This sermon was first preached by Rev. I. Dean Jordan  May 4, 1952 at the United Methodist Church in Eagle, Wisconsin.  He added a  new introduction for the June 30, 1996 preaching of the sermon at the Oliver United Church of Christ in Columbus, Wisconsin.

Purpose: To show the beauty and insight available to us in the Book of Jonah when we stop worrying about whether it's true.

While this was first given almost 70 years ago the ideas and message is still relevant today.

This sermon was first preached Nov. 8, 1953, United Methodist Church Waukesha, Wisconsin.  All these sermons have been preached multiple times for many different congregations.  The notes above indicate where and when it was preached for the first time.

Purpose: To make clear the relationship of God's Judgement and Love that we might not become "spoiled children" of God.  The ideas  in this sermon underlay most of Rev. Jordan's thinking and his ecumenicity.  It was one of his early sermons in each parish.  It is one of our family's favorites.

These three essays from the book "The Holy Ground of Honey Creek" by Rev. I. Dean Jordan were first printed Sept. 14, 1983 The East Troy News,  April 1992 Edgerton United Church of Christ Newsletter and Dec. 1992 Edgerton United Church of Christ Newsletter respectively.

This podcast are readings from the book "The Holy Ground of Honey Creek: Reflections of a Small-Town Pastor" written by Rev. I. Dean Jordan.  On the back cover Rev. Jordan writes that he "compiled the best of his sermons and liturgy into this book.  Not  simply as a record of his witness to his faith, but as a guide to help you improve  and deepen your own.  They contain essays, sermons and ideas for liturgy.  He served more than 40 years in small towns in Wisconsin as a United Methodist minister.  This episode has the dedication, preface and concludes with the title essay.