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“When the Shadow Falls” The Rev. Robert G. Moore III Sunday, October 15, 2006 Proper 23 (28) Year B A Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures: Job 23:1-9, 16-17: Then Job answered: "Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me.” There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge. "If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face! A Reading from Psalm: Psalm 22:1-15: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame. But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people. All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; "Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver-- let him rescue the one in whom he delights!" Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother's breast. On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls encircle me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. A Reading from the Christian Gospel: Mark 10:17-31: As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible." Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age--houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions--and in the age to come

mp3 version of when the shadow falls.Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

Welcome to the show for Sunday, December 4, 2005. Today’s sermon is entitled “Divine Combat” and was originally delivered in 2001. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." Our musician this week is the Eric Anders, an incredibly talented artist who artfully employs his literary talents in his songwriting and evokes the bitter-sweet beauty of the human condition in each of his songs. While Eric is not a Christian nor a Christian artist, the song I featured today, “Struggle” seemed to be a great fit for today’s episode. Many thanks to Eric for his kind and generous permission to feature his terrific music. You can find out more about Eric and information about ordering his Cds at www.ericanders.com. You can find the show notes on my podcast host page at http://newchristianmanifesto.blogspot.com. Please note that all rights to this song reserved by Eric Anders and that it may not be duplicated beyond the purposes of listening to this podcast episode. Quotes and resources for this week's episode: Frederick Buechner, The Magnificent Defeat Harper Collins Bible Commentary Walter Brueggeman, Genesis, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching See Frederich Buechner, Listening to your Life H. Richard Niebuhr, The Responsible Self Thanks for listening, see you next week! Unless noted otherwise, each episode of the New Christian Manifesto podcast is copyright by attribution- non-commercial- share alike license. You are free to use, copy, distribute, display and perform the works under the following conditions: • Attribution. You must give the original author credit. • Noncommercial. You may not use this work for commercial purposes. • Share Alike. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one. For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from the author. Your fair use and other rights are in no way affected by the above. Go to Creative Commons Legal Code to read the full license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/1.0/legalcodeReligion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

Welcome to the show for Sunday, November 27, 2005. Today’s sermon is entitled “Blessed are the Oppressors, the Un-chosen, the Impure, the Dirty Deal-makers” and was originally delivered on Monday, July 29, 2002. Long-time listeners will recognize this sermon as my first podcast, but since I didn’t really know what I was doing then (not much has changed), I thought I’d re-present this one. As I mentioned last week, this one hits pretty close to the bone on anything I might have to say. The notion of God’s radical and subversive grace, incarnate in the Christ, is one that has been on my mind and my heart in these past few years and this sermon is as perhaps as close as I’ve ever come to articulating my own experience of that divine love and grace, a grace and love that has only recently for me become much more than a belief, more than a dry piece of dogma, but more a breathing, living reality. The musician this week is the Rev. Will Burhans, who serves as pastor of Charlotte Congregational Church, in Charlotte, Vermont. Will’s song today was, “The Stream and Flow.” I happen to know that this is one of Will’s favorite songs, and its easy to see why. Many thanks to the Rev. Will Burhans for today’s music. You can find out more about Will and information about ordering his Cds at www.revwillburhans.com. You can find the show notes on my podcast host page at http://newchristianmanifesto.blogspot.com. Thanks for listening, see you next week! Each episode of the New Christian Manifesto podcast is copyright by attribution- non-commercial- share alike license. You are free to use, copy, distribute, display and perform the works under the following conditions: • Attribution. You must give the original author credit. • Noncommercial. You may not use this work for commercial purposes. • Share Alike. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one. For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from the author. Your fair use and other rights are in no way affected by the above. Go to Creative Commons Legal Code to read the full license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/1.0/legalcodeReligion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

Welcome to the show for Sunday, November 20, 2005. Today’s sermon is entitled “Sheeps, Goats and the Folsom Prison Blues." Our musician this week is Kevin Kane, a folk singer/songwriter from New York City. You can find out more about Kevin Kane and information about his music at http://www.kanesongs.com. While I’m pretty sure that Kevin wouldn’t consider himself a Christian artist, I haven’t heard a song yet that so closely matches what I imagine our Christ saying himself about the religious right’s use of him as the poster-boy for such a heartless and hate-filled set of domestic and foreign policy agendas. Can’t say I agree with everything in the song, but I sure do stand up and salute his sense of humor, and his honesty and courage in singin’ it. Hope it made you laugh out loud and squirm a little bit too. I don’t think Kevin needs to hear today’s sermon. Right on. "I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep." Subscribe to the New Christian Manifesto Podcast through iTunes (see 1-click buttons on right sidebar at http://newchristianmanifesto.blogspot.com), or through any number of other podcast programs.Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

Welcome to the New Christian Manifesto Podcast for Sunday, November 6, 2005. (click on the title to listen or if you have iTunes, subscribe with one click button to right on the homepage) Today I’ve got a little something different for you. I’d like to introduce New Christian Manifesto listeners to another podcast that I’ve begun to produce for CrossLeft.org, a new grassroots progressive Christian organization. You can subscribe to the podcast in the iTunes music store and find it at http://crossleft.blogspot.com. So, for this week only, the crossleft podcast will, by way of introduction, stand in for the New Christian manifesto podcast. I hope you enjoy it!Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

Welcome to the show for Sunday, October 30, 2005. Today’s sermon is entitled “In Defense of All Hallow’s Eve” and was originally delivered today, Sunday, October 30, 2005. (click on the title to listen or if you have iTunes, subscribe with one click button to right on the homepage) I may risk belaboring my listeners’ patience by mentioning again the earthquake that has devastated South Asia, but I must do so. Just this week the United Nations put out an urgent plea for more funding and stated that relief operations would have to be scaled back, putting millions of lives at risk if another 250 million is not raised immediately (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9848969). Even as our national media tires of covering this tragedy, it is mushrooming into a far deadlier disaster because of lack of aid, and it has already claimed tens of thousands of lives. Please do whatever you can to help to spare more victims. Www.networkforgood.org is a very good resource for researching aid organizations and provides a link from its home page to organizations assisting in the recovery efforts and easy ways to donate much needed funds for the recovery. Many thanks to the PodSafe music network at music.podshow.com for today’s music. Today’s episode featured Vivisection’s “Prarie Ghosts." "'The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.'"Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

Welcome to the show for Sunday, October 23, 2005. Today’s sermon is entitled “Autumnal Overturn” and was originally delivered today, Sunday, October 23, 2005. (click on the title to listen or if you have iTunes, subscribe with one click button to right on the homepage) Before the sermon, its important to mention the earthquake in South Asia, that has primarily affected Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. The death toll is above 50,000 in Pakistan alone and this morning’s New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/international/asia/23quake.html) reports that a second wave of deaths has begun, due to lack of medical care in a region that is overwhelmed by this disaster. Post tsunami and post-Katrina, we’re all surely suffering from compassion fatigue, but we must not let the incomprehensible nature of these tragedies overwhelm our urge to help in whatever way we can. Even as our national media tires of covering these tragedies, the needs created by them only grow. Www.networkforgood.org is a very good resource for researching aid organizations and provides a link from its home page to organizations assisting in the recovery efforts and easy ways to donate much needed funds for recovery. "When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 'Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?' He said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.'" claiming odeo channel (please disregard): My Odeo Channel (odeo/b18881acfe7b550a)Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

(click on the title to listen or if you have iTunes, subscribe with one click button to right) "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Many thanks to the PodSafe music network at music.podshow.com for today’s music. Today’s episode featured the Marriott Jazz Quintet and their piece entitled, “On the Third Day.” A short public service announcement: If you haven’t already donated to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, please take a moment to do so. Network for Good (http://www.networkforgood.org) is a good resource for researching not-for-profit aid agencies. And I’ve been particularly impressed by the goals of the Bush/Clinton Hurricane Katrina Fund (http://www.bushclintonkatrinafund.org), which was announced today. Our former presidents and the organization they have created may yet prove much more adept than the current administration in responding effectively to the incomprehensible human need created by this tragedy. The Bush/Clinton Katrina Fund will seek to fill in the gaps left by the other forms of governmental and relief agency aid. However you choose to do it, please do give sacrificially to this aid effort. Our brothers and sisters in the gulf states are absolutely counting on us.Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

(click on the title to listen or if you have iTunes, subscribe with one click button to right) Welcome to the show for Sunday, September 18, 2005. Today’s sermon is entitled “Yes, Angry Enough to Die!” and was delivered today. But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?" And he said, "Yes, angry enough to die." "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard." "Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

(click on the title to listen or if you have iTunes, subscribe with one click button to right) When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

(click on the title to listen or if you have iTunes, subscribe with one click button to right) Welcome to the show for Sunday, October 2, 2005. Today’s sermon is entitled “Who’s Afraid of Easter” and was originally delivered on Saturday, March 26, 2005 at 11:00pm, Easter Vigil. A short public service announcement before the musical intro: If you’re a regular or new and curious listener to A New Christian Manifesto, you will likely have an interest in a conference organized by the Every Voice Network, Anglican Voices United for Justice. The conference is being held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on October 13-15, and is entitled “Values, Vision and the via Media.” The blockbuster slate of speakers is certainly a draw as is the opportunity to find other folks who are committed to the idea that the gospel of Christ should always be honored as a liberal force for divine good within individual lives as well as our larger national and global community. I do not come out of the Anglican tradition, but seeing events like this conference makes me sometimes wish I did. The registration fee for students is very reasonable and financial scholarships are available. If you are interested, registration and contact information are available at http://www.everyvoice.net/values. Many thanks to Jo for alerting me to this terrific conference. "His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay."Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

(click on the title to listen or if you have iTunes, subscribe with one click button to right) Welcome to the show for Sunday, October 9, 2005. Today’s sermon is entitled “On Shrouds, Sheets and Clothes” and was originally delivered today, Sunday, October 9, 2005. More information about the conference organized by the Every Voice Network, Anglican Voices United for Justice: The conference is being held this coming weekend at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on October 13-15, and is entitled “Values, Vision and the via Media.” The conference opens Thursday, October 13, 1pm, at St. Alban’s Church (at the National Cathedral campus) with an address by journalist E. J. Dionne of the Washington Post. Speakers include Valerie Batts, Jim Wallis, John Danforth, David Korten and Jonathan Schell. Registration for all sessions, banquets, and receptions being held at the National Cathedral and the Marriott is open for $255 a head ($85 for students). Registration for panels only (without banquet tickets) is $190 ($20 for students). Great deals for students! Those in the DC/New York/Philadelphia area are encouraged to drop by the National Cathedral for whatever sessions most interest them. Day-attendance costs $20 ($10 for students). If you are interested, registration and contact information are available at http://www.everyvoice.net/values. Great deal for those just coming for a day! Many thanks, again, to Jo for alerting me to this terrific conference. "'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests."Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

(click on the title to listen or if you have iTunes, subscribe with one click button to right) Welcome to the show for Sunday, October 16, 2005. Today’s sermon is entitled “A Fly in the Ointment” and was originally delivered on Sunday, April 3, 2005. Before the sermon, its important to mention the earthquake in South Asia, that has primarily affected Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. The death toll is above 40,000 in Pakistan alone. Post tsunami and post-Katrina, we’re all surely suffering from compassion fatigue, but we must not let the incomprehensible nature of these tragedies overwhelm our urge to help in whatever way we can. Even as our national media tires of covering these tragedies, the needs created by them only grow. Www.networkforgood.org is a very good resource for researching aid organizations and provides a link from its home page to organizations assisting in the recovery efforts. "In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith--being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” Many thanks to the PodSafe music network at music.podshow.com for today’s music. Today’s episode featured the band, Audiopharm and their instrumental piece entitled, “Groove.” I’ll feature podsafe music each week on the show which may or may not have anything to do with the sermon. Most likely, it’ll just be good indie music that I like. Paraphrased quotes come from the October 30, 2004 edition of Garrison Keillor’s A Prarie Home Companion and David Rosenberg’s translation of selections of the Zohar in his work entitled, Dreams of Being Eaten Alive, The Literary Core of the Kabbalah.Religion, Christianity, liberal, progressive, grace, sermon, Christ, Christian