You Tube Theology

A service of Sunday worship in Duke University Chapel. The Reverend Dr Samuel Wells delivers a sermon entitled "Can These Dry Bones Live?." Opening excerpt from the sermon: ( 28:05) "Some while ago I saw a picture of my own skull. Every now and again physicians decide they need a new photograph for their collection, so they do a CT scan on you. And then you glance over at the screen -- and there it is, your very own skull, ugly as hell. You start by thinking it's an idle thing, just a picture. But then you realize, "That's not a thing, it's me! It's a truer picture of me than any smiling photograph." And it stares at you, as if to say, "One day you'll be pared down to this; I'm what you really are, under the skin." I wonder how you'd feel, coming face to face with your own skull. It makes you shudder. It makes you protest and say, "That's not me -- my life has texture, and tenderness, and beauty, and relationship, and sound, and flesh." But the skull says back, "Not for long." And you wonder if you hear a little smirk, or chuckle." Closing excerpt from the sermon:(46:01) Look at your life. Look at this valley of dry bones. Feel the hand of the Lord come upon you. Hear the Spirit of the Lord whisper in your ear, this very moment. Listen to this question the Lord is asking you. "Beloved child, can these dry bones live?" Recognize in yourself the violent Conny and the manipulative Stig that make you shrug your shoulders and say, "I dunno. Don't ask me." Look down again. Are you looking at a valley of dry bones? Have you been dragging this sack of dry bones through the valley for longer than you can remember? Why pretend any longer? Ask yourself the three questions: Am I truly willing to learn new music? Am I willing to be let the Spirit make music out of my dry fragile flesh? Am I willing to face scorn and shame as I start to sing this new song? Just as the Lord whispered to Ezekiel, he's whispering to you: "I am going to open your grave, and bring you up from your grave. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live." Maybe it's time to join that choir." Sermon begins at 28:05. Ezekiel 37:1-14 John 11:1-44 Bulletin: http://bit.ly/eWmBWx Sermon: http://bit.ly/fYR1c0