This Sunday’s sermon really hit me. Jeff preached on the fact that God is near and what that means, why God doesn’t just show up all the time, and why our human senses can’t really see much of God except the evidence of his working.

I specifically identified with the quantum mechanics and string theory illustrations: if there is that much we don’t understand about the universe, if there are things hidden from our sight and from our understanding, how can we understand where God is and what he is doing? I love physics, and I love sermons with physics in them… even if I’m the only one in the congregation that feels that way.

This is the thing I really appreciate about Jeff’s preaching; I don’t know if he’s a trained preacher by trade, but what he says is pretty much always spot on, and he doesn’t resort to clichés and pat answers to get his point across. I can always get on board with an innovative explanation, or a new way of looking at an old issue. It seems to me that saying things the same way for a long time can create a mental bypass in the listener’s mind: creativity in preaching is a great didactic tool for that reason among others.

I am really looking forward to Joel coming back from his little conference. I hope he’s preaching this Sunday, as I think he’s a superior speaker, but also a superior communicator. I especially like his exploration of the history surrounding scripture (an implicit nod, I think, to the fact that all truth is contextual). Anyone — yeah, even me — can do a surface treatment of some of the subject matter Joel has taken on, but I think it takes a better preacher to dig into it and get his hands dirty. As the rabbis used to say, scripture is a many-faceted jewel: you hold it up to a new light and get a new reflection you’ve never seen before.

I don’t know who ever convinced Joel he’s not a good preacher; I’ve heard him hint at as much. Laura and I didn’t originally start attending Freshwater because of the atmosphere or the music or the people — though all those things are huge factors — but because when Joel spoke we were both like, wow, this guy is telling the truth. And that’s really what matters.

So yeah, Joel, if you ever read this, the next time you say something depreciating about your messages and speaking ability, I’m going to (in all Christian love) punch you in the face. Okay, not really.

(Or… will I?)

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After the service we went over to Tanya and Trevor’s palace. I mean, house. It’s quite nice. They have a sublime sense of interior. And Trevor makes a mean rib. It was nice to get to know them better; they seem like good people.

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You know Christians are all like, “Come back quickly, Lord Jesus?” I totally get that now. So if I may, come back quickly, Tim and Candace. I hope you’ve having a nice holiday. But seriously, get back here.

Tags: church