Guest In Your Pulpit: Martin

Titles of programs/sermons and a brief statement of content on each:

By the Rivers of Babylon - Babylon as a metaphor for any nation that considers itself specially blessed by the gods and the relevance of the 137th Psalm to America today.
Reclaiming the Bible - The necessity for religious liberals to reclaim the Bible from the neo-literalists who would dictate its meanings to us. Whether we accept its authority or not, it is a culturally relevant document that we ignore at our peril.
What's Love Got to Do With it? - Martin Luther King said “…one of the greatest problems of history is that the concepts of love and power are usually contrasted as polar opposites. Love is identified with a resignation of power and power with a denial of love…What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.” In his view, power, ethically understood, is the ability to achieve moral a purpose. This moral purpose is embodied in our goal for a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
Looking Out for Lazarus: Proclaim the Jubilee - Perhaps one of the most radical concepts in the Bible is the concept of the Jubilee, the forgiveness of debts. This has implications, both individually and collectively, as we consider the poorest among us.
The Ethics of Human Life in the Hebrew Bible - A look at the Hebrew concepts of the spirit and how its implications affect the discussion on such things as stem cell research.
Jesus, the Angel and the Grace of God - These were the names of slaveships!!! Though we now believe ourselves to be physically free, many of us are still enslaved mentally and spiritually.
Peace on Earth? - Building world peace through a sense of global community.
Heresy or Hearsay? Choose Your Poison - A discussion of the truth of what it means to be a "heretic." A look at Unitarians and Universalists of the past and how we can follow in their footsteps.
Freethinkers: America's Forgotten Legacy - Who owns the space between your ears? A look at our historical roots, focusing on those who chose the path of illumined reason over blind faith.
Remembering God the Mother - A look at the historical shift from the view of God as female to a male-dominated system and its implications as we face the future.
Where Do We Go From Here? - When it seems that hope is lost, we might want to simply "go fishing" and get away from it all. What we need to do is go fishing for like-minded souls and redouble our efforts despite the odds.
Captain America and the Struggle Against Evil - A look at the underlying psychological aspects of the American sense of self and its implications for the world.
Marching into Darkness: The Rise of Faith and the Fall of Reason - A look at the rise of the religious "right" in America and its historical roots with a view of recalling history's lessons.
The Most Dangerous Church in America - Recalling an article from UU world and how we might truly deserve to be called dangerous to those who endanger our religious and political liberties.
Other service/sermon topics can be developed around holidays, seasons, special events or by request.

Availability: Anytime or place within 250 miles of Columbus, OH.

Home Hospitality: Sometimes needed and appreciated depending on distance

Fee arrangements: Standard honoraria and mileage of 31 cents per mile for travel.

You can contact John Martin via email at MRJHMARTIN at aol.com

For information about contacting a "Guest in Your Pulpit", please contact the District Office at 740-252-5980 or email office at ohiomeadville.org.

	Ohio-Meadville District of the UUA