[Propertalk] Proper 16 b Part 1 a

[robertpmorrison at charter.net]

The first part was deemed too big and is being held, so I'll split
that in half, should you wish to see it - and should this get
through...

This is the first part of part 1!

Bob

	THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY    THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST 

	I KINGS 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43    PROPER 16 b 

	EPHESIANS 6:10-20     23rd AUGUST, 2015 

	JOHN 6:56-69    PSALM 84 

	 What’s in a name? You fly on a certain airline – because of the
name. You buy a particular TV – because of the name. You eat a
certain restaurant – because of the name. You avoid one sausage –
because of the name. You don’t attend one church denomination –
because of the name. You vote – because of …. Well, who knows how
some people vote!  

	 You see where and how we’re influenced, though, don’t you? We
may have never experienced something or met someone, but what someone
tells us can have a tremendous impact. If we like the person, then
we’re more inclined to go along with what she or he says. If we’ve
had a bad experience of a person or situation, we may not listen, we
may not participate. Name recognition and name trust is incredibly
important to us. No wonder firms pay billions, if not trillions, of
dollars to get us to buy one particular paper towel, or something
equally insignificant. 

	 Yet this raises the question of why we don’t do the research
ourselves? Why don’t we get to know the person; read what she or he
has written; listen, first-hand, to what that person says; write,
phone, or, better yet, arrange a meeting with that person. If need be,
be right up front and say, “I’ve heard some interesting things
…” or, “I’ve heard some strange things …” or, “I’ve
seen criticism about this and that…” 

	 As much as some executives might be less than enthusiastic, if we
each made up our own minds, based on information that we tested
several times to ensure its reliability, each of us might be a far
better informed, a far better committed person that we may be,
sometimes. 

	 Studying, listening, talking don’t automatically guarantee that
we’ll be relieved from pressure – from our peers, from our
neighbours, from people with authority. That’s a given. Nowhere did
that individual we call “Jesus” say “for a worry free life, give
Me a call.” At no time did this “Jesus” talk about avoiding
stress or dealing with animosity or hardship. His own best friends
said as much. “This is difficult stuff,” they rejoined, when He
was talking about how to live. To which He replied, “You’re
offended by this? … Do you wish to go away, like the others?” 


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