Just Sitting Here Thinking

2-04-90 Use It Or Lose It

Sermon on using our God-given gifts in life. The importance of exercising our talents to keep them honed, and exercising our faith to keep our spiritual life fresh and renewed. The importance of taking time in the busyness of life for our spiritual health, and the joy that comes into everyday life from regular prayer and reflection.
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1-28-90 You Are Never Alone

Sermon on finding hope through loneliness, hopelessness, and abandonment. When we feel forsaken by God by the silence we feel, and how we hide or distance ourselves from God out of that fear that God will not be there when we feel most alone. The story of Francis Thompson and "The Hound of Heaven."
Often the one light in darkness is the promise that God will never leave us, and how that affirmation can give us the courage to live and continue on. How we can share that hope with others to pull each other out of the darkness. 
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1-21-90 Hang A Towel In Your Lapel

Sermon on the jacket lapel, representing the place where we place the messages of all the pins, jewelry, tags and bumper stickers in our lives. The symbols we wear and the priorities we show to the world, and the towel as a symbol of service and discipleship. How we become disciples when we take up Christ's mantle of service to others.
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1-14-90 Taking A Quantum Leap

Sermon reflecting on the television series "Quantum Leap" and the importance of taking quantum leaps in our own life. In reflecting on the past, propelling us into the future, and stretching our abilities to improve our lives through faith.
David's journey from fear to triumph, Saul's conversion experience into Paul, and Rev. Eastridge's personal journey as a young man from confusion and ambivalence into a life of discipleship. Reflecting on the impact of one summer evening with a young local evangelist named Billy Graham.
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01-08-06 The Pastoral Letters

An introduction to Paul's letters to Titus and Timothy, and the challenges and critical decisions described in the early church. The importance of unity and openness, and the crucial need and power of prayer.
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12-18-05 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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12-22-02 Taking Jesus Out of the Manger

A special Christmas lesson on the promises of "the baby in the box." Celebrating the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Messiah and the hopes and faith of all who believe in Him. The impact the hope of a child can have to transform a world.
How Christ has brought about those changes, to open the minds of the people to tolerance and acceptance, and to open the souls of humanity to reconciliation with God.
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12-15-02 Joseph: A Father’s Call (Advent Lesson)

Advent lesson on Joseph, the responsibilities upon him and the sacrifices he endured for the love of his wife and the child he raised as his son. The dangers and hardships they faced in the communities they crossed, desperate to keep the child safe. The values he instilled in Jesus as a young man and the heartbreak of a nurturing father at the end.
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11-23-03 Remain Loyal (2 John)

Lesson on 2 John's message of the spiritual walk we take together. Walking in truth and not living out a biased faith. The search for truth is a lifelong quest. Walking in love with one another, and putting our love into action to help each other.
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06-18-06 Corinthians and Leadership in the Church

Lesson on Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, the fractions and divisions among the devotees of Paul and of Apollos. Setting a foundation with the basic beliefs of the church, the importance of grace and the means to live together as Christ would have us.
The quality of life within the church community, the need to love one another and our church, and our responsibility for the legacy of the church. Real leadership and the need for unity and the common pursuit over individual egos and personal desires. Bringing the church forward into society with love, repentance, and looking to God.
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11-11-90 The Tiger In You

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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5-26-06 Proverbs: Integrity, Righteousness and Community

Lesson on the Proverbs with themes of integrity, righteousness, and community. The contradictions within the book and the wisdom to discern, acknowledging the complexity of life. The importance of listening to our own conscience and the "inward witness."
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A Memorial Easter Lesson: The Triumph Over Death

Rev. J. Vance Eastridge passed on October 13, 2022 at 95. He leaves behind a loving wife and large, loving family. He also leaves behind thousands of thankful people whose lives he touched through pastoral care, his earnest and charismatic voice and poetic writing, and through gentle daily kindness, grace, and love.
He pastored to more than a dozen congregations of hundreds across two states over 40 years. In retirement he wrote a memoir, a collection of essays and poems, and a treatise on Methodism, while he continued preaching weekly through the Virgil Anderson Sunday School Class for 16 more years. His voice continues on this podcast...
Here, upon the occasion of his own, is an Easter lesson about how, on that day, the pain and grief of Jesus' mother and disciples was transformed into joy. The Resurrection of Jesus means the resurrection of all and triumph over death through the love of God. 
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Romans: Let Us Not Therefore Judge

(Romans 14:13) Lesson on Paul's efforts to build community, new rituals and traditions at the very beginning of Christianity. The need for understanding among each other and avoiding judgment, warning against creating barriers to others' faith.
How cooperation between peoples of different beliefs is the foundation of the church. The importance of keeping an open mind and evolving our beliefs over a lifetime.
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Jonah and The Call

Lesson on the attempt by Jonah to deny the call to minister to those he hated, and the futility of trying to run away from God. But from that is the comfort that God never leaves us.Each of us called by God to use our talents based on our gifts, strengths and joys.
 
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The Story of Ruth and Naomi (Part 2) - Kindness and Love

The Story of Ruth and Naomi (Part 2) Picking up on their return from Moab to Judah, we see Ruth's sacrifice and dedication to her mother-in-law, and Naomi's grief andfeeling of being forsaken by God. Meeting wealthy and generous Boaz, and the fortuitous arrangement that could provide for them both. The historical context of the story, Moab, the ending of the Babylonian exile and the attempt to reconstruct the nation. Ezra and Nehemiah's destructive eviction of foreign immigrants including ancestors of David, and God's desire for all peoples to live together - as the kindness and love exemplified by Boaz. The kindness and love of Jesus that we are to show, and the small acts that can make such a difference in each others' lives.
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REPRISE: The Story of Ruth and Naomi (Part 1) + John Wesley Q&A

One of the most intimate personal bonds between characters in the Bible is that of Ruth and Naomi, as told in the Book of Ruth. Lesson on trust, friendship, family, bravery and loyalty through seemingly insurmountable struggles.
But first, it's open floor for questions and discussion following the introspective on John Wesley.
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9-23-01 Aftermath of 9-11

Lesson on the aftermath of September 11th, ruminations on anger and forgiveness, and the dilemmas of modern conflict. The story of the Canaanite woman whose girl was possessed by a demon, and the power that drives us to do endure humiliation and sacrifice for the people we love.
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The Temple of Jerusalem

Lesson on the history of the Temple in Jerusalem, and its importance to Judaism and to Jesus in childhood and the beginning of His ministry. 
The Ark of the Covenant, the architectural dimensions and different parts of the Temple, and the Holy of Holies. 
Solomon's decree for it to be a place to pray and find forgiveness, and provide inclusive shelter and acceptance for all people. 
How we all need a place to worship where we can feel both the awe and intimacy of God's presence. 
 
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8-11-02 Do The Right Thing (Proverbs 6)

Lesson on Proverbs 6 and the traits in humans that God abhors - arrogance, lying, a wicked heart toward others, a knowing thirst for sin, destroying the lives of others, bearing false witness, and creating disharmony.
How the values of integrity, loyalty, faithfulness, humility and resisting judgment and prejudice toward others are passed down from our elders, and specifically through father Roby Julius Eastridge of Mountain City, Tennessee.
 
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