There is a rank due to the United States, among nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.
‹George Washington›
Atlantis: the domain of the Stingray
20Jun
2004
Sun
00:49
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Third Sunday after Pentecost

Luke 7:11-17

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O Lord, how shall I meet Thee / How welcome Thee aright? / Thy people long to greet Thee, / My Hope, my heart's Delight! / O kindle, Lord, most holy, / Thy lamp within my breast / To do in spirit lowly / All that may please Thee best.1

It is fitting, given this Gospel lesson, that we had a funeral this past week [in Marion]. The scene Tuesday was perhaps much like the scene in Nain. There were mourners—saddened by the loss—following the body to the cemetery. In Nain, however, the scene was different. Other than the obvious lack of automotive transportation and other signs of ancient times, Jesus shows up in His person in Nain and raises the dead back to life.

13Jun
2004
Sun
00:43
author: Stingray
category: My Ramblings
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Second Sunday after Pentecost

Luke 7:1-10

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

He deserves it... There are all kinds of stories of dumb criminals; crooks who perhaps didn't plan their capers too well or didn't have some sort of a backup plan in place for that something that went wrong. You have heard of the type. There is the robber who breaks into a house by sliding down the chimney, only to get stuck in the chimney. There is a bank robber who actually leaves a bank with less money than he walks in with. What about the car thief who ends up in an accident in the car he has stolen and dies. In each case, there is a sense of irony or poetic justice; the crook gets his just desserts.