Download 20060716.mp3

Now here is something that might surprise you. The most
popular Christian education offering in the 100-year history of this
church has been - ballroom dancing. At least twice that I can
remember classes in ballroom dancing have been offered here and
the classes were so popular that enrollment had to be closed. I can't
remember that has ever happened here for a course in Leviticus.
Imagine that. Ballroom dancing being offered by a church.
Now, I was raised a Southern Baptist in Tennessee and this is
just the sort of thing we were warned about the Methodists. But
now that I've been part of this wonderful church for well over
twenty years it is the sort of thing about which I am proud. So, if
you are visiting here today and hear this news about ballroom
dancing being one of our educational offerings, I hope your
response is, "That's my kind of church."

Download 20060716sermon.pdf
Download 20060716sermon.mp3

I hope you had a good, safe and relaxing Fourth of July holiday.
We did. We got to spend time with our grandchildren, visit with friends,
rest and relax. We got as a gift special VIP passes to the Freedom over
Texas show downtown. What a fireworks show!
Two things occurred over the holiday period that spun me around.
The first one occurred at that show. It was the opening act for the stage
show. You know what an opening act is, right? A lesser known group or
person whose job it is to warm up the audience. Or perhaps, as in this
case, someone who was once at the top of the game and is now fading into
the limelight.

Download 20060709.pdf
Download 20060709.mp3

I am giving a series of talks under the general heading - Spirituality With An
Attitude. I am talking about training the mind to do the spiritual work that will lead
us to the greatest experience of freedom and love.

We've talked about the urgency of this work - it is why we are here. The human
journey is about psychological and spiritual growth.

We are to train the mind because left to its own devices or to the influences of
the culture in which we live the mind will lead us astray.

Download 20060702.pdf
Download 20060702.mp3