2011.3.7 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, in Vinita, Oklahoma.

Today, I share with you a story about a fictional woman, who you'll not find in Pilgrim Church. Nevertheless, you may have met this woman some time, somewhere.

She is vivacious, strong and capable, and very pious. Faithful to worship services at her little Church on the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Ninth Street, she nods her head and shouts "Amen" whenever her minister condems drinking, dancing, movies, gambling, and Sunday sports events.

One Sunday her pastor preached against harm caused by gossip, and as he droned on (some preachers never know the value of short sermons), she could keep silent no longer.  In a loud whisper, heard throughout the congregation, she said: "Now he's stopped preaching and started meddling."

You don't know any self-righteous person like our fictional woman, or do you?

Peace and in friendship


Richard

A PEARL OF VALUE

"Minds like parachutes are valuable only when open!"

2010.10.04 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.
 
Some of you reading this Monday Morning Message know little or nothing about our Church. Did a mutual friend invite you to visit our blog? A big thanks to whoever that might be! I hope you'll return next week and that you'll invite someone else to be a part of our off-site/on-line outreach.

Our 128 year-old Church is a welcoming, healthy congregation. We know that no one lives by bread alone. From as long as we can go in history, human beings have exhibited a need for religion. Cave drawings indicate that ancients worshiped one kind of deity or another.

For Christians, the development of religion reached its climax in Jesus of Nazareth. Revolting against hardened ritual and pious self-righteousness, Jesus showed us how to live in relation to God and toward one another. (Try reading John, chapter 15). Love is complex. For me, at least, its opposite is not hate but indifference. It's a lifetime task to ward off indifference!

Courage for today in your determination to overcome indifference!


Richard

2009.12.21 Monday Morning!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.

It is a good thing at Christmas to listen again to the message that heralded the birth of Jesus: "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy!"

Please don't identify your Christian faith with gloom and doom! Don't be fooled by hyper religious (fanatics?) who are negative and critical of all who disagree with them.

The birth of Jesus sounded an anthem not a dirge. Christianity is not a long list of negatives. Keep your sense of humor and do what is right. I know a few agnostics who live closer to the spirit of Christ than some of the ultra pious folk in churches who believe the proof of their goodness is in direct proportion to the number of their inhibitions.

The Christian gospel is not negative. Even in these difficult days of war and economic woes, bring your radiant faith out of the shadows. God will give you the thrill of Christmas: God still is with you; rejoice, the Son of God has come to us.

Enjoy!

Richard

2009.03.23 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, a small congregation with a big heart. Located in the center of Vinita, Oklahoma, our Sunday services begin at 10:00 a.m., enabling us to get to the town's restaurants before our Methodist and Baptist neighbors! Join us at worship, if you can; if you can't remember us in prayer at "Ten on Sunday".

Jesus was a thorn in the side of the fundamentalists of his time. The religion of his day had hardened into ritual and legal codes and he warned the self-righteous to "judge not".

His efforts to reform religion landed him on a cross, falsely accused of being a political revolutionary. He was not. But, he was a moral revolutionary.

God save us from those who condemn to hell those who disagree with their interpretation of Scripture.

A "Pearl of Value" for today:
"The only 'true church' is that which admits there is no way of knowing which denomination God belongs to." (Sidney Harris)


Fond regards,
Richard

2009.01.26 Monday Morning!

Top of this Monday Morning, and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma.

It is sad, but true, that those inclined toward religious pursuits are too often inclined toward extremism. When you think of modern faith-based violence, names like Osama bin Laden, David Koresh and Jim Jones are front and center.

While certain fundamentalists and evangelicals within our Presbyterian Church (USA) may not be violent, their thinking that their interpretation of the Bible is the only way of belief is self-righteous!

There are many ways to God, and those who accuse others of heresy would do better by being less intolerant, less stubborn in their prejudices.

No person has a monopoly of belief or experience. Beware of religious tyranny!


Peace,
Richard

2008.04.28 Monday Morning!

The woman in my message this MONDAY MORNING is fictional. You'll not find her in Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. Nevertheless, you may have met this woman at sometime, somewhere.

She is a vivacious, strong, pious woman.  Faithful to worship services at her little church on the corner of  Wisconsin and Ninth, she nods her head, and shouts "AMEN" whenever her minister condemns drinking, dancing, movies, gambling and Sunday football.

One Sunday her pastor preached against harm! caused by gossip,  and as he droned on (some preachers never know the value of short sermons), she could keep silent no longer.  In a loud whisper, heard throughout the congregation, she said:

"Now he's stopped preaching and started meddling!"

You don't know any self-righteous person like our fictional woman, or do you?

Minds - like parachutes - are valuable only when open!


Peace, and in friendship,
Richard