Cottondale Christian Church

January 3, 2010 

Luke 13: 6-9: Patience and Manure            

They say that vegetable gardening’s not for the impatient.  I know because in a very minor way, I tried my hand at it behind the church last year.  I had a really attractive squash vine going, when all of a sudden, it started wilting.  Just when I started to get some fruit in early September, the once attractive leaves began to droop, and the fruit withered on the vine.  You might imagine my reaction.  All that work, watering it, taking care of it, only to find it all ruined at the last minute.  I was disappointed and just a little frustrated.           

But lest you think I’m the only one in that category, I talked to some of you in the church last year.  Brown Herron told me that he hadn’t had a good tomato crop in two years.  Some of Jim Harkins’ tomatoes stress fractured due to all the moisture, and lo and behold, his fig trees cracked and fell down.  And yet, the intrepid souls that we are, despite all of this, we’re going to try again this year.  And we’re even going to plant more behind the church with the children’s group.  For some reason, we have patience.  For some reason, we don’t just give up and quit.

Ben West

Cottondale Christian Church

June 7, 2009 

Psalm 139: Divine Comfort and Discomfort          

          I’ll begin this morning with a song you all know: “You better not shout, you better not cry, you better not pout.  I’m tellin’ you why.  Santa Claus is coming to town.  He sees you when you’re sleeping; he knows when you’re awake; he knows when you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake.”  Santa Claus . . . what a scary guy . . . . I mean, have you ever really thought about what the words of this song mean?  Some man in a red suit, sneaking around looking in your window at night. . . . a guy who knows all about you . . . who knows about everything you do, whether it be good or bad.  I sang this song innocently as a kid, but man, as I think about it today, this guy makes me uncomfortable . . . . all the more so for the “better not” shout, pout, or cry part.  This Santa guy not only invades my privacy, but he’s also kind of threatening.  He won’t even let me express myself; he won’t even let me be.  We do something with men like Santa Claus in today’s criminal justice system.             

Ben West

Cottondale Christian Church

April 12, 2009 

John 20: 1-18: “Do Not Hold on to Me”          

I don’t know about you, but I think John’s Easter story is probably the most moving of all the gospels.  All the resurrection stories are great, don’t get me wrong, but I think one of them particularly captures the emotions of the moment more than the others.  And that’s probably because John’s gospel is the most detailed.  We see not just everybody’s alarm and shock, but we actually witness two disciples running to the tomb in suspense.  We hear not just that the women at the tomb are afraid, but that Mary is moved to frantic tears.  But perhaps the most moving aspect of the story concerns Mary Magdalene and Jesus together.  Mary’s so upset that she can’t see or think clearly, and Jesus tenderly comes to her and says, one word “Mary.” 

Ben West

Cottondale Christian Church

November 16, 2008 

All Things to All People: 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23              

“I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9: 22 NRSV).  I’m sure that this sentence sounds familiar to you, but I would venture a guess that you’ve heard the first half of the sentence more frequently than the second.  Our society has used this sentence widely at various points, and more recently during our election season.  Numerous articles accused both Barack Obama and John McCain of trying to become “all things to all people.”  In this context, the sentence means that we try to satisfy everyone’s demands, to bend ourselves to their liking.  And long before Obama and McCain, politicians have long been accused of saying anything and everything to appeal to any and all groups of voters just to get elected.  Need I go into all of those Josh Segall and Mike Rogers commercials?  As my grandfather often says when rubbing his hand across his face, “Oh, me.”