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Introduction for Roberta Ahmanson – The Gathering 2014
I seriously thought about starting this introduction with “In the beginning there was Roberta” but realized the better part of that line had been taken. However, it would still be true in that Howard and Roberta have been a part of The Gathering from the very beginning. It was long before she was on the cover of magazines or asked to give distinguished lectures on art, architecture, culture and beauty. She was candid and outspoken in her many opinions about everything. Some chalked that up to her marrying into wealth that allowed her to say things she might not have said earlier. They were wrong. She’s always said what she…
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Give Thanks and Break Bread
He sat down, paused before he spoke, and then said, “It's too much for me to give thanks. I cannot be thankful for this. I will never be thankful for this.”
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The Sabbath
1. Steven Covey coined a phrase, “Begin with the end in mind” and I think that applies to the Sabbath this morning. What was in God’s mind when he spoke to the children of Israel about a day of rest? Was there something more than a day of rest in His mind? I think there was. I think that end is to be found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Ephesians 2:8: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” I think it was through…
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Catch of the Day
There are times I understand how pastors feel when people ask them what they do the rest of the week because the only time they see them is on Sunday. The Gathering conference could at least qualify as a revival because it lasts four days, but people sometimes ask me how we spend our time after we pack up our tent and go home. We go fishing. Every morning we get up, put on our waders, sling the creel over our shoulder and get out in the stream. Now you know. We cast for ideas, people, topics, different perspectives and practical applications to bring to The Gathering. We look…
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Taking The Name Of The Lord In Vain
1. Douglas Taylor-Weiss, a conservative Episcopal priest years ago developed a list of what an observer of our culture might identify as our functional ten commandments: 1. Have a good day 2. Shop 3. Eliminate pain 4. Be up-to-date 5. Relax 6. Express yourself 7. Have a happy family 8. Be entertaining 9. Be entertained 10. Buy entertainment. In other words, live a fairly empty and superficial life. In a way, that is the target of the prohibition in this third commandment. Growing up, I thought this commandment was about using profanity – and a particular kind of profanity. It was concerned with using the name of God, Jesus or…
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Nothing Left Undone
I am at the age (and in a line of work) where people come to talk about what legacy they want to leave behind – in their families and in their businesses. In almost every case we eventually get around to talking about core values. And I’m one of these boomers thinking about succession, but I also think as leaders we need to talk as much about our core idols. Most of the books, articles and sermons about idols and idolatry are directed toward us as solitary individuals, and that makes sense because we are an individualistic culture. We see our idols as personal. The top three you hear about are money, sex and…
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Idolatry
1. The commandment recognizes that we were created to worship – to find a god – and that will either be toward the true God or to a worthless substitute. We cannot be neutral. We cannot turn off the “worship gene”. It is permanent and the only choice is to whom or what we direct it and how that either makes us mature or destroys us. 2. The second and always unpopular fact of any discussion of idolatry is our primary relationship with God. He says he is a “jealous” God and we take that to mean He has moods or is insecure about our love for Him. The word…
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Coming Clean
Family: “We are involved with a start-up ministry and have made a public pledge based on the sale of a property. Is there any way we can get credit for the full sale price but not put the entire amount in the gift? We want to make the list of major donors but hold back part of the proceeds.” Advisor: “I think we can do that. We’ll just set up some instruments that are a bit complicated but create the impression you’ve given the full amount. We can hide the rest in a trust or claim some expenses that will be invisible to everyone but you. No problem.” This conversation…
