In slowly catching up with my podcast-listening habit, I finally got around to listening to this sermon as I dozed off last night. It's not uncommon that I'll nod off before the end of a sermon, or that listening to it through to the end will put me in a pretty good frame of mind to catch some Zs. And normally, when my pastors of choice have a replacement filling in for them, I have to confess to not exactly being terribly motivated to sit still for the better part of an hour to soak up a message. Yet, here we are, with me getting around to a 2-week old message, listening to Efrem Smith fill in for Greg Boyd. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I could have played a full game of hockey after getting a jolt of energy from Smith's sermon.

I'm convinced that the final 12 minutes of this probably the best message I've heard this year, but I strongly suggest sitting through the 30-minutes of setting it up. In any event, it definitely qualifies as the best use of Van Halen in a sermon. Ever. Of course, I say that without another point of reference, but I feel safe in doing so.

This guy's electric ... I may need to add his sermons to my weekly routine. Enjoy, or download and take it with you.

11/1/09 : Compassion And The Kingdom from WHChurch on Vimeo.