Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

What have we learned in the past 10 years?

What has 9/11 taught us about our world and ourselves?

Two things I think:


A. We have to be able to use our common sense. Some have gone overboard with security issues. Some have wanted to assume security wasn't at all important. We have to find some common sense. There are radical Muslims but not all Muslims are radical. There are dangers in the world but the world is not all dangerous. Common sense requires that we be able to live without bitterness and without the need for revenge.

When Joseph's brothers realized Joseph was alive, had thrived, and was in a position to rule over their lives they were fearful he would be angry with them and try to hurt them or kill them. Joseph replied that he was not God. It was not his task to judge. He forgave them. He used common sense. (Genesis 50)

B. We have learned to find a common source. We do not worship God in the same way but that doesn't mean we all have a different God. Paul urged his readers to honor all people. Some think dietary requirements are important but others do not practice them. Paul writes that gentiles and Jews worship the same God but in different ways. (Romans 14)

Maybe the most important learning of the past 10 years is how we search the commonality of our faith traditions. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity come from the same Abrahamic source. We really do have more in common than we realized.

Hopefully, in the past ten years we have learned to find our common source and we have learned to use our common sense.

How have the past ten years changed you.

Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below.


I look forward to hearing from you.



Charles Schuster