[Uucf-bible] Tantrums and Turnings: UUCF Virtual Monastery Selection For This Sunday Posted

[RevRonRobinson at aol.com]

Hi all. Here is the link and an excerpt from our Virtual Monastery section  
of the uucf website, as we begin again our weekly biblical interpretation 
and  inclusion of prayers and meditations and reflections. Enjoy and please 
share the  link with others in your social media networks, small groups, or 
family and  friends, so this again becomes a weekly go-to place in the growth 
of souls. 
 
Excerpt from the reflection and exegesis on the several texts by the Rev.  
Naomi King: 
"...On the one hand, this lection is a huge gift to the Universalist,  
because all of the texts remind us of God’s graciousness for the whole world and 
 that God loves us still, even on our whining, jealous, temper-tantrum 
crummy  days. On the other hand, this lection is a huge gift to the Unitarians, 
because  our characters twisting toward idolatry are called to turning back –
 to  repenting – and giving thanks for God. Unitarian Universalists can 
rejoice. Like  the diverse communities Paul is writing to, there’s something in 
this lection  for us all. So let’s give thanks for these good gifts, in our 
turning to God’s  graciousness, and then settle into our common human 
wanting of what we want,  when we want it, as we want it, even when that wanting 
violates our promises,  our principles, and our trust in and love of God. 
That is my definition  of idolatry: turning to our wants as and when we want 
them with vinegary  petulance because submitting to God turns out not 
coincide with our wants of  that moment….or perhaps, any moment.
 
The exegetical question before us this week is:  
Where are you in the four stories offered in this week’s lection? What  
idolatries are you in need of turning from so you can turn back to God’s  
generous and abiding love? 
For the full piece for this coming week go to 
_http://www.uuchristian.org/M_VirtualMonastery.html#weekly_ 
(http://www.uuchristian.org/M_VirtualMonastery.html#weekly)  
blessings, Ron Robinson