SUNDAY LECTURE | An Invitation To Walk The Way

December 1, 2024 Bill Kerley

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

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Summary of Ordinary Life for De member 1, 2024

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Dear Ones -

This week I introduced a new theme I will be following in my teaching for the foreseeable future. It is

Walking the Way

I have taken the idea for this from lines found in a book of theology by Sara Grant. The lines are: “It isn’t the way because Jesus walked it. Jesus walked it because it is the way.” Sara Grant’s pivotal work is about a non dual-approach that invites the reader to reflect on the universality of spiritual truth while remaining rooted in their own tradition.

It is my intention to dig deeply into the Jesus narratives to find out what these stories meant for those who first heard them and their relevance for us. We began this week with reflections on the birth stories of Jesus. Everyone in most cultures knows something about the stories of Christmas. They touch something deep within us - our yearning for peace and hope for a “better world.” What, however, were the stories created to convey? What did they mean for those who first heard them? How can they contribute to our “walking the way.”

That’s a brief summary. Information about how to find the full text and video are below.

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 of the talk, click here.

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

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

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

SUNDAY LECTURE | Relevant and Prophetic

November 24, 2024 Bill Kerley

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

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Summary of Ordinary Life for November 24, 2024

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Dear Ones -

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

“Relevant and Prophetic”

The theologian Karl Barth, who influenced an entire generation of preachers and theology teachers, once advised, “Preach with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.”

When Barth said this, the understanding people had of the Bible was that which was influenced by the scholarship that was coming out of Germany at the time. And, when he used the word “newspaper,” there was no such thing as the internet and social media. His advice, taken seriously today is problematic because of so many diverse understandings about the Bible and, also, the diversity of places where people get their “news.”

Using a parable from the early Jesus movement about Jesus walking on water, I seek not only to interpret that story but also to find the relevance it has for our time.

In the teaching I mention an interview I saw with presidential historian Jon Meacham on the PBS program “Firing Line.” A link to that program and to the transcript of the program can be found on the Ordinary Life website.

That’s the summary. Information about how to find the full text and video are 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 of the talk, click here.

Or order to read or download the Jon Meacham interview, 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.

SUNDAY LECTURE | When Things Fall Apart

November 17, 2024 Bill Kerley

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

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Summary of Ordinary Life for November 17, 2024

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Dear Ones -

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

“Living During the Experience of Things Falling Apart”

I based it on a section of a poem found in the book of Lamentations. The Jewish people knew the experience of defeat and desolation. Based on the poem I suggest three things to do “when things fall apart:” Allow yourself to plummet, practice gratitude, and be sober and realistic. (Also, get unplugged from your devices!) We have to learn to be where we are when we are there and sometimes where we are is a place of pain and sadness, fear and anger. Nonetheless, practice resurrection.

That’s the summary. Information about how to find the full text and video are 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!

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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 audio player below.

In order to watch the video of today’s class, use the YouTube player below.

SUNDAY LECTURE | Looking To Jesus

November 10, 2024 Bill Kerley

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

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Summary of Ordinary Life for November 10, 2024

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Dear Ones -

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

I began my teaching this week with a prayer by Nadia Bolz-Weber. (You can search for “The Corners” to find her work.) Then, I cite prayers from the services used on election day by St. Paul’s.

Before getting into the heart of the teaching I listed some assumptions and hopes I have not only for this teaching but also for all the teachings offered in Ordinary Life.

“Looking to Jesus” is about social transformation. I speak of the defining characteristics of the world of Jesus - they parallel our own. Justice is the social form of compassion and compassion is the heart of justice. We need, individually and collectively, a practice that empowers us to be aware of and then resist anything that creates injustice and violence in any form. Then, to advocate for alternative visions. I mention three areas of special concern - race, gender and sexual identity issues, and undocumented people.

The teaching ends with a reflection on Jesus’ cry: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

That’s the summary. Information about how to find the full text and video are 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 to listen to the audio recording of today’s talk, use the audio player below.

To watch the video recording of today’s talk, use the YouTube link below.