SUNDAY LECTURE | Jesus is Watching You

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for November 3, 2024

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Dear Ones -

I took the title of this week’s teaching,

Jesus is Watching You,

from a story about a parrot who said the phrase to a thief robbing a house. The “Jesus” in question turned out to be a ferocious dog.

Everybody has some notion or concept of both Jesus and of God. Before giving a very brief summary teaching of both, I give a history of the development of Christian Fundamentalism in this country and what the “five fundamentals” of Fundamentalism are. Jesus shows us what a life full of God looks like. The God of Jesus’ understanding is a god of compassion and justice. Then, I offer my “prediction” about the outcome of this presidential election. My prediction is that no matter who is elected, we have created an event of monumental national embarrassment. I close with the prayer that ends the satirical movie, “Don’t Look Up.”

That’s a very brief summary of this week’s time in Ordinary Life.

The audio/video versions of the talk has some differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and links to the audio and video version of the talk using the links below.

If you are interested in making a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here. There is an option to scroll to “Ordinary Life” as the option for how to designation your gift. Thank you!

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to read or download the text version of the talk, click here.

In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.

In order to view or download the announcement slides, click here.

In order to download or listen to today’s talk, use the player below.

In order to watch the video recording of today’s talk, use the YouTube link below.

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SUNDAY LECTURE | Courage and Wisdom

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for October 27, 2024

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Dear Ones -

I called the teaching I offered in Ordinary Life this week -

Courage and Wisdom

The phrase comes from a hymn written by Harry Emerson Fosdick. I share some about his influence on my life and, co-incidentally, on the life of St. Paul’s.

This teaching was a continuation of my attempt to address the blanket of anxiety that covers our nation during this time leading up to, perhaps, the most consequential presidential election of our history. Having faith is trusting not that things will turn out like we want them to - they seldom do. Faith is trusting that no matter how things turn out, we are still in the flow, a flow I am calling “the Sacred Stream,” a flow we can trust. Rather than seeing life as threatening or greeting it with indifference; we can choose to see and experience life as gracious, nourishing, and supportive.

That’s a very brief summary of this week’s time in Ordinary Life.

The audio/video versions of the talk has some differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and links to the audio and video version of the talk using the links below.

Our podcast, “In Between,” can be accessed through the Ordinary Life web site.

If you are interested in making a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here. There is an option to scroll to “Ordinary Life” as the option for how to designation your gift. Thank you!

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

To read or download the text version of the talk, click here.

In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.

In order to view or download the announcement slides, click here.

In order to listen to or download today’s talk, use the audio player below.

In order to watch the video recording of today’s talk, you can click on the YouTube link below.

SUNDAY LECTURE | Riding the Waves with Nervous Nellie

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for October 20, 2024

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Dear Ones -

As the upcoming national election gets closer, people on both sides of the “great divide” that our country has become are using “fear tactics” to persuade people to vote for their side. We are assured that doomsday will certainly come if the other side is elected. Since we are “all in this together,” all in the same country, all on the same boat, I decided to speak to this fear this week in my teaching. I called the talk -

Riding the Waves with Nervous Nellie

In order to learn to live with this each of us must be willing to do her/his own personal work and we must do the work to rebuild a divided community. Learning to be a non-anxious presence has a powerful effect and influence.

(This was the first of a two-part teaching which I plan to continue next week with a teaching I’m calling “A Theology of Horror.”)

That’s a very brief summary of this week’s time in Ordinary Life.

The audio/video versions of the talk has some differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and links to the audio and video version of the talk using the links below.

Our podcast, “In Between,” can be accessed through the Ordinary Life web site.

If you are interested in making a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here. There is an option to scroll to “Ordinary Life” as the option for how to designation your gift. Thank you!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Ordinary Life is exploring new ways to foster community, connection, service, and care in our community. To that end, we are launching a monthly community newsletter that will highlight announcements, events, and joys/concerns. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, please visit this link to add your name to the list. Rest assured that whether you opt-in to this newsletter or not, you will continue to receive the weekly class previews and summaries for Ordinary Life.

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to read or download the text of the teaching, click here.

In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.

In order to listen to or download today’s talk, use the audio player below

In order to watch the video recording of today’s talk, please use the YouTube video link below.

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SUNDAY LECTURE | Cornerstone Society Grant Awards

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for October 13, 2024

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Dear Ones -

I was SO impressed with the grant presentations in Ordinary Life this week. The Cornerstone Society of St. Paul’s Foundation gave checks to two non-profits and representatives of those organizations gave us presentations of their work - The Wesley Community Center and the Restoration Team. The services these organizations render and the people they serve are so valuable and needed. I am grateful for them and grateful for the part our donations can make to the valuable services they render.

I was also grateful that their presentation was scheduled for this week as I was assigned to preach the services at St. Paul’s. I titled the sermon

Taking Another Step

and have included the text here.

In order to watch the video recording of Dr. Kerley’s 11am Worship Service Sermon, click on the YouTube link below.

If you are interested in making a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here. There is an option to scroll to “Ordinary Life” as the option for how to designation your gift. Thank you!

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to view or download the announcement slides, click here.