Pentecost +8 (2 Samuel 7:1-16;  Psalm 89:20-37;  Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56)

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Below is an excerpt from the New York Times, Tuesday, July 10^th

THE SOBER HEART: A MEMORABLE DIALOGUE FROM THE FIRST NIGHT IN REHAB

(The following is an excerpt from a talk given on Friday May 6th in honor of the one year sobriety anniversary of a young man in London, Ontario.)

                 HOLY ATTENTION

There is a shift that I believe is underway universally in the church. And I want to be a part of it in any way that I can.

It is the shift from understanding the spiritual life (praxis) as one mandatory piece of life's pie to understanding it as the whole pie. This is the shift from conventional to contemplative religion.

The difference is crucial. It has to do with why I exist and who I understand and experience to be in charge of my life.

I would like to talk with you this morning about three very important things: Family Values, Family Violence, and Family Health.