what about light in the spectrum? Light we cannot see because we don’t have those receptors in our retinas? Fortunately, we can see Jesus’ light when our eyes are transformed to receive it. Try the SELF smart recommendation for training your own eyes to see beyond sight as you live your daily life in light of the resurrection. EYE smart – ultra violet light and fluorescenceMATH smart – what is ultraviolet light?MUSIC smart Sleeper’s Awake, J.S.BachI Want to Walk as a Child of the LightNATURE smart – explore bioluminescence! Psalm 23 – [26:06] Psalm 23 – worksheetDownload This psalm doesn’t explicitly mention light, but it holds within it an assurance that is a lot like a nightlight in a child’s room. The presence of light (the shepherd) allows a frightened kid to relax and get some much needed rest (calm waters and green pastures). David talks about his own experience with this psalm the night his mother died. We offer an essay by Craig Barnes where he discusses his aggravation at being equated to an animal like a sheep – he’d rather be an eagle or a tiger! What did this psalm sound like to those listening to it in Hebrew? This psalm is most often heard at funerals which makes sense because of the comforting nature of the images. But it has a lot to say to us living NOW about the presence of God. Spend some time giving your people a chance to dwell in the images (SELF and EYE smart). WORD smart – reading this Psalm in the original HebrewMUSIC smart – a presentation of Psalm 23NATURE smart – a commentary by Craig Barnes at The Christian Century 1 Samuel 16:1-13 – [37:06] 1 Samuel 16:1-13 – worksheetDownload I think this is the passage where ultra violet light makes the closest connection. Samuel is still grieving over Saul and possibly his own role in the king’s downfall. He cannot see much beyond this disaster. God comes to him and tells him to move on; it’s time for action. Samuel agrees to God’s plan but has misgivings about how it will be received. God gives him some cover and Samuel goes off to Bethlehem. When he arrives, the plan goes into motion and Samuel looks at each of Jesse’s strong sons and hears God say, “Nope”. By the time we get through all seven (MATH smart) of them, we figure out that God is seeing something Samuel is not. Is it possible that David, the youngest and seemingly least likely of Jesse’s sons to be selected for anything, emits some kind of light not visible to Samuel’s eyes? Is it possible he cannot see it because he is stuck on past errors and paradigms? Is it possible that we are as well? May we learn in the days and weeks to come to see God’s light giving guidance through the valley of the shadow of death and to fear no evil, working toward the day when everything becomes visible in the Light of Christ. WORD/MUSIC smart – a poem written from Eliab’s perspective PEOPLE smart – an essay by Scot McKnight at The Christian Century Image credit : melpomen at 123rf.com. Used by permission

Hey, everyone! Welcome to the show! We have found ourselves a little pressed for time – again – and have decided to record the show live this week. That does not mean that you are hearing us as we record; it means, we did not spend a lot of time preparing each passage prior to turning on the microphones. Instead, we looked them over a bit and then, trusting the movement of the Holy Spirit, came up with ideas off the top of our heads. So, the show is “live” in that we are recording without the safety net of our usual work. You may not be able to tell in the recording, but the worksheets will tell a different story! Our episode three years ago was Drinks on the House. We took a close look at clean water initiatives in both the John and Exodus passages. In Exodus, we had an idea how to make a “water spouting rock” for your worship space. For Romans, we suggested building Paul’s rhetorical chain in verses 3 – 5 using emojis! And in John, we have some unlikely characters showing up in “enemy” territory claiming to be the Anointed One. We had a lot of material to work with, so combine it with today’s show and you have a smorgasbord to choose from! Bon appétit! Exodus 17:1-7 – [01:58] Exodus 17:1-7 – worksheetDownload I often marvel at the task Moses was given. Not only did he have to risk returning to a land he had exited hastily and for his own safety, he confronted the most powerful man in the world with an audacious demand for freedom. Then, after overseeing some eye popping supernatural events, he led LOTS of people out into the wilderness where they almost immediately began grousing about his leadership. I think what I marvel about the most is that he didn’t just turn around and take them all right back to Egypt like they asked him to do. His question to God, “What shall I do with this people?” is one I’m certain most pastors have asked a time or two. God answers, “Give them something to drink. Here; I’ll show you how.” WORD –America’s Second Great AwakeningThe wilderness of SinMassah – from the root nasah which means to test or tryMeribah – from the root word rib, to strive or contendEYE –Rephidim – a possible site for the oasisMATH –The number of people Moses led from Egypt is counted in the hundreds of thousands. That’s a lot of people.BODY – Check the video we included for Psalm 121 in last week’s episodeMUSIC – The relationship between Moses and the people is like a country song or a blues song.NATURE – How did water come out of a rock? Listen to this story from Public Radio International, or PRI.NASA’s plans to find water on the moon and Mars.PEOPLE – The existential question of WHY – here are some modern examples. Psalm 95 – [12:43] Psalm 95 – worksheetDownload We did not use the Psalm three years ago, so all the illustrations and special effects are fresh and new! The Psalm can be adapted for a call to worship or an affirmation of discipleship using WORD smart. People are called to process into the sanctuary, so give that a try if you don’t already do that in some fashion. Get everyone to come in together as an EYE smart/BODY smart special effect. God reminds the people that their ancestors put Him to the test and asked for proof – so use some mathematical or legal terms to illustrate that for MATH smart. Try physically kneeling and bowing before the Lord for BODY smart. We have a lovely worship song for a MUSIC smart illustration. We are called the Lord’s flock, so bring in someone who knows something about sheep for NATURE smart. We have a couple questions for PEOPLE and SELF smart illustrations and a clip from The Daily Audio Bible for a special effect. WORD – EYE – MATH – Geometry proofsFour Types of Evidence used in court cases in the United StatesBODY – MUSIC – Come, Worship the Lord John Michael TalbotNATURE – PEOPLE – SELF – February 26, 2020 Daily Audio Bible – listen especially at the 23 minute mark Romans 5:1-11 – [21:44] Romans 5:1-11 – worksheetDownload Paul connects suffering to hope in verses 3-5, which made me wonder what literary characters might have made that journey. I have a few ideas listed below in WORD smart. David had a great idea for an EYE smart special effect using a cut out heart and red food coloring. Kairos makes an appearance in verse six, which made me think about following a formula in MATH smart: which step needs to be taken when can be pretty important. Looking at verses 3 -5 again, ask how would each of those states of being be expressed physically for BODY smart? I thought the phrase at the end of verse seven – “dare to die” – sounded like a title for a song or a poem for MUSIC smart (although David thinks it’s more an action movie!). Paul affirms God’s grace is unstoppable, and that made us think to use kudzu as a NATURE smart illustration. Reconciliation is a major theme in these verses, so for PEOPLE smart, talk about the work South Africans did once apartheid ended. WORD – Dune – Frank HerbertGone with the Wind– Margaret Mitchell Star Wars– George LucasEYE – MATH – A cake “formula” – or, baking from scratchBODY – MUSIC – There are a lot of hymns out there that use this imagery if not this language.NATURE – God’s grace = kudzu! PEOPLE – Truth and Reconciliation Commission John 4:5-42 – [30:29] John 4:5-42 – worksheetDownload If ever there was a Scripture passage that has been colored by our own perspectives, this one is it. In WORD smart, we have some commentary and questions about how John uses the woman’s marital status as a stand-in for the Samaritans’ history. This interpretation cuts through a lot of layers that have smeared her morality. For EYE smart, we wonder where is the place to worship God? What in our worship spaces draws our EYE to Jesus as the Living Water? This woman is not afraid to ask questions, which is one of the hallmarks of scientific inquiry. We have a link for that in MATH smart. As in the Exodus passage, BODY smart links to physical thirst, so have some water available. For MUSIC smart special effect, play a chime or a chord every time a question is asked. Progress up a scale until you get to the affirmation of faith at the end. For NATURE smart, talk about how water springs up in dry places and even set up a fountain in your worship space. In PEOPLE smart, there are some interesting comparisons between the woman and Nicodemus, and for SELF smart, consider the sacredness of your worship space. WORD – Written That You May Believe by Sandra Schneiders wherein she argues that the Samaritan woman’s five husbands may have been the five nations that the king of Assyria dropped into the land after Israel was destroyed. 2 Kings 17:24. The current “husband” is Rome. EYE – MATH – Scientific inquiry made simple!BODY – MUSIC – NATURE – A Wiki article about dowsing rodsPEOPLE – SELF – Photo is free to use from Pixaby.

Hey all! Welcome! This picture reminds me of a story David tells about our daughter when she was about three. He was packing up to go on a trip – his bag was on the bed, and he was selecting clothing to put into it. Meredith was on the bed, and when David turned to the dresser to pull out some clothes, he heard her say, “Daddy! Catch!” He turned to see her in the air coming toward him. She had committed herself to an irretrievable act of vulnerability, and David had a choice. Of course, he dropped his clothes and caught his daughter and fulfilled her trust in him. May we all be able to trust God with the same type of abandon this Lent. For the episode three years ago, we suggested mapping out the distance Abram travelled as a BODY and EYE smart illustration in Genesis. A misheard Elton John lyric shows up for a WORD smart illustration in Romans (and still makes me laugh). And for John, we have a MUSIC smart illustration about Mozart and music theory. Have fun finding what works for you and your congregation! Genesis 12:1-4a – [01:58] Genesis 12.1-4a worksheetDownload If you are a word nerd like me, you will notice some repetition in this passage. Writers are often told NOT to repeat words, but sometimes there are good reasons for it, which we explore in WORD smart. For EYE smart, have some fun giving directions for “how to get there”! We use a viral video and an old shampoo add to illustrate how Abram’s blessing became a blessing in MATH smart. Did Abram need to leave his father’s home for this to happen? We explore that possibility in NATURE smart. Abram was enticed to trust God and go; illustrate that enticement with toddlers and cookies in PEOPLE smart. And for SELF smart, the commentary linked below uses two movies to illustrate the journey one person makes that extends beyond their own lives to those around them. For homework, ask your people to practice trusting the way Abram did every time they leave their own homes. WORD – [04:05]Here is an article about the use of repetition in rhetoric.EYE – [05:22]MATH – [06:23] Here is a slightly dated article about the math of going viral.NATURE – [07:18]A video clip about male cubs leaving their fathers. Or is that being chased away?PEOPLE – [08:05]SELF – [09:30]commentary by Micheal Jackson, A Plain Account Psalm 121 – [11:02] Psalm 121 worksheetDownload Psalm 121 is the second of the Songs of Ascent; worship liturgies used by pilgrims going to Jerusalem and the Temple. The commentary linked below in EYE smart “walks” us there in pilgrim’s shoes. The protection of the Lord can be illustrated in EYE smart with solar shades, in MATH smart with solar shields, and in BODY smart with well placed offensive lines and goalkeepers. Since this psalm is liturgical, use some call and response chants that people might know as a MUSIC smart illustration. Hills and geography can grab the attention of NATURE smart people. Overall, this psalm declares in vivid images that the congregation has good reasons to trust in the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. EYE – [11:54]commentary by Kelvin St. John, A Plain Account“Solar shades” help block sunlightMATH – [13:04]space craft like Skylab orbiting laboratory and the James Webb Space Telescope use solar shields to protect equipmentBODY – [14:56]The Lord’s support is like the offensive line for a football team protecting the quarterback or kicker. Or like a goalkeeper.MUSIC – [17:16]NATURE – [19:18] Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 – [20:39] Romans 4.1-5, 13-17 worksheetDownload We have two illustrations for MATH smart; one is based on Eugene Peterson’s commentary (linked below), and the other is a flow chart that you will find at the bottom of the worksheet (linked above). Peterson’s work also gave us an idea for a BODY smart illustration and special effect. We have a lot of MUSIC based on this passage and in SELF smart, ask some questions about how we receive the gift of grace. Paul insists grace is a gift – one that we can trust because we can trust the Giver. MATH – [22:18]Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of verse 14BODY – [24:40]Remember those old Charles Atlas advertisements?MUSIC – [26:55]My Life Flows on in Endless Song (or How Can I Keep from Singing?)The God of Abraham PraiseNot What These Hands Have DoneSizo Bambelela (Never Give Up)SELF – [28:13]commentary by Imir Gashi, A Plain Account John 3:1-17 – [29:31] John 3.1-17 worksheetDownload This passage is famous for verse sixteen, but there is so much more to it than that. In this conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus, we see words going in all different directions, searching for meaning and a place to land. Jesus is on one level of the communication parking garage and Nicodemus is on another. We have some illustrations about this miscommunication in WORD smart. Bumper Sticker Theology may demonstrate the difficulty of deep meaning being crammed into a pithy saying – remember the joke linked below? You might try demonstrating Nicodemus’ reaction using some MATH smart special effects – remember word problems in algebra? And speaking of verse sixteen, we have a link to a story about the guy who became infamous at football games for wearing a rainbow wig and holding up the John 3:16 sign for PEOPLE smart. In John’s Gospel, while Nicodemus may have been perplexed by Jesus’ words that night, they planted a seed. By the time Jesus is being lowered from the cross at the end, Nicodemus is there in broad daylight, offering burial spices for a man he had come to trust. WORD – [30:11]commentary by Rhonda Crutcher at A Plain AccountWhat happens when we take metaphors literally? Here’s a video that’s kind of lame but a fair attempt.Remember Amelia Bedelia? Here’s a video of someone reading the first book.Language barriers can complicate meanings; here is a list of international idioms that get lost in translation.EYE – [33:11]Bumper Sticker Theology makes an appearance in this classic joke about seeing a fish sticker on a car.MATH – [34:19]Read or display some classic algebra word problems. Here are some more.PEOPLE – [35:39]Nicodemus and the Rainbow Wig John 3:16 guy. Image credit: Photo by lauren lulu taylor on Unsplash. Used with permission.

Greetings everyone! We attempt to find pictures that address the theme of each podcast and some weeks it is a lot easier than others. This time, it was like falling out of a tree, just like a well ripened fruit. The Gospel reading and the Genesis reading are about temptation. (Paul makes a connection between the events in his letter to the Romans.) Traditional art and mythos has identified the apple as the fruit given and received in the Garden, but apples likely didn’t grow in the Middle East. I looked up what might have been The Fruit and read it may have been a pomegranate. Scripture does not say what fruit it was; only that it was good for food and pleasing to the eye. Plus, it would have the added benefit of making one “like God”. Being identified with God causes the first humans to take on what is not theirs. Being God allows Jesus to withstand using his identity in abusive ways. Because we were running short on time, we left Psalm 32 on the shelf. However, we do have these hymns Blest is the Man, Forever Blest (Psalm 32, Part 1) While I Keep Silence and Conceal (Psalm 32, Part 2), and You Are My Hiding Place to offer! Plus, we covered these passages three years ago in our show “The Sin that Ate Cincinnati”. We slay us. Matthew 4:1-11 – [01:58] Matthew 4:1-11 worksheetDownload We begin in EYE smart with some memes about being tested and move on to MATH smart where Jesus’ temptation to turn stones to bread called to mind the transubstantiation doctrine of the bread turning into his body. Jesus’ body falling from a pinnacle got David to thinking about crowd surfing, so we have some images to illustrate that in BODY smart. MUSIC smart contains poetry, so David began a poem about this passage which you can find at the bottom of the worksheet. Click the download button! And for SELF smart, we had some fun remembering an advertising campaign for Klondike Bars, not a sponsor of this show. EYE smart – [04:49]Don’t test me – ProfessorDon’t test me – Dolores UmbrageDon’t test me – BabyDon’t test me – Grumpy CatMATH smart – [06:21]BODY smart – [07:06]Crowd surfing (video)Various crowd surfing imagesMUSIC smart – [08:38]SELF smart – [09:14]12 Things I Would Do for a Klondike Barcommercials: One, two, three, fourupdate with Anna Faris (That’s a real lawyer, by the way…) Romans 5:12-19 – [10:06] Romans 5:12-19 worksheetDownload Paul is establishing a stark contrast between life with and without Christ in this letter. In these verses, he is making the case that while Adam brought sin and death into the world, Jesus’ death and resurrection has overcome it. We begin with an EYE smart illustration that we’ve used before; the Upside Down from Stranger Things. If you would prefer not to go there, think about using a map to display how sin, like a virus, spreads everywhere. For MATH smart, David suggests using wave interference to illustrate how Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection obliterate the effects of Adam’s disobedience. We have some MUSIC listed below and an article about matter and anti-matter for NATURE smart that illustrates Jesus’ obedience dominating Adam’s disobedience. Finally, break into discussion groups for PEOPLE smart and discuss how a “win at all costs” mentality has enslaved us. EYE – [11:36]Commentary by Ryan Hansen, A Plain AccountMATH – [13:45]an article about wave interferenceMUSIC – [13:27]Give Me JesusO Fountain of Unceasing GraceJesus Lover of My SoulO Lord, You’re Beautiful and by The InsyderzNATURE – [17:14]For reasons that we do not fully understand, slightly more ordinary particles endured that early epoch so that virtually all the matter in our observable universe is ordinary.PEOPLE – [21:13]commentary by Bill Loader Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 – [23:22] Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 worksheetDownload We begin with WORD smart and talk about how the serpent uses God’s words – but twists them just enough to arouse the woman’s suspicions and curiosity. We have a special effect that demonstrates this weaponizing of words. Once the couple eat the fruit, their eyes are opened – which made me think of an hysterical scene in the TV show Friends for EYE smart. You could incorporate some SELF smart elements for the special effect. The Garden was full of food, so for BODY smart, offer a table of good things to eat! NATURE smart has some information about the fig leaf the couple used to cover themselves. In PEOPLE smart, give folks the assignment to “tempt” someone and see how that turns out. And for SELF smart, think about times when someone has convinced you to step off the path. WORD – [24:45]EYE – [26:18]My EYESBODY – [28:02]NATURE – [29:05]Here is a good description of the leaf of the common edible fig.PEOPLE – [30:33]SELF – [31:54] Image credit: Photo by amin imanifar from Pexels. Used by permission.

Hey Everyone!! We are deep in the throes of planning a youth retreat and got caught up in all the preparations. We had intended to post a link to our episode from three years ago earlier this week and entirely forgot. [Now we’ve got it attached, though!] We do not have a show this week and likely won’t have one for next week, either. So click HERE for Year A, Ordinary Time 6, 2017 and click HERE for Year A, Transfiguration, 2017. We’ll be back with fresh illustrations and special effects for the first Sunday in Lent!

Hi everyone! Welcome to More Than Hearing – at the beach! We’re at the beach for an annual retreat sponsored by our presbytery. You will notice the difference in two ways; we do not have as much material for illustrations and special effects, and the sound quality is going to be different than usual. My computer was having serious disagreements with the recording equipment, too. It will sound a little “off.” However, we did find some ways to illustrate and demonstrate a few things for these passages. When we looked at this passage three years ago, we suggested finding a shofar for the Isaiah passage and using inert toys. For Corinthians, try integral calculus or C++ coding! And for Matthew, we found some laws still on the books in various states and think Martha Stewart is a good judge of what is simply elegant. Go take a look! Matthew 5:13-20 [01:58] Matthew 5:13-20 worksheetDownload We start out with BODY smart and think about what it means to fill out clothing. Offer a child a chance to demonstrate how growing up into our discipleship will help us fill out the commands of Jesus. We have a link to a children’s song that most of us know for MUSIC smart. In NATURE smart, we found an article about why salt is used for cooking. And in SELF smart, pay attention to those things that add salt to your life. BODY smart – [04:44]MUSIC smart – [07:26]This Little Light of MineNATURE smart – [07:47]Kimberly Y. Masibay, Fine CookingSELF smart – [10:40] 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [11:33] 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 worksheetDownload Paul uses a rhetorical device in the first section of this passage. David wasn’t certain if the illustration below would be better used in WORD smart or in MATH smart. He decided to put it in MATH for the logic of it. In SELF smart, we have some questions to help us understand what Paul meant by the human spirit within. MATH smart – [13:19]Take a look at this passage from the book, The Rhetoric of Western Thought: From the Mediteranean World to the Global Setting, by James L. GoldenSELF smart – [16:28] Isaiah 58:1-9a [18:12] Isaiah 58:1-9a worksheetDownload We start, once again, with MATH smart and an illustration and demonstration of geometry, engineering principles, and physics. Check it out! For BODY smart, think about fasting and how it changes your body and your mind. We have an illustration for MUSIC smart using middle school orchestra trumpet sections. And finally, we end, once again, with SELF smart and some questions about how we may have wildly underestimated expectations in the past. MATH smart – [20:08]BODY smart – [21:30]MUSIC smart – [23:23]SELF smart – [24:34] Photo by Nathan Cowley from Pexels. Used by permission.

Hi, everyone! Welcome back! We’re heading into the last month of Ordinary Time before Lent begins in March. The Lectionary will have us looking at the Sermon on the Mount for the next three weeks. We start this week with the Beatitudes. Also included in this week’s readings is Paul’s proclamation that God’s wisdom and strength don’t look like what we expect. The Psalm and Micah have some expectations for how worshipers are to come before the Lord and live their lives. Check out our episode from three years ago! David had a lot of fun with our theme and flip-flops featured prominently! We located Shittim and Gilgal on a map and in history for the Micah passage. We suggested using the Vitruvian man and the Butterfly Effect for Corinthians, and we mapped the power of the world in relation to the Power of God in Matthew. Matthew 5:1-12 – [01:59] Matthew 5:1-12 worksheetDownload It’s the Beatitudes! “Happy” or “Blessed” or “to be envied” – hmm. We have commentary for WORD smart that suggests Jesus’ sermon was a beacon of hope for those whose daily living was a struggle. For EYE smart, take a walk around your neighborhood in your imagination and see the people Jesus would call blessed. Later in this sermon, Jesus will offer a new interpretation of law; he is setting it up here in these verses. For MATH smart, we have an article about how to interpret statutes. In BODY smart, think of the ways we attempt to keep our biological hearts clean; how much effort do we put into keeping our spiritual hearts healthy? We have a brief illustration for NATURE smart and while we did not use MUSIC smart in the show, we have a link to a hymn below. WORD smart – [03:02]commentary by Scott Hoezee, Center for Excellence in PreachingEYE smart – [5:50]MATH smart -[06:41]commentary by Kat Banakis, The Christian CenturyGeorgetown University Law Center has some basic guidelines for reading, interpreting, and applying statutesBODY smart – [9:10]NATURE smart – [11:00]MUSIC smart – not used in the podcastBlessed Are the Poor in Spirit by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 – [11:40] 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 worksheetDownload We start out with WORD smart with a famous first line in literature illustrating how Paul wants the Corinthians to “know” Jesus through his words. Paul insists that God through Jesus turned the world upside down, so we suggest an EYE smart illustration with Stranger Things. Is Paul using irony or paradox? We discuss this in MATH smart. For BODY smart, we think about stumbling blocks and stubbing your toe. The initial shock is sudden, but then waves of sensation flood over you – much like God’s foolish use of the cross! We have a rare special effect for MUSIC smart! Have fun with this one! This new world of God will require some transformations; much like the transformation of deep sea creatures we link to in NATURE smart. WORD smart – [12:49]“Call me Ishmael”EYE smart – [14:48]“the Upside Down”MATH smart – [16:21]Here’s a link to an article describing the difference between the irony and paradox.Here’s another.BODY smart – [18:27]You have nerves on your extremities called “nociceptors” that send waves of signals to your brain. MUSIC smart – [20:16]NATURE smart – [21:08]life in the deep waters in the oceanPEOPLE and SELF smart – not used in the podcastcommentary by Mary Hinkle Shore, Working Preachercommentary by Scott Hoezee, Center for Excellence in Preaching Psalm 15 – [21:58] Psalm 15 worksheetDownload We illustrate some engineering principles and practices for MATH smart! Are you up to making a dock? Give it a try! We found a lot of MUSIC smart illustrations and have a suggestion for using popular music genres. The Psalmist paints a negative picture of gossip, but did we evolve language in order to talk about each other? We have an interesting link in PEOPLE smart. MATH smart – [23:00]Here is an article about three methods of installing pilings for a dock. stress vs. strain diagrams for different kinds of materialsMUSIC smart – [27:18]That’s How We Walk, Richard Bruxvoort ColliganI’m Gonna Live So (God Can Use Me)Lord, Who Are They That May Dwell, James SeddonLord, Who Shall Dwell, Psalm chant, King’s College Choir, CambridgeAnd an acoustic versionPEOPLE smart – [28:31]Evolutionary psychologists suggest gossip “is a form of social grooming” Micah 6:1-8 – [30:31] Micah 6:1-8 worksheetDownload We begin with BODY smart; invite people to demonstrate in their own bodies what “walking humbly” might look and feel like? Discuss the emotions surrounding this, and contrast it with the way they normally walk. How does walking humbly with God make a difference? We have the same worship song from three years ago, but have added other songs for MUSIC smart. For PEOPLE smart, we have an essay and a sermon that show how learned kindness can change someone’s life. In SELF smart, how often do we think of our offering as sacrificial? Can we make that big a step? Consider those grand gestures in contrast with what God requires of us. Which is more difficult? BODY smart – [32:13]MUSIC smart – [33:37]What Does the Lord Require of You?  Jim StrathdeeEvery Step of the Way,  Christopher GrundyLet Justice Roll Like a River, Marty HaugenSizohamba Naye (We Will Walk with God) PEOPLE smart – [35:09]a sermon by Paul NuechterleinSELF smart – [39:00] Word Cloud generated at WordClouds.com

Welcome to the show! We’re glad to have you back with us or joining us for the first time. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, or so it is said. It dispels fear, “the blues”, rumors, and is an antidote to dishonesty. Light runs through the four passages for this Sunday in explicit and implicit ways. In Isaiah and Matthew, God’s light is breaking in on those who live in darkness. The Psalmist declares the Lord is his light, so he praises God for shelter in times of trouble. Paul addresses the report of division in Corinth and attempts to shed light on their common bond in Jesus’ cross. Three years ago, we offered some commentary about the movie Amistad, suggested using a jeweler’s eyepiece to examine a gem for flaws, and translated the word “left” in Matthew as “divorced.” See if these or other ideas may spark some creativity for your sermon! Matthew 4:12-23 – [01:58] Matthew 4:12-23 worksheetDownload When you download the worksheet, you will notice a lot of bright yellow highlighting. David came up with ideas that he thought could work in either Matthew or Isaiah and wanted to make that connection obvious. For example, the images of Mercury’s deep, dark places could work as an EYE smart illustration for either passage. For MATH smart in Matthew, try using some magnets to demonstrate Jesus’ draw on the fishermen he calls. Try casting a net for a BODY smart special effect, and as a bonus, you can talk about how fish tend to come toward the surface of the water at dawn for NATURE smart. We have a lot to offer in MUSIC smart. Also, David found a way to retell this story using musicians! We have some questions for personal reflection in SELF smart. EYE smart – [04:31]Here’s a video of Mercury’s north pole.MATH smart – [07:03]Here are some simple demonstrations you can do with a hanging ring magnet and some bar magnets.BODY smart – [07:48]Net casting in the backyardHow to Use a Cast Net The Online FishermanMUSIC smart – [09:00]Sing Hey for the Carpenter by John BellHail the Fisherfolk by Dave Brown. Lyrics and musicI Have Decided to Follow Jesus by Sadhu Sundar Singh Lonely Is the Night by Billy SquierSELF smart – [10:20] 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 – [11:10] 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 worksheetDownload Paul is concerned about the report he has received of division in the congregation at Corinth. He addresses it by naming the partitions or factions, but then attempts to ground them all in the common denominator of Jesus and the cross. For EYE smart, we illustrate Paul’s desire to put the congregation back together as though it is a particularly difficult jigsaw puzzle. For a demonstration of this reunion, we have a video of a magic trick. Paul begins his message with an appeal. We define appeals in legal terms in MATH (LOGIC) smart. For BODY smart, think of how people use their bodies to save others – which is a crossover with PEOPLE smart. We have some hymns for MUSIC smart. In PEOPLE smart, we found some commentary that suggests the divisions were not in and of themselves the problem; the issue was the Corinthians were arguing among themselves about those divisions. Sounds sadly familiar, doesn’t it? We have a way to illustrate that. EYE smart – [13:19]Here are directions on how to put together a hard jigsaw puzzle.Here’s the rip-the-paper-and-restore-it trick.MATH smart – [16:29]In law, an appeal is the process in which cases are reviewed, where parties request a formal change to an official decision.BODY smart – [17:40]MUSIC smart – [18:05]Broken the Body by Shirley Murray (especially verse 3)Filled with the Spirit’s Power by J.R.PeacyPEOPLE smart – [18:24]commentary by Paul Bellen-Boyer at City Called HeavenThis comic bit by Emo Phillips may capture the flavor of divisions in Corinth. Psalm 27:1, 4-9 – [21:08] Psalm 27:1, 4-9 worksheetDownload We begin with WORD smart and suggest using a baby’s cries or alarms to illustrate the Psalmist’s plea for God’s attention. In EYE smart, bring in different kinds of lights to demonstrate how God’s light banishes fear. The Psalmist also pleads with God not to turn God’s face away, which got me to thinking about non-verbal communication for BODY smart. [I forgot to add a MUSIC smart link to the worksheet for this Psalm – The Lord is My Light from New Song: Musical Expressions for Youth Ministry. It’s a simple song and pretty, and I recommend it!] In NATURE smart, illustrate the ways God shelters the Psalmist with examples from animals. The Psalmist has great confidence in God’s ability to come through, and we have a clip from the movie Troy that might help illustrate this assurance (although it will need some interpretation!). And in SELF smart, think about times you have trusted or ignored your gut instinct. Was that an angel at work? WORD smart – [22:07]EYE smart – [22:46]Searchlights – used as early as 1904!klieg lights – which have blinded peopleBODY smart – [24:10]Here is a list of things to be aware of about your personal non verbal cues, especially when you interview for a job.An article about non verbal communication and relationships.NATURE smart – [26:24]a peek inside marsupial pouchesPEOPLE smart – [27:12]In this scene from the movie TROY, King Agamemnon has great confidence in his warrior Achilles, and Achilles has great confidence in himself.SELF smart – [28:18]Commentary by Frederick Buechner Isaiah 9:1-4 – [30:19] Isaiah 9:1-4 worksheetDownload We have some crossover about light and dark with the Matthew passage; the ideas will work in either place! We begin with EYE smart illustrations about places that are in darkness – in literature, in our world, and in our emotions. We suggest illustrating light breaking through to provide salvation using clips from a couple vampire movies. You might have some other less frightful ideas. Anyone remember multiplication tables? Use them to demonstrate God’s abundance in MATH smart. In BODY smart, we think about the physical misery of bondage or heavy loads we may literally carry around with us. For MUSIC smart, try the Taize chant we have linked below. Commentary by Amy Oden got us to thinking about the ways people in our world are living in darkness. How does the promise of God’s light bring freedom? EYE smart – [31:53]MATH smart – [33:33]BODY smart – [34:26]Police in the UK use a modified pair of suspenders called a “yoke”Here’s an article with some tips alleviate back pain from toting bags that are too heavy.MUSIC smart – [35:54]La Tenebre or Our Darkness from TaizePEOPLE smart – [36:25]commentary by Amy Oden at Working Preacher Photo by Nuno Obey at Pexels, used by permission.

Hey, welcome back! I really like the picture above. I love tulips, but we cannot have any around our house, because foraging four-legged critters love them, too! *chomp* We can see what color these will be, but they are not yet fully emerged. The passages for today contain within them elements that are emerging. In the Isaiah passage, the servant that God has chosen is still discovering the mission God wants done through him. The Psalm as it is presented is a sort of “light lament,” but the verses that did not get included emerge as a full lament. Paul has some advice for the Corinthians, but first, he wants to establish the basis for their relationship before any of it emerges. And in John’s Gospel, the Lamb of God approaches, and two of John’s disciples decide to follow. Their conversation with Jesus points to an emerging discipleship. Three years ago, we had a photo from space, questions about which verb tense to use to define our personal journey of faith, and Holy Ghost orchids! We also seem to have a bit of overlap with this year’s offerings, especially in music. That must be why we liked them so much! Take a look at the show notes and worksheets at this link: Year A, Ordinary 2, 2017. John 1:29-42 – [01:58] John 1:29-42 worksheetDownload David noticed that some words in the passage are defined by John three different times. That John does this throughout the Gospel reveals he was writing to people who were unfamiliar with the Jewish roots of the faith (or at least the Hebrew language. For WORD smart, ask people about their experiences of being in a setting where the language is unfamiliar; it may be a language that is not your native tongue, or it could be someone is using a lot of vernacular idioms or slang. Try using a translation that is different from usual, and be open to what new understanding emerges from that. For EYE smart, if you still have the balloon doves from last week, put them to use again, because this passage is John’s version of Jesus’ baptism. We offer an anthem with an intense video for MUSIC smart. Ask your congregation to consider what would happen if you suddenly started following a stranger pointed out to you for a PEOPLE smart exercise. And for SELF smart, remember a time when you just jumped into a situation without knowing the ending or even thinking through the beginning. We have some examples to illustrate this. WORD smart – [04:44] Psalm 23 in the Orthodox Jewish BibleEYE smart – [07:53] the dove balloon idea from last week!MUSIC smart – [08:15]Could There Be Peace?PEOPLE smart – [09:28]SELF smart – [10:38] 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 – [11:38] 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 worksheetDownload Paul’s letters to the Corinthians reveal ways a church can operate, both in an ideal and a real world. As he begins his letter, he uses language that will be the prism through which everything else will be seen. For WORD smart, think about a time when you received written communication that you knew would approach a difficult situation; what words were used to begin the conversation? We have a poem that reminds us the work of the church goes on, as well as an article about the passage from The Christian Century. We also have an idea for a choral reading of a poem written by John van de Laar. For EYE smart, find some balloons, a fan, and a weight. Use them to make a mini-hot air balloon to demonstrate the gifts of the Spirit and Jesus’ grounding in faith. For BODY smart, label some weights with words Paul uses to define life in Christ and then lift them! We recommend a couple “oldie but goodie” hymns for MUSIC smart. Some commentary by Bill Loader made us think about why we “train” as disciples, so invite your congregation to ponder the questions we have – and add your own! And for SELF smart, has anyone ever begun a tough conversation with you about your relationship by giving thanks to God for you? What emerged from that? WORD smart – [13:01]Pulpit Fiction, a podcast by Eric C. Fistler and Robb McCoy“Sacredise” by John van de Laar The Call of Compassion – download the worksheet to see how David arranged this to a choral reading!The Work of Christmas by Howard ThurmanThis article by Douglas Campbell in The Christian CenturyEYE smart – [16:03]BODY smart – [17:32]MUSIC smart – [18:30]A Charge to Keep Have I, Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788The Church’s One Foundation, Text: Samuel J. Stone, 1839-1900PEOPLE smart – [18:52]commentary by Bill LoaderSELF smart – [20:41] Psalm 40:1-11 – [21:38] Psalm 40:1-11 worksheetDownload Even though we skipped over WORD smart (check out the worksheet to see what we suggested), David has a story for EYE smart. It seems unusual to put it here, except for the visual imagery in the story, and the fact that the main character points out a savior – the way John does in the Gospel! For MATH smart, we wonder if you all can list the ways you are grateful to God – can you get to a million? It may take a while! For BODY smart, bring in items that help us keep our footing secure, and try some strengthening exercises right there in the pews! Finally, for NATURE smart, study up on bogs and why they can be hazardous. It may help explain why the psalmist is so grateful God helped him emerge from his. We have a WORD smart crossover calling to mind literary bogs. EYE smart – [22:57]MATH smart – [24:38]How long does it take to count to one million?BODY smart – [25:19]Music smart stayed on the shelf, but here are some songs you might use!“40” by U2 – this got resurrected from three years ago!I Say Yes sound sample by Brenda PenaNew Song (scroll down to the album “Little Miracles”) by Andra MoranA psalm refrain, if you do that kind of thing!NATURE smart – [26:20]A mire forms through “incomplete decomposition” which is a little gross.This is a rather long article from Smithsonian Magazine about Tollund Man, a “bog body” found in 1950 in Denmark. Isaiah 49:1-7 – [28:41] Isaiah 49:1-7 worksheetDownload David thinks this passage can be illuminated with the absolute value of numbers for MATH smart. I got there, eventually. Amy Oden’s commentary got me to thinking about the disorientation of the people being swept into captivity and now promised a return. The actual events emerged slowly but for BODY smart, illustrate the disorientation with a roller coaster ride! For PEOPLE smart, we got an idea from the commentary listed below to illustrate how being chosen is both an honor and a promise of a lot of work. Then, what do you do with it? To illustrate the idea, think about the nation of Wakanda in Black Panther and the decision of whether or not to emerge it faced in the movie. It sounds… familiar. MATH smart – [30:44]the absolute value of numbersBODY smart – [32:48]commentary by Amy Oden, Working PreacherMusic smart again got left on the shelf, but try these songs!Let Me Be Your Light by Christopher GrundyGod of My Breathing; lyrics by Richard ColliganPEOPLE smart – [34:42]commentary by Timothy Simpson, Political Theology Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash. Used by permission.

Happy New Year! Yeah, okay, I said that on the first Sunday of Advent, but this time the calendar has turned over instead of the Lectionary year. We are back with a new installment of the show, and this week, we are working with the texts for Baptism of the Lord. Each of the Gospels has an account of this story, and this year, we are looking at Matthew’s version. The New Testament lesson from Acts includes Peter’s sermon to Cornelius and his household about the life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Tucked into that sermon is a mention of Jesus’ baptism – maybe as a way to prepare the household for their own baptism. The Psalm is a series of vivid images of God’s power in nature, including God’s voice rolling out over the waters as Jesus heard it when he emerged from the river. And the Isaiah passage is about a servant that God calls in whom God’s spirit delights. We have some interesting ideas for each passage. We also have some information from our show three years ago, Baptism of the Lord, Year A, 2017. We did not include the Psalm three years ago, so this year’s information is fresh! The other three passages have some intriguing ideas – we hope you’ll find something that will spark your creativity! Matthew 3:13-17 – [01:58] Matthew 3:13-17 worksheetDownload We like to find ways to use MATH smart, and for this passage, we think a Venn Diagram is a good way to consider Jesus’ relationship to the people who have come to John for baptism. Yes, that is a PEOPLE smart element. Take a look at the worksheet for an example you could show your congregation – and that is an EYE smart element! I love how these ideas cross over one another. For BODY smart, think about your own baptism and cleansing the next time you are in the shower. We have a few ideas about doves for NATURE smart, and John’s confusion about Jesus coming to him for baptism got one of us nerds thinking about Star Wars for a PEOPLE smart illustration. It works! MATH smart – [04:23]see the worksheet for a Venn diagramBODY smart – [06:24]NATURE smart – [07:58]Doves are cooperative birdsHere is some more information about doves and pigeonsBalloon animal doves like this or thisPEOPLE smart – [11:15] Acts 10:34-43 – [12:50] Acts 10:34-43 worksheetDownload In my poking about for commentary on this passage, I realized I was reading this text as it is used in a variety of places throughout the year. Two of the commentaries below use it for Easter, one in the middle of summer, and one in October. Go figure! Yet, this passage is perennial – it always speaks to us of God’s full intention for humanity and how it often runs counter to our own. David thinks using a number line for a MATH smart illustration will help show Peter’s thinking with his sermon. Food plays a huge role in the entire Peter story and some commentary linked below is a good way to connect BODY smart. We have some quotes for sparking conversation in PEOPLE smart, and in SELF smart, consider how God not showing partiality is as mind blowing to you as it was to Peter. MATH smart – [14:32]Does anyone remember using a number line in elementary school?BODY smart – [16:41]commentary by Jamie McCallum, The Truett PulpitPEOPLE smart – [18:38]commentary by Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamercommentary by Levi Holland, A Plain AccountSELF smart – [21:16]commentary by Doug Bratt, Center for Excellence in Preaching Psalm 29 – [23:00] Psalm 29 worksheetDownload We found a MATH smart special effect for this Psalm! It is the same as the idea for Matthew! (We must really like Venn Diagrams.) We also have some thoughts for WORD smart that we did not use for the show. Take a look anyway on the worksheet! NATURE smart runs through this hymn; the power of God in the natural world is evident in storms, but how often do we see God’s gentle power in a rain shower? Speaking of large storms, in PEOPLE smart, take a page out of Mr. Roger’s book and look for the people who come by to help after a big destructive storm blows through. WORD smart – not used in the podcastEugene Lowry, The Homiletical PlotThe Hurricane Psalm by Silvia Purdie, Pastor at Cashmere PC in Christchurch NZThe Timeless Psalms by Joan StottMATH smart – [23:58]commentary by Melissa Dow, Political TheologyMUSIC smart – [27:13] – not on the worksheetyou might be able to turn this psalm into a rapNATURE smart – [27:30]PEOPLE smart – [29:16] Isaiah 42:1-9 – [30:02] Isaiah 42:1-9 worksheetDownload A commentary for this passage led me to consider for WORD smart literary characters who show great strength through their vulnerability. Almost instantly, Samwise Gamgee popped to mind. Can you think of any others? Through the prophet’s words to the people, God is re-focusing their perspective, widening it out to include a much larger scope of what God sees. We have some ideas how you might exhibit this for EYE smart. For BODY smart, breathe for a while and for MUSIC smart, try using the anthem listed below. Connect your NATURE smart people with the rhythm of the seasons and connect your PEOPLE smart people to one another by physical contact. WORD smart – [31:48]commentary by Juliana Claassens, Working PreacherEYE smart – [33:36]commentary by Amy Oden – Working Preacherpurchase a Hoberman SphereBODY smart – [36:33]MUSIC smart – [37:02]Leonard Cohen, AnthemNATURE smart – [37:27]paying attention to nature’s changes is called phenologyPEOPLE smart – [39:22] Image copyright : mashabr from 123rf photos. Used by permission.

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas! Advent is behind us, and Christmas is almost here – who else is feeling the pressure to get everything left to be done DONE? As you finish your last minute tasks and prepare for your Christmas Eve services, take time to breathe and remember that God didn’t choose to send the Son into a perfect world. In fact, God sent the Son into a world that was broken, fragmented, soiled, and not at all ready. If that describes your world, take heart. If God had waited for us to get everything ready and “just so,” Jesus would never have come. So, breathe – and be blessed by the Spirit all around you. Merry Christmas! The jingly bells sound comes from https://freesound.org/people/Robinhood76/sounds/63270/ The wreath image here and superimposed on our logo comes from Angelina Jollivet on Unsplash. Both are used by permission.

Greetings and welcome! We are running very late this week due to a number of factors, so we decided to concentrate on only the Gospel passage for this Sunday. Matthew starts the story of Jesus’ nativity with the experience of his father, Joseph. We were struck by the ways that Matthew explicitly points to Jesus as Messiah by not only referring to him as Messiah, but by identifying Joseph as Son of David. What other gems are hidden in this well-told story? If you were really hoping for some illustrations and special effects for Isaiah and Romans, check out our post from three years ago at this link, or just listen to this week’s hybrid episode that includes our new ideas and the show from 2016. We have confirmation biases, a suggestion for using a crib, and finding ways to “embody” God from the Isaiah passage. For Romans, we suggest Mad Libs, John Lennon’s Imagine, and a template for introducing yourself as a servant of Jesus Christ. Check ’em out! Matthew 1:18-25 – [01:18] Matthew 1:18-25 worksheet Download We have used the suggestion to find the meaning of names for WORD smart in the past and think it would be fun to do it again. Look up the names of the people in the passage and the people in your congregation. Let folks spend some time thinking about what their names mean for and about them for some SELF smart time. David thinks that the choice Joseph makes after meeting Gabriel in a dream is a lot like a probability exercise in MATH smart. Check out the links below. For BODY smart, invite people to physically feel Joseph’s shock and dismay at Mary’s news. For MUSIC smart, find songs about Emmanuel. There are many! Do you have the time to make a mashup of them? Or, simply set up a play list and have that running during your fellowship time. Finally, for PEOPLE smart encourage your folks to talk about times when they either talked someone out of a course of action or had someone talk them out of a decision. WORD smart – [03:41]Behind the NameMATH smart – [04:40]The Monty Hall ProblemAnd here’s a video about it.BODY smart – [09:47] MUSIC smart – [11:20]PEOPLE smart – [12:08] Encore Presentation of Year A, Advent 4, 2016 – [16:18] Photo: The Dream of St. Joseph by Anton Raphael Mengs [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Hey all!! A couple years ago, in our Year B Advent 3 episode, I used four or five versions of the hymn Gaudete to introduce the episode. I had never heard the song before and was so taken by all the different versions, I included links for each. (In that episode’s show notes, click the different words of the lyrics to hear the different versions.) This Sunday in the Advent cycle is the day we celebrate joy, and singing is a great way to exhibit it! We also have examples of the other seven intelligences tucked away into the Isaiah, James, and Matthew passages. Joy can also be a quiet confidence that assures us that God has not forgotten God’s people, even if all evidence at hand suggests otherwise. The photo above may have been better utilized last week for peace – she looks peaceful, doesn’t she? – but I think there is something deeper within her that radiates outward. What do you see? Don’t forget to take a look at what we did for Year A, Advent 3 in 2016. We did not use the Psalm selection then, so we have new information for it this year, below. Let’s go look at what we’ve got for illustrations and special effects! Note: David’s schedule crunch led me to volunteer to edit and post the podcast. I’ve done this before while he was traveling for his sabbatical, but it took me a while to remember what to do. If you are someone who notices things, you’ll hear some rough edits and the sound may be different. My apologies, but we got it up and running!!! ~Molly Matthew 11:2-11 – [03:16] Matthew 11:2-11 worksheetDownload How unusual to use for the Joy Sunday a passage from Matthew that starts with John the Baptist in jail, doubting Jesus is the One he sacrificed everything for. John sends word to Jesus via his disciples, and Jesus responds to his cousin by telling him to look around him and see evidence of Isaiah’s prophecy coming to pass. What might we see as we look around? Can we see evidence of Jesus’ reign on earth? If not, how might we participate in it so that others can see it? EYE smart – [04:52]MATH smart – [06:20]the definition of an iteration loopMUSIC smart – [09:36]be sure to download the worksheet for David’s poetry James 5:7-10 – [11:34] James 5:7-10 worksheetDownload In Advent and in all other times, Christians await the coming of Jesus. It’s not always easy, and as the world devolves around us, we may get a bit un-nerved and wonder if it will happen. The selection from James gives some practical advice to be patient. Each spring, farmers plant their crops not knowing what the harvest will bring and so have learned to work both the land – and to be patient. Good advice! EYE smart – [12:28]images of dawn skiesBODY smart – [13:14]NATURE smart – [14:10]PEOPLE smart – [15:10]A Star Wars clip from Episode I – The Phantom MenaceSELF smart – [18:22]practices that might foster patience:Here are a few from Inc.com.These are better from Dave Ursillo.These aren’t bad from Psychology Today. Psalm 146:5-10 – [20:31] Psalm 146:5-10 worksheetDownload The final few Psalms are heralds of joy and praise for the good that God has done for the people. Reading these psalms may help foster the patience James advises. WORD smart – [21:35] אָשַׁר (ashar) which means “to go on straight ahead”BODY smart – [24:14]An essay by Amy Ziettlow in The Christian CenturyMUSIC smart – [26:02]commentary by James Howell, Working Preacherand his source re: Brueggemann — “Psalm 146:  Psalm for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost,” No Other Foundation, p. 29 Isaiah 35:1-10 – [28:32] Isaiah 35:1-10 worksheetDownload Jesus uses imagery from this prophecy to answer his cousin’s inquiry. “What have you seen me do, John?” he seems to say. And, yes – what have we seen? What have we heard? What have we experienced that reminds us God is near and Jesus has come? NATURE smart – [29:53]Commentary by Talitha Arnold, The Christian CenturyDeath Valley bloomed spectacularly in 2016.Make your own river in a dry land – sort of like this or this, but smaller.PEOPLE smart – [33:13]SELF smart – [34:26] Photo by nappy from Pexels. Used with permission.

And also with you! How many of you automatically said that when you read the title for the episode? The theme for the second Sunday of Advent is peace, traditionally. Which is odd, considering the thundering judgment John the Baptist aims at the Pharisees and Sadducees who come out to the Jordan to check up on what he’s up to out there. “Brood of Vipers” is not usually a greeting one uses for one’s friends. It’s up to Isaiah and Paul writing in Romans to deliver messages of peace. Yet, even there the peace comes through after conflict is resolved through the power and grace of God. No wonder the Psalm devotes so much praise to God for righteousness and justice. Three years ago, we suggested making animal masks for the Isaiah passage for a PEOPLE smart special effect. We also suggested adding voices one by one to a well known song to demonstrate the unity Paul is after in Romans. For Matthew, David had a colorful graph for MATH smart, and we thought using a balance scales would be a good BODY smart special effect. In other words, you have a lot of stuff to choose from for this Sunday! Matthew 3:1-12 – [03:47] Matthew 3:1-12 worksheetDownload If we turn to Scripture expecting simple answers to complex problems, we are kidding ourselves as John the Baptist shows us in this passage. “Repent!” he calls to the people – but how simple is it to turn away from our usual lives, really? John isn’t asking for incremental change either – turn completely, he instructs. Likely, the people streaming out into the wilderness to see him and be baptized had been so beaten down they had nothing to lose so turning from a life of oppression and hopelessness was not difficult. But what about those who are not hard pressed, who in fact, may be looking to protect their piece of turf? John calls them vipers and tells them the ax of judgement is lying at the base of their trees. It seems the message John proclaims is that peace – REAL peace – is coming but we have some work to do in order to prepare for it and fully receive it. EYE smart – [05:18]MATH smart – [06:18]This video shows the necessities for “making a path straight”.And these videos show the procedure for road construction.Here is another video that recycles old tires to patch roads!commentary by Katie Hines-Shah, The Christian CenturyBODY smart – [08:22] MUSIC smart – [11:27] A folk song about Ein Gedi, the oasis along the Dead SeaNATURE smart – [12:50] Bear Grylls’ new Netflix show, “You vs. Wild”SELF smart – [14:33]commentary by Elizabeth Myer, The SALT+ Project Romans 15:4-13  – [16:32] Romans 15:4-13 worksheet Download Some of the commentary I read for this passage thinks that Paul has come to the main point of his letter to the Romans in this chapter. He has carefully laid out who Jesus was and now is and why this matters to those who are children of Israel. He also showed how Jesus’ resurrection flows out into the world of nations and includes them as adopted sons and daughters. Now, he knits the two yarns together into a whole and proclaims that the steadfastness and encouragement of Christ brings all believers together in harmony in order to sing praise to God. Ironically, while we found MUSIC smart illustrations galore, we left that on the shelf in order to bring the intelligences listed below. So check out the worksheet by clicking on the button above to see what else we have! WORD smart – [17:50]commentary by Orrey McFarland, Working PreacherThe Declaration of IndependenceThe Constitution of the United States of AmericaThe Bill of RightsSee Our Documents for notable American docs.EYE smart – [19:45]Here’s an experiment in 3-D perception and parallax in vision.BODY smart – [20:44]PEOPLE smart – [22:38] commentary by J.R. Daniel Kirk, Working Preacherthe current World Series champs the Nationals had a great vibe according to many reports and fansSELF smart – [24:22]commentary by Valerie Nicolet-Anderson Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 – [26:21] Psalm 72:1-7; 18-19 worksheetDownload This psalm is a prayer for the king. As I read it, I substituted the word “President” since the United States does not have a king. The prayer for this leader in the psalm is entirely appropriate for anyone who has a leadership role anywhere in any society. We want people who are filled with God’s righteousness and mercy. We want people who will defend the cause of the least of these. We want people who will be like “rain that falls on grass” and whose justice will last “until the moon is no more.” Realistically, politics gets in the way of these noble ideals, but that doesn’t mean we can’t petition God for them to be realized. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. WORD smart – [27:07]MATH smart – [28:36]Organizations seeking legal remedy for the poor and oppressedACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Center)Poor People’s CampaignADL (Anti Defamation League)Life After HateMUSIC smart – [29:59]El mensaje que hoy proclamamos Hear the Message We are Now ProclaimingFor the World and All Its People (follow the link, then search for the title of the song and a sound clip will be at the top of the list)Justice Shall Flourish in His TimePEOPLE smart – [30:54] Isaiah 11:1-10 – [31:42] Isaiah 11:1-10 worksheet Download Isaiah’s vision of a peaceable kingdom seems so outlandish – small children not being attacked by venomous snakes when they put their hands in their dens? Lions and lambs lying peacefully together? Children leading? He appeals to the “prophetic imagination” in all of us with these images. If we allow ourselves the space and time to simply sit with them, they begin to worm into our hearts bringing with them hope and maybe the desire to do what we can to make this possible. Of course, God doesn’t need our help for any of this, but God wants us to participate in our present, so a future of peace finds root in all of us and flowers for the next generation. EYE smart – [32:38]BODY Smart – [33:50]MUSIC smart – [35:13] Come, Come EmmanuelNATURE smart – [36:00]Snake venom has properties that scientists have learned are useful for treating heart attacksPEOPLE smart – [37:55]Luke Skywalker vs. the remoteJob discrimination starts with reading your nameHarvard Business SchoolNational Bureau of Economic ResearchUCLABustle.com Photo copyright : Evgeny Atamanenko from 123rf. Used by permission.

Happy Liturgical New Year!! We are heading into our fifth year of this podcast! After concentrating on two intelligences per week last year, we’ve decided to let the rest of them back in and include as many of the smarts as decide to show up. If you’ve been with us since the beginning, you are an old pro at this and may be checking our work against your own, which is GREAT! If you are just now joining us, we are glad to have you, and we hope using Howard Gardner’s theory (see the link above) will be fruitful for you. We have discovered that the intelligence-based illustrations and special effects have filled out our own preaching and worship in memorable ways. Don’t forget to go see what we did with these passages three years ago! I was reading through the post and was surprised at how many and how different our ideas were! I guess it goes to show that when you open the gates for creativity, many interesting ideas come crowding in! Plus, we did not include the Psalm last time around, so you have a bonus this time. The Week’s Texts: Isaiah 2:1-5 – [03:03] Isaiah 2:1-5 – WorksheetDownload We found illustrations and special effects for all eight intelligences! Then, we started recording, going over all of them! Then, we saw that we had gone twenty three minutes with very little ad libbing! So, we decided to pick our favorites and present only them! Suffice it to say, I heartily recommend that you download the worksheet for Isaiah to see what got left on the shelf. We decided to emphasize EYE, BODY, MUSIC, and PEOPLE smarts. EYE made the cut so we could show you some remarkable artwork that comes from this passage. Plus, David really likes the idea for the special effect. (I may lose my exercise ball.) We kept BODY smart for the sensation of being in a crowd that is all going in one direction with the same purpose. It feels like a tonic to our fractured life these days. MUSIC smart contains a poem and three songs and PEOPLE smart goes back to the concept in EYE smart; exchanging implements of war for implements of creation. EYE smart – [04:12]Let Us Beat Our Swords into Plowshares– Soviet artist Evgeny Vuchetich.Guns into PlowsharesBODY smart – [08:08]MUSIC smart – [09:48]Make Me Plow Blade, by Abigail CarrollCome and Find the Quiet Center, Shirley MurrayPleasure Comes, lyric by Ruth DuckSiyahamba performed by Angel City ChoraleAlso look us up on YouTube – choir starts at 21:45 PEOPLE smart – [11:54]Lean On MePeter Murchison and Diane Keefe organized this fundraiser on behalf of The Newtown Foundation, Inc.Here’s a story of a man who traded in an heirloom weapon to RawTools. The book Beating Guns is its story. Psalm 122 – [15:08] Psalm 122 – WorksheetDownload We didn’t have nearly as many ideas for the Psalm, but we did not cover the Psalm three years ago, so our contribution has increased six fold! We decided to emphasize only two of the intelligences, so download the worksheet to see what else we had. Like Isaiah, the Psalm encourages believers to ascend to the temple. When pilgrims enter the temple gates, they will know they are in a place of peace. For WORD smart, brainstorm some synonyms for the word “peace.” How does defining the word bring it to life? For PEOPLE smart, consider how we might “seek your good” for the sake of the house of the Lord. WORD smart – [16:00]Prayers and liturgies written by Joan Stott at The Timeless Psalms.PEOPLE smart – [17:56] Romans 13:8-14 – [19:45] Romans 13:8-14 – WorksheetDownload Again, download that worksheet to see the three intelligences that didn’t make the cut. We start with MATH smart and syllogisms. (By the way, Paul is always good for MATH smart illustrations and special effects, especially in Romans. He presented a reasoned argument for Jesus, to which logical thinkers will attend.) I thought David’s description of syllogism sounded a lot like geometry proofs, too. A commentary got me to thinking about how we can use a BODY smart special effect for the season of Advent. We found a song from Taizé for MUSIC smart and David has a great way to illustrate Paul’s argument using a symphony! Another commentary led us to a SELF smart illustration about “senioritis.” MATH smart – [20:54]syllogism defineda link to several examplesVenn diagram examplesBODY smart – [23:29] commentary by Jill DuffieldMUSIC smart – [25:27]Taize Wait for the LordSELF smart – [27:52]Claire McGarry in These Days: Daily Devotions for Living by Faith Matthew 24:36-44 – [29:30] Matthew 24:36-44 – WorksheetDownload We each of us have preached many a sermon and led many a worship service telling folks that while we wait for Jesus’ coming at Advent, we don’t wait passively. In the passage from Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples to remain alert, to pay attention to what’s going on around them, and not to take anything for granted. For MUSIC smart, David found a … um … song that fits the theme (but is terrible) and also has a rhythm game for a special effect that demonstrates how we pay attention. Jesus mentions Noah’s flood, so for NATURE smart, we found some video of flash flooding. The power of the water is an awesome thing to behold. But beware – some of the videos may show people being swept away to their deaths. Finally, for SELF smart, think about how eerie it would be for people around you to suddenly disappear. To illustrate, I relate a story about playing “Sardines” – it is freaky. MUSIC smart – [30:50]Caught By SurpriseNATURE smart – [33:20]Here’s some video of a flash flood in southern Utah that is pretty dramatic.Here is a video of some vastly more devastating flash floods. (WARNING: possible death happens here)The Big Thompson Canyon flood of 2013. My mother lives near here and when I went to visit her and my father the month after this went through, the amount of destruction was simply jaw dropping. Six years later, the road is open again but there are massive rocks in the river that weren’t there before. SELF smart – [35:55] Photo by it’s me neosiam from Pexels. Used with permission.

Hey everyone! We’re at the end! Thank you for sticking with us through another Lectionary year and another Year C cycle. We tried something different by emphasizing only two smarts per week, and while we think it was a worthwhile endeavor, we are going to go back to finding illustrations and special effects for any of the eight intelligences in each passage for the next year. I think we trained our brains to look for the smarts, but now we want to allow for more creativity. For this Sunday three years ago, we included a prayer for preachers stepping into pulpits for the first time after the 2016 General Election. Was that really only three years ago? It seems like a lot longer. It is still relevant, unfortunately. Download the worksheets for ideas for all eight intelligences. Smarts for the Week [01:58] For the last time, we will concentrate on only two of the eight intelligences. This week, we finish up with BODY and SELF smart. We describe them a bit in the podcast, and if you have not yet clicked the link on the top right corner of the page to read more about Dr. Howard Gardner’s theory, go do it! BODY smart – [03:46]Download SELF smart – [04:46]Download Texts for the Week Jeremiah 23:1-6 – [05:57] This passage is difficult to read and to hear, especially for those of us who are charged as shepherds of flocks. The kings of Judah were more interested in their crowns than in the people they ruled. If we are honest, we hear a rebuke about our own shortcomings and errors in ministry. We also hear God’s promise that no matter how badly we’ve scattered our sheep, God will find them and bring them home. For a lighter image in BODY smart, consider God as a professional wrestler getting ready to take care of things. Using a broad definition of sheep, for SELF smart consider the identity of the scattered ones. I also have some ideas for WORD, NATURE, and PEOPLE smart. BODY smart – [07:46]SELF smart – [11:16]commentary by Lori Niles, A Plain AccountBonus NATURE and PEOPLE smart ideas on the worksheet!! Psalm 46 – [13:45] This psalm is a hymn to God’s rule for the people – He is the Good Shepherd King. This psalm has lovely images throughout, but verse 10 is the one that ends up on people’s walls. “Be still and know that I am God.” For SELF smart, take the psalm at its word and allow time for people to simply sit in stillness. If that might be too much for some, include some EYE and MUSIC smart elements. Being still may be a challenge for BODY smart people, so make certain to include opportunities to experience how being still feels in the body. David read my mind for an EYE smart idea and has some thoughts for NATURE smart. SELF smart – [15:09]Bonus MUSIC and EYE smart ideas!BODY smart – [17:45]Bonus EYE and NATURE Colossians 1:11-20 – [21:47] Paul emphasizes that Jesus is first and worthy of the crown. There have been others who have been worthy of crowns; kings, queens, even athletes. David points out in BODY smart, some athletes can come in first place even though they finish a race in second place. Click on the link below to read about some of them. For SELF smart, try a guided meditation that includes a large dollop of BODY smart; a guided meditation about being an “embodied soul” and an “ensouled body.” If you choose to do this, I recommend starting at verse 15 to the end and then going back to the beginning of the selection. BODY smart – [23:17]Christ is before ALL things – contrast this with Ashton Eaton and other Olympic decathlon winnersBonus EYE smart idea – you know what to do.SELF smart – [27:24] Luke 23:33-43 – [30:48] People may be a little shaken to hear this bit of the crucifixion read the week before Thanksgiving. Yet, if we are looking at themes through the four passages, the idea of crowns and glory are on full display with this passage. Who is our King? For SELF smart, use the two quotes from the commentary listed below and ask people to answer the question David Lose asks, “What kind of King do you want?” For BODY smart, invite people to stand and assume the posture of Jesus on the cross. Or, use the Reader’s Theatre script linked below. SELF smart – [32:00]commentary by Scott Hoezee, Center for Excellence in Preachingcommentary by David Lose, ….In the MeantimeBODY smart – [35:37]Bonus MUSIC Behold the Lamb of God; an instrumental version from Quincy Jones’ Soulful Celebrationalso, a version from Handel’s MessiahBonus PEOPLE smart – READERS THEATRE Photo Copyright : Allan Swart. Used by permission via 123RF

Hey everyone! Welcome to the last episode of Ordinary Time, Year C! Next week is Reign of Christ Sunday which simultaneously wraps up the year and welcomes in the next one. This week, we finish the long season begun in June with a psalm of praise, a fiery warning, encouragement to keep doing what is good, and Jesus’ response to a question about future events. We did the same texts three years ago so you can go see what other illustrations and special effects are on the menu from that show. For today, we’ll take a look at the passages and consider how each one addresses our habits and attitudes – which ones will survive intact in the egg basket and which ones will be broken in order for God to make something new out of them? Smarts for the Week In the past couple weeks, I’ve been weakening and allowing other intelligences into the house when I open the door for the one I’m supposed to be emphasizing – I can’t help it, they’re so insistent! (And often pretty good!) So this week, while I do my best to pay attention to PEOPLE smart, NATURE and MUSIC creep in and sit in the corner, trying not to laugh. On the other hand, David is bravely sticking with the plan and has some very interesting ways of using MATH smart for the texts. Download the worksheet below to see what didn’t make the cut for the podcast! PEOPLE smart – [timestamp]Download MATH smart – [timestamp]Download Texts for the Week Malachi 4:1-2a – [timestamp] In the words of Joey Lawrence, “Whoa.” At least that was my reaction to verse one in this selection. Yet, the image of fire burning evildoers to oblivion – while graphic – is not the end. In the very next verse, new life is promised. Taking a page out of NATURE smart, ask your congregation to consider ways that humans are refined through heat and pressure (difficult jobs, challenging relationships, adolescence, etc.). What new thing came out of that time? For MATH smart, David looked up some experiments done in Australia and California about combustion. In one study, scientists examined how leaves decomposition impact flammability. In the other one, they measured temperature and time until combustion. The connection to Malachi’s vision is metaphorical – how does one’s ethical composition and spiritual orientation determine flammability? PEOPLE smart – [timestamp]Commentary by Fred Gaiser, Working PreacherCommentary by Bruce Cromwell, A Plain AccountSoulful CelebrationBugs Bunny clipMATH smart – [timestamp]Here is an interesting experiment from Australia comparing the decomposition rate of various types of leaf litter and the flammability of the same various species of leaves.Here is another study on ignition times and ignition temperatures of various species of plants from the California chaparral. Psalm 98 – [timestamp] Sometimes the logic element of MATH smart really gets in the way. And other times, its nature can be used to great effect for a jarring illustration. David suggests that praise is illogical; or at least it steps beyond the factual and specific that MATH smart people find energizing. So, to illustrate how to use this psalm of praise, consider whether or not we would burst into worship and song and dance inside the US Supreme Court when the justices render an opinion. Not very likely. Yet, the psalmist sings and encourages musicians to play joyfully for God’s just judgements. In the commentary linked below, James Howell says: “Praise is our amazement at God and God’s greatness, our recognition of the power and tenderness of the creator. […] Praise doesn’t ask “What have you done for me lately?” but instead exclaims “How great Thou art!”” For a PEOPLE smart special effect, give your congregation some time to write their own psalm of praise, recognizing that individuals will have different levels of personal involvement in this task. At the end of your service, ask everyone to say at least one verse of their psalm – at the same time – as the benediction! MATH smart – [timestamp]PEOPLE smart – [timestamp]commentary by James Howell, Working Preacher 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 – [timestamp] This passage from Thessalonians has PEOPLE smart infused throughout it. These verses are all about the relationships people have with one another in this particular fellowship. Paul has a great deal of advice and startles us with the command in verse ten. Up to that point, folks are likely unified in agreement with the apostle and then suddenly, we begin looking for the idlers among us. Verse thirteen is the key to interpretation; those who are not work to model Jesus’ grace, mercy, and compassion are the idlers. This takes the steam out of our accusations, doesn’t it? For MATH smart, pull out one of those mystical numbers games that go around from time to time. We have two linked below. The idea behind them is that people are so distracted by the answer, they don’t notice the careful manipulation of the formula. In a similar way, we get sidetracked by verse ten and forget to pay attention to and obey verse thirteen. PEOPLE smart – [timestamp]Commentary by Edward Pillar, Working Preacher (We both used this!)MATH smart – [timestamp]Magical 111Age-birth-year Luke 21:5-19 – [timestamp] Once again, MATH smart is a challenge! That is until David recognized that the logic in this passage is not our logic, but Jesus’ logic. The disciples are surprised to hear him say the massive temple stones will be thrown down and want to know when this will happen. Jesus doesn’t really answer that question. His response to them goes in a variety of directions and to illustrate that, David supplies a recipe for Jesus’ version of scrambled eggs. Check out the worksheet for yourself! Jesus is re-directing the disciples’ focus from their own curiosity to what he wants them to be doing until the temple falls and afterward. Far from inviting us believers to adopt a superior attitude about our relationship as those “in” with Jesus, this passage tells us that we will lose all privilege and be “hated by all because of [Jesus’] name”. We will join the marginalized, the outcast, the reviled, and the despised for Jesus’ sake. For PEOPLE smart, break your congregation into smaller groups and have them ponder the following: Who are the people that we would be willing to be identified with for the sake of Jesus’ gospel of righteousness, justice, truth, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness? Who are we willing to lose all our eggs for so that God can feed others? MATH smart – [timestamp]PEOPLE smart – [timestamp] famous scene in Spartacus Photo by Caroline Attwood on Unsplash. Used by permission.

Hello everyone! Welcome to the show notes! The end is in sight; we have one more Sunday in Ordinary Time, Christ the King Sunday, and then a whole new year of illustrations and special effects in Year A. Whew! This Sunday, the passages are all focused on the future. Job knows that the one who will vindicate him lives, but he really wants to see this with his own eyes. The Psalmist presents himself as righteous and pleads for an audience with God in order to be preserved from enemies. Paul tells the Thessalonians that while there needs to be a time of chaos and lawlessness, don’t lose heart because Jesus’ victory over death will see them through it. And in Luke, the Sadducees ridicule the idea of resurrection and Jesus responds that their narrow view of life and death is simply inadequate. God is not deterred by temporal boundaries. Three years ago, our podcast episode for the week was called Shake it Up! We used the Haggai passage and have different illustrations and special effects for the 2 Thessalonians and Luke passages. In other words, we have more to offer at the link! {By the way, there is some ambient noise in this week’s episode. One of our kids was home for a visit and was doing laundry. What are you gonna do? Sorry for any distraction it may cause. –D2–} Smarts of the Week [01:58] This week, David looks for ways to illustrate NATURE smart, focusing on ways to “bring the outside inside”. I emphasize EYE smart, which encourages using visual stimulation as well as opening the “inner eye” of imagination. Download the worksheets below and if you haven’t yet, click on the links above to read more about the eight intelligences. NATURE smart – [02:37]Download EYE smart – [03:50]Download Texts for the Week Job 19:23-27a – [06:15] It’s not easy being Job. At this point in his story, he is hard pressed to remain faithful to God. The verse “I know that my redeemer lives” is used often in funeral liturgies, but Job is not dead. His life is full of suffering, but he refuses to give up on his hope that “at the last he will stand upon the earth” and “I will see him with my eyes”. Wow. To bring NATURE smart into this, consider using the advertisements from the SPCA about rescued animals. The underlying message of these advertisements is that ONLY YOU CAN HELP – because domesticated animals trust humans. GIVE NOW. Job carries within himself that spark of hope that God is still out there. For EYE smart, think about the way words or images are carved in rock as testament to life, even if that life is no longer around. I have a couple other ideas, too. NATURE smart – [07:43]Sarah McLachlan SPCA commercials and if you can stand it, here’s anotherEYE smart – [09:30]etched in stone:Register Rock, IDThree Rivers Petroglyph, NMcommentary by Brian Jones and Kathryn Schifferdecker at Working Preacher Psalm 17:1-9 – [13:26] In the linked commentary for this passage, Suomala writes that the intimate connection between the Psalmist and God is later linked by Jesus in the Lord’s prayer in Luke 11. This is a WORD smart illustration, for sure, but being the “apple of the eye” is also an intimate connection where the “apple” insists on remaining central in the vision of the “eye”. Try demonstrating this with the special effect I suggest. For NATURE smart, consider how “steps hold fast” while out amid creation and its slippy spots. EYE smart – [14:37]commentary by Karla Suomala at Working PreacherHow the English translation of the Hebrew word “pupil” got around to apple is not entirely clear (WORD smart!)NATURE smart – [17:53]God’s care is like hiking with a walking pole so you don’t slip 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 – [20:44] To bring NATURE smart into this passage, compare Paul’s intention to root the Thessalonians in Jesus’ resurrection to the way oak trees (and other tap root trees) root themselves in the ground. David has some very interesting links about the way and the reason they do this below. For EYE smart, consider the two parts of the selection as poles holding up a tent – and then build it, right there in front of everyone! NATURE smart – [22:33]An oak tree starts with a deep tap root that then develops a broad network of lateral roots.more information about root networks in an article at deeproot.comEYE smart – [26:27]commentary by Mariam Kamell at Working Preacher Luke 20:27-38 – [28:32] The English word “life” in this text is the Greek word “zoe” which is distinguished from “bios” by a quality of living. God is the God of quality life! Of course, that quality is not due to anything material but by relationships. I have a special effect that I hope will demonstrate this; you may need to tweak it a bit for the fundamental meaning to come through. For NATURE smart, substitute the woman and her husbands with caterpillars and butterflies. Maybe even use these to demonstrate my idea for EYE smart! I love it when the intelligences “talk” to each other! EYE smart – [31:12]NATURE smart – [33:01]download the worksheet to see how this passage might be re-interpreted using NATURE smart Photo by Wendy Wei from Pexels. Used by permission.

Hey everyone! We’re back for another episode! We are also at the beach (again) doing a remote podcast (again)! This is the fourth time we’ve done a remote show this year. If nothing else, this is evidence that if you are thinking about doing a podcast but think you may need to be anchored to a recoding studio, this is not the case. If you are willing to have a different “sound” to your show, then take your microphones and hit the road! It occurs to me that the show for three years ago was also done remotely. We really like taking this on the road, don’t we? Anyway, we used the Habakkuk passage last time, so if that’s what you are looking for, click the link! We also were looking at all eight intelligences then, so if you want more than what we’ve supplied this time, click the link! Smart of the Week – [01:59] Today we are emphasizing MUSIC smart and WORD smart. As we’ve mentioned before, both of these intelligences get a lot of exposure in worship – hymns, preludes, postludes, praise music, and choral anthems for MUSIC, and the sermon, prayers, bulletins, and announcements for WORD smart. Of course, you can always push these to include some different sources and styles. Check out the worksheets below to see what we offer. MUSIC smart – [04:27]Download WORD smart – [02:49]Download Texts of the Week Isaiah 1:10-18 – [05:39] Isaiah is holding nothing back in these first verses. God is fed up with the people’s nonsense and lukewarm expressions of worship. God also sees through the hypocrisy of their day-to-day cutthroat existence by telling them they “have blood on their hands.” Whoa. Intense. For WORD smart, I was reminded by reactions on Twitter to an exchange between Whoopi Goldberg and a co-host on The View. Read the threads below to see how they responded to the words she spoke. Maybe people hearing God’s words through Isaiah had a similar response? For MUSIC smart, we have some options listed below. The link to Tom Petty’s song is not to the music itself, but to the story behind its inception. Stevie Nicks had broken up with Joe Walsh of The Eagles. He arrived at a house where Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics was staying with her and Tom Petty and when she saw Walsh, she told him, “Don’t come around here no more!” Maybe God was as exasperated with the peoples’ worship and while God wasn’t telling them to stop showing up, God did want them to examine their lives and attitudes more closely and own up to what they were doing. WORD smart – [07:11]Scholarly Mama tweets about being “told something”EYE smart bonus – [10:30]special effect using fake bloodMUSIC smart – [11:22]“Day By Day, Dear Lord” – Singing the Faith Vs. 12ff – “Don’t Come Around Here No More” Tom Petty“Create in Me a Clean Heart“ Psalm 32:1-7 – [15:31] This psalm possesses both confession and confidence. The first five verses speak to the need to confess and what happens when one does so. The last verses speak to the result of confession. The author is confident that confession will relieve one’s personal soul-struggles and provide a hiding place to recover and be shielded from trouble. For MUSIC smart, we have songs about confession. You can use the plethora of sacred music dedicated to the topic, but don’t turn away from contemporary, secular songs about it, either. Of course, take care for language and situations in the song. For WORD smart, think about ways we use words to confess – like the 12 steps in recovery programs, for example. MUSIC smart – [16:22]“You Are My Hiding Place”“Confession” by Florida-Georgia Line“My Confession” by Ray PriceWORD smart – [19:38]The fifth step of AA 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 – [23:36] Confession doesn’t always need to be an admission of error. A confession could be simply saying what one feels and believes, much like Paul’s confession of love and admiration for the believers to whom he’s writing. How do words of praise and encouragement effect behavior? For WORD smart, think about ways you can emulate Paul using prayer to encourage and motivate your people and their discipleship. For MUSIC smart, think about how overtures for musicals or classical works use elements of what is to come to set it all up right there at the beginning. We have a link to Quincy Jones’ “Soulful Celebration” – a reworking of Handel’s Messiah. It’s definitely worth a listen! WORD smart – [25:27 & 27:39]Ben Witherington III describes the particular prayer practice that Paul uses in the thanksgiving section as a form of a teaching prayer. He says it’s the kind of prayer a parent prays within their children’s earshot so that the kid will hear what his or her parents wants him/her to do.MUSIC smart – [25:51]The Overture for Quincy Jones’ Soulful Celebration Luke 19:1-10 – [29:56] You KNOW this story, your long time members KNOW this story, so exercise those creative muscles to present this story! For MUSIC smart, David suggests using some sound effects as the story is read. We demonstrate how that might sound, too! For WORD smart, look deeper into the parts of the story that tend to get glossed over in a quick, “kid friendly” telling. Three years ago, we talked about what Zacchaeus name means. What else is right there that we might miss? Who were the tax collectors? Did they choose this profession? Why does Jesus pick this one guy in a tree out of all the others to go get lunch with? Why does he call him a “son of Abraham”? Look beyond the words for extra layers. Who really needs to confess? MUSIC smart – [31:10]“Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man”Find some sound effects! I got mine from freesound.orgHere is a list of hymns for this Sunday’s selectionsWORD smart – [35:36]Zacchaeus → from Hebrew : zakak = pure Photograph by Kalhh at Pixabay Used by permission.

Welcome back to the podcast! We’re so close to the end of the Year C cycle!! We’ve been batting around the thought to go back to the format we used for the first three years of the show’s existence. We’ve been both pleased and challenged this year to present illustrations and special effects for only two intelligences per podcast. We’ve also noticed that the other six intelligences have been creeping onto the stage where we’re focusing on only two, and think we may have to simply open the door and let them back in. What is your preference? Leave us a comment below. To see what we did with all the intelligences three years ago, follow this link to Year C, Ordinary 30, 2016. We have illustrations and special effects for the Timothy, Luke, and Joel passages. Smarts of the Week [01:58] Today, we are shining the spotlight on SELF and PEOPLE smart. Follow this link to read an essay by Sharon Ely Pearson, at Building Faith for some information about these and the other six intelligences. SELF – [02:25]Download PEOPLE – [03:25]Download Sirach 35:12-17 – [05:42] Sirach is not a book I’ve spent much time in, so I went looking for some information. According to the commentary linked below, the book was written almost 200 years before Jesus was born. Hellenization was everywhere, and faithful Jews were working hard to keep their identity; Sirach is written to remind the people who and whose they were. Verse 17 gives a great reason to endure in the faith – God will not ignore supplications from the vulnerable. For SELF smart, David thinks this passage would be a good way for people to examine their motivations for giving. How does God’s giving match ours?If anyone thinks they are going to be able to even out accounts with God, they are sadly mistaken, but in a “reverse loan shark” kind of way. Check out the worksheet for some other ideas people may have about why they give to God. The PEOPLE smart illustrations and special effects are similar – the discussion happens in small groups as opposed to time for self reflection. SELF smart – [07:30]PEOPLE smart – [10:23 (commentary) / 11:52]commentary from A Lectionary Resource for Catholicscommentary from Biblewise Psalm 84:1-7 – [14:25] For PEOPLE smart, stick to small discussion groups and talk about the places where people were happy to be in God’s house. Is God’s house the sanctuary? Is is ever the sanctuary? Again, the SELF smart exercises are similar. Finding God’s dwelling place also reveals the source of strength and courage needed to endure. PEOPLE smart – [15:26]SELF smart – [17:58] 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 – [19:48] Using Paul’s history, encourage people to think about how they might support others who endure imprisonment in SELF smart. Amnesty International works to make sure people will be treated humanely and given fair trials. They have also provided ways for individuals to connect with the imprisoned to remind them they are not forgotten. For PEOPLE smart, allow small groups to share times when they have “finished a race”. How long did it take and were they ever tempted to quit? What gave them the strength to keep going? SELF smart – [21:08]Amnesty International works to assure that imprisoned people have received fair due process and humane treatment.One of their responses is letter writing campaigns.PEOPLE smart – [24:17] Luke 18:9-14 – [26:57] Both SELF and PEOPLE smart examine narcissism – how the Pharisee may be expressing it, and how we recognize it in others and ourselves. For PEOPLE smart, you might use the Readers’ Theater script we wrote three years ago. For SELF smart, we have some questions to ponder including how do our own attitudes about “others” endure parables as barbed as this one? Luke 18:9-14 Readers’ TheatreDownload PEOPLE smart – [27:50]Communal narcissismSELF smart – [32:45]Here are some tvtropes on the subject of self-aggrandizementIt’s All About MeLack of EmpathyNarcissistBreak the Haughty Photo by Lucas Pezeta from Pexels. Used by permission.

Welcome everyone! David tells the story that I once told him that I liked dancing with him because he “doesn’t give up.” He seems to think I was commenting on his ability; I was commenting on his willingness to actually get his butt out on the dance floor without having been lubricated by beer. Since I’m writing this, I’m right. Heh. Anyway, the passages for this week emphasize persistence, particularly of the faithful. Jacob wrestles all night long. Paul encourages Timothy to remember where he came from and what he learned in order to bolster his ministry. The Psalm shows the faithfulness of God, which is the basis for our persistence. Jesus tells a short parable demonstrating how persistence pays off. Three years ago, we used the Jeremiah passage instead of Genesis. We also found illustrations and special effects for all eight intelligences. You can see what we did at this link. Smarts of the Week [01:58] Be sure to check out the link to Howard Gardner’s work at the top right corner of this page. We also have a link to a resources page. I’ve added some websites where you can find music useful for Lectionary Sundays. Some concentrate on global and contemporary music, too! MUSIC smart – [02:50]Download NATURE smart – [04:42]Download The Week’s Texts Genesis 32:22-31 – [06:11] Since marrying David, I’ve become a fan of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Jesus Christ Superstar. The musical style is a snapshot of late 60’s / early 70’s rock, but the story endures! As we discussed setting this story to an opera style, we agreed that the whole Jacob cycle would be an excellent source for opera. Someone get on that!! Otherwise, for MUSIC smart you could use one of the linked hymns below, or check out the new music addition to the resources page. For NATURE smart, think about the persistence of animals wrestling with one another. For some of them, the wrestling may mean one of them will die, so the persistence has a life or death quality to it. In a way, Jacob’s all night bout did result in the death of his former identity; he received a new name and may have found the resolve to cross the river and face his estranged brother. MUSIC smart – [07:11]Bless Me, O My Father, Bless Me – B. W. R. Taylor, (c. 1920)O Love That Wilt Not Let Me GoHere, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to FaceFreedom is a Constant Struggle– spiritualThe story could be a grand opera …..…. or a singspielNATURE smart – [11:40]wrestling animals!Mongoose vs. CobraMongoose vs. Black MambaWalrus tusk wrestlingTwo koalasKangaroo boxing10 animal fights Psalm 121 – [14:50] For NATURE smart, think about the hills in your region. (Or, if you live in a very flat spot, think about the lofty structures in your area.) How does the geography of your place influence how you perceive “lifting your eyes to the hills”? For David, growing up in western Pennsylvania, hills were everywhere! For me, growing up with the front range of the Rocky Mountains always to the west, they locked in my location wherever I went. Moving away from them presented some problems in the first year or so! This psalm has a lot of musical adaptations, so for MUSIC smart try one of the songs listed below. I’ve taught VBS music for several years and have discovered that we all learn the words to music more thoroughly if we anchor it with movement, so incorporate some BODY smart sign language, too. NATURE smart – [15:25]Show this or a similar geographic map of Israel. MUSIC smart – [19:27]This psalm is a “song of ascents”.I to the Hills Will Lift Mine EyesI Lift My Eyes – SonicFloodPsalm 121 – All Sons and DaughtersTeach some simple and broad sign language 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 – [21:58] For MUSIC smart, see the listed hymns below. David had a great illustration idea from the movie musical Singin’ in the Rain. In the middle of the movie, Gene Kelly has an extended dance sequence of a young man who comes to the big city because he’s “gotta dance.” Paul is telling Timothy that he’s “gotta preach.” Can you think of any other musical numbers that encourage persistence? For NATURE smart, list some of the more resilient and persistent creatures here on earth. We have camels and rats and cockroaches, and a truly remarkable little critter called a tardigrade. You could also talk about how very resilient our own bodies are and with the advances of medical and health support, we live a lot longer and with greater vigor than our ancestors did (BODY smart bonus). MUSIC smart – [23:28]Lord, Speak to MeO Word of God IncarnateTake My Life and Let it Bean excerpt from the Gotta Dance and Broadway Melody Ballet (because WOW) from Singin’ in the RainNATURE smart – [26:08]Here’s a list of 10 resilient and persistent creatures on earth Luke 18:1-8 – [29:36] David found a lot of videos of persistence in the animal kingdom for NATURE smart. The longer video of the squirrel working its way through the outer hull of a black walnut reminded me of the time I heard a very strange grating sound right outside our second story bedroom window. I looked and there sat a squirrel working on a black walnut. It looked at me looking at it and went right back to its meal. The musical offerings for MUSIC smart are about praying, which Jesus encourages his disciples to do. The parable is about persistence, which made me think of the chanting and singing that protestors do when out in the streets. We heard a lot of interesting chants when we went down to DC for the Women’s March on January 21, 2017. Some cannot be repeated here, but the crowds broke out into song and chants often. Give the widow voice, and write a chant or a protest song for her. NATURE smart – [30:50]persistence in nature = a squirrel working on a walnutand another longer one (and the time-lapse version)A woodpecker banging on a tree; and anotherA beaver gnawing a treeMUSIC smart – [34:09]O Lord, Hear My Prayer – TaizeLord, Listen to Your Children Praying – Ken MedemaSpirit of God, Descend Upon My HeartSeek Ye First Photo from Mark Dixon, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, 2015, and thus used by permission.

Hey all! Welcome to the podcast! This week, we have some stories about healing and a psalm of praise. Na’aman, a general for the king of Aram, is advised to seek out Elisha, a prophet in Samaria, for help with his leprosy. The Psalmist extols the Lord’s mighty deeds and Paul continues to encourage Timothy in his ministry. In Luke, ten lepers call out to Jesus for help. He sends them on to the priests and one of them, discovering he’d been healed, turns back to thank Jesus. Turns out, he’s a Samaritan. Three years ago, we used the Jeremiah passage for the Old Testament text. We also were still attempting to find material for all eight intelligences for three passages. Follow this link to find other illustration than the two we are using for today. Smarts of the Week [01:58] This week, David is covering MATH smart or Logical-Mathematical Intelligence, and I am examining BODY smart or Kinesthetic Intelligence. For more information about Howard Gardner’s work, click the link up there on the right corner of the page. MATH smart people will be engaged by logical reasoning and numbers, and BODY smart people will be attracted to motion, especially if they are invited to move! BODY smart – [02:15]Download MATH smart – [03:26]Download The Week’s Texts: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c – [05:06] For BODY smart, remind your congregation about the indignity of the small, easy action of changing out of street clothes into those paper robes in an examination room. Na’aman may be experiencing this sensation when Elisha tells him to bathe in the Jordan. Turns out, this little, easy thing is the key to healing. For MATH smart, consider the logical response Na’aman’s people have to his outburst. BODY smart – [08:18]commentary by Debi ThomasMATH smart – [11:03]The king of Israel would be Dr. McCoy, in reverse. “I’m a king, not a doctor!” Naaman’s servants (v. 13) would be Mr. Spock (short summary; very long summary) bringing the voice of logic to the table.a fortiori arguments; or greater to lesser arguments Psalm 111 – [14:42] While Psalms are usually like catnip to WORD and MUSIC smart people, the mass of words can be simply a pile of similar words to MATH smart people. So, play to their strength and preference and make a chart or graph out of the words used in this Psalm. For BODY smart, utilize WORD (paying close attention to the definition of “heart” and “compassion”) and MUSIC and design an interpretive dance or movement. Liturgically, this could be the response to the offering or a prayer of dedication. MATH smart – [15:21]How would you graph this Psalm? arbitrary, discrete points, like a bar graph, maybe?as a step function?as a pie chart?BODY smart – [19:05]commentary by Yolanda Nortoncommentary by Wil Gafney 2 Timothy 2:8-15 – [22:27] Paul uses WORD smart himself in the last verses of this selection. He urges Timothy to caution others not to “wrangle over words,” which made me think of Twitter or Facebook fights. Think about how we get twisted up in those and how that makes your body feel. For a BODY smart special effect, do you know anyone who is limber enough to twist up into a pretzel? Maybe doing the yoga pose Eagle? If not, then try the suggested “Word of God, Unchained” illustrations. David continues with the idea of graphing, but this time, using Paul’s “if … then” statements in verses 11-13. He has an example of using the step function graph mentioned in the Psalm on the worksheet. Download it to see what he’s done! BODY smart – [23:28]MATH smart – [26:32] Luke 17:11-19 – [29:45] In these short verses, we see ten lepers call out to Jesus for mercy. Seeing them, he tells them to go show themselves to the priests. As they turn to go, they discover themselves healed! One of the ten returns to Jesus to praise and thank him. For MATH smart, present an idea of reverse decimation. Decimation was a Roman military form of discipline where every tenth man was killed by his compatriots. David has some ways to illustrate a 10th using familiar situations. I like the ones using baseball. For BODY smart, consider that as the ten lepers turned to go see the priests, they were still unclean. It was as they obeyed Jesus that they were healed and cleansed. We are still sick when we leave Urgent Care; it is only in following the prescription given by our doctors that we begin the process of getting well. MATH smart – [30:56]BODY smart – [34:45]commentary by Dennis Sanders Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash; used by permission.

Hey all, welcome to the podcast! We are getting close to the end of this liturgical year; Christ the King is coming! And also the day we celebrate that! Meanwhile, we have this week’s texts to examine. The Old Testament complimentary lesson is from Habakkuk. The prophet proclaims and complains that evil is afoot in the land. The verses the Lectionary Committee omits are a laundry list that hits pretty close to our own contemporary situation, so use that with caution. The Psalmist encourages people not to fret or let the circumstances surrounding them get to them, because it leads to evil. Paul reminds Timothy of his heritage of faith, and the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith in Luke. Three years ago, we used the Old Testament passage from Lamentations and have some other material for 2 Timothy and Luke. You can see what we did for Year C, Ordinary 27, 2016 at the link. Smarts of the Week [01:58] This week, David looks at WORD smart and I have EYE smart. You can read about both and the other six intelligences at these links: Diana Waring – Education That’s Relational, and The Distance Learning Technology Resource Guide, by Carla Lane. Worship tends to be heavily WORD smart and most congregations make great use of EYE smart, but it never hurts to step back and reconsider how each is utilized from week to week. EYE smart – [02:39]Download WORD smart – [03:51]Download The Week’s Texts: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 – [05:49] I’m not entirely sold on how to pronounce the prophet’s name, but his message is quite clear. After the first chapter of listing how the evil seem to have free rein over everyone else, Habakkuk states clearly that he is now waiting and watching to see what God will do about it. He trusts that God will not allow the misbehavior to go on forever or even for much longer. For an EYE smart special effect, bring in some long handled tools that are bent or broken to illustrate the way justice has been twisted. For WORD smart, encourage your congregation to use their own words to complain to God – and then listen for what words God uses in response. EYE smart – [07:29]commentary by Richard NysseWORD smart – [11:50] Psalm 37:1-9 – [14:41] I’m always amused and amazed by how two people can read the same passage and see it from different angles. For EYE smart, I thought that the interpretation of the Hebrew word חָרָה (charah) as “burn” meant that people were surrounded by evil that burns. David thought of the evil being internalized, which presents a danger to the self. Either way, there are some interesting images that can arise out of a word study. You can also make a bulletin insert using words from the psalm for a WORD smart special effect. WORD smart – [15:21]EYE smart – [16:36]commentary by Wil GafneyPPE (personal protection equipment) 2 Timothy 1:1-14 – [20:01] In what ways is your faith in Jesus obvious enough that, seeing it at work in you, someone might approach you for help? Paul reminds Timothy that his faith is a treasure that he needs to shelter and protect. For WORD smart, David remembered a story from A Prairie Home Companion’s Lake Wobegon about a family that discovers they are next in line for the Scottish throne, and how it gives them a different outlook on their lives. For an EYE smart special effect, bring in an object that represents the treasure of your faith and show it to people. EYE smart – [21:21]commentary by Karl JacobsonWORD smart – [22:42]look for the collection News from Lake Wobegon: Fall.  Luke 17:5-10 – [26:07] For a WORD smart activity, show people how do an acrostic using the phrase “INCREASE OUR FAITH.” For EYE smart, have people think about the size of faith; their own and what the disciples may be thinking they need. Using the definition of the word “faith” below, allow for some SELF and PEOPLE smart time to consider how they entered a significant relationship based on trust due to small things WORD smart – [28:03]EYE smart – [29:51]Faith (pistis) is also trust and confidence. This should be a WORD smart link, but by now we all recognize the boundaries are soft and pliable. Photo by Kristopher Roller on Unsplash

Hey Everyone! Welcome to More Than Hearing. We’re glad to have you join us for our weekly tour through the Revised Common Lectionary readings seen through the lens of Multiple Intelligence Theory. We are taking a wee detour from the usual show this week in an effort to jump ahead a bit. Three years ago, we simply skipped three weeks of work (Ordinary 23, 24, and 25) and got ahead that way. This time, we’ve stuck with the lessons but have shortened the work load. Today you are getting two episodes in one! We’re presenting the Old Testament (complimentary) and Gospel selections for Ordinary 25 and Ordinary 26. We have a show for Year C, Ordinary 26, 2016, but we used the Jeremiah passage instead of the Amos passage. We did have some thoughts for the Timothy passage, though! We’ll be back next week with all four passages for Ordinary 27. Smarts for Ordinary 25 [01:59] For Ordinary 25, we will focus on the Amos and Luke passages using MUSIC smart and NATURE smart. We use music all the time in worship, but how often do we use it in sermons? This could be a good week to try it! Nature is challenging to utilize; we truly have to put our imaginations outside or look at a much larger picture presented in a passage. It’s not impossible, but can be quite challenging. Here are our worksheets for these selections. MUSIC smart – [03:09]Download NATURE smart – [04:19]Download Texts for Ordinary 25 Amos 8:4-7 – [05:37] I hear a lot of emotion in this passage from Amos; I hear frustration, some anger, and a whole lot of disappointment. The “elites” are engaged in deceitful practices that are harming the poor, and what else is new? David found MUSIC smart illustrations about cheating someone and has some suggestions about how a theme song could be used in this reading. For NATURE smart, I thought about exploitation – not just of the poor, but of the land. This got me to thinking about The Dust Bowl here in the United States 80+ years ago. Follow the links for some interesting history. MUSIC smart – [06:34]Dream GirlsCarrie Underwood’s song “Before He Cheats”Here is a video with 10 villain themes you could try.Here’s an article with a list of 10 themesNATURE smart – [09:38]The Dust Bowl of the 1930’sA report on wheat pricing and production in the US, Argentina, and Australia for 2019 from the site InformaPLC.An article about the Dust Bowl from History.comAnother article about the Dust Bowl from How Stuff Works. Luke 16:1-13 – [12:39] Deceitful practices continue in the Gospel passage where a steward cheats his master (some more) and insinuates himself with the master’s clients in a way that may be beneficial to him once he loses his position. The connection to NATURE smart is a bit of a stretch; I think it was likely that there was price fixing for commodities which the steward exploits for his gain. I also think that the “eternal home” and “true riches” are the planet God made and gave us. For MUSIC smart, David found an article with examples of music managers and how they cheated their talent out of lots of money. He also wrote the parable out in limerick form: A manager cheated his master,And got caught, so he had to think faster.“Take your bill, mark it down!When I’m fired, I’ll come round.”Thus, he shrewdly averted disaster.– David A. Douthett, 2019, free for use with attribution. NATURE smart – [14:43]Price fixing for cropsMUSIC smart – [19:03]Here’s an article from LA Weekly (filled with profanity, so beware) Smarts for Ordinary 26 [21:12] For Ordinary 26, we emphasize PEOPLE smart and SELF smart. In a way, these intelligences are the most subtle, because I think we use them all the time in sermons, liturgy, and hymns or other music. We use a lot of plural pronouns in prayers and litanies, and the point of most sermons is to get people to think about their individual lives and make some decisions based on Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s call on them. Here are the worksheets for each. PEOPLE smart – [22:40]Download SELF smart – [21:26]Download Texts for Ordinary 26 Amos 6:1a, 4-7 – [24:06] We’ve backed up a bit for this passage and until David reminded me that this is the complimentary Old Testament passage, I was a bit mystified as to why. The images of indulgence at the expense of the poor paints a vivid picture much like that of the rich man in the parable in Luke. Here, those at ease are living the high life without being at all grieved over the fate of others. They are the first to go into exile, then. The indulgence reminded me of the Roaring Twenties until the bottom dropped out of the market. Asking people to consider the strength of their foundations is a good SELF smart question. For PEOPLE smart, David found an old commercial about indulgence and an opinion piece about how economics leads people to think differently. SELF smart – [25:13]Sounds like the life of Riley until verse 6b.The Roaring TwentiesPEOPLE smart – [29:01]“Opulence. I has it.”Here’s an interesting opinion piece from Medium dot com on how rich people and poor people think differently. Luke 16:19-31 – [33:37] For PEOPLE smart illustrations, consider the work of Martin Buber and Walt Disney – two names that don’t often appear together in sentences, I know. Yet, each presents insights to attitudes that affect one’s willingness to consider the dignity and worth of another human being. I have similar illustrations for SELF smart; how does changing places with someone change your perspective on your life? The rich man still didn’t get it even in the tormenting fires of hades. Also for SELF smart, ask people to consider that if they were the rich man in this story, who would be their Lazarus? PEOPLE smart – [34:43]Martin Buber I and ThouSELF smart – [38:02]Trading PlacesThe Prince and The Pauper Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash. Used by permission.

Hey everyone! We’ve lost a couple days this week due to various real work and real world events staking time in our lives. We are doing an abbreviated show this week as a result. We can’t even point you back to our show three years ago, because we skipped it – due to real work and real world events! September is a tough month. At any rate, the Old Testament complimentary selection is from Exodus when God’s patience with the Hebrews comesthisclose to breaking before Moses draws God back into cooler temperatures. In Luke, Jesus tells stories about lost things being found – and heaven rejoices. Smarts of the Week [01:58] We found a new website with some information about Gardner’s theory! We have some examples written by Kendra Cherry at VeryWellMind. Check it out! Today, we are concentrating on BODY and MATH smart for illustrations and special effects. BODY smart – [03:00]Download MATH smart – [04:12]Download This Week’s Texts Exodus 32:7-14 – [05:49] I often wonder what it might have been like to be in Moses’ shoes in this story. There he was, on a dark and threatening mountain, receiving the law directly from God. WOW! I imagine every hair on his body was standing on end. I imagine him anchored fully in the experience. Then, suddenly, God is really angry and is telling him to go back down because HIS people were misbehaving! For BODY smart, David suggests experiencing God’s anger; God was giving them the means for life and prosperity, and they were down there worshipping a golden calf. Infuriating! For MATH smart, Moses had to step in and reason God back from the brink of destroying them. He does this by reminding God of God’s reputation with the Egyptians. This seems to be enough; plus, Moses refuses to let God disavow the covenant. Pretty smart. MATH smart – [07:34] BODY smart – [09:58] Luke 15:1-10 – [14:08] Jesus tells these two stories in today’s passage as a response to the Pharisees and scribes griping about his associations with tax collectors and sinners. The ultimate point of all three parables in this chapter (the third, about the two lost sons, we did some weeks back) is that God places great value on all of us, especially those who have strayed and become lost. The return of the lost is cause for rejoicing in heaven. For BODY smart, stick with the idea of experiencing the emotion of the story in your own body. We have a story about losing our son in a large crowd and how that has stayed with us 22 years later. Our relief at being reunited with him was palpable. For MATH smart, look up the value of silver and crunch some numbers to illustrate the woman’s efforts to find her coin. BODY smart – [15:04]MATH smart – [20:30]Four out of five dentists recommend Trident gum.More about that fifth dentist….Here is the price for a gram, an ounce, and a kilo of silver.A sestertius weighs about 28 grams. A shekel weighs 13.61 gramsThe Greek text uses the word drachma, which is a Greek coin. Here’s a listing that includes some drachmas (tetradrachms) at wildwind.com (about 1/3 down the page) Photo from Pixabay, free to use.

Hey everyone! We’re back with another show – and we think we have a good idea why we did not publish a show for this week’s lessons three years ago. They are hard! Each one of them contains within them a choice. For Deuteronomy, Moses sets before the people the choice of following God’s commands and having a long life in the land or not following God’s commands and perishing quickly. The Psalm lesson immediately sets up a contrast between the wicked and the righteous as those who do or don’t delight in the law. Paul writes to Philemon and gives him the choice to accept his returning slave as a brother – or allow him to remain with Paul as his assistant. And Jesus in Luke tells people that in order to be his disciple, they must place following him above everything else, including their own lives. Whew – difficult choices await us this week. How will we choose to preach and lead worship with these texts? We have a few ideas. Smarts of the Week [01:58] This week, we are considering EYE smart or visual/spatial intelligence. Charts, maps, and graphs as well as photographs and videos are all excellent EYE smart tools. See the worksheet below for some insights or click the link on Dr. Gardner’s work at the top of the page. We are also focusing on WORD smart or linguistic intelligence. Use word puzzles, word games, rhymes, and puns to engage these folks. See the worksheet below for more information. EYE smart – [02:36]Download WORD smart – [04:27]Download The Week’s Texts Deuteronomy 30:15-20 – [06:37] In the verses for this Sunday, Moses is giving the Israelites some final advice before they cross the river Jordan and he crosses over to God. He tells the people that their choice is plain and simple. They can choose God and life, or they can not choose God and suffer serious consequences. For EYE smart, give people some visual representations of before and after pictures to illustrate the stark contrast between the two options. Keep in mind, a bombed-out city is not the result of an entire peoples’ choice for or against God; the idea is the shocking difference. For WORD smart, illustrate the people hearing (and hopefully obeying) the words of God the way a crew team hears and obeys a coxswain. I also have some fun anagram puzzles based on this passage. EYE smart – [07:49]before and after pictures of various war zones, like these of SyriaUse  a Jenga® set WORD smart – [11:14] Listening to God’s commands is like being a crew member paying attention to the calls of the coxswain.See the worksheet for some Ana-grammars. Use Inge’s Anagram Generator to find words for your own puzzles! Psalm 1 – [15:52] We have mentioned before that the Greek word for sin is ἁμαρτία (hamartia) or “missing the mark.” Lo and behold, the Hebrew word for sin is חָטָא (chata) or “miss the mark.” Sin is not making the goal or going wrong. Conveying this idea through word definitions, word puzzles, or Isaac Watt’s poem would be a great way to engage WORD smart people. For EYE smart, think about the way that researchers watch over rodents in a test maze as an illustration for the way the Lord watches over the righteous. This is not to say that we are rats in a lab, but that God pays close attention to us to see how we will make decisions and live them out. There may even be cheese at the end of it! WORD smart – [16:34]Make a crossword using words from this psalm.Or a word search!See the worksheet for the poem by Isaac Watts.EYE smart – [19:54]Describe the classic scientific investigation of mice or rats in a mazeSee also Tryon’s Rat Maze for more detail on one early test.Here’s a video of some rats going through an amateur maze. Philemon 1:1-21 – [22:43] David combines MATH and WORD smart for an EYE smart special effect for this passage. Paul uses some interesting techniques in this letter in order to elicit a hoped-for response from Philemon. Take a look at the EYE smart worksheet to see where these words are and how you can make a chart to show them to your congregation. (There is some PEOPLE smart in this exercise in that Paul is hoping to push the right combination of buttons to motivate Philemon to his position.) For WORD smart, try to identify the different types of documents contained in this letter. I think there is a character reference, a legal negotiation, and a sermon about grace and mission. What else might there be? EYE smart – [25:01]See the worksheet for the chartWORD smart – [27:33]Is Paul’s letter to Philemon a sly way to get what he wants? Like Jimmy Fallon’s thank you notes? Luke 14:25-33 – [30:03] Take a look at the WORD smart worksheet to see some more Greek words used in the passage. How they are translated into English may provide some other insight into what Jesus is telling the crowds. We shy away from this passage because the Greek word is “hate” – but it is also used comparatively, much like Moses in Deuteronomy and the Psalmist. Jesus is pushing the people to see that their choice to follow him is plain and that the consequences of doing so are steep. Is he giving people an out, or is he just warning them to consider carefully? For EYE smart, make a poster with a thermometer and fill it up with the items listed on the worksheet. WORD smart – [31:34]EYE smart – [34:58]Got some help from the Feasting On the Word Commentary for this passage, Year C, Vol. 4 Photo by Oliver Roos on Unsplash. Used by permission.

Hey all! We’re back for another episode of Multiple Intelligence Theory illustrations and special effects. We looked back over our show three years ago and are a bit mystified as to why we do not have anything for Ordinary 22, 23, or 24. We put up a Feedback Loop episode in place of Ordinary 22 and left two weeks out of the cycle. Which is to say, we do not have any other options to offer this week other than what we prepared. The passages for this week are about honor and shame and hospitality. Let’s go see what we found for the two intelligences for this week. Smarts of the Week [01:58] David looked at NATURE smart this week while I concentrated on SELF smart. NATURE smart includes geology, biology, categorization and classification, botany, and anything that involves connecting with the great outdoors in a non-sporting manner. SELF smart involves time to reflect on one’s inner world; thoughts, feelings, hopes, and opportunity to meditate or pray. The worksheets for each intelligence are available for download below. SELF smart – [02:16]Download NATURE smart – [03:34]Download The Week’s Texts Luke 14:1, 7-14 – [05:31] This story is full of drama; the authorities are watching Jesus while he in turn watches others. For SELF smart, I wondered if being under the microscope affected Jesus in any way. I found a documentary about this very thing – I’m eager to watch it when it airs on POV next month. David suggests a NATURE smart illustration through applying something like social Darwinism. [David also misspoke in the episode when commenting on being watched in a surveillance society; Londoners are said to be on camera over 300 times per day!] SELF smart – [07:14]The Feeling of Being Watched, a documentary based on journalist Assia Boundaoui‘s life in Chicago. Here is a teaser to the show which aired last spring at the Tribeca Film Festival.commentary by Bill Loadercommentary by Andy NasselliNATURE smart – [12:15]“the fittest” as described in this article from socratic.org Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 – [16:46] The author of Hebrews encourages readers to be in tune with one another’s spirits in order to be in harmony with one another. For NATURE smart, David came across some people discussing whether animals can sense or understand human’s emotional states. The author also urges readers to offer fruits of praise, so bring in some fruit! For SELF smart, I found a sermon illustration about entertaining angels that has its own internal illustration! By throwing in a bit of WORD smart study, we can ponder what it means to act towards strangers the way we would toward those we know and love. NATURE smart – [18:20]a conversation on a forum (Chronicle of the Horse .com) SELF smart – [20:41]This sermon by Philip McLarty has an interesting story about hospitality to strangers.entertaining angels or showing hospitality which is “love of philo strangers xenia” is the exact opposite of xenophobiaHere is a google search for ways to be a prison pen pal. Psalm 112 – [25:20] I must admit that often my SELF smart reflections often begin with a WORD smart romp through translations and definitions. The Psalmist insists that those whose righteousness is founded in GOD will never be shaken. I looked up the Hebrew word and have some thoughts about how that might work both physically and emotionally. For NATURE smart, David melds SELF smart and the experience of being up before sunrise. SELF smart – [26:04]never be moved = מוֹט or not be shakenNATURE smart – [29:02]Here’s a longer, similar description of the experience of dawn with a bunch of SELF Smart thrown in from The School of Life .com. Sirach 10:12-18 – [32:03] We have never used anything outside the canon to which we are accustomed, so venturing into Sirach was fun. It may have been more fun if we had included more than two intelligences – I think there is much more to unearth in these verses. At any rate, David thinks these verses could be demonstrated by bringing in some plants and literally uprooting and replanting them. Moving to SELF Smart, a commentary at Catholic Culture defines pride as sin. “God may know what is good in some things, but in this thing, I know better. He says it is bad; I know it is good.” How often have we gotten ourselves into hot water by thinking this way? This may be a chance to reconnect with God through spiritual disciplines. NATURE smart – [34:02]SELF smart – [36:17]Commentary at Catholic CultureSoul Shepherding has a list of spiritual disciplines for reconnecting with God.Church Leaders has 12 disciplines. Proverbs 25:6-7 – [38:30] We don’t get to use the book of Proverbs very often, either. I took it upon myself to read through them a couple years ago using Richard J. Clifford’s work in the Interpretation commentary Old Testament Library Series: Proverbs. I recommend this book! Jesus was obviously a scholar of Proverbs – these two verses are the basis for his story in Luke. Photo by Tembela Bohle from Pexels. Used by permission.

Hey everyone! Welcome to the next episode! As I am working on the show notes, I’m also listening to a football game on television. I grew up in Colorado, and on Sundays in the fall, we would come home from church and eat the meal my mother had slow roasting in the oven while we were gone. After lunch, my father would turn on the Denver Broncos game, and I would lie down on the floor where the sun came through the windows with the Sunday comics from The Rocky Mountain News. A hour or so later, I would wake up, my dad would still be sleeping, and the Broncos had lost. For me, the sound of a football game carries with it life long associations of food, sunshine, and naps. I don’t expect that anymore, especially when games are on at night, but it’s hard to shake it. The passages for today all reveal expectations, especially in the Gospel. In Isaiah, God expects the people to remember who God is and who they are and for them to act like it. The Psalm does remember who God is and sings a hymn of gratefulness for God’s steadfast presence. The author of Hebrews imagines the responses of people at two different mountains expecting God to show up. And in Luke, Jesus heals someone who likely expected to live her life as usual, while the authority figure expected the sick to have more respect for the law. Jesus has other expectations. Three years ago, we chose to use the Isaiah passage, as well as Hebrews and Luke, so you can click over to that episode here and see what we did with them. At that time, we were not using the Psalm. Smarts of the Week – [01:58] This week, we focus on MUSIC and PEOPLE smart for the podcast. Here is a list of selected hymns for this Sunday from Hymnary.org. Most churches use MUSIC smart every week in worship. They also use PEOPLE smart , although it is usually more subtle and unconscious. Download the worksheets below! MUSIC smart – [04:00]Download PEOPLE smart – [02:52]Download This Week’s Texts: Luke 13:10-17 – [06:23] Ah, this is more like the Jesus we expect, not like the guy bringing swords and fire from last week’s passage. Here, Jesus is compassionate and heals a woman who had been bound by a spirit that kept her bent over for 18 years. Wait, someone objects to this? And then Jesus sets him straight and calls him a hypocrite? Luke is showing us a Jesus who does not shy away from confrontation, especially when human suffering is at stake. He has some expectations. David presents a really wonderful story in PEOPLE smart, and I have a list of hymns and songs for MUSIC smart. PEOPLE smart – [08:04]Here’s a link to a story on facebook about a man who was bent over.MUSIC smart – [13:18]We Cannot Measure How You Heal John Bell ( the link goes to sheet music, but the words are great poetry )A Touching Place John Bell – this link has the lyrics and melody.Healer of My Soul John Michael Talbott Hebrews 12:18-29 – [15:43] The author of Hebrews has listed the giants of the faith and the suffering of the saints prior to today’s passage. Now, he starts making comparisons between mountains, namely Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion. Each mountain has fire and the trumpeting voice of God. Yet, while the people and Moses trembled with fear, those who approach Mt. Zion can expect to encounter a heavenly festival! I’m not entirely convinced that wouldn’t be terrifying as well, frankly. For PEOPLE smart, remind your congregation of a time when they persisted in misbehavior until an authority figure appeared. I have more hymns and poetry for MUSIC smart. MUSIC smart – [17:52]Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayers  Andrew ReedAll Consuming Fire Jack Mooring, Leland Mooring, and Michael FarrenO Comforting Fire of Spirit Hildegard of BingenBefore Thy Throne, O God, We Kneel William Boyd CarpenterSend Down the Fire  Marty HaugenCommentary by Timothy Adkins-Jones at Working PreacherPEOPLE smart – [20:48] Psalm 103:1-8 – [23:19] God’s intention is to bless us with good things. We tend to forget that, or forget what those good things are as God defines them. For PEOPLE smart, David found another story about a woman who forgot important things about herself and her life due to a head injury. She is taking the risk to remember by re-living a relationship. In a way, she is living out the promise of this psalm, expecting love to see her through. I have even MORE music and poetry! PEOPLE smart – [24:14]Here is a story on facebook about a woman who lost her memoryMUSIC smart – [27:31]10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord, My Soul)– Matt RedmanBless the Lord – from Godspell (1973)Bless the Lord – TaizeCommentary by Scott Hoezee (Center for Excellence in Preaching) – Paul McCartney’s answer to his critics re: sappy love songs? Silly Love Songs one of his biggest hits. So there! Isaiah 58:9b-14 – [30:11] These verses are the end of the chapter that begins with some harsh words from God about the obstinance of the people. By the time we get to verse 9b, God is once again reminding the people of their obligation to live as a holy people, which the hymns and poetry listed below address for MUSIC smart. The language is covenantal so bring in some lease agreements or contracts or your own bylaws for PEOPLE smart to demonstrate how we expect certain actions from one another. In this chapter, we see what actions God expects of us. MUSIC smart – [32:44]Return to God Marty HaugenSuggestions for hymns from Hymnary.orgO Breath of Life Bessie Porter HeadSabbath Sings a Quiet Song, (poem set to Proctor Springs) Terry W. York and C. David BolinPEOPLE smart – [34:59] Photograph copyright : Jaromír Chalabala at 123rtf Photos. Used by permission.

Hey everyone! Welcome to the show. How did it get to be that time when people are starting back to school again?! Even though we’re heading into a new academic year here in the U.S., there is still plenty of time left in our Liturgical year. Yet, the passages for this week all seem more apt for The End as they speak of judgment, fire, rocks breaking, walking in darkness, divisions among families, and many awful ways people of faith were treated in the past. Wow. We have before us this week a lot of theological fodder; how do we present God as transcendent and holy and at the same time immanent and compassionate? Where is the grace in families being divided because of Jesus? How do we encourage people who prefer to stumble in the darkness rather than turn on the lights to see the carnage of our disobedience? We have some ideas that may help. We have some other ideas from our show three years ago, too. Click this link – Year C, Ordinary 20, 2016 – to explore our thoughts from the last cycle. David really likes interpretive movement! You can download the worksheets for last time and check out the links, too. Smarts of the Week [01:58] This week we are concentrating on BODY smart and WORD smart but the other intelligences are sneaking in and eating the snacks. We intend to continue emphasizing two per week, but may need to start inviting the others back since they seem to be crashing the party. Meanwhile, you can download the worksheets for this weeks’s show below. BODY smart – [04:40]Download EYE Smart – [02:50]Download The Week’s Texts: Jeremiah 23:23-29 – [06:20] In this week’s passage, Jeremiah steps aside and lets YHWH speak for Himself. Uh oh. When God takes over from the prophets, the word that comes is not one to be disregarded. YHWH begins by asking whether or not He is a god who is nearby or far off. In the summer 1998 edition of Word and World, Mark Hillmer writes: “God is both inexpressibly transcendent and unspeakably immanent.” EYE smart includes spatial relationships, so you could illustrate God’s nature with a cosmic version of Red Light / Green Light. For BODY smart, bring in some rocks and hammers and talk about how God may be breaking rocks in pieces not to destroy them, but to shape them for use. How might that idea affect the way your congregation faces difficult times? (Encourage your PEOPLE to discuss that.) EYE smart – [07:49]Red Light / Green Light BODY smart – [11:11]a video of someone splitting rocks with a hammerthis video from Ask This Old Housethis unusual rock fall Psalm 82 – [15:46] The Psalms are ancient hymns. Sometimes, it helps to learn hymns by attaching motions to them (which is a MUSIC smart lesson), so David has developed some interpretive movement for this psalm. You can invite the congregation to mirror the actions as the words are read – which engages BODY smart people – or watch as others do it. This will engage EYE smart people! For another EYE smart idea, invite your congregation to think about ways people “take a stand.” Have they ever stood strong for something? This idea encourages visualization and some SELF smart reflection based on a WORD smart translation. See what I mean about the other intelligences sneaking back in? We’re gonna need more pretzels…. BODY smart – [19:14]see the worksheet for interpretive movementEYE smart – [20:05]borrowing a bit from WORD smart, take his place can be translated as “take a stand” Hebrews 11:29-12:2 – [22:24] As I read this passage, I thought the author’s clear intention was to build on the faith of people from the past and top it all off with Jesus’ faithfulness. So, for an EYE smart special effect, get blocks and build them up, with each block representing a person and the way they exhibited faithfulness. [This could tie in with the shaping of rocks for a structure from Jeremiah.] When you reach the two verses from chapter twelve, top the structure with Jesus’ cross. You could invite some others forward to help you build – be sure to include your BODY smart people! David wondered if training to run a race is aided by ankle weights. You’d think it would, but it turns out that it does not. In fact, it may be detrimental. If you have any runners in your congregation, engage those BODY smart people by asking them how they “throw off the weight” that holds them back and how they get ready to run a race. For an added SELF smart bonus, invite people to name the weight [i.e. sin] as they get rid of it. EYE smart – [24:27] Faith is like building blocks!BODY smart – [26:25]Here’s an article/podcast from Runner’s Connect [“.net,” not “.com” as stated in the episode] that suggests that training with ankle weights increases the chance of injury as well as putting extra stress on your joints. Luke 12:49-56 – [30:09] For an interesting BODY smart special effect, go sit among a family – put yourself physically in their space as you refer to Jesus’ coming division. (Here we find MATH smart in the passage. SEE?!? Someone call for a pizza.) You could also illustrate Jesus’ increasing stress as he gets closer to Jerusalem. For an EYE smart illustration and special effect, use the images of clouds at the link below and then provide images of signs we reflexively notice. Are there other signs that require clear vision to see? BODY smart – [32:24]EYE smart – [36:24] post pictures from this article from AccuWeather Photo copyright : Brian Jackson at 123rf.com. Used by permission.

Hey everyone! Welcome to the show! I’ve heard it said that birds will rest on the thinnest branches even when they are blowing about in the wind, not because they trust that the branch will hold them but because they trust in their wings. All the passages for this week share the common theme of faith. In Genesis, God is reassuring Abram to keep the faith. Abram is getting a little anxious about the promised offspring and thinks Eliezer of Damascus will inherit his stuff, but God tells him to go outside and look at the night sky. The Psalmist and the author of Hebrews are also taking an eternal look at the story of God’s people. In Luke, Jesus tells the disciples to be aware that God may act at any time. We have been linking to our show from the previous Year C cycle with the intention of giving you all some extra information for the intelligences we are not covering for the week. Hopefully, this has been helping, but this week it may not. We were on the road for a funeral three years ago and did not get much done. We had some very early thoughts on our worksheets that you can download here. Smarts of the Week [01:58] This week, we are looking at MATH and WORD smart. As always, the worksheets are available for download below! MATH smart – [02:44]Download WORD smart – [04:20]Download Texts of the Week Genesis 15:1-6 – [06:17] As David contemplated this passage through the WORD smart lens, he heard in the verses Abram express strong desire for God’s promise to be fulfilled. He was eager for the child who would inherit from him and started thinking that his servant was going to get it all. God comforts him, telling him that God has not forgotten about the promise. The back and forth sounded to David like poetry. Below, you will find a link to different types of poetry; click through and try one of these options to re-present the story in these verses. God has reiterated the promise to Abram that his own child will inherit from him. He then takes him outside and tells him to look at the night sky and count the stars, “if he is able.” While this is a fantastic NATURE smart element – think about what the night sky in ancient Israel must have looked like! – it is also the basis for MATH smart illustrations and special effects. The night sky is filled with stars that can be counted, or at least estimated, if you know some formulas and have some cardboard tubes lying around! WORD smart – [07:24]Here is a list by Rebecca Hussey from BookRiot.com of quite a few different poetic forms.MATH smart – [10:20]This website has some ways of grouping zeros to help “count” large numbers.This link will give you a fun way to count the stars that could be done as a homework experiment.Universe explained in 10 seconds plus the attending article in The Atlantic Psalm 33:12-22 – [13:14] The verse that first caught my attention for MATH smart, can also be used for EYE and NATURE smart. The Psalmist writes that God “looks down from heaven” and “sees all humankind.” I thought of the Overview Effect that we have referred to in the past. In short, astronauts have seen our home from 254 miles above the ground, and the experience has been life changing – which has some SELF smart flavor! The Psalmist also refers to God as our help and shield, which made me think of the ancient Macedonian aspis, a rounded shield used to great effect. Encourage your MATH smart people to design a shield for modern purposes. This psalm made David think of the game of chess, which is very MATH smart for problem solving, strategy, and planning, but can also be very dramatic if told in narrative form. A bit of searching came up with an interesting list of writings with chess in either a starring or supporting role. The image that sparked this thought is of God, looking down on earth from heaven, pondering the fate of those who live there. MATH smart – [14:39]the Overview Effectthe aspis – a round and domed shield made of woodWORD smart – [17:53]Here’s a list of chess related novels and stories. Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 – [20:59] The word “faith” appears in these verses seven times, so the author of Hebrews wants us to pay attention to it! The word has a particular translation in Greek, and in English there are several definitions and synonyms for the word. For a WORD smart illustration (and special effect), try substituting one or more of the many definitions in English for the word as it appears in the passage. How does the different word change the way you hear the passage? Maybe have different people read the verses with the different translations. The verse that caught my attention for MATH smart was the mention of foundations built by God. This past February, we used yoga blocks, duct tape, and a sturdy, flat piece of wood to “build” a demonstration for 1 Corinthians 13 (the link to that show is below). Pull out all that material again and rebuild the foundation of faith! WORD smart – [23:32]In most cases, pistei is translated as “in faith” or “in the faith,” but in Hebrews it is repeatedly translated as “by faith.”Webster’s definitions of faithJohn Calvin’s Institutes, 3.2.7MATH smart – [27:30]commentary by Amy Peeler at Working PreacherCivilblog.org has a checklist for constructing a foundation, with graphs!We suggested this idea a while back using yoga blocks, duct tape, and a flat piece of wood, so if you did not get to try it last time, do it this time!! (See COrdinary4x2019, 1 Corinthians 13) Luke 12:32-40 – [29:46] Part of working with MATH smart is to look for logic and reason and large concepts. Jesus provides an opportunity to engage with these as he encourages the disciples to sell possessions and give alms. In order to convince people to part with their “stuff”, you need a compelling reason. After a bit of a search, I came across something called effective altruism. In essence, it is a philosophical movement that encourages thorough and thoughtful philanthropy. Do another word study for WORD smart! There are different characters in this story – the master and a thief. We usually think of Jesus as the master but the last verse could also be interpreted to show Jesus as a thief! He isn’t necessarily going to steal your silverware, but his appearance in life is often unexpected. Which image do we prefer? In which role do we most often experience Jesus? MATH smart – [31:56]Boston Review: an article about “effective altruism.”WORD smart – [35:40]commentary from Mark Davis at Left Behind and Loving It Image credit: Photo by Anders Nord on Unsplash

Hey everyone! We’re back from two weeks of vacation and right in the middle of Vacation Bible School! Our timing is questionable. Yet, we are ready to go with some illustrations and special effects for Ecclesiastes 1-2, Psalm 49, Colossians 3, and Luke 12. Three years ago, we looked at the Epistle and Gospel lessons for this day, and you can always go there and take a look at what we did with them. The passages below all speak to how we make space in our hearts for God. Jesus states this explicitly in Luke – “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” The Psalmist is more pragmatic about life and death: “When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others.” Qoholeth tends toward pessimism and that everything is “chasing after the wind.” Colossians is the hopeful passage this week when Paul states that our lives are “hidden in Christ.” We have many paths from which to choose for sermons and liturgy. Smarts of the Week [01:58] This week, we are concentrating on NATURE and SELF smart. As always, you can click our links at the top right corner of the page for resources about all the intelligences. Our worksheets are available for download, too! NATURE Smart – [02:55]Download SELF Smart – [03:55]Download Texts for the Week Luke 12:13-21 – [06:03] NATURE smart is not obviously present in this passage except for the wealthy man’s delight at an abundant crop from his fields. This got me to wondering what kind of crop it might have been, which led me to a few different websites with some really fascinating information about food production in our world. This may seem like a strange tangent, but if you update the story to include modern cash crops, you can see why the rich man was so eager to enlarge storage – he was now very rich! For SELF smart, the question put to Jesus at the beginning of the passage struck David as a bit passive aggressive and a text-book case of triangulating. These approaches elicit responses in other people, so encourage your congregation to think about how they feel when someone tries this with them. Also, Jesus immediately identifies the reason behind the question and responds with this story about priorities. NATURE smart – [07:52]a list of the ten crops that feed the worldNational Geographic has an interactive map with the geographical location of production for these foods.The Environmental Literacy Council has some recommended resources and links to treaties and farm bills.According to Visual Capitalist, the most lucrative cash crop is marijuana.The Food and Drug Administration has tips for safe food storage.I also found an updated Tupperware system called Silo. Tupperware still exists!Alan’s Factory Outlet has 15 tips for storing food in a shed.SELF smart – [12:22]Here’s a brief article about the passive aggressive question the man asked Jesus from Psychology Today.Here’s a little bit about triangulation at wikipedia. Colossians 3:1-11 – [15:26] For SELF smart, give your congregation some tools to aid contemplation. David has a few links below that could help people focus their attention to “things that are above” in contrast to “things that are on earth.” A first step would be to define the two and make comparisons. I didn’t think there would be anything for NATURE smart until I got to verse 9 where Paul talks about stripping off the old. It made me think of leaves falling off trees in the fall. Plants will drop leaves for a variety of reasons, not just seasonal changes. To illustrate Paul’s point about removing from our lives (and hearts and minds) the old habits of yesterday, bring in some fall leaves and talk about how it is necessary for the health of a tree to let go of them. This might help get you into a SELF smart meditation, too! SELF smart – [16:30]Here is a meditation on vs. 12-14, which is next week, but it will give you an idea of the form.Here is a meditation on visualization from ChristAudio.comHere is a meditation from Encounter on vs. 2.NATURE smart – [19:31]plants will abscise or cut away parts of themselvesleaf drop can signal a problem with a plant Psalm 49:1-12 – [22:28] Again, I wasn’t sure I was going to find anything to hook NATURE smart people until the end of the psalm selection where humans and animals are connected by mortality. Are we also connected by an awareness of our mortality? I found a link to an article at Psychology Today that considers the possibility. In SELF smart, ask your congregation to think about the way we are so prone to use euphemisms for death. Why do we do this? And how do we react when the subject comes up? The psalmist is very pragmatic about death; it’s going to happen to everyone and even the animals will not escape this fate. Is this attitude helpful or not? NATURE smart – [23:38]Do animals have an awareness of their own mortality?bios life vs.  zoe lifeSELF smart – [25:51] Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 – [30:44] Continuing with the theme of death and the futility of getting away from it, for SELF smart help your congregation think about the options we have available to us to deal with the inevitability of death. Check out the worksheet for some options David lines up. Also, is our certainty of resurrection sometimes a “cheat” when we talk about death? Do we use this promise as a way of avoiding the topic? Give your people a chance to emulate Shakespeare and write a soliloquy a la Hamlet. I think Qoholeth may have been less jaded about “chasing after the wind” if he had known about the wind chasers in South Africa! Or the people who run up the Himalayas! For a NATURE smart special effect, bring in a small(ish) kite and a fan. Set the kit aloft and then have someone else move the fan or even turn it off for a second or two to demonstrate the capricious nature of air currents. SELF smart – [32:00]soliloquies and ponderings from Hamlet – “To be, or not to be” and “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio….”NATURE smart – [36:18]Would Qoheleth been so sour if he had known about this kind of wind chasing?Wind chasing is also running around in the Himalayas A quick Google search for “working in the sun” returned so many articles and tips that I’m just going to link to that page Photo credit: viteethumb at 123rf.com. Used by permission.

Hello friends and colleagues! We are still on vacation and can’t get a new episode out for you, but we are not abandoning you. Here is our previous episode from Year C, Ordinary 17, from 2016! You can listen to it right here, but for the show notes, click on over to the original episode’s page.

Hello friends and colleagues! This week we are on vacation and can’t get a new episode out for you, but we have something almost as good. It’s our previous episode from Year C, Ordinary 16, from 2016! You can listen to it right here, but for the show notes, click on over to the original episode’s page.

Hey everyone! Welcome to the show! We have some fun illustrations and special effects to share with you this week. The Gospel passage is the very familiar parable of the Good Samaritan. Paul greets the Colossians with a lot of enthusiasm and the Psalmist is eager to be kept from shame and ridicule. In Deuteronomy, the people are reminded that all they need to live a prosperous life in the land is contained in the book of the law. It’s really that simple. Program Note! We’ll be taking some time off after this week’s podcast. We’ve got some family time and travel coming up, so we’re going to post the shows we did three years ago. I was looking them over and thought we had some pretty good ideas! Here’s what we did three years ago for Year C, Ordinary 15, 2016. We used the Amos passage instead of Deuteronomy. Smarts of the Week [01:58] This week, we are concentrating on WORD and MATH smart. You can follow these links to read more about all the intelligences, especially for faith formation. Sharon Ely Pearson is the author at that link. Diana Waring is an educator who we’ve referenced before, as well. The worksheets with all our notes are below for download. MATH smart – [06:00]Download WORD smart – [03:48]Download Texts for the Week Luke 10:25-37 – [07:41] What else can be said about this parable? It’s a bit daunting to find something fresh from such a well known passage. Fortunately, using the Multiple Intelligence Theory lens offers some different insights. I was truly impressed with how much MATH smart can be found there! David found a study about offering assistance using students from our alma mater Princeton Theological Seminary (several years before we were there) with some surprising results. I think this is the golden nugget for the week; preach this, because it works! I found a couple sermons that use a different focus for telling the story for WORD smart. You could also find out just how well everyone knows this story by inviting your congregation to recall it before you read it. Like the Nativity story, this could generate some telling results. Just how much do we pay attention to the detail of the written story, and how much to we embellish with our own imagination or traditions? MATH smart – [18:16]Here’s a video summarizing the Darley-Batson Good Samaritan study at Princeton Theological Seminary.The figures and statistics can be found in this article.Similarly, on the “bystander effect” and other studies that refute it from this article on aeon.comConsider exploring Jewish laws about neighbors. Here’s one summary.Here is another article that traces Jewish thought on understanding the second great commandment. Highly recommended!WORD smart – [14:00]Retelling the parable with a modern update is effective. Take a look at this one.This sermon suggests looking at the story from the point of view of the man beaten by robbers. Colossians 1:1-14 – [15:46] Paul is eager to make the Colossians acquaintance, because he has heard how they have embraced the Gospel of Jesus. He has heard that they have received it and are bearing much fruit because of it. The Greek word “ἀκούω” is used four times in these verses with varied prefixes and tenses. It means both “to hear” and “to listen,” and I think Paul is stressing the latter translation in his writing. Exploring definitions and how they affect interpretation is a lovely WORD smart exercise. The Colossians are transformed by this new message, which made David think about the way the concept of “zero” changed mathematics. Your MATH smart people will be all over this illustration! WORD smart – [17:03]What happens when we hear.How to make the most of when we listen.MATH smart – [20:16]the invention of zero Psalm 25:1-10 – [23:03] The psalmist wants God to both remember him and forget his transgressions. For MATH smart, remind people about the memory function on calculators! For WORD smart people, explore the definition of “exult” and the way the psalmist uses it hoping to avoid his enemy’s taunts. Also, in verse 9, the psalmist hints that the humble are the best candidates for God’s education. I think this is very true, and you can use the NPR Sunday puzzler to support this claim! MATH smart – [24:00]WORD smart – [26:09]exult defined; taunt definedSchoolyard taunts can be brutal – or really obscure.The Guardian reports on an exchange between Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw. Word puzzles on the Sunday morning Puzzler on NPR by Will Shortz Deuteronomy 30:9-14 – [31:50] In our pre-post-literate world, the written WORD had a lot of authority. Remember playing a board game and running into a situation that required looking up the rules? Or cooking a new dish and forgetting which ingredient was next on the list? Nowadays, we’re more likely to turn to a video to find the answers, but <oldladyvoice> back in MY day, we turned to the written words to find the answer.</oldladyvoice> The author of Deuteronomy is urging the people to remember that everything they need to survive and thrive in the land is written in the Law of Moses. It’s really that simple. WORD smart – [32:54]This is a project you could have your children make. MATH smart – [36:00] Photo by Sarah Dorweiler on Unsplash. Used by permission.

Hey all! Welcome back! Summer is here, and everyone is gone – at least around our part of the world, anyway. Many people in our congregations are making their annual trek to the beach or the mountains. In two of the Scripture passages for this week, we have people going out and coming in. The gospel text has 70 disciples sent out two by two into all the villages and towns to which Jesus intends to travel on his way to Jerusalem (Luke 10). These pairs are a type of advance team and are given the capacity to heal and teach in Jesus’ name. They have some success and are excited to report this when they return to Jesus. The passage from Isaiah 66 is a hymn to the exiles as they return to Jerusalem. David was struck by the flowing, comforting, beautiful imagery Isaiah uses to talk about the city when we know the exiles will find a husk filled with rubble when they get there. Is Isaiah setting them up for disappointment or is he looking down the road toward a possible future of God’s promise fulfilled? I think it’s the latter, myself. Three years ago, we used the Old Testament semi-continuous passage from 2 Kings – “Good Infection.” We have different illustrations and special effects for Galatians and Luke in this show. Smarts of the Week [01:58] In the introduction to the smarts, I mentioned a couple resources I found for MUSIC smart. The first resource is a YouTube channel for a musician named Michael Levy, who puts ancient texts to music. And, here is a video of possibly the oldest written music! We have some other insights about the smarts at the top of the worksheets which you can download below! MUSIC smart – [2:43]Download SELF smart – [4:26]Download The Week’s Texts Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 – [5:59] There isn’t any MUSIC in this passage per se, but when I stepped back and looked at the disciples being sent out in pairs, I thought of how small bands travel around regions playing their music in any venue they can land a gig. Small bands rely on the kindness and camaraderie of other musicians and while some people may not like their “sound”, others may and the evening can be groovy. To give people a feel for being those traveling musicians, try the special effect of setting the passage to music. For SELF smart, think of this story in terms of an underdog given an outsized task, a la David and Goliath. This theme is played out in many sports and war movies, so there is a wealth of illustrations listed on the worksheet. For a special effect, ask your congregation to think of a time when they felt like an underdog faced with a difficult situation. Also, ask them to think about a time when they felt like a lamb sent out among wolves – or a time they may have sent a lamb out to the wolves. MUSIC smart – [7:33]Teresa of Avila, Christ Has No Body.SELF smart – [9:54] Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16 – [12:34] In SELF smart, David thinks Paul is accusing the “circumcision party” of simply gathering people for the sake of numbers. This got him to thinking about the motivation for such behaviors. Below, we have links to a study, a blog, and a discussion forum covering this topic. Pushing this thought a little further, he thought re-visiting Martin Buber’s I and Thou would be a good idea. For a special effect, think of a time when you might grow tired but not weary. What’s the difference? Paul’s mention of reaping and sowing got me to thinking of the days when I was in band playing the clarinet. We were taught to swab out our instruments after playing them, but many of us chose not to for the sake of saving time getting to the next class or off to catch a bus. Over time, an uncleaned clarinet began to collect some pretty gross stuff in the pads which effected the ease of playing. For a special effect, bring in an instrumentalist who can talk about good habits of musicianship and what difference it makes. MUSIC smart – [17:43]SELF smart – [14:03]Social Motivation: Costs and Benefits of Selfishness and Otherishness – scientificCauses of selfishness and how to deal with a selfish person – bloggishIs there an essentially selfish motive behind every human behavior? – quora discussionMartin Buber’s I and Thou at:Wikipedia, SparkNotes, and Brain Pickings (Summary article) Psalm 66:1-9 – [20:16] The Psalms were an ancient music and worship book, so check out Michael Levy’s YouTube page (linked above) for some interesting information. For a special effect in MUSIC, play this psalm with instruments! I also have just a fraction of hymns and songs that Hymnary.org suggests for this passage. Go check it out if you have not ever been there! For SELF smart, take the time to think about why you would praise God. Be aware of the emotional responses you have to your reasons, and if they are negative, trace their origins. As David says, if they are particularly negative, ask the Spirit to guide and protect you as you go into this experience. MUSIC smart – [20:44]some classics: I Love to Tell the Story, O For a Thousand Tongues, From All that Dwell Below the Skiesand more modern songs: Glory and Praise to Our God, Shout to the Lord, Uyai Mose (Come, All You People)SELF smart – [23:37] Isaiah 66:10-14 – [25:42] In SELF smart, think about the ways in which a mother and a child have a deep connection. Fathers do, too, but Isaiah is using a mother for his illustration here. The fact that the imagery is so full of love and protection and abundance is jarring with what the exiles will find on the ground once they return to Jerusalem. Is Isaiah being a jerk or is there a more complex reason for this contrast? Is it to allow the people to acknowledge the great tender care of God even in the most dire circumstances? The reality is that great joy is often only lived through great turmoil. Let folks sit with that reality. For MUSIC smart, I’m stealing from both BODY and EYE smart by suggesting setting this passage to interpretive movement. The passage is lyrical and musical in itself; if you can fine a way to put this to music, great! My suggestion is to simply read the passage and include visual and kinesthetic elements. I also have some hymns and songs you might use, too. MUSIC smart – [30:06]Like a River Glorious, River of Peace (hymn), River of Peace (Karen Peck)SELF smart – [27:49] Photo by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi from Pexels, free to use.

Hey everyone!! We are running late again this week. The requirements of ministry meant I was on the road quite a bit this week and once again unable to devote much attention to the podcast. We are hoping to get back to a more regular schedule for the show in the future. Meanwhile, David heard from a listener, Gail Kenny, with an idea she had for a Pentecost service on a ward for psychiatric patients. Rules and regulations forced her to think outside the box – and she came up with a brilliant idea! Good work, Gail! Click over to 03:50 in the episode to hear what she did. Three years ago, we used the “semi-continuous” Old Testament passage (2 Kings 2). This year, we are using the “complementary” passage (1 Kings 19) and Psalm 16. Jesus’ words to a would-be follower in Luke – Don’t Look Back – is echoed in the exchange between Elijah and Elisha in the Kings passage (but without the awesome guitar riff or tight harmonies, as far as we know). The Galatians passage is very familiar. I once presented actual fruit and invited people to come get what fruit they thought they needed for their own lives. You could also label fruits on the fellowship table. Smarts of the Week [07:26] This week, we are concentrating on BODY smart and WORD smart. We give a brief description of each and then offer some ways you might use them in worship. The worksheets are just below and are free to download! BODY smart – [09:02]Download WORD smart – [07:35]Download This Week’s Texts: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 – [10:13] In WORD smart, Elijah’s comment to Elisha (“What have I done to you?”) has David scratching his head. What did he mean, and does the missing vocal inflection and body language make it more obscure? Did he mean to caution Elisha about the gravity of receiving his mantle? Or did he mean to encourage Elisha to go ahead and say farewell to his family? Elisha apparently chose the latter interpretation, because he heads home, says goodbye, offers his team of oxen as a farewell meal, and runs after Elijah. How we interpret this odd question may be influenced by how we interpret the similar situation in Luke. For BODY smart, I was caught by the implications of the mantle. Elijah throws it around Elisha as he’s out in the field working. The gesture seems to serve as an anointing or ordination which is a highly unusual way to get a job, isn’t it? But imagine if Elisha had been required to get a degree, go to seminary, take classes, serve as a student pastor, go through many interviews and votes on readiness for ministry? It’s so much faster to go up to someone that God has told you to select and give them your token of office. Of course, Elisha had to grow into the role, much like children grow into the oversized clothes of their parents when they are playing dress-up. BODY smart – [14:28]WORD smart – [12:00]A skit on SNL years and years ago (1984!!!) where Ed Asner was an engineer retiring from a nuclear power plant. Psalm 16 – [15:42] For WORD smart, this psalm sounds like a testimonial; King David is singing the praise of the Lord God! David was reminded of those old testimonial advertisements. Try writing your own using a “Mad Lib” style worksheet. Looking at this Psalm through the lens of BODY smart, I was struck by the phrase “my body rests secure”. This made me think of a good night’s sleep. Talk a bit about what makes for full body rest; the type of cushioning, the temperature of the room, the sounds – or lack thereof – in the environment. For a little assistance, I have a link with some helpful tips below. BODY smart – [16:39]Some tips for good nighttime restWORD smart – [18:51]see the worksheet for the “Mad Lib” Galatians 5:1, 13-25 – [21:31] As David was reading this passage, he noticed that the fruits of the Spirit have qualities that are opposites of the fruits of the flesh. So, being a MATH smart kinda guy, he charted them! Take a look at the worksheet and see how they line up. Interestingly, there is no corresponding “dark side” for joy. Explore why that might be. Modern medicine is making advances in the mind/body connection for health and healing and Paul’s contrast between these fruits made me think about how exhibiting each will affect one’s BODY. As you read this passage, invite your congregation to “feel” the fruits; first the flesh and then the Spirit. Have them notice how their body feels and what posture they adopt when they think about it. BODY smart – [26:05]The Mayo Clinic Integrative Medicine and Health Research ProgramThe US National Library of Medicine has another article about mind body connections in healing. WORD smart – [23:04]see the worksheet for the word chart Luke 9:51-62 – [30:30] Jesus’ words to a potential disciple about putting one’s hand to the plow and then looking back “compliments” the Old Testament lesson. We’ve talked before about the practical aspects of keeping your eyes on your plowing; if you look back, you’ll run the risk of veering off course. If you ride bikes or horses, you have had the experience of turning your head, which turns your shoulder, and on down your torso which wobbles your aim. For BODY smart, experiment with walking forward while looking back. Pro tip: have a spotter! For WORD smart, Jesus’ comments to the various seekers seem a bit odd to our ears. Is he using a popular aphorism? Do we simple lose the meaning in the translation? For David, the phrases stand out much like the unusual word choices Dan Rather often used, especially on election nights. We have a collection of “Dan Ratherisms” which are as strange as a snow cone on a cold night. See? BODY smart – [32:12]Some tips for when you ride a horse – scroll down to number 12.WORD smart – [35:05]Some “Dan Ratherisms” at:Adweek.comOfficial Dan Rather siteSome fake Ratherisms that are a little raunchier – BEWARE Image credit: Photo by Gvexx from Pexels, used by permission.

Hey everyone! We are really late this week; I’ve had a series of pastoral calls that kept me on the road to various hospitals and nursing facilities. It ain’t over yet, either. David has also been drawn away a bit, as well. So we are doing a bit of an abbreviated show this week looking at only the Gospel and Epistle lessons. The Gospel is the story of the Gerasene demoniac who when asked by Jesus his name responds, “We are Legion.” Then, in his letter to the Galatians, Paul stresses the new union believers experience in Jesus. (For a MUSIC smart bonus, listen to this song Many and One by Steve Angrisano.) In the first story, Jesus heals a man who has been fractured into many pieces and makes him one. In Paul’s letter, he encourages the many parts of the Galatian fellowship to see themselves as one in Christ. In each, pieces are integrated by God’s intention for wholeness. It’s a lesson for our divided world, isn’t it? E pluribus unum, indeed. Smarts for the Week To see what we suggested for this Sunday three years ago, follow this link. (Those Android commercials!! and Der Kommissar!) The worksheets for this week’s show are below and free to download. This week, we are emphasizing NATURE and PEOPLE smart. NATURE smart – [03:38]Download PEOPLE smart – [05:23]Download This Week’s Texts Luke 8:26-39 [07:43] This text is thick with possibility for preaching, and while we are sticking to NATURE and PEOPLE, the other intelligences are represented here, as well. Use a map to find a likely spot for this story as an EYE smart special effect and sing “It is Well with My Soul” for MUSIC smart. Look at the Law Code in Leviticus and Deuteronomy to set up the lawlessness of the situation for MATH smart. Three years ago, we suggested the man’s BODY was ravaged by adrenaline. For this year’s cycle, David has links to powerful essays about isolation and incarceration for PEOPLE smart. For NATURE smart, think of the man’s condition and Jesus’ healing in terms of bacterial or parasitic infections and clouds obscuring the sun. Take a look at the PEOPLE smart worksheet for some bonus WORD smart thoughts. NATURE smart – [10:04]PEOPLE smart – [12:38]The Unlonely Project overview and more backgroundPsychological Science: Isolating the Costs of Lonelinesscomparing incarceration to demonic possession in Christian Century Galatians 3:23-29 [23:48] Three years ago, the law imprisoned and guarded us like Jiminy Cricket. This year for a PEOPLE smart illustration, try thinking of this restriction in terms of Mary Poppins! Our loverly Mary is a bit more adventurous than either Jiminy or where Paul may have been going with this thought, but while she runs a disciplined organization, she does dance with a chimney sweep who in turn dances with penguins. For a special effect, encourage your congregation to make the time to get to know someone who is not like them; really listen to one another with the goal of understanding. For NATURE smart, think of Paul’s concept of unity in diversity in terms of humans making a conscious effort to be better stewards of creation. NATURE smart – [28:24]The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as Rio 2012PEOPLE smart – [24:45] Image credit: Copyright : rawpixel. Used by permission.

Hey everyone! Welcome here and welcome back! Did anyone think of football when you saw the title above? I did, I will admit. However, Johnny U’s name is pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable while the title is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable. It is a Latin word that means “oneness” or a state of being one or undivided. We often think of God this way until we come upon the Sunday after Pentecost when we turn the corner and begin talking about God’s “oneness” being made up of three co-equal, co-eternal, co-present persons. Karoline Lewis writes that this doctrine is “our best efforts to give words to our experiences of God in our lives and in the lives of others.” No one metaphor or image will ever completely capture God, but we can explore our experiences in multiple ways. To that end, we are once again veering from the usual path of our podcast. This week, we thought it would be interesting to take this theological concept of the Trinity and run it through all eight intelligences. Because of this, we are not using the scripture passages assigned for this week. If you are interested to see what we offered for them in the past, click the link below for the 2016 Year C show. Otherwise, the worksheet for this year is just below and is, as always, free to download! Worksheet for Trinity, Year C, 2019Download Trinity Year C, 2016Trinity Year A, 2017Trinity Year B, 2018 WORD smart – [03:55] Using WORD smart answers the question, “How do we speak about the Trinity?” As an illustration, David thought about the way “holy,” “holey,” and “wholly” are homonyms and define entirely different concepts. However, applying them to our experience of God’s three persons, we might have the opportunity to open up some deep reflections of God’s holiness, our imperfection, and the way the Spirit works to mix all of that together. Holy, Holey, Wholly! EYE smart – [08:15] Using EYE smart answers the question, “How do we visualize the Trinity?” The first thing that occurred to both of us was Celtic knots. Since I wrote that down first, David went looking for something else and found the Penrose Triangle (see links below). Both visuals represent a continual pathway that leads one into deeper contemplation of God’s eternal nature as the eye traces the lines. For a special effect, make these images available as either a projection or a hand out. Celtic knotsPenrose Triangle MATH smart – [09:43] Using MATH smart answers the question, “How to make sense of the Trinity?” Geometric shapes (which also appeal to EYE smart people) can show the interlocking and supporting concept of three persons connected to one another. David also wrote a simple computer program that results in an infinite loop! Metatron’s cubeOverlapping circles grid BODY smart – [14:29] Using BODY smart answers the question, “How do we make the Trinity a physical reality?” I thought we could borrow from the Celtic knot and make our own knots using crochet hooks or knitting needles. You could also teach people to weave a Turk’s head bracelet using cord. The idea is to physically engage people in an activity that blends single elements into a whole. Maybe even learn a series of dance steps or a yoga sequence! Weave a Turks head braceletclick here for video instruction!try a Triangle Dance MUSIC smart – [18:13] Using MUSIC smart answers the question, “How might we sing about the Trinity?” We suggest the hymn for the day plus have a couple other suggestions that you can download from Hope Publishing. See the links below. Tuning forks resonating in unison would be a great illustration, as well as tuning instruments to themselves and one another. For a special effect, get your congregation to sing a chord and harmonize! Holy, Holy, HolyGod the Spirit, Guide and GuardianHow Wonderful the Three in OneTuning forks in resonance NATURE smart – [23:29] Using NATURE smart answers the question, “How would we find the Trinity in the natural world?” Consider the life cycle of a plant: a seed, plant, and fruit are all contained in the same organism. Wind, water, and heat are all parts of a hurricane, and water, bed, and motion are all parts of a river. What other natural cycles would demonstrate the Trinity? Maker of Mystery – a song with lyrics from nature PEOPLE smart – [24:56] Using PEOPLE smart answers the question, “How can we explore the relational nature of the Trinity?” In her essay linked below, Debi Thomas lists some characteristics of God’s relational nature. Ask your congregation if they would add any others. How have they experienced these in their own lives? Where were they and who were they with? David Lose writes that the deep love of God’s nature cannot be contained in any one person but instead spills out into the world. essay by Debi Thomas commentary by David Lose SELF smart – [30:02] Using SELF smart answers the question, “How would we contemplate the reality of the Trinity in our personal discipleship?” At Lectionary Lab, Delmer Chilton mentions a Barna Research study that identifies the three most important statements we want to hear from another person: “I love you,” “I forgive you,” and “Dinner is ready, let’s eat.” I think these statements are all through Scripture and are reflected in the Trinity. sermon by Delmer ChiltonMere Christianity Salt+ Lectionary essay Threefold Life that references C.S. Lewis Image credit: Celtic knot pattern design. Vector illustration. Copyright: Sergey Gerasimov via 123RF. Used by permission.

Greetings!! Welcome to More Than Hearing! This Sunday is The Big Day for the life of the church, and we are doing something different with the podcast this week in preparation for it. We decided to forego the usual format and instead talk about why we developed this show, how it has effected our own experiences, and ways that Multiple Intelligence Theory already has a home in Scripture. We have three years of illustrations and special effects stored up for Pentecost, and those are linked below if you are looking for something specific for using this Sunday. We also have some work done specifically on John 14, which is the Gospel lesson for this Sunday. Those also are linked below. Pentecost is a day in the life of the church where everything shifts in a fundamental way. Up to that day, the disciples were simply waiting, as Jesus had instructed them to do. Then, he ascended, and —- well, they waited some more. I sometimes wonder how they spent that time? We know what’s coming (or what came), so we have much to do to get ready and a lot of it involves the color red. Still, I believe that the Spirit’s inspiration can lead us to explore this old story with new ideas and a breath of fresh air. Pretty much what the Spirit did way back then! Past Pentecost and John 14 Podcasts PENTECOSTYear A, Pentecost, 2018 – WindstormsYear B, Pentecost, 2017 – Blowin’ in the WindYear C, Pentecost, 2016 – Happy Birthday!JOHN 14Year A, Easter 6, 2017 – Big LoveYear A, Easter 5, 2017 – Stone HousesYear C, Easter 6, 2016 – Open 24/7 Why We’re Doing This [02:52] I really like the third definition of inspiration linked above – to inhale. Inhaling is literally “in-spiring” so for the purposes of Pentecost, we might think of inspiration as “in-Spiriting.” (There’s some WORD smart illustration for the day!) Inspiration is behind this entire venture, because while David and I wanted to do a podcast together, we didn’t know what to do a podcast about. He remembered a time when we got together with a colleague and friend in Dayton to discuss an idea she had brought home from a conference led by Tom Troeger. It was a great idea, but as it turned out, it was an even greater opportunity to have coffee with Julia! So, years later, David suggested we blend Multiple Intelligence Theory and the Revised Common Lectionary and see what came out of it. Ta – DAH! Inspiration! How We’ve Used This [14:01, 27:08] As we’ve been doing this podcast, our methods and our website have evolved, but the basic reasons have not changed. In using MIT, we have the chance to engage people by opening doors into imaginations, hearts, and souls that would otherwise be closed to access. Since one of the hallmarks of Pentecost is the sudden speaking in languages that are not native to the speaker, we get the opportunity to try “speaking” in other “languages” to reach people every week! Trying these illustrations and special effects engage the preacher, too. We have discovered our own sermons and worship leadership have been enhanced, and we’ve found ourselves pulled out of preaching ruts at times. Trying some of our more “gee whiz” special effects have led our congregations to deeper engagement and hopefully, has sent them out with the Word of God planted in fresh soil inside them, inspired to understand Scripture in a new way. Ways Scripture Already Does This [13:12, 21:32] A couple months ago, David came across a book called Creating Holy Spaces: Worship Visuals for the Revised Common Lectionary by Delia Halverson (Author), and Karen Appleby  (Author). The authors use EYE smart and Myers-Briggs personality inventory throughout their work in an effort to engage congregations with the RCL texts. One of the parts of the book that caught David’s eye was a section that traced how Jesus used multiple intelligences to teach, preach, and minister. For the past eight weeks or so, we’ve been adding a section to our own podcast that looks at how we think Jesus may have used these intelligences. In today’s podcast we talk about the parable he told of The Two Builders and how EYE, MATH, BODY, PEOPLE, SELF, NATURE, and even MUSIC smart can be utilized as this story is told (WORD). We also think the prophets did much the same thing, especially Jeremiah’s story about the Potter and the Clay. We hope that as you listen to today’s podcast and go back to see what we’ve done with Pentecost and John 14 in years past, you will be “in-Spirited” to lead your people in ways that are fresh, fun, memorable, and enriching! MUSIC smart BONUS: The title of the show is part of the chorus from For What It’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield. Image from Seeking Truth Design by Heather Thum-Gerber, used by permission.

Hey everyone! Welcome back, and for first time visitors, welcome here! If you have kids or grandkids, you may be familiar with the phrase “Power Up!” In the world of video games – and in particular Mario’s universe – a “power up” is a way for your character to find a boost of energy or an extra life that allows you to continue making your way further into the game. For me, they are always very helpful since I tend to play in such a way that puts my character into jeopardy quite often. Even as I blaze my way through a situation on the screen, I think to myself, “Wow, wouldn’t it be great if we had these things in real life?!?” We do. The passages for this week’s lectionary readings show us God’s power in large and powerful ways and just in time for when you need it ways. The Psalm reveals God’s majestic power, especially in nature, and Revelation ends with the coming promise of Jesus’ power. In John, Jesus prays that the disciples that God has given him will become one with Jesus and with God, just as Jesus is one with God. In Acts, Paul and his companions suffer as Jesus did in order to exhibit God’s power and bring others to salvation. Three years ago, we found illustrations and special effects for everything except NATURE smart. Which is interesting, because I found some crossover with it a couple times this year! We also revisit The Khan Academy! Smarts of the Week [01:58] We talk a bit about what EYE and MATH intelligences are and then speculate a bit about how Jesus may have utilized them in his ministry. You can download our worksheets below. EYE smart – [04:14]Download MATH smart – [02:59]Download This Week’s Texts John 17:20-26 – [05:18] This passage is just a wee part of Jesus’ “farewell address” where he is thanking God for the disciples given to him and praying for their strength and unity going forward after his death. For MATH smart, talk about iterative functions and convergent series to illustrate the unity and union of God, Jesus, and the disciples. For EYE smart, try roping a bit of NATURE with the way an amoeba will surround and make another organism part of itself. Okay, it eats it. Eek! God’s intention is NOT to do this! We are taken into the fellowship that exists with God and Jesus, so that we become a part of something bigger that sustains and protects us. So the amoeba is a negative illustration. EYE smart – [10:16]This video of an amoeba surrounding a stentor is interesting and also sorta scary. For an interesting visual of God’s glory cascading down to us, set up one of those marble runs for kids!MATH smart – [06:53]The Khan Academy has good videos on convergence of infinite series.Also, Iterative functions, where you plug the answer back into your formula to get a new answer, and keep doing that until it converges on a number or set that are the solution to your problem. Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 – [12:41] The Book of Revelation has within it sets and subsets, particularly of who is “in” the kingdom to come and who is “out.” Be certain to use the words John lists in verse 15 if you choose present this chart for MATH smart. Also, the Lectionary Committee excised verses 18 and 19, which we find ironic, but bring in an accounting ledger, and talk about what is and is not supposed to be in a financial record. For EYE smart, use the above chart of for set theory as a visual representation or use John’s own image/metaphor of a bride. Have people think about times when they’ve all stood up and waited to spy the bride as she enters the sanctuary. Also, since in the final verses of this passage everyone is waiting for Jesus to show up, have people think about times when they’ve waited for a performer to step out on stage. Or for the pastor to walk out into the sanctuary. EYE smart – [13:37]MATH smart – [16:05] Psalm 97 – [20:26] Psalm 97 is an enthronement psalm – the Lord is king! For EYE smart, take the dramatic images of nature and ask your congregation to consider the expanse of land that a storm described in these verses would cover. Click the link below to see how much ground the recent storms in Dayton, Ohio covered. May God bless all who were affected, and may God’s people be a help and blessing to them. For MATH smart, consider again the convergent and divergent series. Play with the numerator and denominator values on a chart (which would be a boon for EYE smart individuals, too) to show how God is capable of being in both! EYE smart – [24:47]A link to the National Weather Service map to which I referred. MATH smart – [21:07]Back to Khan Academy for a divergent series this time. Acts 16:16-34 – [28:09] For EYE smart, I travelled over to PEOPLE smart, grabbed one of our tried and true ideas from there, and suggest that you act out this passage. Cast all the characters and have them stage this story throughout your worship space. You’ll not only engage them visually, but use the spatial aspect of this intelligence, too! Try using The Voice translation as your script. For MATH smart, think about the way Paul is able to withstand some pretty severe abuse for the sake of the Gospel. In this passage, he and his companions are beaten with rods (see the links below) and were “severely flogged.” This type of physical torture would likely make most people give up their behavior. Not Paul – use math to show why! EYE smart – [30:25]MATH smart – [31:49]On the beating with rods; And some more. This is BODY smart, but it sets up the MATH comparison.Acceleration due to gravity equationsee the worksheet for an equation demonstrating the order of magnitude using the earth and an orange’s gravityOn proper use of the phrase “orders of magnitude“And just to be consistent, here’s a Khan Academy video on some order of magnitude exercises. Image credit: Photo by Pixabay provided through Pexels. Used by permission.

Movement happens in the texts for this week – some in more obvious ways than others. In the Acts passage, Paul and Timothy are trying to move the Gospel of Jesus to other parts of the world as directed by the Spirit of God. In John, a man is attempting to move into healing waters and not finding any success or assistance. In the Psalm, people are moving into a time of harvest and praise for God’s bounty, and in Revelation, the New Jerusalem moves down to the New Earth with a surprising lack of the usual things we expect in a city. Three years ago, we did not use the Psalm and chose to use the John 14 passage instead of John 5. We encouraged using a map for EYE smart and had some fun NATURE smart illustrations for Revelation. Go take a look! Smarts of the Week [01:58] We take a few minutes to talk about the two smarts of the week in the episode, how you might use them in worship, and how Jesus may have used them in his ministry. Download our worksheets for each of them below! MUSIC smart – [03:30]Download SELF Smart – [02:35]Download Texts for the Week Acts 16:9-15 – [05:04] For context in the Acts passage, Paul and Timothy are on the road and attempt to travel to Asia, which the Spirit forbids. Then they try to go to Bithynia, which the Spirit also forbids. (I think I have experienced the Spirit getting in the way of my decision to do something; I think there is a whole book in this somewhere. I digress.) Paul then has a vision of a man in Macedonia calling to him for help, and the Spirit seems okay with this, so off they go. In SELF smart, I linked to a website called Hostel Geek (link below) with a lot of stories of people and their travel experiences. None of them mentions being blocked by the Spirit, but many of them had encounters they did not expect nor were ready for but in retrospect are quite glad they had. For MUSIC smart, David suggests thinking of this passage – especially where Paul and Timothy meet up with Lydia and the women at the river – as a religious jam session. All these folks who trust YHWH meet in a locale and by the time the meeting is over, they have come together in common ministry. MUSIC smart – [09:54]“To the Ends of the Earth” by Nat King Cole“Convince Me” by Lucinda Williams“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The ProclaimersSELF smart – [07:46]Here are some stories about people encountering unusual things on their travels.I liked this short story about an impromptu English lesson in Vietnam.And this one about a surprising night sky in Morocco. Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 – [14:24] David followed the MUSIC smart poetry branch for this passage. We have links to two poems that envision “home” in a way that echoes the longing in John’s vision of the New Jerusalem. Hughes, Shire, and John all “see” home, but also all three are still living in this world with its demands and disappointments. (I think SELF smart people would appreciate mediating on these poems.) You could also use the special effect David suggests and break out some musical instruments to underscore the different thematic imagery of the passage. There is a marked absence of usual things in the New Jerusalem; see the worksheet for the list of things that will not be present in this new home on earth. Consider how this list of things can sometimes draw our attention away from God’s presence with us, and determine what else in your own life might be added to it that interferes with your focus on God. MUSIC smart – [15:58]Langston Hughes’ “Let America Be America Again”“Home” by Warsan ShireBe sure to download the worksheet for the list of parts for instruments to use for this passage!SELF smart – [20:07]Sermon by Angela Askew, Sermons that Work, 2004 Psalm 67 – [23:47] The Book of Psalms is an ancient worship book or hymnal, so sing or chant this Psalm of praise with your congregation. Since the Psalm calls all nations to praise God, maybe look around for different translations in other languages. Learn verse 3 in languages not native to you and use them when this verse comes up! (WORD smart people would love it!) For SELF smart, make a list of the ways God has blessed you. Put on that list the things that make your heart swell up with joy. Place that list where you can see it regularly as a reminder of God’s love for you. Do this for a week or three, and see if it makes a difference in your daily outlook on life. MUSIC smart – [26:27]Calling All Nations – INXSTry this psalm tune in the Presbyterian Hymnal (1990).Or this one (St. Michael)SELF smart – [24:34]Psalm 67 is a “good day”! John 5:1-9 – [29:18] The man lying by the pool cannot make any progress because others get in the way, according to a verse that is not in most ancient manuscripts. Illustrate this with MUSIC smart by asking people to imagine being a virtuoso baritone player who never gets a chance to shine, because solos and important musical themes keep going to the trumpets! For a special effect, set this passage to verse. See David’s start on that on the worksheet. For SELF smart, consider how the man has learned to live with brokenness in his life. Jesus is not satisfied with that for this man and asks him, “Do you want to be made well?” Consider the places in your life where you are living with things that are broken or not working optimally; imagine Jesus asking you the same question. What’s your answer? If you don’t immediately have one, that’s okay. Jesus will keep asking. MUSIC smart – [31:22]“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” by the Hollies“Take Me to the River” by Talking Heads“Take Me to the River” by Al GreenSELF smart – [34:04]commentary by Debi Thomas – Journey with Jesus, 2019 Image credit: Photo by VanveenJF on Unsplash. Used by permission.

Welcome! We’re glad you are here with us, and we hope you will find some ideas or at least inspiration from our podcast! The lessons for this week share a theme of “glory.” We see it repeated over and over in John’s Gospel as Jesus tells his disciples that he and God are connected. As the New Jerusalem descends from heaven, a voice declares that God’s home is among mortals and that God will wipe away all that burdens us. The psalm is a glorious song of praise, and Peter astonishes the other disciples with his story about joining Gentiles in their home and at their table. This link will take you to what we did with (most) of these passages three years ago. There is some MATH smart and some MUSIC smart hints, plus a Mad Libs for the Psalm! Smarts of the Week [01:58] We take a few minutes to talk about our two smarts of the week in the episode, and here you can download our worksheets for each of them. BODY smart – [02:56]Download WORD smart – [04:43]Download The Week’s Texts John 13:31-35 – [06:08] These verses are a brief snippet from the much longer discourse beginning in chapter 13 of Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, whom he calls friends. WORD smart people will be intrigued by the number of times Jesus uses a form of the word “glory.” Look up the definition of the word both in English and Greek to see how John uses it to connect Jesus to God and how Jesus’ instructions for the disciples to love one another come from heaven itself. For BODY smart, the transitive property of the word “glory” can be illustrated and demonstrated by a fashion show! The glory Jesus exhibits is God’s glory, just as clothing worn by a model reveals the beauty of the model and the designer’s ideas. When we love one another as Jesus loved us, we reveal the glory of the relationship we have with him and one another. BODY smart – [07:05] Here’s a video of ten runway modelsWORD smart – [10:28]Definition for the word glory from Merriam-WebsterThe Greek definition of δοξάζωto love ἀγαπάω agapáō (“loving”) Revelation 21:1-6 – [14:53] Our own bodies illustrate this passage! For BODY smart, remind people that the first thing we do when we see someone who has been absent from us is give them a big hug! You can find many such videos of parents returning from deployment to surprise their loved ones. The best are the dogs who recognize their humans! For a special effect, do some interpretive movement. I posted the definition of a few key words for this passage on the worksheet, which you can download and use for WORD smart. In any interpretation of Revelation, we must keep in mind the lens through which John sends his vision out to the seven churches. To illustrate this, talk about how putting someone else’s glasses on can distort vision (see also: EYE smart); we need to be certain to have the proper focus in order not to become disoriented. A way to demonstrate how we tend to put our own spin on Revelation would be to play the game “Telephone,” in which a message is passed from person to person, usually with hilarious results. BODY smart – [20:45]Try this interpretive movement with a couple people demonstrating and/or giving the instructions to everyone to try at home with someone they love and trust. Vs. 1 – Look up, raise your hands, right then left, and then hands sweeping down, right then left. Vs. 2 – Walk toward each other, reaching out to each other, taking each other’s hands. Vs. 3 – Share a hug. Vs. 4 – Wipe each other’s cheeks with a finger. Vs. 5 – Make broad, sweeping hand motions left and right, like Vanna showing off a new car. Vs. 6 – Raise a glass in a toast, then drink. If it seems appropriate, do that interlocking arms drinking thing. WORD smart – [16:03]play the game Telephone. Scroll down this page for some ideas for phrases. Psalm 148 – [25:20] BODY smart is always fertile ground for interpretive movement, and this psalm has plenty of opportunity to stretch those muscles! This could be a fun way to include children in worship, as well. It’s interesting to note that the order of things commanded to sing praise to God follows the order of creation in Genesis 1 – a literary echo that might ring the bells of WORD smart people! It would be very interesting to see this passage presented with sign language and could be a help for interpretive movement! BODY smart – [26:20]WORD smart – [27:11] Acts 11:1-18 – [28:45] While BODY smart doesn’t seem to be obvious in this passage, imagine how Peter was telling the other disciples about his experience. We think he probably had a lot of gestures and his body language was engaged and conveyed passion. His description of events is such that listeners may feel they are journeying with him through the story. Think about how people who tell good stories often use more than their words to engage and “bring along” their audience. We have a link below as an example! For WORD smart, show how Peter takes the other disciples step by step through his reasoning for his behavior. This made me think of the United States Declaration of Independence and how Thomas Jefferson laid out a detailed argument for separating from the Crown. Peter is doing his best to convince the “circumcised believers” that he has not lost his marbles or gone rogue. BODY smart – [32:14]Gabriel Iglesias’ Road TripWORD smart – [30:31] Image credit: We couldn’t find any attribution for this photo, which has apparently gotten loose from its owners and has been roaming free and unprotected on the internet for some time. If you know of any claim of ownership or rights to it, please let us know at [email protected] or leave a comment below.

Greetings! Welcome to the show! On my drive to worship every Sunday, I pass a sign board for a Lutheran church. I don’t usually remember what is posted there, and it’s not because I’m driving too fast or are too distracted to see it. The saying doesn’t always connect with me – except for one Sunday years ago. That day, I saw what has become the title for this episode above, and it grabbed me for two reasons. The first is that it reverses the verbs in the old children’s hymn, which caused some cognitive gear grinding. Once I got that done, the second reason washed over me. “Jesus knows me.” I don’t have to explain anything to Jesus about myself or evade anything or present my best self or justify a decision or do anything other than be me. My husband knows me pretty well, but he doesn’t have access to my oldest memories or deepest recesses. I’m not even certain that *I* do, honestly. But Jesus does. The passages for today have been selected to show us how Jesus shepherds his people – by knowing them completely, calling to their inner selves, seeing their persistent errors, and loving them still. Follow this link to discover what we did with these passages three years ago! We gave up on the Psalm passages fairly quickly as we started this project, so we only have ideas for Acts, John, and Revelation. Smarts of the Week – [01:58] We take a few minutes to talk about our two smarts of the week in the episode, and here you can download our worksheets for each of them. BODY smart – [02:50]Download SELF smart – [04:02]Download This week’s texts: John 10:22-30 – [05:39] The fourth Sunday in Easter is “Good Shepherd Sunday,” traditionally. The Lectionary selects passages from John 10 where Jesus speaks about his role as shepherd. This year, the connection is not as obvious as other years except that he informs his opponents that they do not trust his deeds because they do not trust him. For BODY smart, consider how what we do bears our personal imprint. For some fun, play Follow the Leader! For SELF smart, consider how confirmation bias affects our decision to trust or not trust someone. Allow your folks some time to contemplate what factors help them decide whether someone is trustworthy? See the worksheet for a chart (chart? MATH smart bonus!). BODY smart – [07:28]Ideas for a simple craft SELF smart – [10:19]Confirmation bias often determines believability Revelation 7:9-17 – [14:02] For SELF smart, consider a time when you were so impressed by someone that you stopped in your tracks to admire their ability. Was it a sports figure? A singer? A musician or someone you have always held in high regard? The people robed in white are celebrating the Lamb in this manner. Allow some time for people to consider the attributes of the Lamb and their own responses. For BODY smart, illustrate the mass of people by showing images of large crowds. The link below has several options you might use. The provisions in this hymn of praise connect with the promise of provision in Psalm 23. It is possible the white robed multitude are recovering from their ordeal in the presence of the Lamb. Think about team meetings in locker rooms or the cast party after a final performance. BODY smart – [19:02]has the multitude gathered at a hostel in heaven?some images of the crowd at Woodstock 50 years agoSELF smart – [15:41] Psalm 23 – [24:19] The Psalmist alludes to a solitary time of trial when YHWH provided comfort and solace. For a SELF smart illustration and special effect, consider times of being alone in a wilderness, either literally or figuratively. I’m adding a bit of MUSIC smart for a BODY smart special effect; try to interpret the hymn My Shepherd Will Supply My Need through dance! I suggest this particular hymn because I really love the melody and the lyrics. To demonstrate what we need, fill a grab bag with some modern “necessities” and then eliminate them until you come to basic provisions. Be certain to point out the psalmist affirms God comes through on them daily. BODY smart – [24:38]a very MUSIC smart article about a hymn that could be interpreted through dancePhillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23SELF smart – [30:11]Here’s a video on the topic of confronting the wilderness alone.Here’s an article about the benefits of being alone in the wilderness. Here’s another.Here’s info about a show called Alone in the Wilds.Here’s a page about privileged white people paying to go meditate in the wilds to get connected with themselves. Acts 9:36-43 – [31:53] For SELF smart, allow your people to spend some time pondering the miracle in this passage. David has some links to different articles written about belief in miracles; we linked to two of them below. Is it important to believe they literally happened? Is it more important to see how they motivated others to belief? Is belief in miracles separate from or intrinsic to belief in Jesus? Can disciples still perform miracles? For BODY smart, demonstrate objects made by loving hands. Do you have paraments, banners, stoles, art work, or other objects in your worship space made by someone and given to the church? Who was that person, and how is their personality evident in what they made? Dorcas made clothes out of her great compassion for widows; do you all have any clothing ministries for people who are in need in your area? BODY smart – [37:48]SELF smart – [33:09]an article about miracles written by Richard Gunderman, Chancellor’s Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, Indiana Universityand one from Psychology TodayThe worksheet has two other links to papers that skew toward obvious bias for and against. Feel free to read them and make your own determination! Image credit: Photo by Trinity Kubassek from Pexels. Used by permission.

Four engineers get into a car heading for a conference. But, the car won’t start. Being engineers, they all have solutions to the problem befitting their areas of expertise. The Mechanical engineer says: It’s a broken starter. The Electrical engineer says: The battery is dead. The Chemical engineer says: No, we have impurities in the gasoline. The IT engineer says: Wait! Let’s all get out and then get back in! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we really could fix problems just by stopping and then restarting? The passages for this week’s Lectionary suggest that a system wide reboot of our lives is not only possible, it is often the very thing that God offers us in order to live fully into our lives. Saul is rebooted into Paul; Peter and the disciples are recommissioned by the Risen Christ. The psalmist and John’s revelation both see God’s power come through even though circumstances seemed beyond repair. We call this reboot forgiveness or a second chance or mercy or grace. It is not always easy to undergo a reboot, as Saul and Peter discovered. We will need to reckon with the fruit of our missteps. Yet, God’s reboot is reliable and we can trust it. If you would like to see what we did with these passages three years ago, click this link for Year C, Easter 3, 2016. It’s been interesting to see what we emphasized three years ago in comparison to now. Smarts of the Week [01:59] MATH smart – [4:33]Download PEOPLE smart – [3:08]Download This Week’s Texts John 21:1-19 – [05:32] This passage is rich in PEOPLE smart! Relationships are on display throughout. The second part of the passage – the heart-to-heart conversation between Jesus and Peter – reminded David of a pastor he worked with once. He would keep asking, “How are you doing?” until you finally told him – not necessarily to get him to stop asking, but because it became clear that he was honestly seeking after your heart and providing a safe place to respond. It’s a lot like a session with a counselor or therapist or coffee with a good friend. Please download the worksheet for a Reader’s Theater script, too! MATH smart is about logic and an initial reading of this story does not reveal much of it, in my opinion. (Why on earth would Peter get dressed to jump into the water?) However, the sequence of three questions Jesus asks Peter could be examined in the logical terms of coding. It would help to back it up to Peter’s three denials followed by the three questions Jesus asks. Also, the underlying logic of this passage is re-commissioning of both the disciples as people fishers and Peter as the rock on which the church is built. MATH smart – [13:06]C+ languagePEOPLE smart – [7:22]interrogation techniques Revelation 5:11-14 – [17:05] George Frederick Handel mined Revelation for the final chorus of his opus, Messiah. Chorus 53 is verses 12 through 14 sung over and over, but we aren’t doing MUSIC smart! However, a powerful choral piece will often move an entire crowd of people to reflection and exhilaration. David is reminded of a scene in The Sound of Music when the von Trapp family and the audience sing Edelweiss – much to the annoyance of the Nazis. Do you have any experiences like this? (see the link below) I locked into verses 12 – 14 for MATH smart because the logic (and the numbers) in these verses benefit from some explanation. The seven attributes of glory and wealth are given to the lamb that was slaughtered. We ordinarily think of the spoils of war going to the triumphant victor, not the bloody victims. Yet, John’s revelation sees just the opposite. This is a great example of God’s logic throwing our logic for a loop. Plus, the number seven is rich in Jewish numerology; it is the perfect, complete number since it is the day the Lord rested from creating all that is good. MATH smart – [18:12]commentary by Bill Loadercommentary by Israel Kamudzanduworshipping the wealth of the world or the lamb that was slain is a “red pill/blue pill” choice regarding reality.PEOPLE smart – [21:41]Edelweiss at the festivalHere’s a set of several videos for Choir! Choir! Choir!, which is an ongoing Canadian pop-up choral experiment.Here is Davidson College Presbyterian Church‘s rendition of the Hallelujah chorus from Messiah – note the wee dancer in the aisle moved to get involved! Psalm 30 – [26:20] For PEOPLE smart, consider a time when you needed to ask someone for protection or assistance. Was it immediately clear you would receive what you requested? There are people to whom we turn for help that may or may not respond the way you hope. Also, help may come from someone initially considered not at all friendly – see Netflix’s Lost in Space for some examples. For a special effect, invite your congregation to break into smaller groups and discuss a time when they were in a dire situation and got help. How did they express their thanks? Read Psalm 30 for an example! Verse six led me to wonder about the logic of trusting prosperity or wealth to keep you safe. No amount of money can protect against everything yet we try hard to make it so and then suffer mightily when that wealth is lost. The 1929 and 2008 Stock Market crashes are good examples of how this logic fails. The psalmist also argues with God about how illogical it would be for him to die because then he would not be able to sing praise to God. He is relying on the relationship he has with God to persuade God to help him through his struggles. MATH smart – [31:21]The 1929 Stock Market crash in a nutshellHere is some advice about how to trust your wealth manager. Tip: relationships!commentary by Jerome Creachis verse 9 expressed mathematically in the symmetric property of equality or in a ratio?PEOPLE smart – [27:24]The Iron GiantThe Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) Acts 9:1-6, (7-20) – [35:32] For PEOPLE smart, pull out your copy of James Loder’s The Transforming Moment to talk about the conflict Saul encounters on the road to Damascus. As we have mentioned often before, when someone is up against a conflict that person will exert a great deal of energy to solve the dilemma. If there is not an obvious out – or you have been knocked into the dirt by it – you will go away and let it percolate deep in your psyche until a solution presents itself. An example of a system wide resolution of conflict is the way our culture has shifted in regards to LGBTQ acceptance over the last thirty years. For MATH smart, consider Saul’s logical struggle. As Bill Loader writes: “People’s intensity in resistance tends to rise when they fear what they are resisting is perhaps valid.” Maybe when he witnessed Stephen’s powerful testimony as he was stoned to death, a seed was planted in Saul and had sprouted. His trip to Damascus may have been a way to root it up. Ananias also encountered the Risen Christ in a way that was entirely illogical to him. Yet, in his faithfulness, he validated Saul’s experience and the rest is our story. Oddly enough, we seem to have switched places a bit with our work on these two intelligences! David’s PEOPLE smart is heavy on logic and my MATH smart is heavy on motivations and relationships! Here is a great example of how the intelligences tend to “borrow” from one another. MATH smart – [36:25]commentary from Bill Loadertestimony in a court of lawPEOPLE smart – [41:27]Here’s a review of a book about it with a wee summary in the first couple pages.Here’s an article with a short summary.Here’s the book. Image credit: Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY

Hey everyone! Welcome back to the show! Typically, the second Sunday after Easter is the day we all deal with Thomas’ doubt about the other disciples’ outrageous claim that Jesus had appeared to them. It’s a great story about our very human need for proof, especially when our hearts are involved. Remember, Thomas was ready to follow Jesus to Jerusalem to die with him and after the horrendous specter of crucifixion, he likely was ready to go home and start over. Who could blame him? Yet, we have decided to use a different Gospel story for this Sunday. The walk to Emmaus is also a compelling story of Jesus comforting – then surprising – sorrowing disciples. How will the Resurrection surprise you? Here is what we did three years ago with Year C, Easter 2. This includes the texts other than the John passage. For what we’ve done with that, you can look up Year A, Easter 2 and Year B, Easter 2. For previous work on the Emmaus story, check out Year A, Easter 3. Smarts of the Week – [01:59] EYE Smart – [03:59]Download NATURE Smart – [02:40]Download Texts for This Week Luke 24:13-35 – [05:39] Have you ever met someone “out of place”? David was busily stirring apple butter at a village fair a couple years ago, when he saw a woman walking through the crowd who looked a lot like someone he knew from high school. Then, he saw another one, and another one! He thought he might be having an out of body experience because these women didn’t live in the area so what were they doing here? The Emmaus experience may have shared some elements of this: the disciples did not recognize Jesus because he wasn’t supposed to be there. Do you have any stories like this? They would work well as an EYE smart illustration. Hiking or walking outdoors is a wonderful NATURE smart activity, so engage those people by describing the environment in which the disciples were walking. It was likely arid and had elevation changes; it would have been important to bring water! EYE smart – [10:45]NATURE smart – [07:46]Some etiquette rules for hikerswhere Emmaus actually was, maybe? Revelation 1:4-8 – [14:07] Game of Thrones is all the rage these days, so why not rework some visual advertisements with language from the Revelation passage as an EYE smart special effect? See the worksheet for David’s idea how to do this. Clouds are prominent in this passage, so for a NATURE smart illustration and special effect, display different types of clouds. Is Jesus returning on those large, dramatic thunderheads? Or maybe the wispy clouds high in the stratosphere? Will Jesus emerge out of a fog? Each of these types of clouds “set” different ways for Jesus to return, so have some fun exploring them! EYE smart – [15:30]NATURE smart – [18:38]Are the clouds symbolic or literal? I only just now saw these on Amazon! different types of clouds in a diagramsome pictures of cloud types Psalm 150 – [20:56] The Psalmist lists a variety of musical instruments so it would seem this passage is entirely given over to MUSIC smart. But, wait! For an EYE smart exercise, substitute the musical instruments with art media! Instead of trumpets and lyres, use canvas and paint! Instead of loud clashing cymbals, try bright vibrant murals! Maybe, even make some as the passage is read! The “firmament” is the way ancient people understood the overhead expanse of the visible world. I found a diagram for a NATURE smart illustration that may be what they had in mind. You might use the different biomes for a modern perception of the world. EYE smart – [26:44]NATURE smart – [21:42]a diagram of the firmamentpictures of the different biomes Acts 5:27-32 – [28:42] Peter and the apostles are taken to task for stirring up controversy when they continue to preach about Jesus. The council is upset because it puts them all in jeopardy. But Peter knows it is not possible for him or the others to stop what they are doing. For an EYE smart illustration, consider how artists continue to produce challenging work even when they suffer for it. Similarly, those who have advocated for more responsible stewardship of our planet have faced opposition and pressure. Yet, they also consider the underlying call of our world to be much more important and so continue to document the changes happening to urge those in power to do something. For a NATURE smart illustration, you could point to the many documentaries and organizations that have taken on this mantle. EYE smart – [30:28]See this or this or find your own collection of protest art.NATURE smart – [32:46]people who are trying to make a difference in our attitudes about climate change. Photo by Sarah Kilian on Unsplash. Used by permission.

He is Risen, indeed! Welcome to the show! This is a special episode, because 1) we have never done a show for Easter before, and 2) we have decided to concentrate on the Gospel passage using all eight intelligences, and 3) we’re live! We’ve done a “live” show before, which for us means that we simply sit down, turn on the microphones and recorder, and see what inspiration comes as we dissect the texts for the intelligences. It’s simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying – just like preaching can be sometimes! It also means the show is a little long this week – just like preaching can be sometimes! If you are looking for resources for Palm Sunday, we have a show from Year B (which we also did “live”) and Year A. You can download the worksheet for this week’s episode below. Also, check out our resources about Multiple Intelligence Theory at the links on the top right hand side of the page. Easter Year CDownload Text for the Week Luke 24:1-12 WORD Smart – [04:43] We have an illustration that will click with parents. How many times have you told your kids something, and they seem not to hear it? Then, a different adult or one of their peers will say the same thing, and suddenly they hear it! Wearing dazzling clothes while you say it may help, perhaps. For a special effect, insert some puzzle games in the bulletin using key words from the passage. For a larger visual, print those words out on posters and display them around the worship space. Or, invite someone up to write down words that people hear and then display those. EYE Smart – [09:22] The Gospel of Mark tells us the women who went to the tomb met a man dressed in white but in Luke’s Gospel, they meet two men dressed in dazzling clothes. We’re thinking sequins! Also, all four Gospels show the women expecting one thing when they get there and finding something else, so invite your congregation to imagine showing up to church and discovering all the pews are gone. It’s like the scene in Risky Business when Joel comes home to discover Guido has taken all his parents’ furniture. For special effects, use some sleight of hand magic tricks, or a dimmer switch on your lights to change the mood from dark to light. MATH Smart – [14:18] How can two things be true at the same time? For the women, the reality is Jesus is not in the tomb. For the apostles, the reality is Jesus is dead. Yet, these guys in dazzling clothes are saying something else, and suddenly, what was once true (and still is for those who have not yet received the news) is no longer true. Xeno’s paradoxes are examples of how two things can be true at the same time. (The dichotomy paradox is a good example of that; you have to travel half the distance to a goal, then half that distance, then half that distance which will prevent you from ever getting to the goal – like driving across Kansas. But you DO get across eventually.) These paradoxes, quantum mechanics, and Schrödinger’s cat to name a few are good illustrations and special effects that will help MATH smart individuals process the mystery of Jesus’ resurrection. BODY Smart – [19:06] For an illustration, talk about how our reflexive fear response works in this story as the women bow to the ground after the men appear to them. The women also run to find the apostles with the news of Jesus’ resurrection, and Peter gets up and goes to the tomb to see for himself. For special effects, try interpretive movement and connect it to the words you select for WORD smart. Liturgical dance would also work here. Do you know anyone who is fluent in sign language? Invite them to sign the passage as it’s read and then teach the congregation some of the signs. MUSIC Smart – [23:39] This intelligence is regularly engaged in worship, and we are certain you will have a lot of music playing for your service. Yet, we have an idea to use music as a way to underscore (“score” – get it?) your reading by beginning with lower, darker tones in a minor key, and eventually changing to a major key with brighter tones. Pick particular instruments for the characters in the story, too! For a (kind of) contemporary secular song, try U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – the lyrics may convey the searching and longing of the women and Peter, or perhaps for your C&E worshipers. NATURE Smart – [28:24] Do you have herbalists or botanists in your congregation? Invite them to talk about the spices used for embalming practices. Here is a link to ancient Egyptian embalming practices and specific plants used. Pull 1 Corinthians 15 into your sermon, and talk about seeds falling into the ground to die and then becoming a plant. The men in dazzling clothes are talking about life that just seems impossible – maybe like the life we have discovered thriving around thermal jets in deep ocean water, or the life that may be waiting to be discovered on distant worlds? PEOPLE Smart – [33:27] The male disciples didn’t believe the women. So little has changed, it seems sometimes. Illustrating this point could be powerful; it could be an opportunity to discuss the #MeToo movement, and a chance for people to learn why it is important to listen first. The men in dazzling clothes ask the women why they are looking for the living among the dead – imagine the interaction in this scene. Present this reading as a Reader’s Theater, and use the MUSIC and EYE smart suggestions! SELF Smart – [38:27] The fear, confusion, amazement, and frustration in this story may find homes in our individual hearts, because what do we do with this story? How does the transformation of the women lead to an eventual transformation of the apostles? How does that transformation affect our lives? If you have never read The Transforming Moment by James Loder, we recommend it to be very illustrative! For a special effect, send your people home to think about what this story means for them. Also, tell them to come back next week for the second episode! Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash. Used by permission.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to the site! We are barreling down on Holy Week – holy cow – and the passages for today all ask us to stop and consider value. In John’s passage, the question is obvious as Judas objects to Mary wasting expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet. Jesus knows the value of what she is doing and tells Judas to back off. Paul tells the Philippians that he once was on top of the heap – a Super Star in his own right – but because he has met Jesus that past life is now junk. The psalmist encourages a joyful response to the way God has restored the fortunes of Israel. Isaiah tells the Israelites that God has provided a pathway for them in the past and God will continue to do so for their present and future. Let’s go see how Multiple Intelligence Theory adds some value to our worship! Smarts of the Week – [01:58] Three years ago, we came up with at least one illustration or special effect for Lent 5, Year C, 2016. We had a fun PEOPLE smart skit for the Gospel passage, too! This week, we’re focusing on MATH and PEOPLE smart. The worksheets with links and charts are below. MATH Smart – [04:37]Download PEOPLE Smart – [02:41]Download John 12:1-8 – [06:32] When I read this passage, I think of the scene in Jesus Christ Superstar when Mary sings “Everything’s Alright”. The musical has changed the venue but the argument Judas presents is the same; we could have sold the perfume and given the money to the poor. Three years ago in MATH smart, we calculated how much money that would have been. This year, we have some information about a denarius including the fact that it is now crypto-currency! We have some charts on the worksheet that would help people understand how money plays into their discipleship – what would you do with a lump sum of your own wages? For PEOPLE smart, concentrate on the drama of the scene. Three years ago, we wrote a brief chancel drama around this passage. This year, break into smaller groups and discuss the motivation behind the actors, especially Mary and Judas. Why would Mary anoint Jesus? Is Judas really looking to steal the money? What does Jesus mean that the poor will always be with you? MATH smart – [10:15]See the worksheet from our show in 2016Economic Policy InstituteSome history of the denariusDenarius is a cryptocurrencysee the worksheet for the chartsPEOPLE smart – [07:36]This is an awkward dinner situation. Philippians 3:4b-14 – [16:13] Paul tells the Philippians that his accomplishments – which are considerable – are nothing more than trash compared to his relationship with Jesus. For MATH smart, put together a chart of things considered valuable assets and status symbols and assign points to them. Tally up the number, and then give “Knowing Christ” so many points that the highest status score is lost in the rounding error to illustrate and demonstrate Paul’s point. You could also break out the balance scales for a physical representation of the relationship. For PEOPLE smart, think about the dedication athletes devote to becoming proficient in their sport. I have a couple links that speak to the psychology of an athlete and a documentary about the stories behind some African American athletes. For a look at competition taught to children, check out the video below that features Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus, and Mr. Rogers. Yes, PBS did a cross-over! MATH smart – [17:28]see the worksheet for the chartsPEOPLE smart – [21:58]the motivations of an individual athletethat journey is often a great storyHere’s another video of a race and the motivations of some of the competitors.the original Greek for the word “rubbish” Psalm 126 – [25:09] This Psalm didn’t immediately lend itself to MATH smart until David thought about what it would mean to lose everything and then have God restore it all. Consider the global meltdown that was The Great Crash of 1929; according to the link below, the market lost $30B in two days. Now, imagine that loss given back by God – restored fortunes, indeed! Use PEOPLE smart to present this psalm in worship. Encourage your congregation to recall a time when a joyous event happened in their lifetime and to get it fixed in their hearts and minds. Or, bake some bread and allow the aroma to waft into the worship space. Nothing like the promise of good food to make someone happy! Then, use that joy to call and respond antiphonally with this psalm. If you want to get some EYE and BODY smart into this exercise, add something to wave in the air! MATH smart – [29:12]October 24-29, 1929 The Great CrashPEOPLE smart – [26:20] Isaiah 43:16-21 – [32:19] We have another reversal in this passage. Rather than intangible fortune, we have God reversing a physical path – in a metaphorical way. The people had once passed through water on dry land, and now God is leading them home through dry land with rivers as pathways. Pretty cool, right? To demonstrate this with MATH, get some concave mirrors or convex lenses and play with the way images appear upside down in them. You could also talk about the challenges of navigating open landscapes before the widespread use of magnetic compasses. Isaiah is reminding the people of who they had been because of God’s mighty acts of deliverance and who they are now because of God’s might act of deliverance. The circumstances and oppressing power might change, but God hasn’t. I found an interesting essay, linked below, that considers what Israel might have been like had they not been in slavery in Egypt or taken into exile in Babylon. The author points out that loss sharpens a people’s attention to that which is prized, and that the moment that prized thing is taken for granted, it is lost. Break into groups and discuss this thought and what “old thing” God is doing in a “new way.” MATH smart – [33:04]the invention of the magnetic compassHere’s a video that explains the physics of these reflected images for mirrors and this one for lenses pretty thoroughly.PEOPLE smart – [37:58]commentary by Howard WallaceThe Unasked Question Photo by Jamie Fenn on Unsplash. Used by permission.

Greetings! Welcome back for previous listeners and welcome here for first time folks! We are more than halfway through Lent – and I’m still wearing a parka. Just sayin’. Last week’s passages centered around repentance and this week’s center around forgiveness. Forgiveness makes me think of the Don Henley song “The Heart of the Matter“ with this lyric in the chorus: I’ve been tryin’ to get down To the heart of the matter But my will gets weak And my thoughts seem to scatter But I think it’s about forgiveness Forgiveness Even if, even if you don’t love me anymore The song is reflective and wistful, and there is a hope that the singer and the beloved can maybe one day get to a better place after some forgiveness is granted and received. The Gospel lesson is all about forgiveness and new chances, while Paul tells the Corinthians that anyone in Christ is a transformed person. Joshua tells the people that God has rolled away their disgrace, and the Psalmist sings of being given new life – almost literally – after receiving God’s graceful pardon. I think Don was right; forgiveness really IS the heart of it all. But where his song and Scripture differ is that God still loves us and always will. Let’s go see how we can illustrate that! Smarts of the Week [01:58] This week, we are concentrating on EYE smart and NATURE smart. We have some suggestions for using them in a general way in worship, and of course, some specific ideas below! Plus, you can click this link to see what we did three years ago with almost all eight intelligences (sorry, MATH)! Download the worksheets for this week below. EYE smart – [05:03]Download NATURE smart – [03:18]Download This Week’s Texts: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 [06:49] Sometimes we need to push beyond the surface reading of the passage to find glimmers of a particular intelligence. As David read this story once again, he was struck by a similarity between the younger son and a virus. While we may not think of the microscopic universe for NATURE smart, viruses are part of the natural world. *cough* The way the younger brother destroys his inheritance is like the way a virus kills the host cells in which it has incubated. Looking at the story through the eyes of the older brother, we might see the younger brother as a parasite, feeding off a host. Speaking of feeding, we also have a link to dietary habits of Rome which may have been where the younger brother went. EYE smart is the intelligence when you have a chance to present or project artwork on your walls! I have links to a few masters’ works below and a Google search will bear much fruit for this story. Depending on your sensibilities, you may find artwork that inspires or disturbs. If you want to put some dramatic effort into this story, try using tableau vivant. When we use this with children, we call it “playing statues” or “freeze frame.” It’s a fun way to involve a lot of people in worship and can be very moving. EYE smart – [11:06]A la Scott Hoezee at Center for Excellence in Preaching and Stephen Colbert’s old “Dead to Me” routineGrumbling Pharisees (which would be a great name for a grunge or bluegrass band)More grumbling PhariseesGuercino “Return of the Prodigal”Rembrandt “Return of the Prodigal Son” (The reference to Henri Nouwen’s 1992 book is worth the click.)James Tissot “The Prodigal Son in Modern Life: The Return” (1882)Sochi Watanabe “The Prodigal Son Returns”arrange scenes from the passage in tableau vivantNATURE smart – [07:15]The younger son behaves like a bit like a virusThis article about viruses on wikipedia The older brother may think of his younger as a parasite! A link to dietary habits of Rome 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 [16:03] Paul tells the Corinthians that the ministry of reconciliation they have inherited from Jesus makes them ambassadors – so make your congregation ambassadors for an EYE smart special effect! If you have name tags, add a symbol or the word “Ambassador” to them. Don’t say anything until you get to the sermon as to why their name tags look different! If you do not have name tags, make some for this service and then keep them around for future use. Paul also tells the Corinthians that they have undergone a metamorphosis when they became a new creating in Jesus. For a NATURE smart illustration, talk about the metamorphosis for butterflies or cicadas. We have a link to a video by David Attenborough about the life cycle of the cicada or if you do not want to see super close up shots of insects, we also have a link to an article. EYE smart – [17:47]NATURE smart – [21:03]Here’s a brief video from BBC’s Sir David Attenborough about the life cycle of the cicada.Here’s an article about them. Psalm 32 [25:14] Current world events serve as an excellent NATURE smart illustration about safe places mentioned in the psalm. Severe flooding in Mozambique and Nebraska have raised the question about just where these safe spaces are found when your world is being washed away by floods. The psalmist also mentions the difference between human and animal nature and encourages those hearing the psalm to use the “higher understanding” of human capacity to learn from God. But horses and mules have their own intelligence. We have some articles below about this. The psalmist uses vivid language about sinfulness and vulnerability which led me to think about blankets, coats, or bandages covering naked or wounded flesh. Bring in some of these items and talk about how they are used to protect and warm bodies. This borrows a lot from BODY smart, but since you would be bringing them visually before the congregation, this is an EYE smart illustration and special effect. EYE smart – [31:30]NATURE smart – [26:42]Here’s an interesting article about mulesAnd here’s one about horse temperament. Joshua 5:9-12 [33:53] When the people of Israel ate the food from crops they had planted in the land, the manna that has sustained them in the wilderness stopped coming. The people were now able to fend for themselves so for an EYE smart illustration, invited people to imagine other situations where people grow into maturity. Also, God tells Joshua that the shame of Egypt has been rolled away so for a special effect, roll a large tire down the aisle and talk about how God removes the past and leads into the future. In NATURE smart, use images of storm clouds rolling away to illustrate God’s grace removing the darkness of shame. We have links to some video showing this. Also, talk about what kind of food the land produced! We have a link below that might lead you to some interesting recipes! EYE smart – [34:55]NATURE smart – [37:08]Agriculture of Canaan & Ancient IsraelHere’s a time lapse video of clouds rolling awayHere’s anotherHere’s a third Photo by Isabella Mariana from Pexels. Used by permission.