Rev David Diller’s sermon was “These Are My Words,” from Luke 24:36-48.  Our text speaks of Jesus’ resurrection appearance to his disciples in Jerusalem.  He is not a ghost, but the same Jesus who died on the cross.  The risen Jesus bears the wounds he suffered in life.   These show our suffering for others really matters.  To follow the risen Christ to glory we must first of all follow the earthly Jesus by giving our lives for others.   Then Jesus says two things.  First, he reminds them of his teaching “while I was still with you.”  The words & deeds of Jesus remain the template for living a life of discipleship.   Second, following Jesus changes the way we read the Bible.  We can misread it from our own social, economic, political, & religious perspective by turning it into a new set of rules for living, or we can read it as a challenge to every social, economic, political, & religious worldview by heeding the risen Christ.   His non-conformist Spirit continues to free us from all dogmas & traditions, to invite us to take a new look at ourselves, & to open our hearts & minds to outsiders who have a different take on life.