Which wolf will we feed?

Words from the inaugural prayer service:

There is a story attributed to Cherokee wisdom:

One evening a grandfather was teaching his young grandson about the internal battle that each person faces.
"There are two wolves struggling inside each of us," the old man said. "One wolf is vengefulness, anger, resentment, self-pity, fear... The other wolf is compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, love..."

The grandson sat, thinking, then asked: "Which wolf wins, Grandfather?"

His grandfather replied, "The one you feed."

There are crises banging on the door right now, pawing at us, trying to draw us off our ethical center - crises that tempt us to feed the wolf of vengefulness and fear.

We need you, Mr. President, to hold your ground. We need you, leaders of this nation, to stay centered on the values that have guided us in the past; values that empowered to move us through the perils of earlier times and can guide us now into a future of renewed promise.

We need you to feed the good wolf within you, to listen to the better angels of your nature, and by your example encourage us to do the same.

Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins
Sermon: Harmonies of Liberty
Isaiah 58:6-12, Mt 22:6-40
National Prayer Service; January 21, 2009

Links to the entire sermon:
In text:
http://www.disciples.org/OfficeoftheGeneralMinisterandPresident/NewsandUpdates/HarmoniesofLiberty/tabid/483/Default.aspx

For audio or video, try here:

http://www.nationalcathedral.org/presidents/service.html

The Unicorn Song

On Jan 18th we'll continue looking at the story of Noah, the Adult Version.

On Jan 25th we will not meet.

This past Sunday, we remembered another song (from our childhoods) about Noah. Here are the lyrics of the first few verses of the song which I found floating around on the internet.


Another song about Noah and the Flood

The Unicorn Song

by Shel Silverstein

A long time ago when the earth was green
Why there was more kinda animals than you've ever seen
And they just run around free while the earth was bein' born
And loveliest of them all was the unicorn.

There was green alligators and long neck geese
Some humpty back camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn

Now God seen some sinnin' and it gave him a pain
And he said stand back cause I'm gonna make it rain
He said hey brother Noah I'll tell you what to do
Tou build me a floating Zoo.

And take some green alligators and long neck geese
Some humpty back camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants but sure as you're born
Don't you forget my unicorn.

etc, etc, etc

Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory, Glory!

This week and next, it's Noah and the Flood.

From your childhood, do you remember any songs about Noah and the Flood? What did these songs teach you about the Bible story? What characters and actions are featured in these songs?

For the adult version, turn to Genesis, chapters 6 through 9.


The Lord said to Noah
There's gonna be a floody, floody (2 times)
Get those children out of the muddy, muddy
Children of the Lord

Chorus:
Rise and shine and
Give God your glory, glory (3 times)
Children of the Lord

Jan 4, Genesis 4: Cain and Abel

What a great way to start off the new year - by studying the story of Cain and Abel, sin lurking at the door, the first murder. What can I say? I have the flu, so perhaps I'm delusional at the moment.

I thought of calling this study "Juicy Genesis". When we look at Genesis as adults we see all sorts of things that we weren't told about, or didn't think about, as kids. In preparing for this week's study, I notice how much is left out of the text, how much we have to infer.

Study questions for Jan 4, 2009

Genesis 4:1-16
Cain and Abel

If you have time, skim Genesis Chapters 1-3 to set the scene.

For this study, read Genesis 4:1-7, 8-12, and 13-16.

1. In verses 1-5 what do we learn about the two brothers and their offerings?

2. Is it important to know why God preferred Abel’s offering to Cain’s?

3. Would it be a better story if we knew the root cause for enmity between the brothers?

4. Why does Cain become angry? Who is he angry at? Is his anger sinful?

5. How do verses 6-8 describe God’s response to Cain and Cain’s reaction?
The Lord –
Cain’s response –

6. Cain is told that sin is crouching at the door and he must master it. What happens when we refuse to admit that we are on the wrong track?

7. What resources do we have to overcome sin?

8. Why does God not punish Cain for murder as prescribed by the law code given to the Israelites?

9. In what way is the “mark of Cain” a gift from God?

Study notes:
New Testament passages which refer to this Genesis text:
Hebrews 11:4 ; 1 John 3:12
The name Cain derives from the Hebrew qanah, meaning to get, create
The name Abel derives from the Hebrew hebel, meaning vapor, nothingness