(x = space)
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amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
(you can sing it)
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there were good hymns
in church
and a couple that were sleepy
the sermon was terrific
for being true and in style easy
as if we could believe
afterward
and live it through the new week that
all this was meant to serve
amen
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c l couch
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photo by channel 82 on unsplash
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(x = space)
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my own exegesis
(in response to the sermon)
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Exodus, Moses, pillars
foot of the mountain
young men sacrificing bulls
the blood upon the people
the purity of blood
they meet God
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this business about blood and purity
blood and sacrifice for purified results
I don’t understand it
I’m put off
if not revolted
I’m glad it’s done
thank God it’s done
by Jesus
thank Jesus
who for God and as God
sacrificed himself
whose blood must have purified the Earth
his blood purifies us
to be with God
now and forever
one sacrifice, one purity
for all time
the killing, bleeding business now is done
betrayal’s done
as is blood-letting
the blood of Jesus is
restoration
into garden-readiness
again
we could be back in Eden
we will be
new heaven and new Earth
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c l couch
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David Henderson preaching. I wrote this after the sermon delivered 29 May 2022 at Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church in West Lafayette, Indiana.
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Exodus 24
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Photo by Nguyễn Hiệp on Unsplash
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(x = space)
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Next Sunday
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I am nearly asleep
I can hear the voice
On the machine
Thanks to Vimeo and Livestream
And presettings
It’s a message about Thomas
And doubting resurrection
What we see
What we unsee
And believe in other ways
Don’t be afraid to doubt
The pastor says
He’s preaching about Thomas
Don’t hide the doubt
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That sounds
Savvy
We’re on an adventure,
After all
Before discovery, often there
Is disappointment
If not disbelief
Then we come upon the X
Not that we have to doubt
There are those who believe
From just off the map
‘Til X
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I thought
I was gone on walkabout
But he’s started talking
About treasure
An old coin
What to believe in
For faith
Doubt is real
Maybe necessary
On the way to faith
(or maybe having left,
walking back again)
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Liberty is a theme,
I think,
In that we are free to doubt
On our own mortal terms
And to believe
With the same set
Of qualities and variables
A search for faith in love
An end to war
Peace talks
At our table
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The singers rise up
The sermon’s over
Captions appear
Soon I’ll have to turn it off
Get on with my distant day
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C L Couch
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Photo by Jiroe (Matia Rengel) on Unsplash
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(x = space)
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The Topic Is Admonishment
(Sunday morning sermon and discussion)
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Well, let’s see
God admonished Moses
And admonished worse the rest of
The Israelites
The donkey admonished Balaam
Elijah admonished Jezebel
Ananias and Sapphira were not given
Time to be admonished
But were killed for lack of generosity
And lying about it
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Admonishment seems to be
A touchy theme
How are we to do it
Without getting killed?
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Well, we are,
I guess,
To do it
Though I think it has to be
In an absolutely constructive
Fashion
In which we ask each other first
Who we are
And how we are
And why, in love, this is necessary
And then we go ahead
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Knowing we might lose
The relationship
And lose in other ways
Stones on the path
That God does not remove
Before we strike them
And now
We must do something
Even though
But knowing
That the path continues
On the other side
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C L Couch
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This is my response and some (little) summation of the sermon and groups talking about admonishment at Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church, West Lafayette, Indiana, on 25 July 2021.
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3 Colossians 16
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
(New International Version)
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1 Colossians 28
We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
(Berean Study Bible)
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Blurry Yellow Taxi Cab
Photo by Scott Umstattd on Unsplash
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