Just Sitting Here Thinking

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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8-04-02 Wisdom Is More Precious Than Gold (Proverbs 3)

Lesson on the importance of wisdom, Job's quest for wisdom, and the triumphs and downfall of King Solomon's reign. The seven pillars on which wisdom is based - prudence, humility, discretion, insight, plus knowledge, reason, and openness.
 
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7-10-05 Three Disciplines of the Christian (Alms, Prayer and Fasting)

Lesson on the disciplines  of faith, sharing with the needs of the community, the gift of communicating with God, and fasting for grief, reverence, and repentance - and practicing all with humility. Being the salt of the earth, and the life-long quest for purity and positivity to reflect the light of Christ.

6-26-05 The Resurrection as told by Mark

Lesson on St. Mark's account of Jesus' resurrection and the history of its translation and revision. The importance of the three women who discovered the empty tomb and  the enigma of Joseph of Arimathea. The closeness of Mark and Peter, and ending the story with the Great Commission: the message to spread the Good News, heal the sick and poor of spirit, and to be the power of Christ in the world.

04-04-04 The Journey of Discipleship

Watch the VIDEO version at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WCJnvTe-_c
Sermon on the Apostles witnessing the Transfiguration and their journey of discipleship, having the faith of a child and real humility before God and in the world, from St. Francis and Mother Teresa to a Tennessee farmer named Dewey Strange. Accepting the cup of Christ fills us with the courage to stand up against tyranny and racism for justice and grace.

REPRISE: The Role of the Church in the Development of America

In honor of Independence Day, we repost this discussion referenced in last week's 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.

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.

1-02-05 Jesus Begins His Ministry + Where is God during tragedy?

First: Where is God during tragedy? - a discussion in the aftermath of the December 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that killed almost a quarter million people.
Lesson on the transition of John the Baptist to Jesus beginning his ministry, finding disciples, and his critical first message to the world. The need for repentance to see "I am the truth" and the good news of the kingdom of God.

6-12-05 The Healing of the Paralytic

Lesson on the healings of Jesus and Peter, and the power of faith for the benefit of others. The difference between healing and curing, and the role of the church in healing and serving the spiritual and physical needs of the people. The story of Dr. Robert F. Thomas and his journey from minister to doctor, becoming one of the first to bring modern medicine to the remote Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in the 1920s.

6-05-05 Baptism

Lesson on the emergence of baptism, the history of ritual washing in Judaism, and the origin of John the Baptist. Also the question of transformation and the significance of Jesus' baptism as a symbol of the start of his ministry.

6-03-07 Amos

Lesson on one whom God called out of the wilderness, not as a prophet, but to proclaim God's displeasure with the people of Israel for the corruption of the temple, forsaking the poor, and intolerance of the people for each other. What does that mean for us today, and what are the church's responsibilities in caring for all people?

05-27-07 The Gift of Reconciliation (Revelation - part 7)

Lesson concluding this study of Revelation, final thoughts on the book as a whole, interpreting the final battle of good and evil, and finding love over judgment from God.