Year C, Ordinary 13 (Proper 8), 2019 – Don’t Look Back!

More Than Hearing

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.

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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

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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.

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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 rest
• WORD smart – [18:51]
  • see the worksheet for the “Mad Lib”

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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 Program
  • The 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

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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.com
    • Official Dan Rather site
    • Some fake Ratherisms that are a little raunchier – BEWARE

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Image credit: Photo by Gvexx from Pexels, used by permission.

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