Simple Truths

I have a really good book to recommend: Simple Truths by Stephen Bauman.  It was published in 2006 by Abingdon Press.  Bauman delivers a daily one-minute inspirational message on WCBS radio in New York City.  This book is a compilation of some of those messages.

I was re-reading the book recently and began listing some short Simple Truths that I have picked up over my 68 years of living, and 40 years of ministry.  The list will turn into a sermon to be delivered at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Bloomington (where I serve as one of the pastors) in early 2014.

Here are some Simple Truths:

-The Creator really does love us, and really is committed to our redemption…

 -Grace is at the true center of our Creator and Redeemer…

 -The Redeemer just could be at work in all the world, in all people, and even in all faith systems…

 -Divine grace is bestowed on me, and on people other than me…

 -The hope of this world is the unlimited and loving patience of the One who created us all…

 -I am expected to forgive, to be merciful, and to love…

 -Even though it troubles me, it is nonetheless true that the Creator loves my enemies as much as me…

 -We human beings are most near perfection when we love each other…

-Like it or not, we are known by how we live, how we live together, how we treat one another, how we spend our time, our money, and our energy…

-We can choose to reflect grace to the world around us, or not…
 
-We can practice a faith that is rock-solid compassion at its core, and porous at its edges…or we can practice a faith that is all about hard-edged exclusion, encrusted in ancient creeds, and couched in terrible prejudice…
 
-Who we are becoming is entirely up to us…

-We truly are compelled to act in the world…

 

But then, I am reminded that: