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The Prodigal Son's Father

Lakeshore Interfaith Gathering
Luke 15:11-24
Lakeshore Interfaith Center, Ganges
August 19, 2007
Transforming Love, Nature of God

Looking For God in All the Wrong Places

Advent III
Isaiah 40:4,5; John 1:1-5, 14, 18; 14:8-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 14, 2003
Divine Intention, Nature of God, Gospel of Thomas
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Two Births, Two Views, Two Empires - Where Does Peace Lie?

Advent IV
Isaiah 11:1-9; Luke 2:1-58
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 21, 2003
Advent, Nature of God, Peace
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The Rise of Easter Faith

Eastertide I
Luke 24:31; I Cor. 15:8; Acts 26:13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 22, 2001
Resurrection, Transformation, Nature of God
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The Freedom to Embrace

Pentecost VI
Hosea 11:1-9; Romans 11:25-36; Luke 23:32-34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 08, 2001
Exclusivism, nature of God, compassion
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911: To An Unknown God - This is an Emergency!

Pentecost XXV
Acts 17:16-34
Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids
November 25, 2001
Nature of Religion, Nature of God, Supernaturalism
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A Tale of Three Cities

Advent II
Micah 5:2,3; Matthew 2:3; Revelation 19:2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 09, 2001
Advent, Hebrew Prophets, Shalom, Love, Followers of Jesus, Nature of God
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The Quest for the Historical Jesus

Epiphany IV
Mark 3:20-21; Luke 4:23
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 24, 1999
Historical Jesus, Nature of God
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Forgiveness: Possible? Moral?

Midweek Lent
Luke 7:36-50
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 24, 1999
Lent, Nature of God, Forgiveness, Grace
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Then God Is...And That Can't Be

Lent II
Revelation 14:20; Matthew 3:12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 28, 1999
Lent, Nature of God, Non-violent Justice
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Action and Attitude Have Consequences

Midweek Lent
Luke 19:42
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 03, 1999
Lent Forgiveness, Nature of God, Compassion
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If God Is...That Means...But...

Lent III
Luke 7:28; 6:27; 35-36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 07, 1999
Lent,Non-violent Justice, Nature of God, Historical Jesus
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God, Can't You Do Something?

Lent IV
Mark 14:36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 14, 1999
Divine Intention, Justice, compassion, Nature of God, Way of Jesus
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January 01, 1998
Theology, Pluralism, Truth, Meaning, Sacred, Religious Tradition, Nature of God, Nature of Religion, Ecumenical, Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Mircea Eliade, David Tracy
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A-Theism?

Pentecost VII
Isaiah 43:18-19; Psalm 137:4; Acts 17:28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 19, 1998
Nature of God, Religion as a Human Construct, Response to Mystery
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The Self-Emptying of God: A Crib and a Cross

Christmastide
Phillippians 2:8; Luke 2:12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 27, 1998
Nature of God, Love, Way of Jesus
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Mystery's Face and Flow

Trinity Sunday
Job 23:3; II Corinthians 4:6; John 14:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 25, 1997
Nature of God, Religious Quest, Mystery, Justice, Love
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Love Enfleshed

Pentecost III
Hosea 11:8; I John 4:16; Luke 10:27
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 08, 1997
Mystery, Nature of God, Transforming Love
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Divine Improvisation - Human Wonder

Pentecost V
Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 8; John 1:1-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 22, 1997
Re-imagining the Faith, Compassion, Nature of God
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The Holy Catholic Church

Eastertide VII
Mark 11:28; Ephesians 4:4
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 19, 1996
Community of Faith, Authority, Prophetic Voice, Nature of God, Graceof God
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The God Who Never Gives Up On Us

Pentecost X
Hosea 11:8-9; Romans 11:32
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 04, 1996
Prophetic Voice, Nature of God, Love, Inclusive Grace
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Love That Puts You Out of Control

Pentecost XIV
Micah 7:19; Luke 15:20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 01, 1996
Nature of God, Prodigal Love, Love at the Core of Reality, Transforming Love
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The Church in Conflict - Can Non-Believers Be Saved?

Prepared text of Address to Synod of Mid-Atlantic, RCA
Reformed Church Synod of Mid-Atlantics, Ramapo, New Jersey
October 03, 1996
Inclusive Grace, Nature of God, Pluralism Global Community
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Regarding the Conflict About Christian Exclusivity

Transcript of the spoken Address to Synod of Mid-Atlantic, RCA
Reformed Church Synod of Mid-Atlantics, Ramapo, New Jersey
October 04, 1996
Inclusive Grace, Nature of God, Pluralism, Universal Grace, Scripture, Authority
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Sola Deo Gloria: God alone

Pentecost XXI
Isaiah 45:22; Romans 11:36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 20, 1996
Reformation, Re-imagining the Faith, John Calvin, Nature of God, Worship
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Sola Gratia: By Grace Alone

Pentecost XXII; Reformation Sunday
Matthew 20:1-11
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 27, 1996
Reformation; Nature of God, Grace
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Sola Fidei: Trust

Pentecost XXIII
Psalm 16:7-11; Romans 8:31-39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 03, 1996
Trust, Nature of God; Grace
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A Song of Quiet Trust

Thanksgiving Sunday; Pentecost XXVI
Psalm 131; Matthew 11:25-30
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 24, 1996
Trust, Nature of God, Community of Grace, Compassion
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A Dreamer's Portrait of God

Lent III
Luke 15:20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 19, 1995
Nature of God, Way of Jesus, Inclusive, Transforming Love
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A Dream Embodied

Lent IV
Luke 23:34; I Peter 2:23
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 26, 1995
Nature of God, Community of Grace, Forgiveness, Inclusive Grace
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?My God, ...Why?

Lent IV
Mark 15:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 13, 1994
Lent, Nature of God, Creeds, Trust, Reimagining the Faith
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God With A Human Face

Eastertide IV
John 14: 18-20; II Corinthians 4:6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 24, 1994
Eastertide, Resuretion, Spirit, Worship, Nature of God, Grace
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What It Takes To Make a Heretic

Pentecost VII
Job 6: 25-26
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 10, 1994
Wisdom Literature, Hebrew Scriptures, God of Compassion, Nature of God
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Retribution is Not God's Idea

Pentecost IX
Job 20: 4-5; Job 21:7; Job 42:7
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 24, 1994
Nature of God, Justice, Community, Wisdom Literature
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God Beyond All Human Conceiving

Pentecost XI
Job 38: 1,4; 40:3-4, 6-14; 42:3
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 07, 1994
Pentecost, Nature of God, Transformation Hebrew Scriptures, Creation
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The Mystery of Suffering: Trust in the Darkness

Pentecost XII
Job 13:15; Romans 8:39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 14, 1994
Pentecost, Trust, Shalom, Nature of God, Hebrew Scriptures, Meaning, Presence
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November 01, 1994
Hebrew Scriptures, Wisdom Literature, Death, Life, Nature of God
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Light of the World

Epiphany I
II Corinthians 4:6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 10, 1993
Creation, Light, Divine Mystery, Insight, Transformation, Nature of God, Face of Jesus
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March 01, 1993
Nature of God, Creeds, Historical Thinking, Metaphors for God, Nature of Religious Development, Theological Paradigms
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Suffering: Is It Punishment?

Midweek Lent
Job 8:1-6; 21:7-26; 22:1-5; 23:1-10; 42;7-9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 10, 1993
Suffering, Nature of God, Orthodox Belief, Sin
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Suffering: Can It Be Vicarious?

Midweek Lent
Isaiah 53:1-11; Hebrews 12:1-2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 17, 1993
Hebrew Servant Poems, Forgiveness, Nature of God, Grace
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Suffering: Is One Abandoned?

Midweek Lent
Job 23:3; Mark 15:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 24, 1993
Suffering, Job, Theodicy, Nature of God
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The God Who Forgives

Lent V
Psalm 130:4; Luke 23:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 28, 1993
Nature of God, Forgiveness, Transforming Grace
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Jesus Died Because of Our Sins, Not For Them

Palm Sunday
Zechariah 9:9-10; Luke 19: 28-48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 04, 1993
Inclusive Love, Grace, Nature of God, Presence of God, Forgiveness, Atonement
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The Faith of Jesus Vindicated

Easter Sunday
Ezekiel 37:9; Romans 1:4; Mark 16:6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 11, 1993
Way of Jesus, Hope, Followers of Jesus, Nature of God
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Good News

Eastertide II
Luke 1:1-14; 24:13-17, 28-35
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 18, 1993
Resurrection, Way of Jesus, Gospel, Nature of God, Christian Community
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Abba

Pentecost IX
Psalm 103:1-22; Gal. 4:6; Mark 1:35
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 09, 1992
Parable, Mystery, Nature of God, Trust, Compassion
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Prodigal Love

Pentecost X
Luke 15:20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 16, 1992
Nature of God, Parable, Unconditional Love, Transforming Grace
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Nothing to Pay

Pentecost XI
Luke 7:42
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 23, 1992
Nature of God, Parable, Transforming Love, Inclusive, Forgiveness
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God's Mercy for the Asking

Pentecost XII
Psalm 130:3-4; Luke 18:13-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 30, 1992
Parable, Nature of God, Mercy, Sin, Forgiveness, Human Nature
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God, For Whom Humankind is Groping

Epiphany III
Acts 17:22-23
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 22, 1989
Epiphany, Nature of God, Apostle Paul, God of Grace, Religious Quest, Revelation, Interfaith
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Creations' Goal: Sabbath Rest

Pentecost IX
Genesis 2:2-3; Isaiah 65:23, 25; Revelation 21:3; 22:2-4
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 24, 1988
Creator, Nature of God, Divine Intention, Hebrew Scriptures, History of Israel, Sabbath, Shalom, Grace
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September 01, 1988
Nature of God, Universal Grace, Mystery of God, Judgment
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No Doubt About It; No Comfort In it (A Believing Agnostic's View)

Pentecost XI
Ecclesiastes 3: 11, 18
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 16, 1987
Sovereign Grace, Mystery, Nature of God, Doubt, Faith, Hebrew Scriptures
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Finding Our Destiny in God's Gracious Purpose

Pentecost XII
Esther 4:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 23, 1987
Nature of God, Sovereign Grace, Hebrew Scriptures, Divine Intention, Salvation, Wisdom Literature, Providence of God
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I Want to Make it On My Own

Pentecost X
Luke 15: 13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 27, 1986
Parable, Prodigal Son, Nature of God, Freedom, Inclusive Grace,
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I Can't Believe the Love I've Found

Pentecost XIII
Luke 15:20-24
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 17, 1986
Parable, Prodigal Son, Nature of God's Love, Transforming Love, Unconditional Love
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God is Easy to Live With

Pentecost XV
Psalm 103:13-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 31, 1986
Psalms, Praise, Nature of God, Covenant, God of Grace, Human Nature, Worship, Forgiveness, Unconditional Grace
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Abraham: Shaky Faith in a Faithful God

World Wide Communion; Pentecost XX
Romans 4:17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 05, 1986
Abraham, Hebrew Scriptures, Covenant, God of Grace, Nature of God, Faithful God
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The God Who is There for Us

Pentecost VII
Isaiah 57:15; Hebrews 4: 13, 16
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 14, 1985
Nature of God, Mystery, Spiritual Quest, God of Grace, Immanence, Transcendence, Awe, Meaning, Revelation
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The God Who is Absent

Pentecost VIII
Job 23:3, 10; Mark 15:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 21, 1985
Suffering, Nature of God, Job, Hebrew Scriptures, Sin, Trust, Grace
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The God Who Forgives Us

Pentecost IX
Micah 7:18-19; Romans 11:33-36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 28, 1985
Micah, Hebrew Scriptures, Sin, Forgiveness, Nature of God, Grace, Prophets, Trust, Judgment, Transformation
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The God Who Cares

Pentecost XII
I Peter 5:7, 10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 18, 1985
Nature of God, Meaning, Faith, Community of Grace, Peter, Love, Presence of God
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Why I Believe in Purgatory

Advent III
I Corinthians 3:14-15; Luke 12:47-48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 15, 1985
Advent, Purgatory, Judgment, Forgiveness, Death, Eternity, Nature of God, Salvation, God of Grace
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God, Humanity and Cosmos

Psalm 8; Hebrews 2:5-9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 15, 1981
Nature of the Human, Nature of God, Love, Cosmic Evolution, Image of God, Grace, Community, Creation, Creator, Creature
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