podcast

This week we begin an ODYSSEY of Discovery with the Book of Genesis. We too will ask and explore along with the memory of the ancients. To do this I have asked world renown potter Kevin Byrne to be in worship, and 'play with clay' as we examine the story of creation from Genesis 2.

This week we will share the journey that every person makes regarding their own values and how they will witness to the importance of those values in their own lives and the lives of the greater society. Something like the same process we read about in Mathew, Mark, Luke and John with a different set of individuals and God's Messiah.

This week our wounded war hero Jake Sully will be challenged and educated by the Na'vi. He will learn the ways of the Eywa, the Life Force connecting all creation on Pandora. Hopefully within the drama of this weeks story you might move closer to the source of all life in this world and the next we call God, especially as manifested in Jesus the messiah.

Last week as we began telling the 'science fiction' story of Avatar, we reflected on Greek mythology, Pandora, on the Hindu concept of 'Avatar', on the colonization of both South America by Spain and North America, India, Africa and many parts of the world by England. What might appear as 'science fiction' to some is really a new consideration of many old human traits. This week our hero Jake Sully will begin a new life in an Avatar body on a new planet. We all need a fresh start from time to time even if the change is in our own minds. I hope you will join me as we explore the dynamics involved in 'new beginnings'.

Science fiction is obviously fiction. At its best science fiction can give us perspective on our present long before it predicts an unknown future. This week we begin a new movie I believe will inform our sense of social justice, and how important it is for us apply the same love Jesus modeled in the Gospels to our world. Hopefully within the drama of a futuristic fantastic world out in space we might come to understand ourselves and how important it is that we respect all creatures for their unique unrepeatable gifts.

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This week we are in the fourth week focusing on the movie, 'The Holiday'. Our two main heroins experience developing relationships that will move their lives forward with new possibilities and challenges of growth. With each "ah-ha" and emotional connection, there are always accompanying "complications". That's just the way life is and our opportunity is to grow to meet that challenge. We will reflect on our own lives, and ask similar questions of how the Holy Spirit is leading us into NEW LIFE, and LOVE.

This week we are in the third part of focusing on the movie, "The Holiday". Our two main heroins discover new relationships that will move their life and development as a person forward with new possibilities. With each "ah-ha" and emotional connection, there are accompanying "complications" that challenge each character's willingness to trust. As their lives encounter new, meaningful, but challenging relationships, so we might reflect on our own, and ask similar questions of how the Holy Spirit is leading us into NEW LIFE, and LOVE.

This week our series continues with the movie, The Holiday. We will introduce 3 more important characters in addition to Iris and Amanda as they interact to reveal how God who is always working behind the scenes in unrecognized and unnamed ways can work in and through people's lives to bring growth, redemption and love.

This week on our super summer cinema sermon series we will turn our attention to the movie, "The Holiday". We will get to know Iris, Amanda, Graham, Miles and Arthur as they all come together to reveal how God who is always working behind the scenes in an unrecognized and unnamed way can work in and through people's lives to bring growth, redemption and love.

On this worship day when Odyssey celebrates our nation's birthday, I feel called by God to reflect and celebrate. Especially in light of the reported responses by so many in the United Kingdom that they didn't realize the practical implications of leaving the European Union, I am feeling called to remember how GREAT our nation really is for so many reasons. While our nation was in many ways shaped by white English males whose numbers were dominated by Christian traditions, they were especially influenced by significant historical factors having nothing to do with religion. This synergistic mix has given a unique tone, value, and shape to what has become our great nation. Join me as we explore this together!

This week our focus moves to the completion of our story and how we are moved forward in our lives as we are willing to change and grow.

This week our focus moves to the modern day Evelyn Couch as she is inspired to address her personal issues from the stories told to her by Ms. Threadgoode regarding the lives of Idgie and Ruth in 1930s Alabama.

This week we continue the story of lives from the 1930's in the American South and how the unique and diverse characters from that Southern family share their lives with a modern woman some 50 years later. As the stories of the past find root in lives of later day people supporting and informing us as we bloom into unique living gifts from God.

This is a wonderful piece of art having to do with what it means to accept how God has created and crafted us as unique individuals with gifts to give and receive. While we will see only short clips of the movie in worship, I hope you will find the story to be both inspiring and helpful. I feel everyone will benefit from this series as we explore meaning and allow it to inform our lives with new insight and possibility.

This week in worship we will hear Hope Wiggs speak on her experiences with the organization "Just Hope." She spent a long period of time in Nicaragua last year living with a family and teaching children. Hope will be leaving next Tuesday, May 17, to return to her work a second summer. I know you will benefit from her spirit as we worship together!!

This week we will hear Anissa Dickerson speak on her experiences with Doctors Without Borders in the Sudan while serving as a nurse. You will remember that Anissa is a friend of Allynn Young and we have kept her on the prayer list the time she was away. I look forward to hearing her story!