SICK

Snippet

The reason I am attracted to the light of scriptures is because there is another side to me that is dark.  The reason I am interested in men of peace is because I am not like them and would like to be.  I’m not someone in real life who turns the other cheek.  Bono to Liam Mackey (Walk On the spiritual journey of U2 pg 55)

Scripture

For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped[d] from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,”[e] and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:18-22

Song

Sick by Skillet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIDHFNu54RI

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it!

When everything you do

Don't seem to matter.

You try but it's not use

Your world is getting blacker.

When every time you fail

Has no answer.

Every empty promise made

His own reminder.

No one can make this better

Take control, it's now or never!

Are you sick of it?

Raise your hands,

Get rid of it!

While there's a fighting chance.

Are you over it?

Bored to death?

Have you had enough regret?

Take a stand, raise your hands...

If you're sick of it!

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it!

If you're sick of it!

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it!

Every single day

I chase my own tail

Like the bad inside of me

Has gotta get, gotta get, get away

I'm running out of time

For me to break this.

I'm tired of feeling like

I'm never gonna make it.

No one can make this better

Take control, it's now or never!

Are you sick of it?

Raise your hands,

Get rid of it!

While there's a fighting chance.

Are you over it?

Bored to death?

Have you had enough regret?

Take a stand, raise your hands...

If you're sick of it!

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it!

If you're sick of it!

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it!

I'm tired of it

I'm over it

I'm bored to death

Gotta face this

I'm sick of it!

Raise your hands

If you're sick

If you're sick of it

Raise your hands

If you're sick

If you're sick of it

Sick of it!

Raise your hands,

Get rid of it!

While there's a fighting chance.

Are you over it?

Bored to death?

Have you had enough regret?

Take a stand, raise your hands...

Are you sick of it?

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it!

Get rid of it!

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it!

Are you over it?

Bored to death?

Have you had enough regret?

Take a stand, raise your hands...

Are you sick of it?

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it

Are you sick of it?

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it

Are you sick of it?

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it

If you're sick of it

If you're sick

If you're sick

If you're sick of it

Sentence Prayer

No pre-written prayer this morning,  instead take a moment to confess a sin or sins you are sick of and then accept God’s forgiveness with a thankful heart. 

MAN'S CURSE

Snippet

Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome. Isaac Asimov

Scripture

It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

 and you will eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your brow

you will eat your food

until you return to the ground,

since from it you were taken;

for dust you are

and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:18,19 NIV

Song

I am Mountain by Gungor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcJjMnHoIBI

I am mountain, I am dust

Constellations made of us

There’s glory in the dirt

The universe within the sand

Eternity within a man

We are ocean, we are mist

Brilliant fools who ruled and kiss

There’s beauty in the dirt

Wandering in skin and soul

Searching, longing for a whole

As the light, light, light of the skies, of the skies

We will fight, fight, fight for our lives, for our lives

Oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh

Oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh

I am mountain, I am dust

Constellations made of us

There’s mystery in the dirt

The metaphors are breaking down

We taste the wind inside a sound

As the light, light, lights of the skies, of the skies

We will fight, fight, fight for our lives, for our lives

As the light, light, lights of the skies, of the skies

We will fight, fight, fight for our lives, for our lives

Oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh

Oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh

Oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh

Oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh

Momentary carbon stories

From the ashes, filled with Holy Ghost

Life is here now, breathe it all in

Let it all go, you are earth and wind

La da da da, la da da da,

La da da da, la da da da da

La da da da

Oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh

Oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh

Oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh

Oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh, oh-ooh-oh

Sentence Prayer

Thou only art immortal, the creator and maker

of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the

earth, and unto earth shall we return. For so

thou didst ordain when thou created me, saying,

"Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

 Into thy hands, O merciful Savior, we commend thy

servant __________ Acknowledge, we humbly beseech

thee, a sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own

flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming. Receive him

into the arms of thy mercy, into the blessed rest of

everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of

the saints in light. Amen.

Traditional Funeral Comital 

Holy

Snippet

Holiness is not flawlessness but the fulfillment of God’s intention for us.  Dawn to Dark R. Douglas Jones pg 145

Scripture

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’

who was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8

Song

      Holy is the Lord God Almighty        by Chris Tomlin

http://youtu.be/VSiFuDH74js

We stand and lift up our hands

For the joy of the Lord is our strength

We bow down and worship Him now

How great, how awesome is He

And together we sing

[Chorus]

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

The earth is filled with His glory

We stand and lift up our hands

For the joy of the Lord is our strength

We bow down and worship Him now

How great, how awesome is He

And together we sing

Everyone sing

[Chorus]

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

The earth is filled with His glory

It's rising up all around

It's the anthem of the Lord's renown

Repeat

And together we sing,

Everyone sing

[Chorus]

Sentence Prayer

Holy and every living God,

By your power we are created

And by you love we are redeemed;

Guide and strengthen us by your spirit,

That we may give ourselves to your service,

And live each day in love to one another and to you.,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

HIGHER

Snippet

“You weren't put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity.” ― Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

Scripture

If you are then “risen” with Christ, reach out for the highest gifts of Heaven, where your master reigns in power. Give your heart to the heavenly things, not to the passing things of earth. Colossians 3:1,2 JB Phillips

Song

http://youtu.be/-auCscpUb3g

"Higher" by Lecrae

(feat. Tenth Avenue North)

[Chorus:]

Lead me higher, Lead me higher,

And lift my eyes up, to the Light way,

I can see all the pain coming, to an end

Lead me higher, into Your fire.

Burn away all of the desires.

And let my heart, beat again.

I feel myself rising high above my yesterdays.

Yes it pays just to praise standing in Your rays.

Sun shining reminding me that You rose

Reminding me that I'm Yours,

And wrapped in righteousness robes, ah.

Closer that I get to You the higher that I feel.

It's like my spirits been lifted outside the stratosphere.

Where death is powerless and pain will never lay a claim

And all the world will proclaim, Your name forever reigns.

Put desire inside of the fire in my bones.

Earth groans to see You return & take us Home.

Soul longs for "so long." I'm sold on: You on the Throne,

My life no longer my own, lead me high.

[Chorus]

Uh, it's Friday morning, I'm up too early.

I'm up too high, the sky below me.

Like I'm sitting in a plane feeling strange can't explain,

How I get to experience these things.

Been to plenty cities, spent pretty pennies, and ate

plenty. Fo,

Do a show, I come home and feel empty? No

It's never me, I'm glad to say I've been changed like   

presidential campaigns.

Used to wake up in the morning pursuing the wrong things,

Now I wake up in the morning pursuing the Lord's name.

Take me higher than the highest You're my hope and my desire.

Lifting me up high despite of this gravity lead me higher.

Sentence Prayer

Jesus

Praise to the resurrected one,

Lead me higher today

Take my mind off my gravity filled life

And keep my mind on higher things.

May this new mindset be a light to the lost

And an encouragement to the saints.

Amen R.M.

ALIVE

Snippet

I rise to taste the dawn, and find that love alone will shine today.  Ken Wilber

Scripture

Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. John 8:35-37

Song

Alive by Hillsong Young & Free

http://youtu.be/qEvEVALLjNQ

I was lost with a broken heart

You picked me up, now I'm set apart

From the ash I am born again

Forever safe in the Saviour's hands

You are more than my words could say

I'll follow You Lord for all my days

I'll fix my eyes, follow in Your ways

Forever free in unending grace

'Cause You are, You are, You are my freedom

We lift You higher, lift You higher

Your love, Your love, Your love never ending

Oh oh oh

You are alive in us

Nothing can take Your place

You are all we need

Your love has set us free

In the midst of the darkest night

Let Your love be the shining light

Breaking chains that were holding me

You sent Your Son down and set me free

Everything of this world will fade

I'm pressing on till I see Your face

I will live that Your will be done

I won't stop till Your Kingdom come

'Cause You are, You are, You are my freedom

We lift You higher, lift You higher

Your love, Your love, Your love never ending

Oh oh oh

You are alive in us

Nothing can take Your place

You are all we need

Your love has set us free

You are, You are, You are my freedom

We lift You higher

You are, You are, You are my freedom

We lift You higher, lift You higher

Your love, Your love, Your love never ending

Oh oh oh

You are alive in us

Nothing can take Your place

You are all we need

Your love has set us free

You are alive in us

Nothing can take Your place

You are all we need

Your love has set us free

Sentence Prayer

Eternal Spirit, living God,

In whom we live and move and have our being,

All that we are, have been, and shall be is known to you,

To the very secret of our hearts

And all that rises to trouble us.

Living flame, burn into us

Cleansing wind, blow through us,

That we may love and praise in deed and Truth. Amen

(A New Zealand Prayer Book pg 168)

WAR

Snippet

I think Reinhold Niebur and Dietrich Bonhoffer would answer it by reminding us that as long as we breathe we do not live in the Kingdom of God.  What Jesus would do, is not something mankind can do.  We make an idol of ourselves to think otherwise.  Jesus sees the acts of terrorists and the government that calls nations to battle against them; he seeS the protester who condemns a war and the soldier who kills in it; and He weeps for the creatures He died to redeem.  And then if we are contrite, He forgives us our sins.  (John McCain  Hard Call pg 338,339)

Scripture

I call on the Lord in my distress,

and he answers me.

save me, Lord,

from lying lips

and from deceitful tongues.

What will he do to you,

and what more besides,

you deceitful tongue?

He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,

with burning coals of the broom bush.

woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,

that I live among the tents of Kedar!

Too long have I lived

among those who hate peace.

 I am for peace;

but when I speak, they are for war.  Psalms 120

Song

Bloody Sunday U2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFM7Ty1EEvs

Yes...

I can't believe the news today

Oh, I can't close my eyes

And make it go away

How long...

How long must we sing this song

How long, how long...

'cause tonight...we can be as one

Tonight...

Broken bottles under children's feet

Bodies strewn across the dead end street

But I won't heed the battle call

It puts my back up

Puts my back up against the wall

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

And the battle's just begun

There's many lost, but tell me who has won

The trench is dug within our hearts

And mothers, children, brothers, sisters

Torn apart

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

How long...

How long must we sing this song

How long, how long...

'cause tonight...we can be as one

Tonight...tonight...

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Wipe the tears from your eyes

Wipe your tears away

Oh, wipe your tears away

Oh, wipe your tears away

(Sunday, Bloody Sunday)

Oh, wipe your blood shot eyes

(Sunday, Bloody Sunday)

Sunday, Bloody Sunday (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)

Sunday, Bloody Sunday (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)

And it's true we are immune

When fact is fiction and TV reality

And today the millions cry

We eat and drink while tomorrow they die

(Sunday, Bloody Sunday)

The real battle just begun

To claim the victory Jesus won

On...

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Sunday Bloody Sunday...

Sentence Prayer

Prince of Peace

Bring your peace upon your creation finally!

May the Lion and Lamb to lie down together!

God have mercy on us that wage war.  Amen!

STARS

Snippet

“What Is Love? I have met in the streets a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, the water passed through his shoes and the stars through his soul” ― Victor Hugo

Scripture

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

 “Who is this that obscures my plans

    with words without knowledge?

 Brace yourself like a man;

 I will question you,

 and you shall answer me.

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?

    Tell me, if you understand.

 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!

    Who stretched a measuring line across it?

 On what were its footings set,

    or who laid its cornerstone—

 while the morning stars sang together

    and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?  Job 38:1-7

Song

Stars by Switchfoot

http://youtu.be/Tv-5snutHG0

[verse 1]

Maybe I've been the problem, maybe I'm the one to blame

But even when I turn it off and blame myself, the outcome feels the same

I've been thinkin maybe I've been partly cloudy, maybe I'm the chance of rain

Maybe I'm overcast, and maybe all my lucks washed down the drain

[pre-chorus]

I've been thinking 'bout everyone, everyone you look so lonely

[chorus]

But when I look at the stars,

when I look at the stars,

when I look at the stars I see someone else

When I look at the stars,

the stars, I feel like myself

[verse 2]

Stars lookin at our planet watching entropy and pain

And maybe start to wonder how the chaos in our lives could pass as sane

I've been thinking bout the meaning of resistance, of a hope beyond my own

And suddenly the infinite and penitent begin to look like home

[pre-chorus]

I've been thinking bout everyone, everyone you look so empty

[chorus]

But when I look at the stars,

when I look at the stars,

when I look at the stars I see someone else

When I look at the stars,

the stars, I feel like myself

[bridge]

everyone, everyone we feel so lonely

everyone, yeah everyone we feel so empty

[chorus]

When I look at the stars,

when I look at the stars,

when I look at the stars I feel like myself

When I look at the stars, the stars

I see someone...

Sentence Prayer

Who is Jesus to me? Jesus is the Word made Flesh. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus is the Victim offered for our sins on the Cross. Jesus is the Sacrifice at Holy Mass  for the sins of the world and mine. Jesus is the Word - to be spoken. Jesus is the Truth - to be told. Jesus is the Way - to be walked. Jesus is the Light - to be lit. Jesus is the Life - to be loved. Jesus is the Joy - to be shared. Jesus is the Sacrifice - to be given. Jesus is the Bread of Life - to be eaten. Jesus is the Hungry - to be fed. Jesus is the Thirsty - to be satiated. Jesus is the Naked - to be clothed. Jesus is the Homeless - to be taken in. Jesus is the Sick - to be healed. Jesus is the Lonely - to be loved. Jesus is the Unwanted - to be wanted. Jesus is the Leper - to wash his wounds. Jesus is the Beggar - to give him a smile. Jesus is the Drunkard - to listen to him. Jesus is the Little One - to embrace him. Jesus is the Dumb - to speak to him. Jesus is the Crippled - to walk with him. Jesus is the Drug Addict - to befriend him. Jesus is the Prostitute - to remove from danger and befriend her. Jesus is the Prisoner - to be visited. Jesus is the Old - to be served.

To me Jesus is my God, Jesus is my Spouse, Jesus is my Life, Jesus is my only Love, Jesus is my All in All, Jesus is my Everything.

Amen.

(By Mother Teresa of Calcutta.)