Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.
by Kathi
Isaiah 1: 10-17
Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
“The multitude of your sacrifices – what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations – I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.”
***
***
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you from the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
***
Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?
***
photo credit: Kathi Bonham
Spiritual Sounding Board 
Oh, Kathi, how could you have known that violin intro, Gabriel’s Oboe, is one of my all-time favorites? I have never heard it combined with How Great Thou Art. So beautiful! Thank you!
LikeLike
Those guys are very talented. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
LikeLike
Years ago I had a position that required me to make a security check on a building every evening at about 10:00pm. Just before taking my walk to the building (about 2 blocks) I had watched PBS’s program and Carl Sagan had said there were 1 billion times a trillion stars. This is a totally incomprehensible number to even think about. On the way home that evening, it was clear and just about every star that was viewable from Earth was showing in the sky. Such beauty. I raised my hands to the heavens and sang, “How Great Thou Are” all the way home. Can we even imagine what is in store for us when be see the God that has created this wonder we live in? I would think we will be singing at the top of our voices. My God how great thou are.
Jim
LikeLiked by 5 people
Kathi, Thank you for being faithful in doing this blog on Sunday’s. One day I may return to church. But until then, this is my church home.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Ann. I certainly don’t mind helping out where I can.
LikeLike
This was beautiful. Thank you guys.
LikeLike
Well, it has been a weird week. I wonder if the universe is playing tricks one me?! Ever had one of those weeks where you run into several people who all do the same thing? Lecture, give advice even though you didn’t ask for any. Whew. I haven’t written a poem in a long time, but I was bugged yesterday, so I channeled my inner 13 year old and let her rip.
What I would like to say to a few sermonizers who forgot how to have authentic conversations.
Some-days there are too many damn words,
too much preaching for any of it to be truly heard.
Honestly, I just need to be able to express what I feel,
when you give me pat answers, I want to hide and conceal
all that is inside me that is scary & real.
I don’t need or want to be fixed by another,
Please stop! Your platitudes are starting to smother,
if I wanted a lecture, I would call my mother.
Share with me stories that show how much you relate,
about the tension of doubt & faith
Do you wonder if you will collapse under their weight?
Do you ever have times when you vacillate?
Enlighten me, if you will, how you traversed all the darkness inside,
illuminate for me how you managed to trust and abide.
I am not trying to be mean by explaining what it feels like to not be heard,
I am just asking… have you been listening to my story and all that has occurred?
Or are you waiting for me to shut up, so you can have your say?
Are you forming sermons in your mind as I rattle away?
Please oh please just let me vent,
NO I don’t need to repent
(read the psalms dummy)
they are full of lament.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I hope it’s okay to go slightly off topic and add some levity, here. I noticed that there is a Piano Guys video in this post.
A few years ago, I saw another video they did, it was, IMO, very entertaining.
I’ve been a Star Wars fan for years, and the Piano Guys did a funny Star Wars video parody.
This is on You Tube:
Cello Wars by The Piano Guys (Star Wars Parody)
LikeLike
Jim,
I love those praise God moments when the beauty is not hiding. I can have them seeing fireflies in the courtyard. They are truly amazing little creatures. A cloudless night full of stars…..we have such an amazing God.
Kathi,
Thank you for putting this together. I especially loved the Piano Guys. I had not heard of them before.
Gail,
Love the poem and oh so true. Sometimes, I really do think that many cannot have an ordinary conversation and it really bugs me.
LikeLike