I'll Have The Curry.

A sermon for the People of First Baptist Church of Austin Pentecost Sunday May 28, 2023 Acts 2: 1-21 "A Viral Moment Worthy of Sharing" Photo by  Tj Kolesnik  on  Unsplash What does it mean when something “goes viral?” And no, im not talking about a contagiouscough.  I’m thinking of viral videos and memes. In the world of social media, videos and memes are shared over and over again, reaching a variety of people outside its original target audience. This is called “going viral.” One of the earliest viral videos is one you’ve likely seen. Reminiscent of a 1980s home movie, a video of two young sons was uploaded to YouTube in 2007 so that the grandparents could watch home movies of their growing grandchildren. The video shakily zooms in on the two boys sitting together in a blue recliner chair.  The baby, named Charlie, is sitting on his brother’s lap while his dad films their adorable interactions.  There are giggles. There are laughs… and there are bites.  The older brother s

There's No Such Thing as a Dumb Question A sermon for First Baptist Church of Austin May 21, 2023 Ascension Sunday and Graduate Recognition Sunday Acts 1:6-14 Photo by  Emily Morter  on  Unsplash Asking questions is a fundamental part of the learning process. In asking questions, we are able to unpack concepts that are complicated and confusing, like, “What is the process of photosynthesis?”  Some questions can bring about answers that challenge our own assumptions and encourage deeper reflections. Like when we ask a dear friend, “What has been your experience as a gay man in Texas,” These types of questions help us practice empathy and understanding.  Then come the existential questions like,  “what is the purpose of suffering” or, “what happens after death?” Or, “has everything already been decided for us?”  These engage our imagination and our critical thinking skills during a time of crisis, or after a glass of wine. A good teacher can create a learning environment for st