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FLIM FLAM BLESSINGS - from Sunday, September 18, 2016

9/20/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
I think we all find tricksters, schemers, scammers, and frauds loathsome and contemptible. How is it that these con artists get the blessing in scripture? A fun look at flim flammers and the maddening tales of their divine blessings awaits.

One of my favorite movies is the 1967 film The Flim Flam Man starring George C. Scott in the title role, aided by young Michael Sarrazin who falls for Sue Lyon. The picture here is a scene of the two setting up a mark for a scam (Scott in the center). The movie has a lesson borne out in the scriptures. You can watch the whole movie by clicking here.

In Genesis, Jacob's early years get marked by one sleazy, sneaky act after another. He exploits his brother, scams his dad, and manages to out-fox his father-in-law, a scuzzy fox himself. Looking at the scam that netted Jacob the blessing of the first-born, we find Jacob impersonating his elder twin, conspiring with his mother (his brother's mother, too, of course), fooling his blind father, and gaining for himself the entitlement of his brother. How does this jerk not get punished by a just God?

Then Jesus leads his listeners into the parable of the unjust steward. Here is a guy who squandered his master's resources and seems to have gotten caught. Fearing his termination, he starts bargaining with those indebted to his master, telling them to lop off big amounts from their bills. How can he do that? The master knows what he's done and ends up praising him for his shrewdness! Really? What's that all about?

You'll have to check out the sermon video below (and note the downloads available below the video panel) to get some answers.

09-18-16-ff-answers.pdf
File Size: 29 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

09-18-16-flim_flam_blessings.pdf
File Size: 149 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

2 Comments
Doris Erhorn
9/24/2016 04:34:06 pm

A very good sermon last Sunday. Don't always listen to you, but always check what is going on. Sure do miss everyone. Has been a busy summer in August and Sept. Fred had caterack surgery and also surgery on his ear for a cancer. All is well. God was good! Playing lots of gold all summer. Hope all is well with you. By the way lots of scams are in our area and I am very careful now. Learned my lesson the hard way and it is hard to deal with. Oldest grandson gets married on November 12. Living in Tuscon, AZ so think we will visit them this winter, Working for Raython Defense. Thinking of all the members and prayers to all

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Bruce Seaman link
9/24/2016 05:22:42 pm

That's okay, Doris. People don't listen too often when they're here either :)) Thanks for the updates on all your news; it mostly sounds good. You may have read in the last email that the giant tree on the south side of the church has to come down - after dropping a 3+ foot thick limb across the stream and crushing the fence, the tree showed that it's rotten inside the main trunk. It will be a shame to lose that old, magnificent beauty, but we took this incident as a warning to deal with it, or else! I hope you both continue to do well. Say 'hi' to Fred for us.

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