Preaching the Scriptures

  The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson 2 Corinthians 5:16-21   Method Acting   Daniel Day-Lewis, three-time Academy Award winner, six-time nominee, and current knight, is perhaps the most dedicated and gifted method actor in the history of film.   He doesn’t just play a part; he inhabits his characters and allows them to inhabit him.     To prepare for The Last of the Mohicans, he spent six-months living in the woods, building canoes, learning to use a tomahawk, tracking, hunting, and skinning animals for food.   During the making of Gangs of New York¸ Day-Lewis would wear only period-specific clothing, which led to him catching pneumonia.   He almost died of pneumonia because he would only take period-specific medicines; the film was set in 1862.   While filming Lincoln, Sir Daniel insisted that everyone on set, including director Stephen Spielberg, call him “Mr. President.”   He did not once break character; he lived as Abraham L...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Taking the Loss St. Paul clearly possessed many tremendous talents and commendable gifts.   His list of accomplishments is stunning.   It is hard to imagine what might have become of Christianity without his witness and writings.   Without his drive to share the message with Gentiles, we might not even be here, in a church, worshiping Jesus.   He started churches.   He wrote a large chunk of the New Testament.   He traveled tirelessly to spread the Gospel.   Even his death as a martyr was a witness to the amazing power of God's love. Paul could have put together quite a resume.   Instead of all of those amazing accomplishments, however, he lists the following: beatings, imprisonments, and riots (I'm guessing caused, and not started) – all plural.   And then goes on to say of his team, “We are treated as impostors.”   It is not a list that inspires confidence.   And...