Just Sitting Here Thinking

07-15-90 Living In A Room With A Low Ceiling

Paul's message to give affection for what is above. Not living on autopilot, with only the minimum effort required.Always challenging ourselves and setting goals beyond our ability in order to grow and to stay humble.
Building a relationship with God, and standing with courage and conviction for God's love. The power of allowing our faith to widen our imagination and opportunities. Our invitation from God to live for something greater than ourselves and "brush our head against the stars."
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4-11-07 The Role of the Church in the Development of America

In honor of Independence Day, here is this discussion referenced in the previous episode on the history of the church from the Holy Roman Empire to the Reformation, and the foundation of religious freedom in the American colonies up to today.
 
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7-01-07 One Nation Under God

Lesson for Independence Day on the religious groups crossing the Atlantic Ocean to worship freely, the faith of the individual founders such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington, how the separation of church and state preserves religious liberty, and danger of ignoring the history of religion in America.
 
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6-10-90 Hiking the Asbury Trail

Sermon on pioneers in faith, Francis Asbury, the story of the circuit rider, and the urgent vitality of the United Methodist Church. 
The needs of people for us to minister have been constant, from arriving in colonial days to the Pittman Center in the twentieth century, and Methodists have always been ready to serve.
The power and importance of the connectional church as a collective fellowship of believers, focused and active in society to carry the flame of Christ's love.
The origin, history and continued mission of the Holston Conference. The growing call of United Methodism in America, and in the larger parish of the world.
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6-03-90 The Flame That Will Not Go Out

Brief sermon on being the light and peace of Christ, and the power and importance of the Holy Spirit.
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The Prophecy of the Messiah in the Kingdom of David

Brief lesson on the promise of the coming savior in the 1st century A.D. Jesus' contemporaries under foreign oppression concentrated on the abundance of material blessing, not the spiritual awakening. Judea under Roman occupation envisioned the Messiah primarily as a military ruler.
Some, including Zealots, were intent on taking prophecy into their own hands, and believed they could force God's actions. Humankind can do nothing to facilitate the prophecy, which will occur in God's own time.
The teachings of the prophets concluded:-the kingdom would come with God's initiative-the kingdom would be brought by the Messiah-there would be great material blessings-there would be great political and military strength-there would be a great spiritual awakening-it will be an eschatological transition: the beginning of end of time.
Jesus concentrated on the spiritual, never material or political or military; always about kingdom of God, never of this world. He would not conform to contemporary assumptions about the Messiah's role.
We are living in the time between the coming of the Christ and the final coming of the kingdom of God to Earth. Our task is to accept the gift of God's love and show God's love, inviting others into the kingdom.
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5-19-96 The Tap On The Shoulder

Sermon for a pastoral dedication on the call to ministry and feeling God's voice. The need for conviction to remain steadfast in your conscience, while keeping an open mind and submitting to trust in God.
Being informed, be able to be trusted, but not intellectualizing, meeting the needs of people with complex lives and sometimes heavy hearts.
Accepting, appreciating and loving them for who they are, without judgment. The challenge of making people feel closer to God, and how the material sacrifices cannot compare to the spiritual rewards.
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Easter Special: Introspective of the Apostle Simon Peter (Rev. J. Vance Eastridge, Just Sitting Here Thinking)

To celebrate Easter, we revisit this introspective monologue on the apostle Simon Peter from 2003. As always, no notes - just an extemporized yet structured meditation based on heavy research.
Also available in VIDEO at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjwG-eUhOOw&t=1329s

12-05-04 Abraham and Faith

Lesson on the fundamental importance of grace and faith. Faith is our response to God. It must be a two-way relationship in order to deepen our connection and reveal God's presence in our lives.
Abraham is the father of our concept of faith, the first to make a covenant with God. God's call to Abraham to leave his homeland and create a new path. The conundrum of his call to sacrifice Isaac.
The legitimacy of both Isaac and Ishmael as sons of Abraham and fathers of great nations, each having covenants with God. Christ's reconciliation of all nations through the covenant of grace.
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11-21-04 Rebirth In Christ

Lesson on Paul and the church at Corinth, and reconciling with God in our lives. Paul's journey to live with the values he preached, his need to gain the peoples' trust, and the need for all of us to lead by example.
In Christ, there is a new life. But it comes differently, at different times for different people. Why not everyone who becomes a Christian feels a "conversion experience."John Wesley's example of a Christian wanting to feel a difference and preaching faith all the while searching for assurance, until finally finding it at Aldersgate.
We will always lead imperfect lives but try to do the right thing for others in the name of Christ, with the the obligation to strive to be better as we accept the gift of grace.
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1-23-05 Jesus Charges His Disciples

"Who do you say that I am?" Lesson on Jesus' great question to the apostles and Peter's answer, "You are the Messiah, Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)
The true meaning of being the Messiah and fulfilling the prophecy. The difficulty for the apostles to accept the ultimate sacrifice, and their dedication to a life of discipleship. Finding our own calling and hearing what God is asking each of us. The blessings that come with living in Jesus' example.
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09-30-90 Then Keep The Lamps Burning

Sermon on the vital importance of education and guiding children early with Jesus' example.
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10-07-90 Bread Broken For A Hungry World

Sermon for World Communion Sunday on behaving like Christ toward one another in a culture where we often condone dishonesty, unkindness, and aggression. Remaining steadfast in the core of Jesus' teachings of peace, love, and giving, while fighting the false gods of nationalism and greed. Trusting God to guide us and living with an eye always on Christ's example.
 
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11-04-90 Life Is Forever

Inspiring All Saints Day sermon on the ultimate question of mortality and the reassurance we have in living on through Christ.
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12-31-06 NEW YEAR REPRISE: Keeping Balance

A New Year's Eve lesson on finding and keeping balance in our lives.
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12-18-05 CLASSIC: Making Christmas Match The Christmas Card

Classic and often-requested sermon of Rev. Eastridge's, always remade fresh and contemporary with the time of its telling.
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10-30-88 Your Religion Is Marked By Nail Holes

Sermon on Christ's purpose for the church. A call for each of us to take a stand for our faith and let our light shine, using the nails of loyalty, obedience, visibility, and evangelism.
The constant temptation of the church toward worldly interests instead of Christ's message of love and grace, not judgment, and sacrifice for others.
Christ's offer to us is not to be enchained by doctrine but freed by grace. Our religion must always have the nail holes of the fresh rebirth of faith.
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11-06-88 Giving Thanks With A Grateful Heart

Happy Thanksgiving!
Mark 12:41-44Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on.”
Successful living is a matter of gratitude, the awareness of God's goodness and the help of other people throughout our lives. Giving what you can with a glad heart and giving thanks with a grateful spirit.
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11-11-90 The Tiger In You (Reprise)

Sermon on becoming who we were born to be. Having the faith to boldly pursue living deliberately rather than eking out a fringe material existence. And finding in our reflection the image of God in which we were created. 
 
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10-14-90 A Living God For Living People

Emory University's J.J. Altizer once postulated to TIME magazine that "God is Dead." How we sometimes live as if God were dead or perhaps just fading away...
The comfort and the power of God's everlasting presence in the world and the universe. And how God continues working through Christ today in us. Our faith is a living relationship with God.
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