Today we celebrate the birth of everyone’s favorite Mbird board president, Paul Walker!
Of course, Paul also happens to be our all-time favorite preacher, so in honor of the occasion, we thought we’d offer up a couple of his greatest hits:
Family First (Arrested Development)
For more PW-goodness, including a podcast of his recent sermons, check out the Anglican College Ministry website. A number of the printed versions have been collected in a fantastic little volume called “Sermons From the Cathedral Church Of The Advent”, which you can purchase here. We leave you with two excerpts from it:
“There is nothing more important than Jesus crying from the cross, ‘It is finished!’ This is why I dread people finding out what I do when I’m playing golf or if I sit in on a poker game. Inevitably, when guys find out that I’m a minister, the comments about no drinking, cussing, betting, or smoking come. Generally, I’ll politely tolerate the comments, but inside I’m thinking, give me a break. Although the poor guys who innocently and usually good-humoredly crack these worn jokes don’t realize it, what they’re doing is attempting to reduce Christianity – with its core the man on the cross crying ‘It is finished’ – to surface morality.” (pg. 72-73)
“Christianity, on the other hand, is not a religion at all – it’s the end of religion. Christianity reverses the thing completely. Christianity says that man is incapable of getting himself right with God no matter how hard he tries. But God doesn’t leave us there. He’s not content to let the chasm lie between us because that chasm is death. So since we can’t come to God, He comes to us.” (pg. 147)
COMMENTS
7 responses to “Happy Paul Walker Day!”
Leave a Reply
James Taylor told me after a concert in Birmingham a few years ago, during a little back stage reception that had been gotten up in honor of the Church of the Advent staff, that in “my book, Paul Walker is a hunk of burning funk”. Taylor had heard a podcast of one of Paul’s Advent sermons — Carly Simon, of all people, had literally forced him to listen to it.
We are all so grateful for Paul’s achievement, not to mention for Paul’s absolutely delightful, beloved personality and manner. Christie, too, has a world of soul — a galaxy of soul.
My favorite excerpt (from a June 1st sermon): “God doesn’t seek the same payment twice. We know that Jesus once and for all made payment for the brokenness of the world. We know that Jesus once and for all made payment for the sin you’ve wallowed in a score. The world will break you, yes, and you are broken. But God arranged for the world to break Jesus, so that by his stripes we are healed. God has not thrown you or his world out of the window. He will not wipe you away and be done with you. ‘For I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.’”
Paul Zahl, Justin Holcomb, and James Taylor… What high praise!
Happy Birthday homeboy.
I have the privilege of working with Paul in the office of Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville. I am also a member of Christ Church. So, I’m doubly blessed to have him as my priest and my boss. I’m also blessed to know his wonderful wife, Christie and his stupendous Mother-in-law, Merle. Happy Birthday, Paul!
Is he giving the rock’n’roll “satan fingers” in that second picture?
http://www.timetorock.net/gallery/view/id_805/field_time/title_satan-fingers
“Do you really think it is a coincidence that Jesus ministered for 3 years and Arrested Development ran for 3 years before they were both canceled?”
my favorite PW quote.
much love to Paul on his big day!
Happy Birthday Paul–hope y’all are having a great summer, and I’ll see you in a few weeks!
td