Sam's Sermon Server

Sam's Sermon Server Policy

These sermons are offered freely for the exclusive use of individuals who find them valuable, stimulating and inspirational. All rights are reserved as is the copyright to the source. My writing is offered to the public under the principle of sharewords.

These sermons are sorted by date when they were given with the most recent first. The ones without links have yet to be converted into html and uploaded to the server. If you are interested one not yet uploaded and linked, email me at trumbore@tesla.netline.net.

Practice Living, November 12, 1995: Many of us hear the advice that we should stop and smell the roses and live for today. We laud the ordinary as the home of the holy. But how easy is it to really live this way? Is it really possible? Rev. Sam will outline an approach which will be the subject of a series of classes Sunday morning at 9:00am called "Build Your Own Spiritual Practice."
Homo Economicus, November 5, 1995: This term comes from the theoretical understanding of human behavior derived from economics. Homo Economicus' behavior in the marketplace is controlled by perfect reason and exclusive self interest. Are people really like this? What are the results of such a theory on human relationships? On society? On religion?
Passion and Patience, October 29, 1995: Many are uncomfortable with the emotional dimension of human existence. Our passions often grab hold of us and take us where we later regret we followed. Is it possible to be passionate and still feel good the next morning about what we have done? Or is it wise to patiently wait them out like a storm blowing by, until we regain our rational minds?
Emptiness, October 1st, 1995: I spent nine days at a Buddhist meditation retreat sitting silently doing nothing this past summer. For those who have not had this experience it may sound like self imposed torture. My experience of it was blissful joy. Part of the joy of the experience was being empty. This week is also the high holy days of the Jews who set aside this time for emptying their spirit of the sins of the past year. To begin again anew, we must become empty.
Freedom, Reason and Tolerance, September 24th, 1995: This is a commonly used phrase to distill key principles of Unitarian Universalism. Of late, the words reason and tolerance have lost favor as central organizing principles of our faith. We see a rising interest in spirituality. We see a preference for the word 'acceptance' rather than tolerate. Have we left reason and tolerance behind or are they still central to our faith?
Four Ways to Worship, September 17th, 1995: Each person comes into our Fellowship Sunday morning with different needs, desires and wishes for our service. There are a variety of ways we are tuned for inspiration and emotional satisfaction. Rev. Peter Richardson serving the U.U. Congregation in Andover, Massachusetts has written some inspiring words on the subject which I will use to shape my remarks and to guide my design of our services this coming year.
Spanning the Web, September 3rd, 1995: An internet networking system called the "World Wide Web" has become tremendously popular over the last year. This system has brought us even closer together electronically. What will the religious implications of this new technology be? Rev. Sam will demonstrate access to the Word Wide Web after the service for those interested.
Cyberian Religion, June 11, 1995: Rather than isolating people, computer networking can actually overwhelm the "Cybernaut" with relationships and correspondence. Where people often connect are on one of the 1000's of ongoing discussions on just about any topic. I've been watching U.U. discussion groups to see if our faith translates well to "Cyberspace."
The Stranger in our Midst, June 4, 1995: Being constantly surrounded by strangers while driving, in the market, and eating in restaurants is one of the unsettling aspects of our mobile, high density society. We must develop a personal method of interacting with those who we don't know and may never meet again. And often we rely on prejudice to guide our actions. Can a world of strangers get along with each other?
Ain't It Awful!, May 28, 1995: The title of this service comes from participants in Conversations Among Friends on Tuesday mornings who sometimes get caught in framing our world this way. I'll dig a little deeper this Sunday to unearth the feelings and beliefs which contribute to AIA thinking and suggest ways beyond it.
Pluralism vs. Fundamentalism, May 21, 1995: Our religious tradition is quite different from the "true believers". A visitor would feel this in our congregation immediately. Yet understanding the roots of the differences, why we don't worship Jesus, why we don't have a creed, why we value diversity, is easier in contrast with another belief system.
Wisdom of Motherhood, May 14, 1995: We U.U.'s have great appreciation for personal experience as a source of wisdom. If you have some wisdom to share with today's generation of mothers and fathers and parents to be, please speak with Rev. Sam so he can incorporate it into the service celebrating the great truths being a mother teaches us all.
Self Improvement vs. Self Acceptance, April 23, 1995: Upon discovering an unpleasant, undesireable, or imperfect part of our selves we can either improve it or accept it. The traditional Unitarian view suggests improvement to build our character. The traditional Universalist leans toward acceptance since God loves us anyway. We are blessed to have both in our merged tradtions but the two perspectives are often at odds with each other.
Did Jesus Laugh?, April 16, 1995: Most of us have a pretty one dimensional view of Jesus. The fundamentalist upon a search of the Bible, would not find any mention of Jesus laughing and assume that he never did. But when you seek it out, there is biting humor in some of the words attributed to Jesus.
How Free Should Speech Be?, March 12,1995: The American Civil Liberties Union has long proclaimed and fought in court to defend wide freedom of speech. Yet there must be a limit such as yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. This morning we will walk the limit and discuss if and where it should be changed.
Wrestling with Relativism, March 5,1995: In the background, driving the Fundamentalist Christian political agenda is a belief in unconditional, absolute truth. Unitarian Universalists have been at the forefront of the drive toward situational, relative truth. Have we gone too far? Can a society function without a 'truth' consensus?
Fasting, February 26, 1995: Going without has the most value and meaning when one can have whatever one wants. Perhaps partially because of the abundance that surrounds us, we haven't been forced to learn the benefits of going without. As we approach Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, join me in considering the value of fasting to the body and soul.
Are We Becoming Borgs?, February 12, 1995: The term 'Borg' comes from the television series Startrek. The Borgs are creatures that are half humanoid and half machine. They surrender their selves to their automated machine intelligence in exchange for tremendous power. Are we on the road to this end?
Our Path of Interdependence, January 29,1995: Where is the free-thinker's religion headed as we approach the 21st Century? This will be the question U.U. ministers will be wrestling with in March of this year at a convocation in Arkansas (Rev. Sam will be attending). Rev. Sam will articulate his vision of where we are going and the unique qualities we uphold that the world needs to survive.
Four Noble Truths, January 22, 1995: The Four Noble Truths are "Buddhism 101." No matter what flavor of Buddhism one investigates, they all revolve around the core concern about the seemingly unremoveable unsatisfactory quality of existence and the way to find liberation from it. The Buddha was not concerned with heaven or hell but how to find peace and happiness in this life right now.
Buying a Better World, January 8, 1995: The consuming habits of the industrialized nations are destroying our ecosystem. Multinational corporations, empowered by demand are cutting down tropical rain forests, digging ever deeper mines in the earth, and growing cash crops on land that is needed to feed the local inhabitants. We as aware and concerned shoppers can make a big difference by voting with our dollars.
The Mystery of a Star, Dec. 18, 1994: The cold-hearted rationalist always scoffs at the fictional nature of the traditional Christmas Story. Yet as myth it speaks powerfully to the non-rational side of our being. It is the mystery that many find engaging and enjoyable.
In Praise of the Puritans, Nov 20,1994: The Puritans have a bad reputation in the libertine excess of our pleasure centered culture. Yet we trace our institutional roots back to these folk and retain some of their spirit. As we approach Thanksgiving, I'd like to lift up some of our UU heritage grounded in Puritan ideas.
Shadows of the Spirit, October 30, 1994: As the ghosts stand poised to return to earth and spook us, we will consider the hidden and scary sides of our psyche that lurk usually out of conscious view. I will be using Thomas Moore's book, "Dark Eros" as a starting place for my remarks. Perhaps if we begin to see that which is hidden, we may not be spooked by the ghosts already within us.
Ethical Population Control, October 23, 1994: The dust has settled from the Cairo conference on population. Now is time to set back from the fray and examine the minority opinions from the Vatican and the Islamic nations to see if their arguments have value. And if they do, how might this affect our ideas about population stabilization.
How Wide an Embrace?, October 9, 1994: The week before this sermon, the Florida ministers will be gathering at UU in the Pines to survey the work of making our congregations more diverse. Many UU's want our congregations to look more like America. But diversity comes with a price. We need to know these costs so we can decide if we are ready to pay them.
Healing Words, October 2, 1994: Do words spoken to oneself assist in the healing of others? Scientific research being done today on the oldest form of healing, prayer, is yeilding significant results. If scientists prove the value of prayer, how might we engage in prayer to help each other?
Seeking Forgiveness, September 11, 1994: Real forgiveness is not a calculated act but a turning of the heart. Forgiveness is essential for relations between imperfect beings. The Jewish high holy days are a time of forgiveness and reconciliation. Yet the mechanics of this vital human process are at times mysterious.
Reflections on Fatherhood, June 19th, 1994: My son having just turned 2 years old last month, I'm still getting used to the idea of being a father. Being a first time father at 35 is different than becoming a father in one's early 20's. I have reflected on who Philomena and I were before Andy came into our lives, and found some unanticipated changes in my identity.
Mickey Mouse Religion, June 12th, 1994: Along with Coca Cola(tm), Mickey Mouse(tm) is one of the symbols of America around the world. Over the many years since the awkward early animation brought him seemingly to life, Mickey and the rest of the Disney characters have had a tremendous impact on our culture. I'll look at the values Walt Disney has imprinted on us and decide if they are good for us or not.
Hosea Ballou: Champion of Universal Salvation, May 29th, 1994: Hosea Ballou was an early and influential leader in the founding of Universalism here in this country. A likable country bumpkin turned minister, he helped set the course of Universalism preaching the greatness of God's love for all.
Poisoned Altruism, May 22nd, 1994: Is anyone out there having more trouble loving thy neighbor these days? The precarious state of our world, wars across the globe and unending news reports of social degeneration here at home, are putting people on the defensive. Do we need to redefine our understanding of altruism in this new world order?
Re-Visioning the Feminine, May 8th, 1994: Much of the feminist revolution in our society focused on women's equality in the public and private spheres. Often this has meant women had to sacrifice their "feminine" identity to attain power in male dominated power centers. Now that women have footholds in these arenas of power, they seek to retrieve a power full vision of the feminine that may have existed thousands of years ago.
Affliction of the Soul, May 1st, 1994: The tornado that destroyed the Alabama Methodist church and killed a number of children as a wall fell on them has bothered many people. One might think churches would have some immunity from "acts of God". And what about the minister who lost her four year old daughter? This morning we will use the French writer Simone Weil's words on affliction to try to come to terms with the tragic aspect of life.
Watch Your Language, April 24th, 1994: How many of us think about the ethics of our speech? If we wanted to come up with rules for ethical speech, what might they be? Wise speech is one element of the Buddhist eight fold path that leads to enlightenment. Some of the Buddhist ideas can help us monitor the way we use speech to help or to harm.
Think Ahead!, April 10th, 1994: The rush to expand our building for next fall has slowed down as the cost went up. The original motivation was to provide space for the R.E. program which as yet doesn't exist. Rev. Sam will present his vision for the congregation with the hope of spirited discussion as a step toward building a congregational vision for the year 2000.
The Road to Emmaus, April 3rd, 1994: There are two understandings of Christian communion. The first is found in the Last Supper. The second is found on the Road to Emmaus. This understanding I think most U.U.'s can accept. This service will have special music and the choir will also sing.
The Triumphant Entrance, March 27th, 1994: The Biblical Story of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem, a traditional story on Palm Sunday, is an interesting place to begin a reflection on life. Many projects in life begin with great fanfare and end abruptly with a whimper. However things end, fanfare is still important.
The Wisdom in the Body, March 20th, 1994: Our bodies are the end result of billions of years of intelligent choices. Great wisdom can be discovered by learning about the processes and relations of the body. Our bodies can teach us about what is true.
Integrity vs. Despair, March 13th, 1994: Of integrity Erik Erikson states that each person "knows that an individual life is the accidental coincidence of but one life cycle with but one segment of history, and that for each person all human integrity stands and falls with the one style of integrity of which each individual partakes." As we arrive at the top of the mountain of life and gauze upon our life path, do we accept that path?
The Value of Renunciation, March 6th, 1994: Many Christians are now in the middle of practicing Lent. a forty day devotional preparation for Easter traditionally based on Jesus' wilderness fast. Irrespective of one's beliefs, there is value to be found in voluntarily deciding to go without.
Nightly Revelations, February 27th, 1994: Ever have a strange dream and wonder where it came from? Many would accuse the surfeit of food the night before. But the images and symbols in our dreams are uniquely our own. Getting to know the cast of characters in your inner theater can be a great source of understanding of our selves and each other.
Environmental Justice, February 13th, 1994: If the soil could talk, trees could hire lawyers, the dolphins could elect representatives to the U.N., things might be a little different. Our natural environment is not our enemy but the ground of our being. The destruction of our biosphere demands a human response - or else!
Passing on the Faith, February 6th, 1994: Many of us came to U.U.ism as adults thus we don't have the experience of being raised to be a U.U. How does one pass on this religious heritage to someone else? How do we explain this individualistic faith to our friends and relations? How does one teach children the values of our tradition?
Race Matters, January 15th, 1994: I have been reading Cornel West's book of the same title on the state of race relations today. He has some penetrating insights into what is happening today and some positive visions of what we need to do next.
No Room at the Inn, December 19th, 1993: What if there had been room at the inn that fateful night in Bethlehem? What if Jesus had been born at the Econo Lodge. Would that take some of the sparkle out of the guiding star?
Addiction and Recovery, November 14th, 1993: Addiction is a pressing issue for our society and for our families. Most of us have a friend or relative struggling with substance abuse. Is there a satisfying answer for the Unitarian Universalist?
Setting the Boundaries, November 7th, 1993: The ideas for this sermon come out of a workshop on sexual abuse presented for the Florida U.U. Ministers Association. There is more here to consider than just the obvious issues - where do we draw the line on intimacy?
What about those Pagans?, October 31st, 1993: We are seeing a growing movement within our association called the Coven of U. U. Pagans. If your like me, that word 'Pagans' makes you uncomfortable. Come and find out about them.
Facing the Final Days, October 17th, 1993: Dr. Kovorkian has forced us to look at uncomfortable options for concluding life in the midst of great suffering. We will open the book on euthanasia but I doubt we will be able to close it again.
Facing Aging with Grace, October 10th, 1993: Most of us don't die suddenly, we fade away over many years. Meeting the loss of function and abilities can be difficult. Yet with the loss can come a sense of the word "grace".

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