Rev. Bill's Sermons

SAME SERMONS -- DIFFERENT LOCATION

2006-03-04T20:54:00.000-05:00

I have started a new Sermon Blog at Word Press. It will include all the sermons on this blog -- plus all future sermons. Go over to my new sermon blog and read some sermons!

MARK 9:2-9

2006-02-25T16:37:00.000-05:00

2 Kings 2:1-12 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9 WOW! February 26, 2006 Transfiguration It starts off ordinary enough. Jesus and his three closest friends - Peter, James, and John - go up on a high mountain. Nothing unusual. Jesus often went off from the crowds to pray and rest – and at times He would take some of the disciples with Him. All very ordinary. But from here on, ordinary ends. No sooner do they arrive than Jesus is suddenly "transfigured." He "glowed." As the text has it, "His clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them." Not only out of the ordinary, but absolutely out of this world - which, of course, is precisely what the story wants to convey. And if that is not out-of-the ordinary enough, two men who were so important in the faith tradition of Peter – James – and John – two of faith's most honored heroes -- suddenly appear by Jesus' side. Moses, the great law-giver, and Elijah, the prophet par excellence – as if to suggest that the entire tradition of the Law and the Prophets was paying respect to Jesus -- in whom both were brought together. This is both literally and figuratively a "mountain-top experience." No wonder Peter, James, and John are terrified. But, of course, a little terror never stopped Peter from running his mouth – so -- for lack of any other ideas, he suggests erecting three shrines to commemorate the event! Wow! A big enough deal so far. But that is not all – for after this vision a cloud overshadows the mountain. It must have looked like a deep fog suddenly came over the mountain. Thinking about a foggy day or a time you have been to the mountains and a cloud has enveloped the mountain or a time when you were flying and the plane flew into a cloud can help you envision what this must have been like for Peter – James – and John. The damp air closes in and all the world slips away into a grayness. Then the voice of God echoes around them saying: "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" Glowing face and clothes Visits from famous figures of the past Hovering clouds and heavenly voices ... Wow! It was so extraordinary – so extra ordinary that when it was all over, and Jesus and Peter and James and John were headed back down the mountain, Jesus told them to "tell no one about what they had seen." That made sense. Who would have believed it anyway? But the three of them believed it. They had been there, and those moments on that mountain would forever mark their lives and change the way they looked at everything. Wow Certain "WOW" moments in our lives have a way of doing that. They have a way of marking our lives and changing the way we look at everything. I came across a story of a 33-year-old truck driver by the name of Larry Walters who was sitting in his lawn chair in his backyard one day wishing he could fly – and figured out a way to do so! Wow! For as long as he could remember he had wanted to fly but he had never had the time nor money nor opportunity to be a pilot. Hang gliding was out because there was no good place for gliding near his home. So he spent a lot of summer afternoons sitting in his backyard in his ordinary old lawn chair – hoping – wishing – and dreaming. Then—one day – he devised a scheme. He was going to fly! He somehow came up with 45 helium-filled surplus weather balloons -- and attached them to his chair. He put a CB radio in his lap, tied a paper bag full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to his leg, and slung a BB-gun over his shoulder to pop the balloons when he wanted to come down. He lifted off in his lawn chair expecting to climb a couple of hundred feet over his neighborhood. But instead he shot up 11,000 feet right through the approach corridor to the Los Angeles International Airport. When he finally decided to come down, he was somewhat of a celebrity. When asked by the press why he did it, Larry answered: "Well, you can't just sit there." When asked if he was scared, he answered, "Yes...wonderfully so." Wow! Larry Walters will never be the same again after his trip to the mountain in his lawn chair. He has seen things and felt things that will shape the way he lives the rest of his life. I am sure it was the same with Peter, James and John. Up on that mountain they had been given nothing less than a glimpse into the future. They saw past the suffering and death of Jesus which Jesus had predicted a few days before -- past their doubts -- past their fears. For one brief shining moment God had cracked the door to the end of time and they had seen how history would be worked out -- their own history and the history of the whole world. And they would never be the same again, having taken that ride. Wow! Now -- if you had a chance to see how everything was going to turn out in the end, would it affect how you viewed the present? Of course it would. I read an article by a hospice chaplain that testified to this. The chaplain had been at the bedside of many persons who had Near Death Experiences – and reported that most of those who have had Near Death Experiences are not afraid when their death actually occurs. He relates one particular time a patient’s heart stopped – but aggressive intervention brought his heartbeat back. The chaplain was not there when this happened – but when the chaplain went to see the patient the next day the patient broke into a big grin. “I’ve seen the light” the patient told the chaplain – then gave a story that coincided with most of the Near Death Experiences the chaplain had heard from others – a bright light – overwhelming sense of peace -- and other details that were similar to the Near Death Experiences of others. This patient had – at one time – directed his doctors to try all means to resuscitate him if his heart stopped. He was terrified of dieing. But after this experience the patient insisted the doctor issue a “Do Not Resuscitate” Order – and make sure it was followed. The patient had to twist the doctor’s arm to get this No Code – but was at peace with the decision. The patient was convinced by the Near Death Experience that death was not something to be avoided. Wow! But – you know -- not everyone has the kind of WOW experience that can change your perspective and change your life. You probably remember the TV show “Murphy Brown” that used to come on Monday nights. I don’t remember the real reason for the question – but in one episode the characters were discussing their thoughts or feelings about God. There were different responses from different characters - one was an agnostic -- one was a Baptist, and so on. But for me the response of the character Jim stands out. He said he went to church every Sunday with his wife – then commented something on the order of: "I haven't had any experience of God. I go to Church because it is obvious to me that the people who attend are experiencing God, and I am hoping that one day I will too." Does that sound familiar? I wonder how many real-life "Jims" there are here today waiting...waiting. Probably a majority of us! In fact, I would dare say that most people fit into Jim’s category! Why? Why do most people have to wait for their WOW experience? Well the WOW experience for Peter – James – and John occurred on the mountaintop. Most of us spend most of our lives in the valley – not on the mountaintop. Things are different between the two. If you read ahead a bit in Mark's gospel, the contrasts are stark. (Read Mark 9:14-24) On the mountain, there is an encounter almighty God – in the valley, there are times we – like the disciples -- encounter with the demonic. On the mountain, there is an encounter with faith's heritage – in the valley, there are times we – like the disciples -- encounter those who consider questions of faith as occasions for battle. On the mountain, God's calming voice is heard – in the valley, there are times we – like the disciples – hear human argument. On the mountain, there is a mood for worship -- in the valley, there are many times we – like the disciples -- are spoiling for a fight. On the mountain, the glory of God is revealed; in the valley, there are many times we – like the disciples – deal with the power of sin and unbelief . Maybe your prayer is: "O Lord, carry me away to the mountain," YES, Lord! But then we remember the place of our ministry is with those who need our help down in the valley. That being the case, how can we arrange for having those WOW moments -- those energizing, even life-changing, mountaintop experiences during the course of our journey – that will strengthen us – - give us a glimpse of the holy – and even let us know that all our work is blessed by God ? The easy answer is that we cannot! Sorry. We have to wait...just like Jim in the “Murphy Brown” episode. But -- if you remember, Peter, James, and John were there with Jesus because they had been invited - there were nine others who were not. I suspect the reason that they were invited while the others were not has something to with the fact that they were ready – while the others were not. A friend of mine has noted that, when his children were small, he and his wife discovered that there were some words that they could not say at the dinner table. Not that these words were inappropriate or not nice or did not make for good conversation – but the truth was they could not be said because as soon as words like "cookies, candy, or cake," were said – their children did not want to eat supper any more. My friend observed that the kids knew what "cookies, candy and cake" meant -- but did not seem to understand the word "later." They wanted the dessert right then! Forget the main course! If they were allowed to eat the sweet stuff—my friend observed that they would have no interest in the nutritious stuff – and may have never had a healthy diet. A mountaintop experience – a WOW experience -- is like dessert. If that is the extent of our spiritual diet, we will be poorly fed. Our faith will be unhealthy. We need some preparation before we can truly appreciate the WOW of the mountaintop. Do you want to be ready for an invitation to the mountaintop? Let me make a few suggestions. First, make yourself available. Peter, James, and John were invited up the slope because they were already in the company of Jesus. This means that – if we are to have a WOW experience – a mountaintop experience of Jesus – we have to be active in the company of those who follow Jesus – which means being active in the Church. Those who, for whatever reason, choose to absent themselves from the fellowship of the Church will not be ready to respond to the invitation to the top of the mountain where the WOW experience awaits. So – make yourself available. Second, learn all you can about your faith tradition. Sunday School, Bible Studies, personal devotions. All the surveys indicate that biblical literacy is at a low ebb these days, and going down! Sad. The Gospel passage does not tell us how Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah, but they did, and they knew how incredibly important these men were. Had they never heard of them, the moment on the mountain would not have been nearly so special. So – learn all you can about your faith tradition. Third, listen to Jesus. There are only a few times in the gospels that God – or the Voice -- speaks - Jesus' baptism is one such time – another is here at the Transfiguration. When God speaks – He does not mince words. "This is my son, the Beloved; Listen to Him." Listen to Him. We hear Him as we worship. Listen to Him. We hear Him as we study scripture. Listen to Him. We hear him in the voice of other Christians. Listen to Him. It is so easy to listen to other voices to the point of drowning Jesus out. Listen to Him. So -- listen to Jesus. Fourth, remember where your work is. It is in the valley. The church is the only institution I know of that exists primarily for the sake of those outside it. If we listen to Jesus, we hear him say again, "GO...make disciples." So – remember where your work is. One final suggestion. If you want to be truly prepared for Christ's invitation to the mountaintop – to a WOW experience -- you need an attitude of joyous expectancy. When you come to this holy place from week to week, prayerfully begin your trip through the doors ready to have an experience with God. Don’t come ready to not run into someone you would rather not see – Don’t come ready to not sing a hymn you don't know and would rather not learn – Don’t come ready to mumble through a prayer or a creed without giving it much thought – Don’t come ready to “suffer through a sermon” that you will not understand or be able to relate to. No. Instead – come ready for an experience with God – an experience with Jesus.. an experience that may come in a person – or in a song – or in a prayer – or in a creed – or – maybe – just maybe – even in a sermon. The older I get the more I realize that attitude is everything! If the attitude is right, then the invitation for a WOW experience – a mountaintop experience -- can come and be received with the joy it deserves. Five suggestions in preparation for a trip to the mountaintop – five suggestions for preparation for a WOW experience – make yourself available – learn all you can about your faith tradition – listen to Jesus – remember where your work is – and finally, attitude. These might help us be ready when the mountaintop experience – the WOW experience – presents itself! Amen

MARK 2:1-12

2006-02-18T16:51:00.001-05:00

Mark 2:1-12 Faith - Filled Friends February 19, 2006 The story in our Gospel lesson has always been one of my favorites – but for different reasons at different times in my life. It was one of my favorites as a child. The thought of four men chopping a hole in the roof to lower their friend into the house made for an exciting story for me. It sounded like great fun -- standing on the roof and going Chop, Chop, Chop. Now – the story is a favorite for me because it is –- I believe – a picture of what the Church should – and can be. Here we have friends helping someone find Jesus – and helping him find healing in both body and spirit when he finds Jesus. Isn’t that what the Church is all about? The Biblical story, of course, has a group of people bringing their paralyzed friend to see Jesus. When they got to the house where Jesus was -- probably Jesus' house or Simon's house -- they found a crowd blocking their way. They couldn't figure out how to get their friend to Jesus, who was in the house. But they decided to get this job done. The stakes were too high to let the crowd stop them. Their paralyzed friend couldn't hold a job -- couldn't take care of himself -- couldn't go for a walk -- couldn't do anything. His friends knew that Jesus had helped other people, so they thought that he might help their friend. So -- when they couldn't get to Jesus through the crowd, they carried their friend to the roof. Hearing the story as a child I couldn’t figure out how they did that. Did they attach ropes to the stretcher and haul him up? Did a strong man carry him up a ladder? I decided long ago not to worry about how they did it. It’s one of my questions on a long list of questions I’ll have to wait until I get to heaven to get answers to! However they did it, they got him to the roof. Then they chopped a large hole in the roof so that they could lower their friend into the house -- into Jesus' presence. Now –- houses had flat roofs in those days – and the roofs were composed of mud and thatch layered over beams that stretched from wall to wall. Can’t you imagine what a mess these men made cutting their way through the mud and thatch? Then they had to cut some of the beams. I always felt sorry for the homeowner. I always wondered if he was able to repair the roof so that it didn't leak. One more question to add to my list of questions I’ll ask when I get to heaven! But the paralytic’s life was more important than a roof. His friends chopped the hole and lowered the man into Jesus' presence. That must have impressed the crowd. It impresses me. It especially impressed me when I was a little boy hearing this story in Sunday school. When the man came into Jesus' presence, Mark tells us that Jesus "saw their faith" and said, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now – that may not be the first thing you might expect Jesus to say. You might expect Jesus to first say something like "Get up and walk" – when the paralytic is lowered through the roof into His presence. But -- He says “your sins are forgiven." Jesus was probably using this opportunity to demonstrate His Godly authority -- authority not only to heal but also to forgive sins. But let’s look at what Mark tells us here. Mark records that: When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic: “Son, your sins are forgiven.” The first step in this man's healing was his friends bringing him to Jesus – going to the trouble of bringing him to the house -- taking him to the roof when they needed to – making a hole in the roof to lower him through -- and lowering him through the hole in the roof. All those things that it took to get their friend to Jesus. The second step in this man’s healing was when Jesus saw their faith – not HIS faith, but THEIR faith -- plural. It was the faith of the man's friends as well as his own faith that impressed Jesus. It was only after the friends brought the man to Jesus – only after the friends took the man on top of the house – dug the hole through the roof -- and lowered him down through the roof – only after these things that Jesus said, "Stand up, take your mat and go to your home" Then – and only then – that Mark says: The man stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!' " I'm sure that was true! This man's life was completely changed. He was redeemed from his sins – and also his paralysis! He was made whole! And that happened, not just because of his faith, but also because of the faith of his friends. This man's life was restored to him because of the faith of his friends. It was THEIR faith working alongside HIS faith that made the difference. I believe it still happens that way today. Jesus doesn't call us to faith in isolation from other Christians. Jesus calls us to faith along with other Christians. And it is our faith ALONGSIDE the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters that reshapes broken lives -- that makes us whole. And that is what the Church is all about. That’s why this passage is one of my favorites at this point in my life. It gives us a picture of what the Church is all about – and what the Church should be. Let me repeat this point –- because it is important. Jesus doesn't call us to faith in isolation from other Christians. Jesus calls us to faith along with other Christians. And it is our faith ALONGSIDE the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters that reshapes broken lives -- that makes us whole. And that is what the Church is all about. That's why we come together to worship. That’s why we gather for times of study – fellowship – and service to others. Again – Jesus doesn't call us to faith in isolation from other Christians. Jesus calls us to faith along with other Christians. And it is our faith ALONGSIDE the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters that reshapes broken lives -- that makes us whole That's why it isn't good enough to sit at home and watch a worship service on television. When there’s ice or snow and we have to cancel worship services – or when you are sick -- or if you are home bound sitting at home and watching a worship service on television might suffice – but sitting at home and watching a worship service on TV will never replace worshipping together. The Christian life isn't a spectator sport. We need to join with other Christians to worship -- to learn -- to praise -- to serve -- to show our love for Christ. When we gather together with other Christians, God gives us a blessing. When we gather together with other Christians, their faith blesses us and our faith blesses them. Now --the fact that God chooses to bless us not only through our faith but also through the faith of Christian brothers and sisters shouldn't come as a surprise. Parents know how important it is for their children to have friends who will lift them up instead of pull them down. It isn't elitist to encourage children to make friends with children of good character. The character of those around us has an effect on our character. In much the same way, the faith of those around us has an effect on our faith. The man who was paralyzed was blessed by his own faith, but he was also blessed by the faith of his friends: -- The faith of friends who were determined to bring him into Jesus' presence. -- The faith of friends who would not be deterred by the crowds. -- The faith of friends who chopped a hole and lowered the man into Jesus' presence. Mark tells us that Jesus saw THEIR faith-- not just HIS faith – but THEIR faith -- and THEIR faith opened the door to HIS blessing. I am sure you all can remember people whose faith has been a blessing to you – and who have made in difference in your faith and your life. I have been blessed to live among Christians all my life, and THEIR faith has made a difference in MY faith – and MY life. First and foremost I was blessed by the faith of my Mom and Dad. They were both very active our Church, and my sisters and I were raised to be in Church –- and to take an active part in the life of the Church. They both taught Sunday School and made sure we were there. Dad was on the Session of the Church for years – and served as Clerk of the Session for years. He also was a lay speaker and spoke at many smaller churches in our area. I’m sure part of the reason I love the fellowship and love we share here at Wentworth is due to the fact that I enjoyed as a child going with Dad to some of the smaller churches in our area and enjoying the warmth of fellowship they had. I’m also sure that God used Dad’s commitment to being an active part of the governing bodies of the denomination to instill a sense of the importance of being involved in the life of the church in me. So – my parent’s faith shaped my faith. THEIR faith has made a difference in MY faith – and MY life. There are so many others whose faith has shaped my faith – and shaped my life. I am sure you all can remember people whose faith has been a blessing to you – and who have made in difference in your faith and your life. Maybe your parents – maybe your grandparents – maybe teachers – maybe friends – maybe your spouse – people who have touched your life and made a difference in your life. This is what the Church should be! A community of Christians gathered to share with each other – bless each other – share God’s love with each other – touch each other with our faith – and make a difference in each other’s lives. The man who was paralyzed was blessed by his own faith, but he was also blessed by the faith of his friends: -- The faith of friends who were determined to bring him into Jesus' presence. -- The faith of friends who would not be deterred by the crowds. -- The faith of friends who chopped a hole and lowered the man into Jesus' presence And that is what the Church is all about. That's why we come together to worship. That’s why we gather for times of study – fellowship – and service to others. Jesus doesn't call us to faith in isolation from other Christians. Jesus calls us to faith along with other Christians. And it is our faith ALONGSIDE the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters that reshapes broken lives -- that makes us whole. In her book, The Art of Life, Edith Schaeffer talks about her life as a little girl. Her mother would say, "Edith, I know just who you've been playing with today." Her mother meant that Edith would pick up the friend's mannerisms and gestures -- even the friend's accent. Her mother could watch and listen and then tell Edith exactly who she had been playing with that day. Edith says: "Children often copy other children quite unconsciously. So do adults. We are affected by the people we spend time with, in one way or another." It seems to me that there are a couple of things that we can learn from this. One is that we can receive a blessing or not from the faith or lack of faith of our friends. We can be blessed by their faith-- by their upright character -- by their moral integrity – or we can be “pulled down” by their lack of faith – their questionable character – their lack of integrity. We can be blessed as their faith causes us to grow in faith -- as their influence pulls us in the right direction – or “pulled down” as their lack of faith leads us in the wrong directions. What that means, of course, is that we need to choose our friends wisely -- that we need to spend time with people whose influence will pull us up instead of down. And the other thing is to realize that our faith can be a blessing to other people. Our character and moral integrity can make a difference to those around us. We can pull other people up or drive them down by the quality of our faith -- by the quality of our lives. We need to live so that we pull people up instead of driving them down. The man who was paralyzed was blessed by his own faith, but he was also blessed by the faith of his friends: -- The faith of friends who were determined to bring him into Jesus' presence. -- The faith of friends who would not be deterred by the crowds. -- The faith of friends who chopped a hole and lowered the man into Jesus' presence And that is what the Church is all about. That's why we come together to worship. That’s why we gather for times of study – fellowship – and service to others. Jesus doesn't call us to faith in isolation from other Christians. Jesus calls us to faith along with other Christians. And it is our faith ALONGSIDE the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters that reshapes broken lives -- that makes us whole. Harry Emerson Fosdick was a preacher from an earlier day. On one occasion, he visited a European art gallery where a statue of Apollo was on display. Apollo was the Greek god of youth, and was supposed to embody physical perfection. The statue in that gallery was, indeed, the statue of a handsome physical specimen. Fosdick observed the statue, and then stood back to observe the crowd. He later commented that it was interesting to see the people's reaction to the beautiful statue. He said that invariably, the people would gaze at the statue for a moment observe it’s wonderful and immaculate proportions of the body and superb stature -- and then they would begin to straighten up. We can surround ourselves with friends that “straighten us up” so to speak instead of “bringing us down.” We can make sure that we are the type of people that others can look at and be “straightened up” instead of “brought down”. When friends brought the paralyzed man to Jesus, he saw THEIR faith -- not just HIS faith but THEIR faith -- and he gave the man a blessing -- a healing. That’s what the Church is to be about. A place where we can come – and others can come – and be surrounded by the faith of others – and be blessed. Let’s let God make this Church a blessing – so it can be a place where we can come – and others can come – and be surrounded by the faithful friends – and be blessed. Let us surround ourselves with people of faith so that we might straighten up and stand a little taller because of their influence on our lives. And then let us live lives of faith so that others who observe us will straighten up and stand a little taller because of our influence on their lives. Amen

MARK 2:1-12

2006-02-18T16:51:00.000-05:00

MARK 1:40-45

2006-02-11T20:52:00.000-05:00

Mark 1:40-45 Choices February 12, 2006

There may be times in your life when you may feel that you are “stuck” – “stuck” with things that may happen to you – “stuck” with how you may think you “have to” respond to things that happen to you – or “stuck” with how you may think you “have to” respond to people when they may do something to you that upsets you or hurts you. Maybe something horrible happens to you – and you feel we have to respond to it by getting upset or angry. Maybe something upsets you – and you may feel you have no choice but to get angry. Maybe someone says something or does something that hurts you – and you feel you have no choice but to lash out at them – respond to them in a way that makes them hurt the same way you are. Maybe something happens that makes others look down on you – and you feel you have no choice but to sulk and withdraw from the rest of the world and feel sorry for yourself. Maybe you feel “stuck” a lot of times – “stuck” with the way you relate to things that happen to you or the people around you. You may not like the way you respond to the things that happen to you or the people around you – but you feel you have no choice – you feel “stuck”. Coretta Scott King – who died the week before last – had every right to feel “stuck”. Born and raised in rural Alabama – she saw first hand how people treated blacks. Segregated from the whites – not allowed at the same schools – not allowed to take advantage of the same opportunities whites were allowed to take advantage of – she knew what it felt like to be looked down upon and be considered “less than” others. She could have accepted that – like so many others did. Or she could have hated it – but felt there was nothing she could have done about it – like so many others did. Or she could have reacted with violence – like some others did. She could have felt that she was “stuck” with these 3 options – accepting the fact she was thought of as “less than” others – hating it but feeling there was nothing she could do about it – or reacting to it with violence. But – she chose to create another way to respond to the fact that she and her people were treated as “less than” others. She read the writings of nonviolent resistance by people like Mohandas Gandhi – and dedicated her life to working for change – but in a peaceful way. When she met Martin Luther King, Jr. she taught him about how changes can be made for their people – and how it could be done through peaceful means. Together Martin and Coretta worked for change – and even after Martin was killed Coretta continued to work for equality for all people. Instead of feeling “stuck” in the old ways of responding to how she and her people were treated – Coretta chose a new way – a different way – and changes came. My Dad was “on the other side of the fence” from Martin and Coretta in many ways – but he, too, worked for change. A white male in South Carolina – he could have looked down on all blacks – especially those like Martin and Coretta who were working for a change in the status quo. In the early 1960’s Dad was a Municipal Court Judge in Rock Hill, SC. Some students at the local black college decided they would sit in at the lunch counter at the local Woolworth store. This of course was not the sit in in Greensboro, NC that gathered national attention – but was one like it. The students were refused service – and arrested when they refused to leave. Dad was the Judge that heard their case. You have to understand that all a Judge can do is uphold the law - - not change it. You also have to understand that the law in South Carolina at that time clearly stated that an owner of a business had the right to refuse service to anyone – for any reason -- request anoyne to leave -- for any reason -- and have the people arrested for not leaving when asked to do so. Dad had no choice at the time but to rule that Woolworth’s had the right to refuse service to the students -- ask them to leave -- and have them arrested when they did not leave. That’s what the law said. But then Dad got his friends in the state legislature to help him get the law changed. Before long most of the “Jim Crow” laws in South Carolina were changed. Dad could have let the prevailing opinions about black people stay in the laws. He could have let himself be “stuck” with laws he did not agree with. Instead, he chose to get them changed. Maybe you feel “stuck” a lot of times – “stuck” with the way you relate to things that happen to you or the people around you. You may not like the way you respond to the things that happen to you or the people around you – but you feel you have no choice – you feel “stuck”. But people like Coretta Scott King and my Dad are proof that we have choices – can make choices – do not have to be “stuck” with the old ways of doing things or relating to people – but can indeed choose new ways to respond to things that happen in our lives and situations we find ourselves in – new ways to respond to other people – new ways to live our lives. Our Gospel passage before us today is about choosing to respond to situations and people in a way that is different than what was the normal way. The leper in the passage had every right to feel angry – angry at life – angry at others –- angry at his situation. He had the dreaded skin disease – leprosy – that for Jewish people was less of a disease than it was a form of ritual impurity. A leper was banished from towns – had to live in colonies – and could not associate with others. If they left the colony they had to yell “Unclean! Unclean!” to warn people not to come near them. So – the leper indeed had every right to feel angry – angry at his situation – angry that he was not allowed to be with his family – angry that everyone avoided him. But instead of letting himself get “stuck” in this way of responding to what had happened to him –- he chose to respond in a different way. He chose to seek healing from Jesus. Regardless of how others felt about him – regardless of how Jesus might have become upset at him for approaching him – he chose to seek healing. Others may have chosen to stay the way they were – he was going to seek a way out. So he approached Jesus. “If you will, you can make me clean” he begged Jesus. He had seen Jesus heal others – and knew Jesus could heal him, also. “If you will, you can make me clean” He knew Jesus could heal him. He also knew Jesus could condemn him for approaching him and remind him that the laws said he had to stay in the colony and not come into the public. “If you will, you can make me clean” The leper chose to go against the norm – to try not to be “stuck” in old patterns of responding to the fact that he had leprosy. Jesus, too, had to make a decision. Was he going to going to let himself get “stuck” in the old ways of relating to people with leprosy – or was he going to create a new way – a more loving way – a way that would show God’s love to this man asking for help? “If you will, you can make me clean” Jesus heard the leper say. And Jesus looked at him – and responded to him in a new way – a way that was different from the ways others had. Jesus responded with love. Jesus responded with caring. Jesus responded with showing the leper the love of God. “I will. Be clean.” Jesus responded. The leper chose to not respond to his disease like other lepers did. Jesus chose to not respond to the leper like other people did. Coretta Scott King chose to not respond to racism as others did. My Dad chose to not respond to the laws of South Carolina as others did. Maybe you feel “stuck” a lot of times – “stuck” with the way you relate to things that happen to you or the people around you. You may not like the way you respond to the things that happen to you or the people around you – but you feel you have no choice – you feel “stuck”. Not true. We are never “stuck” with one way to react to things in our lives – we are never “stuck” with one way to relate to people – but we have choices. We can choose how we are going to react to situations in our lives and to people. We can choose to give up to situations that hurt us – maybe diseases or illnesses that make life hard for us – or we can choose not to give up – and find a way to let God bless us and give us new hope and new energy – and help us change our circumstances. We can choose to accept things that happen to us – even if they are hurting us – or we can choose to make a change – and let God show us a new way to live. We can choose to sulk when someone hurts us with actions or words – or we treat them with kindness and love – regardless of how they treat us. We can choose to react with anger when someone hurts us with actions or words – or we can choose to treat them with kindness and love – regardless of how they treat us. We can choose to react to situations in our lives like Coretta Scott King and the leper in our passage – choosing to let God work through us to create change – for us and for others. We can choose to react to people in the same old ways that others do – or we can choose to react in a positive, loving way. We can choose to look at those who are in need – sick – hungry – dieing – homeless – whatever their need might be – in the way some others do – with scorn and putting them down – or we can choose to reach out to them and work for a change in their situations. We have choices. We can choose how we are going to respond to situations in our lives and to people we see every day. Victor Frankl was a German Jewish Psychologist who was put in a Concentration Camp in World War II. He survived – and after the war began teaching about his experiences and how he survived them. He explained that he saw many people give up hope and die – many committed suicide before the Germans could kill them. They chose, he explained, to react to what was happening to them by giving up hope and giving up. Others, however, chose to not let what was happening to them kill them – or kill their spirits. “We can not change many of the things that happen to us” Frankl taught – “but we can choose how we react to them.” We can not change many of the things that happen to us but we can choose how we react to them. I can not change many of the things that happen to me But I can choose how I will react to them. We have choices. Like Coretta Scott King. Like my Dad. Like the leper. Like Jesus. Like Frankl. We do not have to be “stuck” with reacting to things that happen to us in the same way – but can find ways out of situations with God’s help and strength. We can choose to not let situations destroy our spirits – but can let God help us overcome them. We do not have to be “stuck” with treating others in the same old ways – but can choose to find new ways – ways of love and support – ways of God. Maybe you are finding yourself in a difficult – even uncomfortable – situation right now. You can choose to bring it to God – and let God give you the strength you need to live in it – and maybe even change it. Maybe others are doing things that hurt you – or saying things that are hurting you. You can choose to take that pain to God – and instead of responding to them with anger you can show them love. I have to remind myself of Victor Frankl’s statement time and again. I can not change many of the things that happen to me But I can choose how I will react to them. This is on your bulletin cover for today. Let’s read it together. I can not change many of the things that happen to me But I can choose how I will react to them. You might want to take that home with you and keep it somewhere where you can see it when things don’t go as you would have to go. We do indeed have choices of how we react to situations and people. Let’s try to choose to react with God’s love – making a difference when we can – and showing love when we can’t. We have choices. Amen.

MARK 1:29-39

2006-02-04T20:06:00.000-05:00

MARK 1:29-39FEBRUARY 5, 2006 “KEEP YOU EYE ON THE BALL”

This being Super Bowl Sunday, sports is on the minds of many people – maybe some of you. Maybe some of you have stories you can tell of when you played sports. Stories of accomplishments on the field. Stories of times you won a game for the team. My stories of when I played sports are not all that impressive. I have never been that great of an athlete. I have tried – but have usually not done so well. Concentration was usually my problem – along with poor eye to hand coordination. I would swing at a ball long before it got to me – or long after it had reached the catcher’s mitt. I remember one time I played on a baseball team. I played in the outfield where the coach thought there would be the least chance of my getting hurt – or hurting the team. I remember one game my team was getting beat badly – the pitcher having a rough time of it – and an inning seemed like an eternity. I finally got so bored I sat down in the field. Needless to say I did not play for that team very much any more! Concentrating on the game is one thing one who plays team sports needs to do. “Keep your eye on the ball” they say. Concentration. The ability to focus. These are things needed of people who play sports. These are things needed of people in everyday life, also. We would think that Jesus would be able to concentrate and focus on the task at hand, also – but the Gospel passage before us this morning is a story that – at first glance – may look like Jesus was not able to focus or concentrate on the tasks at hand. Jesus has healed many people – including Peter’s mother in law and many more – and many are wanting to see Him -- but instead of reveling in His success He moves on. I don’t know about you – but if I had the amount of success Jesus had – I would be tempted to stay in the place where I had experienced success – not move on to somewhere else where success is not guaranteed. It defies human logic – goes against our way of thinking – to achieve great success and then move on instead of “cashing in” on it. But instead of “cashing in” – so to speak -- on His great success – instead of staying where He had gained a great amount of popularity in a very shore amount of time -- Jesus moves on. There’s an old saying that comes to mind when I consider what the disciples might have thought about Jesus as He healed crowds of people and then went elsewhere instead of sticking around to make something out of his newfound congregation. "He doesn't have the sense that God gave a goose." I don't know where that saying came from, but it suggests that geese don't have much sense -- and that some people have even less. That might be what the disciples thought. Jesus came to Capernaum. He attended the synagogue and drove out a demon. He went to Simon's house and healed Simon's mother-in-law. The people flocked to him so that he might heal them. He healed lots of people, and the crowd couldn't get enough of Him or what He was doing. And then, just as he had them eating out of his hand – just when He was so popular He could have spent a lot of time there and had an extremely successful ministry -- He went off to a deserted place to pray. Of course, I would be the last person to criticize anyone for praying. We might think that Jesus would not require prayer. But Jesus gave out spiritual energy all day every day, so he needed time for renewal -- time alone with the Father -- opportunity to recharge his spiritual batteries so that he could face the challenges that he encountered every time he entered a new town. But His disciples lost patience with Jesus. He was AWOL – so to speak – as far as they were concerned. Absent – and they did not know where He was. How dare He leave in the midst of such success? Where did He go? They began searching for him. In verse 36 the NRSV says that they "hunted" for him. A good translation of the original Greek. That word is katedioxen. That is the word that would be used to speak of hunting animals. It was as if the disciples had gone on a manhunt looking for Jesus -- trying to figure out where he went -- searching everywhere to find him. They finally found him in a lonely place -- all by himself -- praying -- seemingly oblivious to the crowds clamoring for his attention back in Capernaum. This might have been when the disciples began to wonder if Jesus had the sense that God gave a goose. This might have been when they had trouble believing that Jesus had gotten the people so stirred up and had then walked out on them. It didn't make sense. They had marveled at Jesus' teachings --and everyone was in awe of His healing power -- but the disciples silently wondered what Jesus was doing out here in the middle of nowhere when they thought he was needed back in Capernaum! I can imagine how they felt. Can’t you? Jesus had raised people's expectations -- and then had disappeared. With nobody else to turn to, I am sure that the people turned to the disciples. As far as we know there were only four of them at this point -- Peter, Andrew, James, and John. But what could they do? They didn't know how to handle these crowds. They didn't know how to heal the sick. They had only recently begun to follow Jesus, and they certainly weren't qualified to stand in for him. I'm sure that the disciples were feeling the pressure -- that they were mystified and angry when Jesus disappeared -- when He walked off and left them holding the bag. When they found him, they said "Everyone is searching for you." Maybe they really wanted to say: "What's the matter with you Jesus! Everyone's searching for you. Come on! Let's get back to town! Let's take care of business! This is not the time for prayer – it’s the time for action! Come on!” Maybe they also wanted to say: "Furthermore, don't do that again! Don't leave us alone! Don't get the crowds all stirred up and then disappear. It's not fair! It's not fair to them -- and it's certainly not fair to us!" But – what did Jesus do? Did He apologize and go back to town – back to where He had a great ministry started – back to where He was wildly popular? No. Jesus would have none of that. Instead He answered: "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." The disciples were probably stunned by this. They may have wanted to respond: "But what about all these people who are searching for you, Jesus? They want to see you. Everyone wants to talk to you. There are people who need healing -- and there is a young man who wants to be your disciple -- there's a rich man who wants to build you a synagogue. You don't need to travel all over Galilee, Jesus. There are more opportunities right here in Capernaum than you can shake a stick at -- opportunities to last a lifetime!" Another old phrase comes to mind at this point: "Let's strike while the iron is hot!" In other words: "Let's take advantage of this opportunity! Let's not let this one slip through our fingers!" But Jesus said: "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." "That is what I came out to do." "That is what I came out to do." One way to put it is that Jesus "had his eye on the ball." He was focused – - but not on the things that seemed important – but on the thing that was most important. He did not let His immediate popularity – or the opinions of the disciples – keep Him from focusing on the most important thing. He kept His eye on the ball, so to speak. Keep your eye on the ball Concentrate Keep your eye on the ball. A baseball player who keeps his eye on the ball is more apt to hit it – or catch it – than one who does not. A basketball player who keeps his eye on the ball is more apt to get a rebound than one who glances away. A tennis player who keeps their eye on the ball is more apt to hit it than one who gets distracted. Have you ever tried to hit a golf ball when you suddenly take your eyes off it? You usually get more dirt than ball that way! A football player who keeps his eye on the ball is more apt to catch it than one who becomes distracted. Some of the best players in the game have dropped passes because they took their eyes off the ball –- and some of the best players of the game have not reached the goal because they became distracted. One of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history was a flop. A runner broke loose and was heading to the goal line – but as he neared it he slowed down to “show off” for the TV cameras – stuck the ball out to make a “pretty picture” – and one of the opposing players came up from behind him – hit the ball and jarred it loose – and recovered the fumble. Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory – because the runner did not keep his “eye on the ball” – did not focus on the task at hand. If you watch the Super Bowl this afternoon, you might see a lot of examples of what happens when a player keeps his eyes on the ball – and what happens when they don’t! Jesus – in a manner of speaking -- had His eye on the ball. He did not get bored with what He was supposed to be doing – as I did out there in the field playing baseball. He did not lose His concentration on what was really important. He stayed focused. He “kept His eye on the ball” so to speak. "That is what I came out to do," He said. What was it that he came to do? He goes on to explain that He came to preach -- to proclaim the message to the neighboring towns. And what message was that? The good news of God – of salvation – of God’s love that – through Him – had come into the world. So – instead of not having the sense that God gave a goose – Instead of not taking care of business – Instead of not striking when the iron was hot – Jesus was using plenty of sense – Jesus was taking care of His business -- Jesus was keeping His eye on the ball – keeping His concentration on what God had called Him to do – and was not letting anyone divert His attention from what He knew was His task. He “kept His eye on the ball”. He stayed focused on what was the most important thing before Him. He stayed focused on what God has sent Him to do – regardless of what others wanted Him to do. He “kept His eye on the ball”. There is a lesson here for us. We, as Christ's people, have a lot of things we need to be doing. What is to be our first priority? What is that thing we should not take our eyes off of? Our relationship with God. Jesus did not let anything distract Him from His relationship with God. In the midst of great popularity Jesus pulled away to pray – to nurture His relationship with God. When He did this, He discovered what He was called to do -- and did not let His popularity or the opinions of the disciples keep Him from this. Keep your eye on the ball. Stay focused. Stay focused on your relationship with God – and this will make it clear to you what God would have You to be doing. Keep your eye on the ball. Stay focused. Find time every day to pray – to be in conversation with God – and to let God be in conversation with you about what you can be doing for His glory in the world. Keep your eye on the ball. Stay focused. This will help you understand what are the most important things God wants you to be doing. It may not be what others may want you to do – it may not be what others feel is important – but it will be what God deems important and what God wants you to do. Keep your eye on the ball. Stay focused. Don’t let things take your concentration away from this. Don’t let things distract you from this. Don’t take your “eye off the ball”! A colleague tells of a funeral he conducted for a member of his congregation. This man was very successful – made a lot of money – and he shared most of what he made with others. He had given a lot of money to a local orphanage, helped pay for a lot of kids to go to college, and had supported the local mission that helped those in need. Many people wanted to know how he had been so successful – and how he had done so much for so many. At his funeral his wife made a comment that my colleague said gave the man’s secret – She said that not a day went by that he had not prayed before he left the house for the day. This – my colleague said – is what helped him stay focused on what God wanted him to do. When the disciples found Jesus He said that He had to do what He had come to do – what God had in mind for Him to do. He “kept His eyes on the ball” – He stayed focused on what God would have Him to be doing. We can do that, also. Keep your eye on the ball. Amen.

MARK 1:21-28

2006-01-28T18:15:00.000-05:00

MARK 1:21-28WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? JANUARY 29 2006 READ SCRIPTURE

I’m going to ask you to imagine something with me for a few moments this morning. Imagine with me that the event that occurred in our scripture passage – when the demoniac began disrupting the worship service -- occurred here. Imagine with me what might happen. Let’s set the stage a bit here. A Sunday morning. Nothing extraordinary about it -- it is much like today -- we are gathered in worship as we are every Sunday -- the same people are sitting in the same places looking the same as they do every Sunday -- nothing extraordinary or different about it at all. But -- suddenly everything changes. Suddenly everything is disrupted. Someone bursts into the Church and cries out -- passionately but incoherently. Everyone looks at this intruder as he raves on in his madness -- and suddenly no one knows what to do. What do we do? A typical, ordinary Sunday has become extraordinary -- and we are not sure what to do about it. What do we do? I think you know what we’d do. It might seem like forever -- but actually it takes only a few moments before some of us subdue this intruder. After only a brief interruption, he is escorted out -- still ranting -- still raving -- still greatly disturbed. We then continue with our service -- trying to act like nothing ever happened. Don’t you think that’s how we’d handle it? I do. I’m not saying that’s the way it should be handled -- I’m not condoning handling it that way -- I’m just saying that’s the way we’d probably handle it. But we’d still feel like our nice little worship time had been disturbed. And we probably wouldn’t ever forget the day the crazy person had to be shown the door. That’s the way we’d probably remember it -- isn’t it? Again -- I’m not saying that’s how we should remember it -- or condoning remembering it this way -- I’m just saying - - that’s the way we would probably handle -- remember -- and label thesituation and the stranger. Well -- now that I have you thinking about how we would handle -- remember -- and label such a person and such a situation -- -- How do you think those who witnessed the event Mark relates for us in our Gospel lesson for today -- the worshippers gathered at the synagogue in Capernaum on that Sabboth almost 2,000 years ago -- may have felt -- may have wanted to react -- may have thought about the situation when they gathered to worship -- expecting nothing but the usual -- and then suddenly very unusual things happen? How do you think they may have felt -- and wanted to react -- -- when Jesus came and began teaching with greater authority than anyone else they had ever heard -- and then this demoniac appears -- screaming -- yelling -- completely disrupting the service -- and Jesus heals him? How do you think they may have felt -- and wanted to react -- when -- in the midst of a typical service of worship -- Jesus came -- and things began to be disrupted. Jesus came -- and things began to change. Jesus came -- and nothing was same any more. Jesus came -- and suddenly the way things were was no longer good enough -- for things had to be changed -- things had to be different. Everything was ordinary and commonplace -- then Jesus came -- and made everything extraordinary and no longer common. What was it about Jesus that disrupted -- that changed -- that transformed everything about that service on that day? Mark relates that it was the authority of Jesus that shook things up -- that changed things -- that made things different. Jesus came and taught. Not anything extraordinary about that. People did that all the time. What was extraordinary about Jesus was the authority with which He taught. Jesus exorcised demons. Contrary to what we might think, that was not all that extraordinary, either. Historians of the time tell of many people performing exorcism in those days -- or at least that’s how they explained it. What was extraordinary about Jesus was the authority with which He performed this exorcism. No magical incantations -- no secret gestures -- no slight of hand -- only the authoritative word. What was extraordinary -- what was disruptive about Jesus was that He had authority. Authority that shook things up -- that disrupted the way things were -- that transformed things -- that made things different. Jesus had authority -- and wherever He went -- His authority changed things. I think Mark placed this event where he did in his Gospel to give illustration to what it meant that The kingdom of God has come. This exorcism is actually an illustration of what Jesus meant when He said: “The kingdom of God has come!” The kingdom of God has come -- Jesus has the authority of God’s kingdom to change things -- to take what is ordinary and make it extraordinary -- Jesus has the authority of God’s kingdom to change lives -- to change communities -- to change Churches -- to change the world. He has the authority to do all this and more! Yea -- He has authority! The demoniac screams at Jesus: “What have you to do with us?” Some would say this is merely a question from the demon -- or demons -- within him. But what if he were representing everyone present there that day? What if he were saying: “What have you to do with us who are gathered here today, Jesus?” Or -- “What are you going to do to us?” Then -- Jesus showed what He had to do with them. He showed what He would do to them. He showed what He could do to them. He changed him. He healed him. And everyone there was changed, too -- for Jesus indeed had the authority. He had the authority to change lives -- to heal -- to take what is ordinary and make it extraordinary -- to disrupt what was and make it what could be! Now -- you know what the next question is -- What about for us? Could it be that the question from the demoniac is our question, too? “What have you to do with us, Jesus?” “What are you going to do to us?” Jesus has the authority of the kingdom of God to change lives - - to change communities -- to change Churches -- to change the world -- just as He had the authority to change the demoniac and those gathered at the Synagogue on that Sabbath. He has the power to change -- to transform -- to make things new. That’s what He has to do with us! That’s what He can do to us! He can change us! He can transform us! He can make us new! But -- will He? I guess the more appropriate question here is -- Will we? Will we be transformed? Will we be made new? Will we follow Jesus’ authority? Will we let Jesus change us -- transform us -- and make us new? That’s a question each of us have to answer for ourselves. Each of you have to decide if you are going to let Jesus change and transform you. Each of you have to decide if you are going to let Jesus make you a new person. He has the authority -- but will you let that authority change you? He has the authority -- but will we let that authority change our lives -- change our community -- change our Church -- change our world? Will we? Will you? Will you let the authority that is in Christ change you -- transform you -- and make you a new person? Will you let the authority that is in Christ be your authority as you begin living a life of commitment to God -- to going in God’s ways -- to supporting the work of the Church by your attendance and all you have to offer -- by your money -- by your abilities? Will you let the authority that is in Christ be your authority as you begin reaching out into the world with the authority of God’s love? Will you let the authority that is in Christ be your authority as you let it change you -- as you experience the life-changing love of Christ for yourself -- then share it with others as you become involved in the Church -- active in the Church -- and active in showing God’s love to the community? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? That was the demoniac’s question -- and ours! WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? You know -- the demoniac had a need. A need that Christ could meet. You may be in need right now. Your life may not be going as God wants it. For that matter your life may not be going as you want it. There may be a demon within you -- crying out for healing -- crying out for change -- crying our for transformation -- crying out for Christ. WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? Change. Healing. A completely changed life. A completely changed community. A completely changed Church. A completely changed world. That’s what Christ has to do with us. That’s what Christ can do for us. WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? Let the authority that is in Christ heal -- transform -- and change you. Let the authority that is in Christ make you a different person. Let the authority that is in Christ make us a different community. Let the authority that is in Christ make us a different Church. Let the authority that is in Christ make this a different world. WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? Change. Healing. A completely changed life. A completely changed community. A completely changed Church. A completely changed world. That’s what He has to do with us! But -- the first step -- is letting the authority that is in Christ completely change -- completely heal -- completely transform -- your life -- the way you live it -- your soul. We are always in need of being changed -- being healed -- being transformed. Tha world is always in need of being changed -- being healed -- being transformed. Christ has the authority. WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? Change. Healing. A completely changed life. A completely changed community. A completely changed Church. A completely changed world. You know -- may times we try to change things -- to change ourselves or others -- to heal things -- either ourselves or others -- -- to heal and change the world -- from what I call “the outside in” -- we take some new gimmick -- some new idea -- some new plan that we feel will help us change -- change the world -- will change someone who needs help -- and we try to force these gimmicks -- these ideas -- these plans upon ourselves or others -- without letting it really change us first on the inside -- then taking the change that is within us to others. WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? Change. Healing. Change and healing -- not from the outside in -- but the inside out. Change and healing that can take place within our hearts -- within our lives -- within our souls -- on the inside -- then change and healing we can share with others - - with the world -- as we live that changed life Christ can give us. WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? Not long ago I read a quote from Ezra Taft Benson: “The Lord works from the inside out, not the outside in. Instead of taking people out of the slums, Christ takes the slums out of the people -- then they can take themselves and others out of the slums. Instead of changing people by changing their environment, Christ changes people -- who then change their environment. Instead of shaping the behavior of others, Christ can truly change their nature -- which then changes their behavior.” WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH US? Change. Healing. A completely changed life. A completely changed community. A completely changed Church. A completely changed world. Change from the inside out. Change in the only possible way it can truly be done. Let Christ change you -- on the inside. Let Christ heal you -- on the inside. Let Christ change you -- Let Christ heal you -- so that through the change -- the healing He works in you -- others can be changed. Now friends -- That’s what He has to do with us! That’s what He has to do with us! AMEN

MARK 1:14-20

2006-01-21T20:48:00.000-05:00

MARK 1:14 - 20IT’S TIME! JANUARY 22, 2006
I remember a Bible Study group I was teaching at Smyrna not long after I began my ministry there. I thought I had come up with a provocative question to span the gap of the “there and then” of the scripture passage and make it a “here and now” for the members of the church sitting around me that evening. I don’t remember which Gospel we were studying -- but we were looking at one of the passages where Jesus calls the disciples -- and they drop all and follow. I wanted to get those there that evening to start thinking about their response to the call of Christ -- so I asked: “If Jesus were to come up to you and say: “Follow me!” what would be your response?” Without hesitation, one person looked at me and said: “I know what yours would be” “You do?” I innocently asked. She laughed and said “You’d say -- ‘I’ll have to ask Sally.’” My provocative question had backfired on me. Our gospel lesson for today is Mark’s version of the call of Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Jesus appears on the scene preaching that the kingdom of God had come -- it was time to repent -- to believe -- to live a new life -- to respond to God. It was time. The Jews had prayed and waited for centuries for the Messiah. Years had passed. Many may have even quit praying or believing it was ever going to happen -- that the Messiah was ever going to come. But - then - it happened. Jesus appeared. It was no longer time for waiting -- it was time for acting. It was time. The kingdom was among them. God had acted in a new way. The Messiah had come. Salvation was a reality -- not just a prayer or an idea. And -- it was time. It was time to repent. It was time to change. It was time to live a new life. It was time to follow Christ. It was time. Jesus calls Simon and Andrew -- and what do they do? They don’t seem to turn the question. They don’t even ask their wives! No -- they act! Immediately they drop their nets and follow. It was time! Jesus calls James and John -- and what do they do? They don’t seem to turn the question, either. They don’t ask their wives! They don’t even ask their father -- who is sitting in the boat with them. No -- they act. Immediately they drop their nets -- and follow. It was time! Not time to think -- not time to get advice -- but time to act. Yes -- It was time! It was time! The kingdom of God had come. It was time to respond. Either they were going to follow or they weren’t -- but the decision had to be made. It was time! It was time! But -- was it only that time? Was that time a special time -- never to be repeated again -- when people were called to follow Christ -- to decide -- to repent and let Christ change their lives -- and the world? It was time -- yes -- but was it the only time? Was it the only time? No -- God’s call -- Christ’s call -- comes again and again to each of us -- and each time we hear the call -- it is time. Each time we hear Christ call us to repent -- to let our lives be changed -- to follow Him instead of our own will -- to serve Him and serve others instead of ourselves -- to live the life He calls us to live -- it’s time! It’s time to decide which way we are going to go. It’s time to decide how we are going to respond. It’s time to decide what we are going to do. The call of Christ to repent and follow Him is just as urgent now as when He first gave it. Yes -- friends -- now -- here -- It’s time! It’s time! It’s time to decide how you are going to live. It’s time to decide how you are going to respond. It’s time to decide if you are going to leave all -- and follow Christ. It’s time! It’s time! I’m afraid we don’t feel the same urgency for following Christ as Simon, Andrew, James and John must have felt. Simon -- Andrew -- James -- John -- others Jesus called -- must have felt that there was some urgency to what Jesus said -- or they would not have responded as they did. Jesus’ call to repent and believe must have struck a chord within them to show them that He was the one to follow. But -- these days -- it seems that following Christ is just an option for our lives we can choose if we wish -- but certainly don’t have to choose. Following Christ has lost its urgency for many -- it’s just one of many options for life that can be chosen or not. We treat the call of Christ to repent -- to live a new life -- and to follow Him as just another option for life to choose or not -- at our peril. The truth is that following Christ means life as God intended -- while not following Christ means a separation from God and forsaking the life God has planned for us. You can’t see Christ’s call to repent and follow as an option among many and still find salvation. You can’t see Christ’s call to repent and follow as an option to choose or not choose and still find real life. It is not an option for life among many. If you want to live in God’s ways -- and find salvation -- it is the only option. It’s the only way. And friends - It’s time! It’s time! It’s time to decide! Right here. Right now. It’s time. It’s time. Repent. Turn to God. Turn away from Your ways -- Your excuses -- and turn to God. Leslie in was a Missionary to Africa. He tells the story of a day he truly learned what repentence -- turning and following God -- truly meant. One day he and some comrades were going to make a journey into the jungles of Africa to another village. They got up early -- before sunrise -- so they could get most of their journey underway before the African heat became unbearable. As they began their journey -- travelers they passed heading in the opposite direction were trying to see in the darkness -- just as they were. Soon, however, Newbigin noticed that the faces of those traveling in the opposite direction seemed to be shining with a glow he did not understand. He finally asked one what made that glow. The traveler laughed -- and said -- “Turn -- my friend -- and face the light!” Newbigin turned -- and saw the most beautiful sunrise he had ever seen. That’s what repentence is all about. Turning our lives around -- and facing God’s light. It’s about saying “Yes” to God -- and dropping all else. That’s what salvation is all about. And friends -- It’s time. It’s time. It’s time to repent -- to turn to the light of God for your life. It’s time. It’s time. So -- are you going to live your life saying “Yes” to the call of God to repent -- to change -- and follow Him -- or are you not? Are you going to repent -- to change -- to quit doing the things that separate you from God -- or are you not? Are you going to support the work of God in the world -- or are you not? Are you going to support the work of the Church by your money -- your abilities -- your attendance -- or are you not? Are the things of God going to be important to you -- or not? Is attendance at worship -- at Sunday School -- at Bible Study -- at fellowship times -- going to be important to you -- or not? Are you going to accept God’s gracious invitation to repent -- to change -- to live a new life - - and experience salvation -- or are you not? It’s time to decide. It’s time! It’s time! Maybe you never decided to repent and follow Christ. Maybe you never decided to live in the ways of God instead of the ways of sin. Maybe you never decided to repent -- to change -- and experience salvation. If so -- It’s time! It’s time! Maybe you have accepted Christ as your Savior -- but never let Christ totally change your life. If so -- It’s time! It’s time! Maybe your life was changed by Christ at one time -- and you were doing well in living in God’s ways -- showing God to the world -- supporting the work of the Church -- but at some point you lost your excitement and you need to recommit to Christ and His ways. If so -- It’s time! It’s time! Simon -- Andrew -- James -- and John dropped all they had and followed Christ into a new life of faith -- of devotion -- of discipleship -- where Christ guided them and they followed. Have you decided to do the same? It’s time! It’s time! Christ is calling. It’s time you made your response. It’s time! It’s time! AMEN

JOHN 1:43-51

2006-01-14T19:44:00.000-05:00

WHEN GOD CALLS JOHN 1:43-51 JANUARY 15, 2006

In times such as they are -- when unemployment is high and its burdens experienced by many – many people think about matters of job and career. Finding a job – “making ends meet” – reaching out to those who have been laid off their jobs or who are unemployed for other reasons – these things seem receive more attention than usual in times of – as the financial folks like to say – ‘economic downturn”. Indeed, even when the economy is less troubled, we tend to be preoccupied with matters of career and job. And we think we know what these things mean. A job, we think, involves paid employment -- or maybe any significant responsibility we take on. A career, we reason, is what happens as a person undertakes a series of jobs over time. Career carries with it a sense of increasing experience, and often-greater responsibility and reward. But a third term – or a third reality – has to be joined to fill out this picture. That third term is “calling”. A job might describe as paid employment. A career might be described as a series of jobs or experiences in one job that lead to greater responsibility and greater reward. A calling can be a job – and it can be a career. But it is different. It is more than a job – and more than a career. The celebrated sociologist Robert Bellah sees it this way: A calling links what we do to a larger community wherein we contribute to the common good. Let me repeat that: A calling links what we do to a larger community wherein we contribute to the common good. A calling links the person to the world. Another way to look at it is that someone would still follow a calling even if he or she has no need for the money or position that accompanies it. Even if we do not need a job – even if we do not need a career – we would still follow a calling. We would follow a calling because we would believe it is right for us to do so. The work may be hard for us and not particularly successful, but we would find it rich with meaning and significance. Here again, Robert Bellah is helpful. In his book Economics And The Theology Of Work he writes: "The notion of calling is an effort to make real the reign of God in the realm of work." Again: "The notion of calling is an effort to make real the reign of God in the realm of work." He then writes that when we have a calling, we realize "that we all need each other, and that our real reward is our sense of contribution to the common good.” We all need each other – and our real reward is our sense of contribution to the common good. We can have a job – we can even have a career – but once we come to that realization – we have a calling. The Presbyterian minister and author Frederick Buechner makes a similar point when he asserts that "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." Where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. Where your need for fulfillment and satisfaction and the world’s need for what you have to offer meet. Where the gifts God gives you to give and the world’s need for the gifts God gives you meet. Where what you can do and what God and the world need you to do meet. That’s more than a job. That’s more than a career. That’s a calling. A job is temporary. A career won’t last all your life. A calling can span through a job – a career – and beyond. You see – you can have a calling – even when you when you don't have a job. You can have a calling even when you've never had a career. You can have a calling when you've never had paid employment or – even if you have been laid off from paid employment – or even after you've retired from paid employment. You have a calling because God calls you, and keeps calling you, so that that “phone” in your heart rings incessantly. Jobs and careers can be offered to us by people. The pay for jobs and careers can come from people. A calling, however, comes from God. It is God who calls us, calls each one of us by name. The one who sustains us in existence also calls to us, so that we may enter into fuller and more authentic life. This is all well and good -- but for many people, the notion of calling does not “jive” with their experiences. Their work experience has been unhappy, and though they may make a living, it drains them of their life. Or if they have known success and satisfaction, they still have difficulty talking about it being a “calling”. But – you know what? God keeps knocking on their door – God keeps calling – God keeps asking them to do what they can do – God keeps asking them to somehow be partners with Him in working in the world so that it more closely resembles His divine will. Indeed, there is something about a calling that almost guarantees we will find it hard to recognize. God is mysterious. The divine voice speaks with power, but often softly. We must entertain possibilities, and be open to surprise. Think about Nathanael in our Gospel passage for today. One day Philip shows up, waving his arms and exclaiming that he's just met the one long promised in the law and the prophets. Nathanael's answer is a sneer. "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" He must have been thinking something like: “When the messiah arrives, certainly it won’t be in a crossroads too small to have its own McDonald's.” But his own encounter with Jesus spins Nathanael around fast and pushes him in the right direction. From his conversation with Jesus we get the feeling that Nathaniel had felt God present one time while sitting under a fig tree. Maybe he had told no one about it, yet Jesus mentions the incident right away. Nathanael becomes a disciple. Jesus calls him -- invites him to follow, and that is what he does. Nathanael is surprised. It was not easy – but he recognized his calling. The purpose of his life comes to light. This means – among other things – that there's hope for the rest of us. There’s hope that we can start to understand our calling. There’s hope that we can discover that place where – as Buechner writes – “our deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” There’s hope that we can discover that place where our need for fulfillment and satisfaction and the world’s need for what we have to offer meet. There’s hope that we can discover where the gifts God gives us to give and the world’s need for the gifts God gives us meet. There’s hope that we can discover where what we can do and what God and the world need us to do meet. There’s hope that we can discover that particular thing that for us is more than a job -- more than a career -- but – is a calling. Maybe you’ve begun to recognize it. If so, I pray that you can continue to recognize it. But – be aware that -- almost certainly -- it will involve surprise. The reason for the surprise is that God has better things in mind for us than we can ask or imagine. Better things than our society says to us. Better things than our family says to us. Better things than we say to ourselves. Notice I did not say that these things would be profitable or glamorous or respectable. I said they would be better. Again, as Buechner puts it, there exists that place where our deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet. God wants to lead us there, and calls each of us by name. Maybe you know people who have responded to God’s call – and seem to be aware of that place where – for them – their deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. Maybe you are such a person yourself. Maybe you’ve discovered that place where your gifts seem to match a need perfectly. The job may not pay well, and the career may not be anything to write home about. But God keeps returning you there where you do something significant to meet the meet a need in the world. You realize you are doing something that meets a hunger in the world – and in the process you are experiencing a gladness deeper than you think you deserve. You realize may not be there because it’s prestigious to be there – but because you have been called by God to be there. But – like I said – the path may be littered with surprises. Albert Schweitzer was a theologian and scripture scholar whose work was bold and innovative. He was an organist of exceptional ability whose recitals drew enthusiastic audiences. You'd think somebody of this sort would figure he had found his calling, and that would be that. But Schweitzer didn't stop listening, and God didn't stop calling, and the surprises kept coming. In his late thirties he abandoned his promising academic career and headed off to equatorial Africa to serve as a medical missionary. He went to a place where there were no great universities where he could teach, no great organs for him to play, but plenty of sick people for him to help. Later his hospital was destroyed, but that did not end his commitment to Africa. He recognized his call to build it a second time. The world’s deep hunger and his deep gladness met repeatedly through the decades of his life. We can look at how others were called, and learn from their example. We can profit from the stories of Nathanael and Albert Schweitzer. We can be inspired by the stories of those who led our nation to greater freedom and justice: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr. -- Rosa Parks. We do well to take courage from how they responded to God's voice speaking to each of them. Finally we must hear and heed our own call. Each of us can listen intently, for God speaks to us, perhaps through a still, small voice; perhaps through the turmoil of daily events. To hear our call is always an instance of grace. Listen for God’s call. You have gifts that God has given you – and is calling on you to use. There are needs in this Church where God may be inviting you to use your gifts and abilities to make a difference. At the very least God is calling you to evaluate your commitment to the Church – and how you respond to the needs in the Church with your time, your abilities – and yes – your financial commitment. You all know the financial straits of the Church – you’ve read it in the newsletters and others places and have heard it discussed. I would invite you to consider how God might be calling you to respond to that need. Listen. Listen for God’s call. Listen. There are needs in the community where God may be calling on you to use your gifts and abilities to make a difference. The poverty level is high – organizations like the Outreach Center, Salvation Army, Red Cross and others need volunteers and also need donations of food and money. Other organizations such as Hospice need volunteers and donations. Or you can just look around and see those in need around you. Listen. Listen for God’s call. Listen. There are needs in the world where God may be calling on you to use your gifts and abilities to make a difference. The Friendship Group is making a difference in the world through it’s afghans that are sent to Warm Up American and the Red Cross. Look around you and see what you can do to make a difference. Listen. Listen for God’s call. Listen. Listen again to how Frederick Buechner defines a call: "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." There is a place like that for you. God has given you a calling – whether you realize it or not. Listen. And when you hear God’s call – respond. Amen.

GENESIS 1:1-5, MARK 1:4-11

2006-01-07T20:28:00.000-05:00

Is It Real? Genesis 1:1-5, Mark 1:4-11Baptism of The Lord January 8, 2006
Most of you know that Sally and I have an older model Nissan Pathfinder. It’s not a luxury SUV at all – you have to roll down the windows by hand ( and I don’t mean by putting your finger on a button – I mean rolling down the windows by hand) –- lock each door separately by hand ( you have to unlock the front doors with a key then reach into the back to unlock the back doors) – and stomp on the gas to get it to go because the accelerator doesn’t “respond” very well. Besides these “minor” points, however, we love it. Sally says she can see the road better driving it than my Camry because she is higher up – and it’s great for transporting her pottery stuff – even if sometimes there is so much pottery stuff in it that she has to “make room” in the front to be able to sit in the driver’s seat. We did clean it out, though, to make room for all our gifts, luggage, food (we have to have snacks, you know) – and all 3 dogs that rode in it to South Carolina for Christmas. And yes – we somehow fit the 2 of us in amongst the gifts, luggage, food, and dogs! Yea – we love our old SUV ! Our Pathfinder ever made it into a story our niece wrote about Sally for school entitled “My Aunt”. On one page it read: Some aunts drive economical cars – but my aunt drive a 4 wheel drive SUV! Yea – we love our old SUV ! But – if you happen to turn on the TV – especially during sporting events like the College Bowl games the past few weeks or now the NFL Playoffs – you’ll see commercials touting the “next generation” of SUV’s. Each commercial looks about the same — attractive people load up their oversized 4x4 to head out over some terrain negotiable only by Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, throwing up dirt and gravel all the way. The automotive action is usually followed by an image of the same folks setting up camp or jumping into a kayak or dangling off a rock. Looks like fun — “looks” being the operative word here. Actually analysts say that only about 5 percent of SUVs are ever taken off-road, which means that you’re more likely to see a Range Rover at Starbucks, for example, than anywhere near a mountain lake. For most SUV owners, the look and the possibility of one day actually locking in the four-wheel drive are worth the extra bucks in the purchase price. I think we have used 4 wheel drive once (maybe) on the Pathfinder to get out of the drive one winter when the snow was piled up behind it where the road had been scraped. But as for rugged camping – well – that same story our niece wrote included a page that read: Some aunts like to go camping in the woods. My aunt camps at the Holiday Inn. A lot of SUV owner prefer the Holiday Inn over the woods. Of course, with the current debate about rising gas prices, oil shortages, environmental impacts and alternative energy, many SUV owners feel they have to explain themselves to their those who may object to their driving such a “gas guzzler” when they won’t even take it off the road. Why have four-wheel drive if the only dirt those four wheels will ever touch is the fringe of the kids’ soccer field? Well, I have discovered the perfect product for those who want to look like they take their SUV “off road” – even if they don’t! I was walking through Target before Christmas – and found “Sprayonmud” -- a spray on concoction that creates the illusion that their SUV has, on more than one occasion, been baptized in mountain mud. What will they think of next? For a mere $14.50 per quart-sized bottle you can buy actual mud to spray on your vehicle in order to make it look as though you’ve just bumped back from a wild ride in the wilderness when, in fact, you’ve been merely hiking through the aisles at Target. The promotional material says: “If you’ve got a 4X4 or off-roader, Sprayonmud will send a message to anyone who disapproves or is just plain envious — you use your off-roader, off the road as well as on it.” Inside each quart-sized plastic container is real dirt from the Britain (where the product originates), mixed with water and a “secret ingredient” which helps the mud stick to the vehicle’s body. A few strategic squirts on the fenders and you’ve got an Escalade that’s dirtier than a mudslide. Real off-roaders, though, know that the best mud is free and generally available. Their vehicles wear that mud as a badge of honor, marking them as adventurers. Fake-mudders mark themselves as, well, fakers. To be real you have to go where the dirt is. When Jesus burst on the scene in first- century Israel, one of his first actions was to mark his life and ministry with some real mud. He traveled way off-road, all the way out into the Judean wilderness, to see his cousin John, the quintessential rugged individualist. In the manner of other ancient Israelite prophets, John lived a solitary life amid sand and snakes but preached a message so compelling that people were willing to get their feet dirty to go find him. Standing there in the notoriously muddy water of the Jordan River, John offered a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” Now –0- first-century Jews were used to ceremonial washings, but the only one that involved immersion was for those converting to Judaism. But John called everyone, even ethnic Jews, to be baptized -- or “marked” -- as being in need of forgiveness and salvation. What John called for was that the mud and muck of human sin needed to be washed away and replaced with a real mark of repentance and confession. John’s baptism was, in a real sense, a great equalizer, declaring that rich and poor, Jew and non-Jew, righteous or roustabout all must turn toward God. Now – I have learned through the years that you don’t wash dishes in dirty water. Yet John calls for people to be “washed,” marked, or cleansed in the dirty waters of the Jordan. Baptized in dirty water. When Jesus came to the edge of the water, John recognized that He was “the one” who “is more powerful than I ... I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals” If anyone needed to skip this particular mud bath it was Jesus. Yet Jesus willingly steps down into the brown water to take on the same muddy mark as others John is baptizing. When we’re baptized we take on that same mark as Jesus did. Jesus’ baptism is the prototype for those of us who would follow him. But -- what does our baptism say about us? We understand baptism as a mark of God’s favor. Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. For him it was a form of anointing — not just with water but with the Spirit. Here we see the Trinity in action: the Son receiving the blessing, the Father expressing his love for the Son, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. Baptism marks Jesus as “the Beloved” in whom God’s own nature is revealed and with whom God is “well pleased.” It’s a powerful expression of the intimacy of God’s own relational nature. For us, baptism is a sign of God’s favor as well, but it is favor that is unmerited. We can’t fake out God and look like we are something that we’re not -- so we “come clean” through repentance and confession and simply receive the love of God who created us and sees us as being “very good.” But -- there’s more. The baptism of Jesus was a form of anointing by which the Messiah, the promised One, would save Israel and the whole world. Israelite kings were marked as a symbol of their office and their responsibility. For Jesus, and for us, baptism is preparation for ministry. Baptism is a sign that we pledge allegiance to a different kingdom — the kingdom of God. And that allegiance is worked out in our service to others. Baptism marks us, sets us apart as different from the world’s idea of power. It’s not fake – like the “Sprayonmud” some people might spray on an SUV to make it look used. It’s the real thing. When the great reformer Martin Luther was tempted, he would often put his hand on his head to remind himself that he was baptized — that he was different, that he could resist temptation because of his connection with Christ. Our baptism into Christ calls us to be a different, peculiar and passionate people who are sent out to follow Jesus in changing the world. In other words, we’re called to “go” into the world and get dirty serving others. There’s no room for pretending or keeping to our own side of town. Our baptism is a commission and a call to go into the wilds of a hurting world. Jesus, God in the flesh, lived and moved in the world but was not “of” the world. He was tempted like us, human like us, but recognized that His kingdom was beyond the human realm. Jesus didn’t merely call people to get straightened up so that they could fly off to heaven when they died. The real good news that He preached is that God’s kingdom, in the person of Jesus, had broken in — a new reality was coming to the forefront. Jesus saw heaven not as being far away but rather quite close at hand, active, working, engaging, breaking into human history. What we do now matters — to be agents of the in-breaking kingdom where we are today, be it on an urban street or a rural back road. We can experience the promises and purposes of God in our present lives. Our baptism, then, invites us to live in that new reality — a heavenly, God-ordained reality, seeing eternity not “out there” somewhere but seeing God at work here and now. Living as baptized followers of Christ is something we can’t fake. No amount of spray on mud or religiosity can hide who we really are. As Jesus waded into the muddy water, he set the example for us. The bottom line is this: If the Son of God is willing to get dirty changing the world, we who follow need to do the same. So – how about it? Is your commitment to Christ – who was willing to get Himself dirty – willing to go into the world and bring the Good News of Salvation to all people – real? Are you willing to follow Jesus into the world – showing His love to all people – even if it means going “off the beaten path” at times – and even if it means really “getting dirty” for His work? Is it real? A “spray on commitment” won’t work. It has to be the real thing. Amen.

CHRISTMAS DAY 2005: LUKE 2:1-20

2005-12-24T18:54:00.000-05:00

ISAIAH 62:6-12 TITUS 3:4-7 LUKE 2:1-20 “GOD COMES” CHRISTMAS DAY 2005 COMMUNION MEDITATION

Merry Christmas! The day is here – and because it is a Sunday we are gathered here this place where we worship God –gathered as a community of faith – gathered to worship God on this holy day --- gathered around God’s table to partake of the Sacrament that reminds us of God’s love for us and for all who will follow Him. Merry Christmas! As we gather on this day I want to ask you a question – What does Christmas mean to you? For some Christmas might mean Santa – what Santa is going to bring – toys and candy and all the things a child can imagine. That vision of Christmas can excited us. What does Christmas mean to you? For others Christmas might mean shopping – getting gifts to give -- trying to pick out a “perfect gift” for a friend or loved one. That vision of Christmas can tire us. What does Christmas mean to you? For others it might mean family gatherings and good times together. This vision of Christmas is – for the most part – one that warms our hearts. For many Christmas might mean decorations – houses with bright lights and decorated trees – and these days even decorated yards complete with lights shaped into statues of deer of larger than life inflatable Santas or snowmen. What does Christmas mean to you? I suspect Christmas mean a combination of things to you. I know it does for me. I can remember Christmases when I was growing up. Being the youngest I kept the excitement and wonder of Christmas longer than my older sisters. My family would always go to Charlotte to see “The Singing Christmas Tree” – a wonderful choir singing from a Christmas Tree shaped platform. We would then go out to eat – and maybe go to see the lights – not to mention the sights of sounds – of downtown Charlotte – complete with store windows at Belk’s and Ivey’s department stores decorated with animated Santas, elves, and the like. I was always enthralled with downtown Charlotte at Christmas. About a week before Christmas I would get a phone call from Santa. That would be a highlight of the season for me. On Christmas Eve we would go to Church – then come home and get ready for bed. We would put out cookies and cokes for Santa and each of the reindeer – including, of course, Rudolph. It would seem like the longest night of the year – until finally Christmas day would dawn – and my sisters and I would bound into the Living Room to see what Santa had left us. For me it would usually be a cowboy hat and pistol – or an electric train – or an electric football game – or a ball. One year I got a Rocking Horse on springs that I rode and rode – wearing out countless sets of springs – for many years. I also remember the year I got my first drum “real” set. I’m not sure Mom and Dad ever forgave Santa for that – for drumming became a passion of mine that grew more and more expensive with each new drum or cymbal – and also because louder and louder. I really don’t see how my parents tolerated it! Then – by late afternoon when the house was a wreck and everyone exhausted – it would be time to go to my Grandmother’s house for the “family gathering” – complete with cousins and other folks you didn’t know. So – my memories of Christmas are a combination of sights – sounds – and emotions. Yours probably are, too. But – what does Christmas mean to you? Increasingly – for me – Christmas has come to mean a celebration of God’s love – and the wonderful fact that God has come into our world through Christ – and continues to come into our world. Christmas is a celebration of love. A celebration of God’s love – a love so great that God did not let us die in sin but provided salvation for us through Jesus Christ – this baby in the manger who became an adult on the cross – and who died for our sins and yet rose again so we can have everlasting life. Christmas is a celebration of God’s coming into our lives through Jesus Christ. Irenaeus – a Christian leader from the first century – put it this way: “The Son of God became a son of man – so that the sons of men could become sons of God’ What a beautiful – wonderful thought that is. The thought that God would become like us – so we can become like Him. I believe that the coming of God into our world through Christ tells us a lot about God. God does not let us die in our sins without the opportunity for salvation. God does not leave us in our suffering and sorrow of this life. God does not abandon us in the hardest and harshest times of our lives. No – in the hardest and harshest times – God comes. God comes with hope and with new possibilities. Look at our Old Testament passage from Isaiah. The people of Israel were in the worst of times. Jerusalem was a wasteland and the people in Babylon. But Isaiah saw that – even in the midst of such destruction and waste and hopelessness – God would come – and rebuild. Jerusalem would be a great city again – because God would come. The good news the angels brought to the shepherds on that first Christmas night was the news that their lives as the poorest of the poor in a country occupied by the Roman army could be different. God had come – Christ had been born – and all things could be different. The good news God brings to us today is that – even in the midst of the tragedies of our lives – the times when things seem to be the lowest they can be – times of war and violence – times of economic distress and joblessness – times when children go hungry while adults do what they want – times when poverty is rampant -- times when despair and depression want to grab us and not let us go – even in all these times and despite all these things – God has come – Christ has been born – things can be different. The news of Christmas is good news – Christ has been born – God has come! Christmas means that God has come! God has come! God has come! In the midst of our lives – God has come – and God continues to come and to work in our lives and in our world for His will for salvation and love and justice and healing. Christmas means that God has come. Christmas means that God comes. God comes into our lives. God comes into our world. God comes with hope and healing and love and grace. God comes. That’s the message of Christmas. God comes. Friends – that is what Christmas is really all about. Sure – Santa and gifts and decorations and family are all a part of what Christmas is all about – but beyond all these things – Christmas is all about God – who comes into our lives and into our world and changes them with His great love. God comes. Into our lives – whatever situations we may find ourselves in – God comes. Into our world – whatever situations there may be – God comes. God comes. Realize it. Claim it. Share it with others. Make a difference for God’s glory in the lives of others. Be God’s instruments of love and grace and a different way to live in the lives of those who need to experience God’s love – God’s grace – and the difference God can make in the world. You know –when we share God’s love and God’s will with others – we experience it again for ourselves. The Son of God became a son of man – so that the sons and daughters of men could become sons and daughters of God. God comes. That’s what Christmas means. God comes. As we come around the table this morning to celebrate the Christmas day -=- celebrate the fact that God comes to make a difference in this world – and be strengthened so you can make a difference for God in the world. God comes. Amen.

ISAIAH 61:1-4, JOHN 1:6-8,19-28

2005-12-10T20:48:00.000-05:00

ISAIAH 61:1-4, JOHN 1:6-8, 19-28 “CHRISTMAS PROFITS AND CHRISTMAS PROPHETS’’ ADVENT 3 DECEMBER 11, 2005 READ SCRIPTURE
We are now well into our celebration of Advent – and our preparations for Christmas. In the Church we have many things going on to celebrate the coming of God – the coming of Christ – into our lives and into our world. Times of worship and fellowship are filling us with joy and anticipation – not to mention filling our calendars and with busy schedules – as well as our stomachs with good food! In what some call “the real word” we have many different things to do – shopping, parties to attend, and many other things – and our jobs don’t slow down at this time of year either. The Christmas season – for many -- is about shopping – and the merchants are sure to tap into the shopping sprees. I guess the Holiday Shopping Season (which is what many call them now to avoid offending anyone and to be “politically correct” – although that’s changing some now) really begins the day after Thanksgiving with it’s early store hours and sales – even though many stores decorate and begin promoting Holiday gifts well before this. For many the month of December is about making a profit. Stores depend on their Holiday sales to make their year profitable. The profits of Christmas sales is followed on Wall Street and debated on the news and talk radio. Advertisements fill our newspapers and our mailboxes. I heard about one particular shopper who was so weary that when the “store greeter” wished them a “Happy Holiday” they snapped back – “What’s so (expletive deleted) happy about it?” Yea – even if the “store greeter” had said “Merry Christmas” the shopper may have shot back “What’s so (expletive deleted) merry about it?” Yea – for some – Christmas – the Holidays – whatever you choose to call it – is filled with busy schedules – and shopping, shopping, and more shopping. And the merchants hope it is filled with profits, profits, and more profits. But – back in the Church – we are not in the Season of Christmas yet – we are still in the Season of Advent. Advent is a time for promise -- for hope -- for anticipation -- for preparing for the coming of God -- the coming of Christ -- touching our lives with God’s mysterious love -- and compelling us to have our lives changed by that love. Advent is a time for seeing how God comes to us in mysterious -- marvelous -- exciting -- and life-changing ways -- not just with the baby in the manger so many years ago -- but also here -- and now. We are not playacting during Advent -- pretending to be people who are waiting for the Messiah to come. We know that God has come to us in Christ -- and made His love made known to us in surprising ways. But sometimes we have to take the time to stop and remember what this season is really all about. Sometimes we miss the important fact that God continues to come to us in ways that are just as surprising as a baby in a manger. Sometimes we become so consumed in the world’s celebration of Christmas that we miss the continued work of God in the world -- and we fail to join in that work -- calling for different lives and a different world. So – while the Christmas Season – or the “Holiday Season” in the “real world” may be a time that the merchants hope is filled with profits, profits, and more profits – for us as Christians it needs to be a time filled with prophets, prophets, and more prophets. Now – it may seem that I just said the same thing. Let me explain. For the merchants Christmas may be a time for profits –P R O F I T S. For us as Christians it needs to be a time for prophets – P R O P H E T S. For us as Christians it needs to be a time filled with prophets, prophets, and more prophets. Prophets – that can help us have our vision renewed -- and help us see God and God’s work in the world in a new way. It is a time for prophets that can help us allow the coming of God into our world make a difference in our lives -- so we too can be prophets -- showing God’s work and will to others in all we say and do. Christmas can be a time for profits – PROFITS – but it can also be a time for is a time for prophets – PROPHETS. Prophets like John and Isaiah – but also prophets like you and me. Advent is a time for prophets. Christmas is a time for prophets. Many of us may contribute to the sounds of the profits – PROFITS -- at the local stores and even online at the many web sites – But do many of us contribute to the voices of the prophets – PROPHETS – who try to point us to God – and the true reason for what we do? John was a prophet. So was Isaiah. Frederick Buechner -- a Presbyterian minister and author -- writes that prophets never have an easy time in life. “There is no evidence to suggest” -- Buechner sarcastically writes -- “that anyone ever asked a prophet home for supper more than once. In fact, no prophet is on record as ever having applied for the job.” John was a prophet -- a man with a mission -- and his mission was to tell people of the coming of Christ into the world -- indeed the coming of God into the world -- and to call people to repentance -- to make their lives ready for Christ -- who was already among them -- but whom they did not see. John knew his mission -- and he carried it out well -- but it didn’t make him popular. Many people didn’t want to hear John -- or see Christ. They were too interested in protecting their own ideas and opinions of how things should be to see that God was among them -- that something new was happening and life could no longer be “business as usual”. Too worried about their own profits to listen to this prophet. Things could be different -- very different -- but many were missing the new life Christ offered all together. They had no interest in hearing John or seeing Christ because John’s message and Christ’s work would mean change for them -- and they liked things the way they were. They didn’t want to let John’s message change their lives -- and they definitely were not interested in seeing Christ. They could not see the one who stood among them. They refused to see. But John was a prophet. John saw -- and understood -- and proclaimed that God was at work in a new way in the world. God was at work in the world through Christ -- who showed God’s will for justice -- for love -- for righteousness -- for peace -- ways that would change the way things were into the way God would have them to be. This understanding -- this proclamation -- did not make John very popular -- but he kept on understanding and proclaiming -- for he was a prophet. An Advent Prophet. A Christmas Prophet. A Prophet who was committed to showing God’s will at work in the world – working for God’s will in the world – and proclaiming that God has come into the world through Jesus Christ to change the world. An Advent Prophet. A Christmas Prophet. In our Old Testament lesson we see that John is not the only one who understood how God was going to challenge the ways of the world and establish the ways of God. Isaiah proclaimed that he was anointed with the Holy Spirit -- and had a mission in the world to work for salvation -- peace -- justice -- and righteousness. Like John -- Isaiah was a Prophet. But -- people had no intention of listening to either Isaiah or John -- or seeing God who was coming to the world through Christ to change the world -- they wanted to live their lives as they saw fit -- whether it was the way God saw fit for them or not. Yes -- John and Isaiah were prophets - - maybe not popular -- but faithful -- faithfully seeing God in the world --- faithfully proclaiming the presense of God in the world to others. Yes - - Christmas can be a time for profits – PROFITS – but it also should be be a time for is a time for prophets – PROPHETS. So – here’s a question for you today: as you help the merchants with their profits this season – are you also being a prophet for God and God’s work in the world? Are we prophets -- PROPHETS? We celebrate Christmas -- but does the fact that God has come into our world through Christ really make a difference in how we live our lives? Does it make any real difference to us at all? Do we let Christ truly change our lives? Do we see how Christ can and does make a difference in the world -- see and proclaim how the coming of Christ can change our lives and change the world? Or -- is Christmas simply a time for us to somehow just nod at the manger and the birth of Christ as we rush about our busy lives -- too caught up in the things of the world to see and experience and proclaim the things of God? Are we Christmas Prophets? Friends -- Christ has come. God has come into our world. Christ is among us. The work of God is among us. But -- do we see Christ? Here and now? Does it make a difference to us that Christ has come into our world? John and Isaiah were prophets. They saw and experienced and proclaimed that God was at work in their world and things could be completely changed for God’s glory. Yes -- they were prophets -- seeing and proclaiming the things of God. What about us? Are we Christmas Prophets – PROPHETS -- seeing and experiencing and proclaiming to the world that things can be different because Christ has come -- or are we like those who John and Isaiah addressed -- those who wished John and Isaiah and prophets like them would just shut up so they could go about “business as usual” – making our own profits – PROFITS -- or helping others make their? Are we more like Isaiah and John -- prophets -- or more like their skeptical audiences? We need to let the message of John -- the message of Isaiah -- sink in. Christ is among us -- and our lives -- and our world -- can be changed. Let Christ change the way you live. Understand your need for Christ -- for salvation. Understand your need for the new life that only Christ can bring. That life that Isaiah spoke of – of healing – wholeness – peace. Then -- be a prophet. Tell the world their need for Christ. Tell others their need for the salvation Christ offers. Tell others of that healing – wholeness – and peace Christ offers. Be a Christmas Prophet. Don’t just talk about people’s need for the life of salvation – healing – and wholeness Christ offers – but see yourself as being a Prophet -- sent to – as Isaiah put it – Bring liberty to the oppressed Bind up the brokenhearted Proclaim liberty to the captives See the needs all around you – and do what you can to meet them with God’s amazing and life changing love. Reach out to people all around you with the good news of God’s love in your words and actions. Be a Christmas Prophet. Dare to go against the grain of those only interested in making profits or helping others make a profit – and declare that there is much more to this season that just profits -- PROFITS. There can be prophets – PROPHETS. People who point to God’s amazing and life changing love and lead others to it. It may not be what the world wants to hear -- in fact it probably won’t be. It may not make you very popular. You may confront the way people live -- it may not make them comfortable -- but -- you will be seeing and proclaiming God -- and the real message of Christmas – to the world. You will be a prophet. We must be prophets -- calling for all to repent and believe in Christ -- but also being about God’s work by reaching out to the poor -- working for and calling for peace when others are working for and calling for conflict -- giving to others instead of keeping so much for ourselves -- feeding those who are hungry -- warming those who are cold -- proclaiming that Christ is among us -- and the world will never be the same again. Be a Christmas Prophet. See to it that this Christmas season is not just filled with profits, profits, and more profits – PROFITS – but also Prophets – Prophets – and more Prophets – PROPHETS. Amen.

ISAIAH 40:1-1, MARK 1:1-8

2005-12-03T16:19:00.000-05:00

ISAIAH 40:1-11 MARK 1:1-8“THE GOOD NEWS” ADVENT 2 DECEMBER 4, 2005

We are now well into our celebration of the season of Advent -- and our preparation for the day of Christmas. In Advent we wait -- and prepare for the coming of Christ -- the coming of God -- into our lives -- touching us and changing us with God’s mysterious love -- a love so great that God breaks into our lives in surprising ways -- like a baby in a manger who becomes an adult on a cross -- and invites us into deeper and more meaningful relationships with God and others. In the Church year the season of Advent is a season of expectant hope -- but in what people call “the real world” the weeks before Christmas are filled with hectic, frenzied activity -- trying to get too many things done too quickly. If we are not careful, it can be a depressing season --- not a joyous season. So maybe you’ve come to church hoping for a break from all the frenzy -- activity -- and guilt. Well, if that’s what you’re looking for today – I apologize because what we have before us today may not at first appear to not have a calming effect you may think you need. You want a moment of peace and not worrying about things? Sorry. It not going to happen today. Not yet, anyway. You see -- today we come face to face with John -- a religious fanatic. It’s not much of a break at all, is it? Not much of a calming effect. You may find yourself yearning for some relief -- and instead find yourself face to face with John -- this wild eyed fanatic with a single message: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! Not much relief here! What a sight it must have been -- this John the Baptist dressed in camels hair with a leather belt tied around his waist -- standing on the bank of the Jordan -- The Jordan – that river so important to the Hebrew people -- that river that in the history of the Hebrew people stood for healing as Namman – a Syrian, no less -- washed in it and was healed of his leprosy -- that river that in their history finally brought them to a new home as it parted for them as they entered the Holy Land -- that river whose waters meant healing and home for the Hebrew people. And now on the banks of that river that meant healing and home for the Hebrew people – stands John -- who must have seemed like a fanatic -- the wild eyes -- the unkempt appearance -- the single message -- the label fanatic seemed to fit. Yes -- and the message -- GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! seemed to make him just that much more fanatical. John had no time for beating around the bush or polite conversation. He had one thing on his mind -- declaring that God was coming. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! The urgency in his message must have been compelling. Indeed -- no time for rest -- and no time relaxing. Apparently he attracted a lot of attention. The whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem went to hear him -- and many were baptized in the river Jordan -- that place of healing and home. A compelling prophet with a compelling message! GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! The Hebrew people had prayed for centuries for God to come into their lives in a new way. And now that those still living in the land promised to their ancestors were under Roman domination some prayed for freedom more fervently -- while others were leading open revolts for freedom. Into this volatile mix came this fanatic on the banks for the Jordan with the unkempt appearance and strong message. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! It certainly struck a chord within the people. Many who heard him responded and were baptized in the Jordan -- the message of John made a difference in their lives. They were desperate people -- at the end of their rope -- almost to the point of giving up. Why should God come and change their lives? And fanatical John kept standing on the banks of the Jordan -- that river that stood for healing and home for the people -- and kept shouting: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! And the people kept coming to that man in that place -- and kept listening -- and kept repenting -- and kept being baptized -- and kept having their lives changed -- and kept hoping for God to come and change their lives in a new, real way. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! Now -- we may feel we have an advantage over those who heard the words of John and repented -- and were baptized in the waters of the Jordan -- the waters of healing and home. We may feel we have a distinct advantage. We know what happened next. We know Christ came. God entered the world. The world was changed forever. We may feel this gives us an advantage -- but -- does it? I wonder. At least they let the coming of God make a difference to them. At least they let the coming of God change their lives. At least they made a response to the promises of God to come into their lives and change them. At least they let their lives be changed. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! But -- you know -- God still comes. John’s message is still the same. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! The people who first heard John’s message felt lost and alone. To them -- John’s message was good news – it was life changing news. The time of feeling lost was over. God was coming. Being baptized in that river of healing and home was only an outer sign of an inward feeling of renewed life and hope as they believed in the coming of God -- coming to change their lives and their world. Many people feel lost and desperate today. Many may be yearning for some message of hope. Maybe John’s message is not a message for relaxation from the stress of our lives -- but maybe it is a message of hope for us and for all the world. It can be a message of hope for you. Maybe to you the world seems like shattered dreams. Maybe your marriage -- family -- relationships -- may not be what we had hoped they would be. Maybe your job doesn’t hold the potential you may want for your family or for yourself. Or maybe your retirement years may not be what you had planned on their being. Or maybe your health may be a problem instead of an asset. Or maybe a friend or loved one is sick –- or dying – or maybe has recently died and you are grieving the loss. Or -- maybe you just look at the poverty -- drugs -- disease -- violence -- and tragedy in the world around you and wonder if there is any reason – any reason at all -- for holding out hope for anything better. Or -- maybe just the celebration -- the stress -- the importance placed on the “perfect Christmas” that is impossible to achieve -- is too much for you. Well if that be the case – then I have good news for you today. Listen up – because I am going to tell you something that can be the best news you have ever heard -- And not just those of you who are hurting in one way or another – but all of you – indeed all of us – need to hear this good news – the best news ever. Are you ready to hear it? Here it is: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! Yea – the same words John proclaimed on the banks for the Jordan I proclaim to you today: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY If you feel lost -- lonely -- desperate -- then the message of John is the best news you can hear. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY For all of us – indeed for all the world – the message of John is the best message of all: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY This message of good news is important - – but not only are the words themselves important - - but the place where John delivered the message -- and baptized – is important. The Jordan -- the river of healing and home for the people of Israel. The words of John – if you act on them and let them change your life – can be words of healing and home for you. Hear the words of John: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! On this second Sunday in Advent -- as we approach the birth of Christ -- hear this good news again. To all who are weary. To all who feel lost. To all who feel hopeless. Indeed – to all people – The Good News is: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY The “waters of the Jordan” and the words of John the Baptist are indeed good news. Today – now -- let yourself hear and believe that God is coming into the world -- and let that change your life. Today – now -- let the healing -- cleansing -- waters of the Jordan -- the waters of healing and home -- flood over you -- and let you see what it means that God has come -- and your life -- and the world -- can indeed be changed. Let the good news – the fact that Christ has come -- give you hope -- and change your life -- now and forever. AMEN

Matthew 25:14-30

2005-11-12T21:13:00.000-05:00

November 3, 2005 Matthew 25:14-30 The Servant In The Middle
The parable of the talents is one of the best known of all Jesus' teachings. Its point is virtually impossible to miss. The master entrusted his servants with talents (a significant amount of money in the ancient world - one talent was the rough equivalent of 15 years wages for the average worker). The servant who received five talents was wise; he invested his talents and doubled their value. The servant who buried his talent in the ground was foolish, and thereby lost what little he had. Lots of lessons here: · be good stewards of your ability - use it or lose it; · * don't be afraid to try; · * never say, "I have so little, my contribution won't matter; * people may not be equal in talent but they can surely be equal in effort. You can probably think of a few others you have heard. Regardless of the lesson though, the point is always obvious - those who follow Jesus are to be like unto the wise, five-talent servant and not like the one-talent dummy. Case closed. OK. But there is one aspect of this story that troubles me if we close the case so quickly. What about the one in the middle, the two-talent guy? Is he superfluous? For that matter, were any of the characters in Jesus' stories superfluous? I do not think so. Yes, there was the wise, multi-talented servant as an example of excellent stewardship and a foolish, single- talented servant as an example of poor stewardship. But also this one in the middle, a person with a lot less than the "super," five-talent servant but one with a lot more than the hapless, one-talent servant. In my humble opinion, the one in the middle, is there for an important purpose. Let us check him out. What do we know about the two-talent servant? Well, obviously he is somewhere in between the two others in terms of the master's faith in his abilities. He has been entrusted with two talents - twice as much as the foolish servant. But he is only entrusted with two, which is just 40 percent as much as the wise, five-talent guy. Perhaps the master thought the one in the middle had some potential, but he was not considered likely to be a standout performer. And what did the two-talent servant do with his two talents? He doubled them, and wound up returning four talents to the boss. His performance was, proportionately, on a par with that of the five-talent servant. He did just as well as the shining-star example in the parable. Frankly, although the parable does not say it, I suspect that the master was at least somewhat surprised when he received the four talents from the servant in the middle. We can assume that the master was astute - that is why he is the master in the story. He probably expected the excellent performance from the five-talent servant. He also probably expected worthless performance from the one-talent servant although he had deliberately entrusted the man with a talent in order to give him an opportunity to prove himself otherwise. But the two-talent servant's performance was better than expected. If he had brought back, say three talents, that would have been a predictable, good showing for him. But performing at the same level as the top guy - now that was something! When the master said "Well done, good and trustworthy slave..." to the one in the middle, I suspect his congratulation was just a little louder and just a little heartier than his comments to the other two. I really like this servant in the middle. I like him because he reminds me of who I might be able to be more than the “top servant” does. The last servant warns me of who I want to not be. The “top servant” sets a pretty lofty goal. But the middle servant shows me how I can be as I attempt to use what God has given me. Maybe he can be an example to you, too. You see – most of us are like the servant in the middle – the one who received two talents. Most of us are two-talent servants. We are not fools, idiots, or people who waste the riches of God – like the one who received the one talent and buried it. Most of us realize that God has entrusted us with a talent or ability to use -- , so we don’t try to foolishly hide, and completely fail to utilize what God has given into our care. On the other hand we are not superstars of the faith. We may not have as much ability as some – like the two talent servant was not given as much as the five talent servant was. Few of us are going to become Saint Pauls or Martin Luthers, or Mother Teresas. We are not likely to conduct crusades where millions are saved nor build cathedrals to God's glory, nor offer our lives up in martyrdom on some foreign field for Christ. We are somewhere in the middle as far as out abilities to serve God. Somewhere smack in between the heights and depths is where most of us live, The good news is, that is exactly where we can faithfully serve God. Not only can we serve, but we can serve well. Proportionately, we can utilize what has been entrusted to us just as effectively as the crusade conductors, the cathedral builders, the martyrs. But – we have to try. We have to use what God has given us. We have to be like the servant in the middle – the one given 2 talents -- who took what the master gave him – and used it – even if it was not as much as was given to the one who was given the five talents – and served the master well with what he had. But – you might protest – the little I have is not much – I can’t make a difference. Yes – you can. But you have to try. This illustration I came across from the baseball record books gives an example of how trying is better than not trying. In 1915 Ty Cobb set a record for stolen bases -- 96. The record is now owned by Ricky Henderson – but Cobb’s record stood for years. Seven years after Cobb set his record, Max Carey of the Pittsburgh Pirates became second best with 51 stolen bases. Does this mean that Cobb was twice as good as Carey, his closest rival? Look at the facts: Cobb made 134 attempts, Carey, 53. Cobb failed 38 times; Carey only failed twice. Cobb succeeded 96 times, Carey only 51 times. Cobb's average was only 71 percent. Carey's average was 96 percent. Carey's average was much better than Cobb's. Cobb tried 81 more times than Carey. But here is the key: His 81 additional tries produced 44 more stolen bases. Cobb risked failure 81 more times in one season than his closest rival and Cobb was considered the best base runner in baseball for years. Why? Because he tried. The servant in the middle – the one with the 2 talents – may not have had as much as the one with the five talents – and had only 1 more than the one with the 1 talent – but he did what he could with what he had. He tried – and the master praised him. Yea – I like that guy – the servant in the middle – the one with the 2 talents. He reminds me that I may not be able to do great and magnificent things – but I can do something – and the something that I can do can make a difference for God in the world. Instead of standing on the base like so many base runners in baseball – I can try – I can risk – like Ty Cobb – and with God’s help I can succeed. You can, too. All of us can. We all can use what God has given us – and make a difference for God in the world. Never say you don’t have enough to make a difference – because you do. Never say you can’t make a difference – because you can. Never say the problems are too big and your abilities too small – because the problems are not too big – and your abilities are not too small. The only way the problems can be too big is if you let them be. The only way your abilities can be too small is if you don’t use them – don’t risk them – don’t do what you can. I read not long ago about a girl named Christen. Her parents gave her the name Christen – spelled with a “Ch” instead of a “K” – so she would always remember that she belonged to Christ. On a trip to New York, Christen learned something about what it really means to belong to Christ – and to use what God has given you – no matter how little it may be – to show God to others. She and her dad went to New York City the December she was 15 as a Christmas present. They had a wonderful time in New York City – shopping, having dinner together, and going to a Broadway show. The weather was bitter cold, and Christen was wearing her new black and white checkered winter coat her dad bought her. She put her other winter coat into a shopping bag and wore the new coat. As Christen and her father walked along, they came to an intersection – and there was a young woman standing there, holding a cup and begging. She was a thin girl, dressed only in jeans and a light cotton sweater. She shivered and her skin looked gray from the cold. Christen's dad took out some bills and coins from his pocket and dropped them into the cup. Then they crossed the street. When they got to the other side, Christen said to her dad, "Dad, we have to do something for her." "What can we do?" he asked. "I want to give her my coat." Christen said. "Your new coat?" her Dad asked. "Dad! She needs it more than I do and, anyway, I've got my old one right here!" Maybe it wasn’t a lot – but it meant a lot to the woman who was cold. Maybe you are like the servant with the 2 talents. Not as much as others may have – but enough to make a difference if you will risk it – use it for God’s glory. We all can use what God has given us – and make a difference for God in the world. Never say you don’t have enough to make a difference – because you do. Never say you can’t make a difference – because you can. Never say the problems are too big and your abilities too small – because the problems are not too big – and your abilities are not too small. The only way the problems can be too big is if you let them be. The only way your abilities can be too small is if you don’t use them – don’t risk them – don’t do what you can. Even the servant in the middle – the one with the 2 talents – had enough to make a difference. He didn’t let the fact that he didn’t have as much as the servant with the 5 talents stop him from doing what he could – and he made a difference. You can use what you have – even if it seems like a little – and make a difference in the world for God’s glory. Use what God has given you – serve God with what you have -- and see what can be done. You might be amazed at how God can bless what you do – and work through what you can do. Let’s all be like the servant in the middle – who used what he had – and served his master well. AMEN

Psalm 150

2005-10-29T19:47:00.000-05:00

PSALM 150October 30, 23005 (Song and praise service)
Praise the Lord! Let everything that breathes – praise the Lord! What a wonderful thought – and a wonderful invitation to live a life that gives praise to God! God – who created us and all things – and who at the end of the creative process declared – as Genesis 1:31 tells us – that His creation was “very good” – deserves our response of love – adoration – and praise. God – who loves us so much that He does not let us die in our sins – but has sent Christ to die for our sins and rise again so we might have new life in Him – as Paul tells us in Romans 4:6-11 – deserves our response of love – adoration – and praise. God – who loves us and provides for our needs – as Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-33 – deserves our response of love – adoration –and praise. God – creator, savior, and provider – is truly deserving of our love – adoration – and praise. Praise the Lord! Let everything that breathes – praise the Lord! In all things – in all circumstances of life – praise the Lord! This may be easy to do in the good times – when things are going well for us – but harder to do in the more difficult – the more trying times. But I don’t think the Psalmist was trying to say to give this praise to God when things are going well – but to be mad and upset with God when things are not going well for us. Just as Paul admonishes the Christians in Thessalonica to give praise in all circumstances when he wrote 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we too are admonished to give praise to God in all things. It may go against our nature. It may not be easy for us to do. It may be very difficult for us to see God’s hand in the midst of our hard times – but God is still there – still creating new opportunities for us – still loving and redeeming us – still providing for us in the midst of even the hardest times of our lives. Even in the hard times – we can praise the Lord. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:28-39 that all things – good and bad – work together for our good if we will trust in God – and that through all hard times we will be more than conquerors because God is with us. Praise the Lord! Let everything that breathes – praise the Lord! This is indeed an invitation to live a life of praise -- a life where we realize what God has done for us – and praise God for what He has done for us. Praise the Lord! In the good times – praise the Lord – because He has blessed you. In the hard times – praise the Lord – because He is with you – and is blessing you. I once read about a woman who – despite many hardships in her life – learned how to live a life of praise to God – at all times! This woman’s daughter had been killed in an automobile accident -- her husband had died -- and she had a crippling disease that confined her to a wheelchair. But instead of being angry with God or giving up -- she struggled on with great courage -- and even found ways to focus on the needs of others and how she could help others. She decided that she would live as full, productive, and joyful life as she could . She gave her philosophy of life this way:

“God has given me life that is rich and full. I have drawn closer to God. I love getting up in the morning. Each day is a blank canvas and I get to paint the picture. I don’t ask God to remove the mountains, only to give me strength to climb. In this way I can see what I do have -- and give thanks to God.”

What a witness this lady is. What a life of praise she lives. We all can learn from her. We all can learn to move past focusing on our complaints – our hardships – and move to a faith in God that knows God is with us in all times of our lives – Always creating new possibilities for us – Always redeeming us – Always loving, caring for, and providing for us. Indeed – Praise the Lord! Let everything that breathes – praise the Lord! Amen

Matthew 22:15-22

2005-10-15T19:09:00.001-05:00

Matthew 22:15-22Give Yourself Back To God October 16 2005

"Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said." That is how our passage for today begins. Actually they had been plotting against him for some time. They tried twice to trip him up, but failed. Now they are trying again. But they didn't send out their “first team”. It wasn't that they thought Jesus to be an easy touch -- they knew better than that. It was that they were looking for a way to knock him off his pedestal without risking their reputations. Jesus had made them look bad twice, and they were tired of being humiliated. So the Pharisees turned to their disciples -- young men in training -- young men with no reputations to protect -- young men with nothing to lose. The Pharisees designed a trap question and instructed these young men in how to use it against Jesus. But first they taught them how to set Jesus up. Before they sprang the trap question on Jesus, they were to say: "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth." Of course, they did not believe that. It was just a way of buttering Jesus up -- getting him to lower his guard. It was just a way of distracting him so that they could blindside him with The Question. Once they had flattered Jesus, they were to say: "Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?" The beauty of that question was that it offered Jesus only two choices -- Yes or No. If Jesus said Yes, he would offend the people, who hated Caesar's tax. If Jesus said No, the Roman soldiers would arrest him for sedition. Either way -- they thought -- Jesus would lose and they would win. But – of course -- if Jesus somehow found a way out of the trap -- it would be the young men who would be humiliated instead of the Pharisees. That’s why the young men were sent in the first place. But nobody expected Jesus to escape. They were sure that they had him. But Jesus didn't say Yes and he didn't say No. He said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?" That brought everything out into the open, didn't it? Jesus knew what they were trying to do, and he made sure that everyone else knew it too. "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?" But that wasn't enough to save Jesus. If Jesus had said nothing more, he would look as if he were simply trying to dodge the question. So he said, "Show me the coin used for the tax," and they brought him a denarius. A denarius was a significant coin -- wages for a day. But it was significant in other ways too. You see -- the denarius bore the emperor’s image, and was inscribed, "Tiberius Caesar, August son of the divine Augustus, high priest." Jews found both the image of the emperor and the inscription offensive. For one thing, the Ten Commandments forbid graven images, so they hated the image of the emperor on the coin. For another thing, Jews didn't believe that emperor was divine. They didn't accept the emperor as God. But -- and I believe this is significant -- the disciples of the super-religious Pharisees brought Jesus a denarius. Where did they get a denarius? Well – we can suppose that one of them must have had one in his pocket – and – probably without giving it much thought –pulled it out for Jesus to see. Now – and here is why this was significant -- where were they? They were in the temple. So – these disciples of the super religious Pharisees had brought a denarius – with the graven image of the emperor on it – into the Temple – where only God was to be worshipped? Apparently they – who demanded that the people obey all the Commandments – were not obeying the one about making no graven images. Maybe they brought the denarius – with its image of the emperor -- into the temple because they were so used to carrying these coins in their pockets that they had given no thought to the fact that it contained a graven image. Jesus had called them hypocrites, and the fact that they could produce one of these offensive coins proved Jesus' point -- proved that they cared more about money than about God. And then Jesus asked, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "the Emperor’s." So Jesus said: "Give therefore to the Emperor the things that are the Emperor’s , and to God the things that are God's." "Give to the Emperor the things that the Emperor's." The word that Jesus used really means, "Give back." Jesus was really saying: "Give back to the Emperor the things that are the Emperor's." In other words – Jesus was saying: “Hey -- this coin bears the Emperor’s image. It bears his inscription. It was minted in his mint. It circulates at his pleasure. If he wants it back in a tax, give it to him. Give it back!” Made sense – didn’t it. But then Jesus said something else – something else that also made sense – but that the Pharisees – their disciples – and throughout the centuries many people – and in many ways even we – do not like to hear. After Jesus said: "Give to the Emperor the things that the Emperor's." He said: “Give to God the things that are God’s” In other words – give back to the emperor the coins by paying the tax if he wants them – but give back to God the things that are His – and that He wants. "Give back to God the things that are God's." What is it that belongs to God? Well – a better question might be, what does not belong to God? We know that God created all things – everything – and so everything depends on – and belongs to God. And God wants to use – and bless – and be a part of – all that He has made – all that He has! "Give back to God the things that are God's." To get more to the point -- WE belong to God. Just as the denarius bore the Emperor’s image, and could be given back to the emperor in a tax or in any other way the emperor so chose, we bear God's image. That is one of the first things that the Bible says. In Genesis 1:27 – just 27 verses into scripture – it says: "So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" (Gen. 1:27). So -- if it is appropriate to give back to the emperor what belongs to the emperor -- namely a coin that bears his image -- so also it is appropriate to give back to God what belongs to God -- namely ourselves – who bear His image. God created us in his image. We bear God's likeness. God wants us to be His people, so God wants us to give ourselves back to Him. GIVE YOURSELF BACK TO GOD. What does that mean? What would it look like if we were to give ourselves back to God? Let me first tell you what it would NOT look like! This is a little “prayer” that is somewhat amusing – but actually describes many of us in a serious manner. A man named Wilbur Rees wrote a tongue-in-cheek prayer for half-hearted Christians -- Christians who are willing to give God only a little bit of their lives. Listen to his half-hearted prayer. He prays: "I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of God to make me love a black man or to pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please." But – you know what -- God does not want half-hearted commitment. God doesn't want us to be lukewarm. God wants us to be hot! God wants us to love Him! God wants us to give our best to Him. God wants us to give ourselves back to Him! What would that look like? What would it look like if you were to give yourself back to God – if you were to give your best to God? The answer is that it depends. It depends on who God calls you to be and what God calls you to do. But – there are some general things I believe you can know about what it might mean for you if you were to give ourselves back to God. First – it would mean putting the things of God first in your life. It would mean making the Church – the place where we gather as a community of Christians to worship God and fellowship with each other – important in your life. This does not just mean attending worship – although that is important – but it also means participating in Sunday School, Bible Study, and fellowship times. It also means supporting the work of God in and through this Church with the money God has blessed you with – and getting involved in the work of the Church. There is a lot of “behind the scenes” things that are done that keep this Church going – enough for everyone to share in – enough for you to be a part of. Putting the things of God first in your life. Giving your time – your talents – your money – all you have – back to God for God’s work. Second – it would mean listening to where God might want you to get involved in His work in the world. God has a place for everyone in His work – and a task for everyone to do. Where is your place? What is your task? I know a man and woman who gave themselves back to God. They have served now for thirty years as missionaries in Haiti, because that is where God called them. I would not want to live in Haiti, but they call it home. That is their place in the work of God in the world – that is their task. That is what giving themselves back to God looks like for them. Where is your place? What is your task? My nephew and his wife work for Campus Crusade for Christ. They are both very talented in working with computers – he with internet ministries and she with graphic designs. They have live in Orlando, Florida and have worked in Campus Crusade’s headquarters there for several years now – but are now praying about an opportunity they have to go overseas for a year to help and learn from the staff of Campus Crusade in another country. That is their place in the work of God in the world – that is their task. That is what giving themselves back to God looks like for them. Where is your place? What is your task? GIVE YOURSELF BACK TO GOD Make the things of God important to you. Listen to where God might want you to get involved in His work in the world. You don't have to be a missionary -- unless that is what God calls you to do. I know a woman who gave herself back to God. She devotes herself to helping others – feeding people who are hungry – feeding children who come by her house because they know they can get something to eat there – finding food and shelter for adults who are in need. That is her place in the work of God in the world – that is her task. That is what giving herself back to God looks like for her. We all know ladies who use their talents in knitting and crocheting to make afghans that are sent to Warm Up America and the Red Cross to help those in need. That is their place in the work of God in the world – that is their task. That is what giving themselves back to God looks like for them. Where is your place? What is your task? GIVE YOURSELF BACK TO GOD Make the things of God important to you. Listen to where God might want you to get involved in His work in the world. An old Gospel song says, "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord. I'll be what you want me to be." That is what it looks like to give yourself back to God. It means letting God set the agenda for your life. Think about this question: What would your life look like if you were to give yourself back to God? What would you do differently? How can I put the things of God in their proper place of importance in my life? What can I do to make the God’s work in and through this Church the best it can be? What can I give – financially and in terms of time and abilities -- to make the God’s work in and through this Church the best it can be? What ministry is it that God would have me to do – and where would God have me to be doing it? What would my life look life if I were to give it back to God? GIVE YOURSELF BACK TO GOD I know that many of you have already given yourselves back to God, but there is a sense in which we need to do that daily. The world is a big magnet that tries to pull us away from God. We need to start each morning by giving ourselves back to God. Alcoholics know how to do that. They know that their struggle is never over. They know that they can't commit themselves to being sober for the next year. They simply commit themselves to sobriety for the day -- or perhaps just for the next hour -- or even for the next five minutes. We need to adopt that attitude in our life of faith. We need to give ourselves back to God every day -- every hour. So think about this question this week: What would it look like if I were to give myself back to God? What would I do differently? What would I have to change? What things of God do I need to make more important in my life? What is it that God would have me to do – and where would God have to do it? Think about what it would mean if you were to: GIVE YOURSELF BACK TO GOD AMEN

Matthew 22:1-14

2005-10-08T21:25:00.000-05:00

Matthew 22:1-14 Change Is Not Optional October 9, 2005
The invitation said “Black Tie Optional”. I knew what that meant – it meant I could wear Tux or a nice dark suit and tie. Since I do not own Tux and really did not feel like renting Tux, I opted for the dark suit. In fact, I had “outgrown” – in width – not height – my dark “Preacher suit” and needed a new one, anyway. So I bought the new suit – and was ready. The invitation was to the “2 Those Who Care” Awards Dinner that one of the local TV stations holds to honor community volunteers. I had nominated one of our volunteers at the Reidsville Outreach Center, and she was one of those chosen for the award. Since I had nominated her, and since it was her work at the Outreach Center where I am the Director that was being recognized, I had to be there. Not that I minded – I enjoy formal affairs – but I really did need to be there. That evening at the ceremony – which was televised – I was shown on TV sitting at the table with others – listening to the volunteer I had nominated accept her award. It was a fun evening – and I’m glad I was able to be there. I’m glad I accepted the invitation – and attended the banquet. In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus tells about some invited guests who fail to show for the wedding of the king's son. Now -- people don't usually fail o show up for a palace wedding. When a king's son or daughter gets married, everyone wants to come. It is almost unthinkable that anyone would fail to show. But – then again -- stranger things have happened. A friend of mine tells that in one of the first weddings that he conducted, the bride did not show. The groom was an Army officer and the setting was an Army chapel. In the Army, people come on time. But this bride didn't come on time. The groom and minister were waiting nervously at the chapel, and there was no bride. Fifteen minutes before the appointed hour, there was no bride. Ten minutes, no bride. Five minutes, no bride. The minister finally suggested that the groom call her. He protested, because she lived some distance away -- surely she was on the road. But he dialed her number. Then he heard the groom say, "Hello. What are you doing at home?" Apparently the bride answered that she was hemming her dress. My friend says he can still see the astonishment on the groom’s face – and hear the astonishment in the groom’s voice – when the groom said: "Hemming your dress! How long is that going to take?" Apparently the bride answered that it was going to take however long it took. My friend said he at first thought that the bride had changed her mind, but she hadn't. She just hadn't gotten her dress hemmed, and she wouldn't be there until she finished. My friend went into the sanctuary and told the guests that the wedding would be delayed. He invited them to mill around and talk while they waited. Then he went to see the groom – and asked: "Are you sure you want to do this?" The groom laughed and said he was sure. The bride finally came and the wedding was celebrated. My friend says he always wondered how that marriage worked out. So strange things do happen at weddings -- and Jesus told about a strange thing. A king invited people to his son's wedding, and nobody showed up. They gave excuses. They even mistreated the servants that the king sent to them. So the king punished them -- and then he sent his servants to invite whomever they could. "Go into the streets." he said, "Find me some guests." So the servants went to the streets and invited everyone they saw -- good and bad. They filled the banquet hall with guests, which is what the king needed. He couldn't have a party in an empty hall! But then the king noticed a guest who was not wearing a wedding robe. Everyone else had robes, but this man did not. The king told his servants to throw the man out -- to cast him into outer darkness. Then Jesus concluded this parable by saying, "For many are called, but few are chosen." Now maybe you’re thinking: "That story doesn't make sense!” Frankly, the first time I read it, I thought the same thing. But then I studied it and learned that it does make sense -- that it has something important to say to us today. So let me explain it briefly. I know we have to be careful when we allegorize scripture, but I think making this passage an allegory will be helpful. Let’s say that – in this story, the king is God. Let’s say that – the invited guests are Israel. And – let’s say that -- the mistreated servants are the prophets -- God's messengers. Israel was infamous for mistreating the prophets. Then – let’s say that the people from the streets were Gentiles. This, then, can be seen as a story of Israel rejecting the prophets -- rejecting Jesus -- and losing their place at the front of the line. It can be seen as the story of God wanting faithful people -- and opening the door to all sorts of people to fill the banquet hall. But it is also the story of people offering to follow Jesus and then failing to do so. It might be our story. We are always tempted to accept the invitation to follow Jesus -- and then to balk when it comes time to pay the price. Sometimes following Christ is difficult. Will Willimon used to be the Dean of Duke Chapel at Duke University – and is now the Bishop of Alabama for the United Methodist Church. As bishop, he assigns pastors to churches. He told recently of moving a pastor from one church to another -- with the result that the man took a $7,000 pay cut. Willimon was almost apologetic about the move – but the man said, "Bishop, you don't have to apologize.... I came into the ministry from a $100,000 job with Mobil Oil. There's nothing you can do to hurt me as bad economically as when Jesus called me to go to seminary and be a preacher." Sometimes following Christ involves real sacrifice! I doubt that Christ has called you to quit your hundred thousand dollar job to go to seminary, but he has called you to faithful discipleship. What does that mean? -- It means that Christ has called you to be faithful with your time -- to devote time to prayer -- to public worship -- to service in the church. -- It means that Christ has called you to be faithful with your money -- to tithe -- to support your church financially -- to help needy people. -- It means that Christ has called you to be honest in your dealings with other people -- to be honest in financial dealings -- to be honest in relationships. -- It means that Christ has called you to live a life that will draw people to Christ -- including your family. Christ calls you love your family -- to be kind to them --to witness to them -- to be the kind of person they will want to follow. Those are some of the things that Christ calls all of us to do -- but he probably has other plans for your life as well. He might want you to feed the hungry. He might want you to reach out to others with His love and touch their lives. Listen to Jesus’ invitation to you – and take Him up on it! Don’t be like those who refused the invitation of the king – but accept Jesus’ invitation in your life. But – accepting the invitation is only part of what we have to do. In my opening illustration I told about the invitation to the “2 Those Who Care” banquet – and how I accepted the invitation. I also told about how I bought a new black suit I could fit into for the occasion -- and that I could use for other events, also. Well – just accepting the invitation and having an appropriate suit to wear was not enough. The day of the banquet happened to be a Monday – and it happened to be one of the Mondays the Outreach Center gets food delivered from the Food Bank. This was in August, and unloading the truck full of meats and canned goods and putting everything where they needed to go was a hot, dirty job. Needless to say. I was not wearing my black suit. I had on khakis and an old knit shirt – and some of our volunteers had on shorts and T – shirts. After we finished, we noticed the time. It was mid – afternoon – and the banquet was going to begin in Greensboro – 45 minutes away – at 6:00. We looked at each other – saw how hot, dirty, and sweaty we were – and decided we all needed to go home and change before going to the banquet. “I don’t think we can go like this” one person said. “Nope” -- I replied – “changing is not optional” Apparently it was not one for those who finally accepted the invitation to the wedding banquet, either. Jesus told about the man who came to the wedding in the wrong clothing. He was supposed to wear a wedding robe, but he came in his grubbies. The king had the man cast "into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." What was that all about? Again – if we take the story allegorically – the wedding robe in this story can stand for letting Jesus change our lives. The man who came to the party without a robe is like the Christian who says that he will follow Jesus, but who continues to live in sin. It would be as if the volunteers going to the banquet and I had shown up in our dirty clothes – sweaty and looking like we had just finished unloading a truck! That is almost worse than not showing up at all. I believe Jesus is warning us that He won't tolerate the person who claims to be a Christian but continues to live as always. He expects us to show up, but then he also expects us to grow in grace -- to become new people whose lives reflect that we belong to him. That doesn't mean that Christ requires us to be perfect. Far from it! Christ is happy to forgive our sins -- and we all need forgiveness! But there are limits! This parable teaches us that when we give our lives to Christ, He expects that to make a difference. He expects us to begin to change. He expects us to let the Spirit begin reshaping our lives. If we insist on coming to the party unshaven and unwashed -- dressed in our grubbies -- if we insist on living in rebellion -- it is as bad as never showing up at all. Letting Christ change us is not optional. Changing is not optional – it is a requirement. So – there are a few responses we can make to Christ’s invitation to us: -- First, LISTEN -- listen for Christ's invitation -- listen so that you will hear where He wants you to be and what he wants you to do. When you hear his call, answer it. Come to the party! Second, examine your life. Have you given your life to Christ? Has that made a difference? Do you spend time in worship? In prayer? Are you willing to let God reshape you into someone beautiful -- someone holy? Christ has big plans for you -- for you personally. He wants you to accept His invitation – but He also wants to change you. Let Christ reshape your life. Let Him make you into a new person. If you will be faithful to Him, He will be faithful to you. He will give you a better life than you ever expected. For this life in Christ, He must change us. Changing is not optional – it is a requirement Over my desk at the Outreach Center there is a “group shot” of all the volunteers and I who attended the banquet in Greensboro. I must say we look nice – all dressed up in our suits and long dresses. The other day one of our clients looked at the picture and asked who the people were. I began to point out each one – and finally the client looked at some of the same volunteers packing bags for the food distribution but dressed in shots and T shirts – and looked at me in my Khakis and knit shirt. The client finally said: “Y’all cleaned up real good for that picture” Yea – “cleaning up” – changing – letting Christ clean us – letting Christ change us – is not an option -- it is a requirement. AMEN

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20; Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46

2005-10-01T20:01:00.000-05:00

EXODUS 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 PHILIPPIANS 3:4(B)-14 MATTHEW 21:33-46COMMUNION OCTOBER 2, 2005 “THE POWER OF LOVE” READ SCRIPTURE In his novel The Brothers Karamazov the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky relates a moving story of a Russian village and the daily lives of those who live there. In one moving scene a woman goes to talk with a holy man about her problems with faith. "What if I've been believing all my life, and when I come to die there is nothing but Burdocks growing over my grave? ... How can I prove it? How can I convince myself?" The holy man answer thinks – then responds: "By the experience of active love. Insofar as you advance in active love, you will grow surer of the reality of God and of the immortality of the soul." The power of active love. That is what our faith is all about – the power of God’s active love in our lives – and the power of God’s call to each of us to have active love for all people. The power of active love. The 10 Commandments we heard again moments ago have become “hot potatoes” lately – with groups forming to bring them back into the public life – and other groups against such public show of religion. From courthouses in Alabama to Washington state there are battles over the public display of the 10 Commandments. What should we make of – and how should we consider – the 10 Commandments? As laws written in stone by God -- who will strike us down if we attempt to break them? As 10 laws meant to do away with any fun we might have -- or think about having -- handed down to us by a God who is a killjoy - - continually spouting forth a litany of “Thou shalts” and “Thou shalt nots”? As 10 laws that restrict what we do -- handed down to us by a God who is only interested in limiting our actions? Or -- as 10 rules to closely follow - - to keep track of our obedience to - - and to take great pride in our ability to follow - - while at the same time looking down on those we do not feel keep the Commandments as well as we think we do? Or – as a litmus test for political candidates – be for our side on the issue of the public display of the 10 Commandments – or we will not vote for you. All these ways of interpreting the 10 Commandments are fairly prevalent - - as rules that restrict us or rules that cause us great pride when we feel we follow them better than others or as political litmus tests. But - - wait a minute. Are there other options for interpretting the 10 Commandments - - and other options for visualizing God? Surely there must be. Let’s take another look at God giving the 10 Commandments to the Israelites and see if we can come up with another way to interpret them -- and another way to visualize God. God had just freed the people of Israel from slavery. Through Moses God had worked miracles and mighty deeds that made clear God’s will for freedom for God’s people. They had been freed by God - but now what? Should their freedom change how they live? Are they to live any differently because they have been freed from slavery by God? Certainly. The glorious fact that they had been freed from slavery by the power of God was to be the deciding factor in how they lived. They were to live differently from others -- because God had blessed them with their freedom. But - - how were they to live differently? At Mt. Siani they found out. In the fire and the smoke and the quaking of that holy mountain they found out how God wanted them to live. They had been freed from slavery by their freeing - - life-giving God -- and now they were to have undivided loyalty to God - - a loyalty that would not allow them to try to manipulate God by carving idols -- or to take God’s Holy name lightly - - and that would require them to take a Sabbath day of rest out of every 7 days to remember and worship God. But -- because God had freed them - - they were also to live in a special relationship with others -- honoring their parents -- refraining from murder, adultery, stealing, lieing and coveting -- or doing anything else that might keep them from living in this special relationship with God and others. The 10 Commandments were indeed commandments - - but they were not Commandments that restricted what the people could and could not do as much as it freed them to love - - to love God and to love others -- to honor and respect and worship God and to treat others with love and honor and respect. The 10 Commandments are commandments to love God and to love others. They are not commandments to restrict us or make us feel proud -- they are instead commandments to love. We are commanded to love. We can feel the power of God’s love in our lives – and share God’s love with others in powerful, active ways. The 10 Commandments are all about the power of God’s love. Jesus understood what the 10 Commandments were all about. When he confronted the Jewish leaders who for centuries had thought that they were better than all others -- and who used the Commandments as a measuring stick to see how much better they were than others -- he made it plain that just having the Commandments -- just being in the vineyard -- is not enough for the Kingdom of God. Unless you let the Commandments lead you to be open to God -- loving and respecting God and loving and respecting all people -- you are not living in the ways God calls you to live -- no matter how good a person you are if you do not let God lead you to love for Him and others -- you are not living in the ways of God. If you do not realize the power of God’s love – let the power of God’s love change your life – and share the power of God’s love with others – you are not living in God ‘s ways. Living in God’s ways is not so much about strict obediance as much as it is about the power of love. The tenants in Jesus’ parable thought they had it made there in the vineyard -- so much so they did not care about the landlord servants or his son. They didn’t let the power of having the vineyard change them and their attitudes towards the landlord. Having the love of God -- having salvation -- should change us – the powerful love of God should change us -- and it should bring about a change in our attitudes -- in our devotion to God - - in the love we have and share with others. That’s the power of God’ s love It can change who we are It can change how we relate to God and others That’s what the 10 Commandments are all about – the power of love Paul finally understood this. He thought his life was perfect until he met Jesus -- and saw just how imperfect he was. Then he began striving to live in love – the power of love -- love for God – and love for others. He finally discovered that his life was not meant to be spent feeling superior to others -- but loving others. Those 10 Commandments he had taken such great pride in were actually commandments to love God -- and to love others. He finally experienced – and committed himself to sharing – the power of God’s love. I can experience and share God’s active, powerful love with the world So can you We can experience and share God’s active, powerful love with others. This is not easy. Paul understood how difficult it was -- and yet he let God strengthen him as he strove to share God’s love with others. It is only when we let God’s love take root in us that we can truly love others. Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God with all your heart -- soul -- mind -- and strength -- and to love others as yourself. There is an ancient monastic saying which is printed on your bulletin cover for today:

We have thrown down a light burden, which is the reprehending of our own selves, and we have chosen instead to bear a heavy burden, by justifying our own selves and condemning others.

When we choose to follow the power of God’s great love – sharing His love with each other and others – God strengthens us to live by the power of His love. When we choose to try to justify ourselves – feel superior to others – and judge others instead of loving them as God does and as God calls on us to do – we are weakened by our own feelings of hatred and jealousy. So – the question for us is: How much do we love? How much do we love God? How much do we love others? Do we let the active, life changing love of God work in your lives? Do our actions show God’s active, life changing love to others? The real question, though, is for you: How much do you love? How much do you love God? How much do you love others? Do you let the active, life changing love of God work in your life? Do your actions show God’s active, life changing love to others? Friends – as you partake of the Sacrament in a few moments, learn once again what it means to love. As you partake of the bread and cup, remember the love of God – let that love touch you in a new way – and commit yourself to sharing the active, powerful love of God with others. Learn again what it means to be open to God in your life and to be open to others. Learn again what it means to be loved by a gracious God -- who can lead us to love Him and the world. Use this time in this place - - around this table with these people -- to reflect on how well you show a love for God and others in your life -- and use this Sacrament to strengthen your love for God and for the world. Learn to not take up the burden of feeling superior to others or judging others – but to take on the actions of love and joy and peace. Learn again to let God’s love move in you and change your life. Learn again the power of God’s active love and how to share that with others. Learn again the power of love. AMEN

Matthew 21:23-32

2005-09-24T19:35:00.000-05:00

MATTHEW 21:23-32 ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER SEPTMEBER 25, 2005 A friend of mine tells about a member of his church – and how he learned a lesson about the difference between people “act religious” – and those who do Christian actions – whether they “act religious” or not. “I disliked him, the moment I saw him” my friend confided about this particular person. It may come as a shock to some of you to hear a pastor say that he dislikes someone in his church – but it happens from time to time. We are human too, you know. Anyway – my friend described this person this way: “He was loud, a braggart, probably a bully. In the first five minutes of conversation with him, you quickly learned that he had made a lot of money, through all sorts of business shenanigans. He liked running things and, no doubt, probably wanted also to run the church, and to run me as well. He only came to church when he felt like it. He had had conflicts with previous pastors, and everyone told me he would probably have conflicts with me. People said that he liked to make a big show of his financial success. And yet, people also said that he gave very little to the church. What he gave, he thought gave him a license to freely criticize the church and its pastor.” My friend said he kept this person at arm's length – always leery of what he was doing or what he was up to – and never trusting him. Until he learned something about this man he never would have guessed. While visiting in a nearby city, my friend was introduced to someone as the pastor of the church he was serving. The person said, "Isn't that the church where (and gave the man my friend disliked) is a member?" My friend cautiously "Yes, he is a member of the church. He is a member, though not a particularly active member," my friend added just to cover himself. "I'll always be indebted to him, me and a lot of people like me," the man said. "Indebted?" my friend asked. "Yeah, he is the one who paid for my education. My education and a lot of people like me. I worked in one of his businesses after school when I was in high school. My senior year in high school, I got a note from him. He hardly ever spoke to me when I would run into him at work. The note said something like, 'I want to help you with college. You get into the best college you can, and I will see you through.' That was all. I got in a good college and he paid just about every cent of it. And I wasn't the only one. I expect that he must have footed the bill for a couple of dozen young people in that town." My friend thought for a moment – letting this soak in. "That's hard to believe. I don't think I have ever heard that of him," my friend replied lamely. "I bet you never will.” The man continued. “He asked us not to tell anybody about his generosity. He said he didn't want everybody beating on his door asking for a handout. I think the real reason is that he is, deep down, a genuinely humble person. I do know for sure that he has sure done a lot of good in his own quiet way," the man said. The man then left – as did my friend. When my friend e-mailed me the story he commented: “I don't know about you, but I find such unrestrained generosity, coming from a person like this member of my church annoying. It is annoying when those people, those people who are not self-evidently good people, those people who are not well- formed church people, turn out to be such undeniably good people. This man – who does not act like a church person – is doing more for others than many of the people in my church who act so good are doing. He’s doing more than I am doing. What do you think God thinks about that?” Good question. What do you think God thinks about that? Who is doing what God wants us to do – the man who is obnoxious – but helps others – or the person who sits in church – looks good – can talk all day about God – looks like the model Christian – but does not do what God calls us to do? Who is truly living the Christian life -- the man who is obnoxious – but helps others – or the person who sits in church – looks good – can talk all day about God – looks like the model Christian – but does not do what God calls us to do? The answer is fairly simple – isn’t it? Of course the man who does things to help others is doing what God wants us to do more than the one who may look like the model Christian but does not have actions. A fairly simple answer to a question – and yet one that we may not want to hear. I don’t know about you – but I don’t like hearing that someone who does not appear to be a Christian – maybe an obnoxious person who tries to “run the church” – or maybe even the neighbor who never darkens the door of the church – or maybe even the man or woman on the street who is drunk or high most of the time – I don’t like hearing that they may be doing God’s will better than we are – better than I am. You probably don’t like it, either. You’re probably thinking: “What do you mean – these people who try to push people around – or try to impress others – or who have never darkened the door of the church – or who truly don’t look like ‘religious folks’ – might be doing God’s will better than we are – -- better than you are better than I am”? Unfortunately, when we become offended by ideas like these – we are close to the attitude the Pharisees had. You see — the Pharisees thought that their knowledge of God’s laws and their piety and their long robes and prayer shawls would impress God. They were the “good church people” of Jesus’ day. They thought that if they “looked the part” of a Godly person God would think they were Godly people – never mind the fact that they did not actually do anything God wanted them to do and always looked for ways around actually obeying God’s laws. Surely – they thought -- they were much better than – and God loved them much more than -- this rabble – rouser named John or his cousin Jesus -- who talked about God loving sinners – and even hung out with the worst sinners they could find. And when these sinners – these tax collectors – prostitutes – and all kinds of other ne’er do wells said they had found God – had found religion – and began acting in ways that showed God to others – well, the Pharisees held them in suspicion and would have nothing to do with them. Surely God loved them – the Pharisees – better than “those people” – “the sinners” – and surely they would enter heaven before these repentant sinners ever would. Don’t be so sure – Jesus says. In our scripture passage for today, Jesus tells a story about a man with two sons. -- The father asked the first son to go to work in the vineyard, and the son said that he would -- but he didn't. -- The father asked the second son to go to work in the vineyard, and the second son said that he wouldn't -- but he did. Remember Jesus was talking to the Pharisees here. The religious men -- the best men of His day -- men who prided themselves in doing what God wanted them to do – but, in fact, often failed to do what God wanted them to do. And the men who criticized Jesus for talking to and hanging out with people they considered sinners – people who may have blatantly acted the opposite of how God wanted them to act -- but many of whom gave their lives to God and began doing what God wanted them to do. So Jesus told them about two sons -- one who said "No" but did "Yes" -- and the other who said "Yes" but did "No". "Which of the two did the will of his father?" Jesus asked. If you were paying attention during the reading of the scripture you know the answer to that question. Even if you weren't paying attention, you can probably figure it out. When Jesus asked the religious men, they said that the better son was the one who said "No" but then did what the father asked. You parents probably agree that you would prefer that -- the son or daughter who finally does what you asked. It isn't perfect, but it is better than the son or daughter who never does what you ask. Jesus told about these two sons to illustrate a point. His point was that, in Israel, there were two kinds of people. One group was sinners -- tax collectors and prostitutes -- lowlifes all. God was not happy about the way they lived. Tax collectors in that day cheated people – and you know what prostitutes did. But some of these tax collectors and sinners knew that they were in the wrong – and when John the Baptist and then Jesus came preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near" his preaching touched their hearts and they repented. The tax collectors quit cheating and the prostitutes quit consorting. The tax collectors and prostitutes responded to John's preaching because they knew they were in the wrong -- knew that they needed to live differently -- knew that they needed to repent and change the direction of their lives. So they did! They repented! They changed the direction of their lives. The other group of people were the religious folks – the best of which were the priests and elders -- scribes and Pharisees. They heard John the Baptist, too – but many of them, when they heard John say, "Repent!" -- thought he was just talking to the tax collectors and prostitutes. My guess is that they were in John's cheering section -- thinking, "That's the way to tell them, John! Say it again!" But they did not think he – or later Jesus – was talking to them. And so they failed to repent. They failed to repent, because they didn't think that they needed repentance. They thought of themselves as God's faithful sons. They thought that they were doing everything that they needed to be doing. But they weren't. They made a great show of religion, but their hearts were far from God. John called them a "brood of vipers" -- Jesus called them hypocrites. So Jesus told this story of the two sons to drive home the point that the tax collectors and sinners who repented were way ahead of the great religious men who failed to repent. He wanted them to see that just looking the part of the religious person – just giving “lip service” to God without really acting in God’s ways – was not impressing God at all. Jesus told this story to let the great religious men know that they needed to repent just as the tax collectors and prostitutes and everyone else did. Jesus told this story to let them know that - - if they did not repent and act in God’s ways – the tax collectors and prostitutes and other sinners who did repent would enter heaven – and they would not. Now – let’s return to that question you might have had a few minutes ago: “What do you mean – these people who try to push people around – or try to impress others – or who have never darkened the door of the church – or who truly don’t look like ‘religious folks’ – might be doing God’s will better than we are – -- better than you are -- better than I am”? What I mean is this. The actions speak louder. If you think you have any special deal with God just because you come to church and sing and pray and listen for one hour a week – but don’t let it change who you are or how you live, you are sadly mistaken. If you think you are better off than someone who is the worst sinner you can think of just because you come to church and sing and pray and listen for one hour a week – but don’t let it change who you are or how you live, you are sadly mistaken. If you think that can afford to pass judgment on someone who may not act the part of a good church member – but has decided to follow Christ and has begun doing God’s will – you are wrong. If we think we are better than others simply because we go to church – but fail to truly do what God calls us to do -- we are no more obedient to God than the son who said would do what the father asked – but didn’t do it. If we think others don’t stand a chance with God – or with us – because they originally turned God down – then saw how wrong they were and repented - - we are wrong. The son who originally said “no” – but then did what the father asked – turned out to be obedient. The son who originally said “yes” – but did not do what the father asked – turned out to be disobedient. The actions speak louder. The sinners who originally said “I don’t need God” – but ended up repenting and living in God’s ways – turned out to be obedient to God. The religious leaders and religious people who acted like they were so good – who said they would do what God told them to do -- but did not do God’s will – turned out to be disobedient. And Jesus said the sinners who originally said “I don’t need God” – but ended up repenting and living in God’s ways will get into heaven before the religious people who acted like they were so good – who said they would do what God told them to do -- but did not do God’s will. The actions speak louder. Who’s in first? Who gets into God’s kingdom first? The sinners who originally say “I don’t need God” – but end up repenting and living in God’s ways – -- or the religious people who act like they are so good – who said they will do what God tells them to do -- but do not do God’s will? The answer is obvious – but threatening. The actions speak louder. It’s the people who actually do God’s will who enter the kingdom – not the ones who say they will do it but don’t. It’s the sinners who know they need to repent and follow God who get into God’s kingdom – not the “good people” who think they have not need to repent. The actions speak louder. Maybe we need to be more like the sinners who repented than the “good people” who did not – More like the son who said “No” but ended up doing what the father asked than the son who said “Yes” but never did it. Yea – just acting like we are going to do God’s will – looking good and playing the part – isn’t enough. We have to actually do it. The actions speak louder.

Matthew 20:1-16

2005-09-17T19:46:00.000-05:00

THANK GOD THAT GOD IS GOD (AND THAT WE ARE NOT) Matthew 20:1-16 September 18, 2005

If I were to teach a class called Religion 101 the first lesson may be entitled: God is God – And You Are Not Maybe you’ve seen the CitiBank credit card commercial featuring a decent-looking guy sincerely "telling it like it is." He tells the story of the family vacation, while scenes from that outing flick by on the screen. The family goes on a trip, stops at a souvenir tourist trap and the kids want a zillion pieces of plastic junk. The guy narrating sighs and states: "So I pay. I'm the Dad. It's my job” More vacation scenes flash across the screen. The family stops at a touristy restaurant. After everybody chows down, the guy again concludes:"So I pay. I'm the Dad. It's my job." The concluding scenes go by with the family car breaking down and a mechanic coming out to fix it. Yet another sigh from the long-suffering father: "So I pay. I'm the Dad. It's my job." It's true -- sometimes. Sometimes we are in charge, it's our responsibility, and the buck stops squarely in front of us. And although we may grump and grouse about those times, most of us kind of like knowing that we are in control of what is going on and what is coming up next. In fact, we like it so much that we tend to try to take over the reigns of control when we are clearly no longer qualified to be running the show. We try to act like we know what we are doing – when really we don’t. We try to be in control of things we have no control over. At times we try to be something we are not. And usually we get in trouble when we do that. You know – sometimes we even want to act like we are God – or worse than that sometimes we act like we can tell God what to do – or who to love and who not to – or what is right and what is wrong. We are constantly tempted to -- as I like to put it -- "play God." Why do we so quickly forget that the most basic lesson in Religion 101 is this: "God is God ... and we are not." Maybe we need to have a basic conversation with ourselves every morning. I read not long ago of a minister who urged his congregation to revisit the conversation in John 1 between John the Baptist and the crowds when they asked him if he was the Messiah. John replied – emphatically – “I am not the Messiah” Maybe every day we need to look in the mirror and tell ourselves – emphatically – “I am not the Messiah!” – or “I am not God” “God is God – and I am not” “God is God – and we are not” Over the centuries, forgetting this fact has led to countless tragedies, large and small, personal, national and global. - Adam and Eve thought they had godlike freedom ... they did not. - Saul thought he had godlike impunity ... he did not. - David thought he had godlike authority over who lives and dies ... he did not. - The Israelites thought they had godlike exclusiveness ... they did not. - Peter thought he had godlike loyalty ...he did not. - Saul of Tarsus thought he had a godlike mission to wipe out Christians ... he did not. - The Romans thought they had godlike ruling power ... they did not. - The Europeans thought they alone had a godlike image ... they did not. - Americans thought they had a god-like manifest destiny ... they did not. - Hitler thought he had a godlike right to take over the world ... he did not. - Medical science sometimes thinks it can play god ... it cannot. - Cyberspace computer whiz kids sometimes think they have a godlike grasp of our minds and souls ... they do not. God is God, and we are not. What that means is that we have no right to decide who God will love – how God will act – what God will do. He’s God. That’s His job. Sometimes we might want to question what God does – or look at someone and say: “Certainly God could not love them!” But – it’s not our job to tell God what to do – or who to love and who not to – or what is right and what is wrong. He’s God. That’s His job. Let me ask you a question: What if you got to heaven and found out that God had decided to let EVERYBODY IN? How would you feel about that? Republicans, Democrats, doctors and dope pushers, lawyers and lay-abouts, merchants and murderers, hookers and horse thieves. EVERYBODY! How would you feel? Well, certainly that will never happen! you might think. But – that’s our opinion. God might have a different opinion. Who God loves is God’s decision. He’s God. That’s His job. David Leinenger tells the story of some controversy that surrounded a September 11 service several years ago that they held in the town in Pennsylvania where he is pastor. It seems that they decided to have a community wide interfaith service to mark the 1 year anniversary of the tragedy in New York. Which was fine –- but not with everyone. David was quoted in the local paper as saying it would be open to all religious faiths – and that representatives from many religious faiths would take part in the service. Well, he began to get mail – one of which read: Dear Pastor Leininger, While visiting in Northwest Pennsylvania last summer (from my present home in Tampa), I read a newspaper article concerning your invitation to the Director of the Islamic Cultural Center in Jamestown to speak to your church members. A week or so ago, once again visiting the area of my birth, I read of the Warren Area Ministerial Association's plan to hold a Sept. 11th memorial service at the Library Theatre. In this article you are quoted as emphasizing that "It will not be just a Christian service. Instead, it will help people of all faiths to 'reach to the depths of their souls and their own understandings of the God of the universe.'" As a Christian who believes in the whole Bible as the truth of God, I strongly take issue with this position of yours. We Christians are to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and none other! As you must know, Jesus said (as quoted in John 14:6), "...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The woman trying to tell Leininger who God could and could not save. She may have been trying to tell God who He could and could not save. But – you know -- He’s God. That’s His job. When we think of the number of times we try to “play God” or judge who God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love – it’s scary! You don’t think you try to “play God” or judge who God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love? Well, let me ask you this. Do you choose who you will pay attention to and who you will not? Do you choose who you will speak to and who you will not? Do you choose who you will feel sorry for – help – and show God’s love to – and who you will not? Isn’t that a form of trying to “play God” or judge who Go can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love? Do you ever judge someone – saying: “We can’t waste our time reaching out to that person – they are a hopeless case!” Isn’t that a form of trying to “play God” or judge who God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love? As a Church – do we treat everyone equally – showing God’s love to everybody equally? If not, isn’t that a form of trying to “play God” or judge w God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love? Who God love and who God forgives and who God includes in His kingdom is God’s business – not ours. He’s God. That’s His job. But we “religious people” keep trying to “play God” or judge who God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love. We keep trying to do God’s job for Him. And we don’t do a very good job of it. Maybe that’s why – as we read the Gospels – we see Jesus having more trouble with and more controversy with “religious folks” than folks who were not very religious. In the parable told in this week's gospel text, Jesus provides a glimpse at the difference between God's will and what we might want God’s will to be. The landowner's generosity is bestowed on these last-hired laborers for a reason known only to him. He does not explain or apologize for the accounting system that lavishes the same wage on everyone hired, regardless of the amount of time logged on the job. The only response the landowner has to the disgruntled first-hired workers is "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?" Is God not allowed to do what God chooses with what belongs to God? God is God, and we are not. He’s God. That’s His job. Maybe we would not pay the last laborers hired as much as the first. But it’s not our job to question why the landlord decided to do it that way. Maybe – if we were God – we would not love all people – regardless of who they were – what they had done – how they had lived their lives. Maybe – if we were God – we would not forgive all people – regardless of who they were – what they had done – how they had lived their lives. We might say to someone: “I’ll never forgive you! You don’t deserve it” Maybe – if we were God – we would not call upon our people to show our love to all people - - to feed the hungry regardless of why they are hungry – to help those in need regardless of why they are in need – to show love even to the most unloveable people. But we are not God. God is God – and we are not. It’s not up to us to tell God who to love – who to forgive – who to show mercy to – and who not to love – who not to forgive – who not to show mercy to. He’s God. That’s His job. God is God – and we are not. It is only up to us to live the Christian life in the best way we know – and show God’s love and mercy – God’s forgiveness – God’s compassion – to all people – whether we think they deserve it or not. God is God – and we are not. God has commanded us to reach out to all people with His love – welcome all into our fellowship – invite all into our fellowship – and show His love to all people – whether they are people we would normally reach out to or not. God has chosen to show His love to those He has chosen to show His love to. He’s God. That’s His job. Our job is to follow – not lead. Our job is to show His love as He calls us to – not as we would want to do it. God is God – and we are not. You know what – I am glad that God is God – and that we are not. If we were God – if people were God – if God judged us by the standards we set for others – we would all be in trouble. None of us would have a chance. The truth is that we all have been in the position of the laborers who were hired last but got as much pay as everybody else. The truth is that we all have been dependent on someone who showed us God’s love – even when we did not deserve it. The truth is we all continue to depend on God’s gracious love for our salvation. There’s a story of a man who lived a wild life – until he gave his life to God. He finally attended Seminary – and upon graduation was ready to begin his ministry. Being a Presbyterian, he had to be examined on the floor of Presbytery before he could accept the call to the first Church he would serve. While being examined, he talked about God’s love for sinners and how – in his ministry – he wanted to share God’s love with all people. Finally – someone asked him if he thought everyone would be saved. He replied: “I don’t know if God will save everyone. But I do know he saved me when everybody else had given up on me – and if he could do that, he could save just about anybody.” Yea – I thank God that God is God – and we are not. God has freely forgiven us. It’s not up to us to judge who else God will love – or forgive – or show His grace and mercy to – He’s God. That’s His job. Our job is to follow Him and show His love – His compassion – His grace – His mercy – to the world – to all people. No – it may not be that way we would do it if we were God. That’s why I thank God that God is God – and we are not. Amen.

Matthew 18:21-35

2005-09-10T19:10:00.000-05:00

Matthew 18:21-35A Community of Reconciliation September 11, 2005

Gladys Steer lived in Coventry, England. She died in 2,000 at the age of 98. She saw many changes in that beautiful city during her lifetime. She remembers summer evenings in the park sitting on the grass listening to the bands playing. She remembers when the park had gardeners and a park keeper and the road was a peaceful haven with all of the houses occupied by fairly well to do families. She remembers skating on the frozen waters of the lake in the winter. But all that has changed. The road is still quiet -- but the population has changed. The houses have mostly been split up into flats and, being near to Coventry University, there are lots of students living in studio flats or single rooms. A vast change in the city of Coventry – and Glady’s life – occurred after World War II broke out in 1939. Coventry was a major manufacturing center —so it was a natural target for the German Air Force and it’s bombs. Gladys remembered the raids for the rest of her life. Surely they were difficult to forget. The air raid sirens would sound and Gladys and her parents would descend into the cellar. One particular raid she remembered was on a Thursday in 1940. Gladys was shopping with her family when the air raid sirens sounded just after 5pm and Gladys, her mother in law, and her sister in law went to the public shelter because they could not get home. When the German bomb attack was over they got out of the shelter – and the city was ablaze – set on fire by the bombs. One German bombing raid in 1940 completely destroyed the beautiful St. Mark’s Cathedral. By the end of the war, only the tower and spire of the outer wall of the beautiful Cathedral survived. The city was in ruins. And Gladys Steer and the other residents of Coventry were left with questions: How would they respond to such destruction? How would they respond to an enemy who had completely destroyed their city – their Cathedral? Indeed -- how do we respond to an enemy – to someone who hurts us – to someone we feel owes us something? Demand revenge? Demand payment? How do we respond? How would you respond if you were a citizen of Coventry in 1940? What would you pray for to happen to the Germans? What would you wish for the Germans? That they would be hurt and lose as much as you had? Or something else? You know what God wills for our response to be in cases such as this? Reconciliation Peace Making peace with our enemies Being reconciled to our enemies. Being made one with the person who has offended us. Putting aside grievances and what is right and working for what is healing. You see – God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ. God has forgiven us. God has provided a way for there to be peace between Him and us. If God demanded the payment for our sins that is the right thing – if God demanded justice for the sins we have committed against Him – we would be condemned. But instead God made a way for peace – for reconciliation – for love – for our being made one with Him. We have been reconciled to God. Now God wants us to share His reconciling love with others. God wants us to work for reconciliation with others. But we do not like to do this. If someone hurts us – we want to hurt them back. If someone owes us something – we want to demand payment – preferably with interest. This is not God’s way. We are God’s forgiven people - - and because of that we must share the forgiveness we have received from God with others. Our willingness to forgive others is so essential for us as Christians that it is what should define who we are. Forgiveness is what creates our lives together as a body of forgiven sinners in the Church - and it should be what sustains our lives together as Christians as we share with each other the forgiveness we have from God. Instead – we find ourselves wanting to quantify forgiveness. How many times must we forgive? Such was the nature of the question Peter asked. Peter probably thought he was being very generous in offering to forgive 7 times. Jesus corrects him - however - saying 7 times is not enough - but 70 times as the NRSV has it - or 70 times 7 - or 490 times - as some translations give it. But - does that mean we quit forgiving at number 70 - or even number 490 - and then at number 491 can get back at someone? Do we count the number of times we have forgiven someone - - “OK - that’s number 10 - only 480 more to go - I’ll get you yet!” Is that forgiveness as Jesus would have it for us? I don’t think so! What - then - is Jesus saying here? What Jesus is saying is that forgiveness is to be given freely - not counting the number of times. I believe Jesus is saying that forgiveness is to be unlimited. So - as Christians - as God’s new community of the Church - we are to offer unlimited forgiveness to each other and to others. Why should we do something as extravagent as that? Well, the parable Jesus tells in our lesson for today helps us remember the reason for such extravagance. There are some pretty extravagant details to this parable - as extravagant as the grace of God. A king calls in a servant who owes him 10,000 talents. You probably don’t understand exactly how much 10,000 talents is. Let me put it in more modern terms. This servant owed the king the modern equivalent of $1,000,000. Now do you begin to get the picture? The servant owed a debt he could never repay - ever! Imagine being $1,000,000 in debt! But - just as the king is about to throw him and his family in jail and sell everything he has - he begs for mercy. Remember - he owes $1,000,000! So what does the king do? Something extravagant. Something unexpected. He forgives the debt. He forgives a $1,000,000 debt. Imagine being in debt $1,000,000 - then having the debt forgiven. You’d think the servant would be overjoyed - so ecstatic that he would be willing to forgive others the debts they owed him - especially the one who owed him the equivalent of about $20. But - does he forgive this small debt after being forgiven such a large one? No - instead he throws the man who owed him $20 in jail. It is hard to believe that one forgiven so much could not forgive someone who owed him so little. The man was forgiven - but could not forgive. But -- isn’t that how we are so many times? We are forgiven by God of so many sins - and yet we are unwilling to forgive others -even of little things. God has forgiven us. God has called us to forgive others. God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ. God has called us to be reconcilers – building communities of reconciliation and forgiveness. God calls us to be a community of reconciliation -- Committed to forgiveness God calls us to be a community of reconciliation -- Committed to working out the differences that will arise among us in a spirit of love and compassion – not retribution and “win at all costs” God calls us to be a community of reconciliation -- committed to staying together – regardless of what happens – how we might feel about things – even very important issues – God calls us to be a community of reconciliation – agreeing that we can disagree in a way that does not hurt our love for each other or our commitment to each other God calls us to be a community of reconciliation -- Committed to sharing God’s reconciling ways with each other – even when it goes against our human nature to do so A Community Of Reconciliation We need to be a community where the forgiveness and reconciliation God has so freely given to us is freely shared with each other. A Community Of Reconciliation We need to be a community where the forgiveness and reconciliation God has so freely given to us is freely shared with others. A Community Of Reconciliation We need to be a community where the forgiveness and reconciliation God has so freely given to us is freely shared with others – even those we may consider to be our enemies. We are called to be a Community Of Reconciliation I don’t know about you – but this is not easy for me.It is one thing to realize the love and forgiveness God has shared with me – and to forgive myself for things I know I have done wrong – but that God has already forgiven me for. It is quite another thing for me share God’s love and forgiveness with my family and close friends – those who love me and would never hurt me – but can sometimes make me mad. But – it is still quite another thing for me to share God’s love and forgiveness with someone who seems to be intent on disagreeing with everything I do and making my life miserable. And – it is indeed another thing for me to share God’s love and forgiveness with someone who is an enemy – who may have tired to destroy me or kill me. My human nature seems to scream out: “No! I can’t do this!” And yet Jesus still calls us. Jesus still calls us to be a community of reconciliation. Jesus still calls us to be people who pray for others. Jesus still calls us to be people who work for reconciliation in the world. Jesus still calls us to share His love with others – even our enemies. Jesus still calls us to be a community of reconciliation. I told you the story of Gladys Steer and the citizens of Coventry, England – and the choice they had to make after their town – their beautiful Cathedral – was destroyed be German Air Raids during World War II. What were they going to do? How were they going to respond to the devastation caused by the German? They responded in an unbelievably strong – and yet loving way. They responded by working for reconciliation. They rebuilt their town. They rebuilt their Cathedral. The new St Michael's Cathedral as built next to the remains of the old. The ruin of the older cathedral still remains hallowed ground - - a reminder of the destruction –but also a reminder of the strength God gives us to love others. A cross made of nails from the destroyed Cathedral was donated to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, which was destroyed by allied bomb attacks and is also kept as a ruin alongside a newer building. The people of Ceventry had every right to demand that the Germans be punished for what they had done. Instead, they chose to forgive – to work for reconciliation – to work for peace. Instead of cursing their enemies who had tried to kill them they chose to pray for them. Instead of harboring feelings vengence and hatred they chose to share love and forgiveness. They chose to be a community of reconciliation. We can choose to be that, also. We can choose to share God’s reconciling love with each other. We can choose to be a community of reconciliation -- Committed to forgiveness We can choose to be a community of reconciliation -- Committed to working out the differences that will arise among us in a spirit of love and compassion – not retribution and “win at all costs” We can choose to be to be a community of reconciliation -- Committed to staying together – regardless of what happens – how we might feel about things – even very important issues – We can choose to be a community of reconciliation – agreeing that we can disagree in a way that does not hurt our love for each other or our commitment to each other We can choose to be a community of reconciliation -- Committed to sharing God’s reconciling ways with each other – even when it goes against our human nature to do so We can choose to be a community of reconciliation – Committed to share God’s love with – and pray for each other – and for others – even those who are our enemies. We can choose to be a community of reconciliation. Friends – today is a perfect day for us to make that choice! Today is September 11 A day we all remember with sadness – horror – and yes even anger. All of which is justifiable. Yes – our country was attacked on September 11 – the Twin Towers were in ruins – thousand died. Yes – our government may have had to respond to the attack. Terrorism must be stopped. But how do we – as individual Christians – respond? It’s our choice – but I want to suggest that – like the people of Coventry, England –we can respond by committing ourselves to being people who pray for – and work for – reconciliation. I want to encourage us to be a community of reconciliation – sharing God’s forgiveness with each other – and with others – even those who may be our enemies. Jesus calls us to be a community of believers who forgive each other as He has forgiven us – and to share His love and grace with the world. Jesus calls us to pray for our enemies – and be reconciled to them. Yea – it’s hard enough to pray for and be reconciled to those we disagree with every day – praying for and being reconciled to our enemies may seem impossible – but it is how God calls us to be. Let’s be a community of reconciliation. A community that prays for and works for peace between us and with all people. Let’s pray for God to make us a community of reconciliation. Committed to forgiveness Let’s pray for God to make us a community of reconciliation -- Committed to working out the differences that will arise among us in a spirit of love and compassion – not retribution and “win at all costs” Let’s pray for God to make us a community of reconciliation -- Committed to staying together – regardless of what happens – how we might feel about things – even very important issues – Let’s pray for God to make us a community of reconciliation – agreeing that we can disagree in a way that does not hurt our love for each other or our commitment to each other Let’s pray for God to make us a community of reconciliation -- Committed to sharing God’s reconciling ways with each other – even when it goes against our human nature to do so Let’s pray for God to make us a community of reconciliation – Committed to share God’s love with – and pray for each other – and for others – even those who are our enemies. Let’s pray for God to make us a community of reconciliation – even going so far as to pray for our enemies like Osama Bin Laden – the members of Al Quada – all plotting to harm us – Pray that God will take away the hatred they have in their hearts – and the hatred we have in our hearts towards them. Let’s pray to be a community of reconciliation. Amen.

Mark 4:35-41

2005-09-03T14:29:00.000-05:00

Mark 4:35-41 Where Is God? September 4, 2005

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” A very understandable question from the disciples. They were in the middle of a storm on the Sea of Galilee – a sea some of them had fished many times, so they must have been used to the frequent storms on the sea – but this one must have been more terrible than most. It was so terrible that they thought they were going to die – and when they saw that Jesus was asleep it was almost more than they could stand! “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” A question many people may have had for God this week as Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc in New Orleans and the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. “God, do You not care that we are perishing?” A question many others may have had as they watched the news and heard reports of the devastation. A question some of us may have had as we watched the news and saw the pictures of death, destruction, frustration, anger, and hopelessness. “God, do You not care that they are perishing?” Maybe another way to phrase that question is: “God, where are You?” “Where are You, God, when these people are hurting – dieing – angry – seeming to be without any sense of hope in their lives?” Looking at the facts of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and it’s aftermath may bring these questions to mind. Where is God in the midst of all this? The death toll is definitely in the hundreds – but could very well reach into the thousands. Where is God in the midst of all this? Thousands of people displaced from their homes. Where is God in the midst of all this? The City of New Orleans termed a “disaster zone” as levees break and as much as 80 percent of the city is in standing water, up to 20 feet deep in some places. Where is God in the midst of all this? Thousands of people who for many reasons could not -- or would not – evacuate the area left without homes – without food or drinkable water – without electricity – without means of communication or medical supplies. In New Orleans, some 30,000 people who remained in the city took shelter in the Superdome, but it was damaged by the storm and now those people have been evacuated to the Astrodome in Houston. Where is God in the midst of all this? Looters seem to rule the streets of New Orleans – taking advantage of the situation to take not only needed items like food, water, and needed supplies – which in some respects is understandable – but also taking televisions – micro wave ovens – and other items they can not even use – much less need – at this point. Where is God in the midst of all this? The gangs of people on the streets of New Orleans shooting at policemen trying to help and bring order – shooting at the police stations so that some police have to stay at the stations to defend them – shooting at the firemen who try to put out fires that are happening throughout the city. Where is God in the midst of all this? A situation so chaotic that doctors are calling reporters to report that they need assistance with the number of sick, injured, and dying they are having to see. Where is God in the midst of all this? A situation so devastating that the largest rescue and relief mission in the history of the United States is under way with all levels of government participating. Some say the relief is coming much too late, but it seems to be now coming. Where is God in the midst of all this? Veteran Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staffers who have surveyed the destruction are reporting some of the worst damage they have ever seen. Where is God in the midst of all this? Yes -- the question many may be asking is: Where is God? Where is God in the midst of all this? In the midst of all the destruction – all the devastation – all the chaos – all the scenes of hopelessness – Where is God? “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” “God, do You not care that we are perishing?” “God, do You not care that they are perishing?” “God, where are You?” Indeed – Where is God? Understandable questions in the midst of a situation that is almost impossible to understand. “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” When the disciples called out to Jesus – Jesus awoke -- stilled the storm – and the disciples were awestruck by the power of Jesus – asking: “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” But we did not see such a stilling of the storm with Hurricane Katrina – did we? The residents of the Gulf Coast may have prayed for the storm to be diverted – but it wasn’t. Which raises the question – why not? Did God intend to use Hurricane Katrina in some way? Was God behind the force of Hurricane Katrina in some way? Did God even “send” Hurricane Katrina for some reason? Maybe we wonder –if God can control the forces of nature – the wind and the seas and the waves – why did He not do it with Hurricane Katrina? Maybe we wonder – if God is in control of the universe – why did He not control the forces of nature? Maybe we wonder – if the power of God that was in Jesus could still the storm on the Sea of Galilee – could it have not stilled Hurricane Katrina? I was asked the other day if I thought God “sent” Katrina – or if I thought God had somehow been at work in the devastating storm. I had to reply that I did not believe that God sent Hurricane Katrina – just a I do not believe God sent the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean last year or any other natural disaster. I also do not believe that God was at work in Hurricane Katrina or any other natural disaster. I believe that the forces of nature sometimes act in ways that are horribly devastating – not because God tells them to do so or sends them – but simply because that is how they act at times. The whole issue of the goodness of God and the evil and destruction in the world is a very difficult one. Scholars and theologians have struggled with it almost since we began thinking about such things – and there is no simple or easy to understand answer. When tragedies occur – we want to be able to somehow make sense out of it all – to reason it out --- to understand why. We have a hard time saying “We don’t know” But that is what I believe we have to say to the questions of why tragic things happen – or why God does not stop them. We don’t know. But – I believe there is an answer to the question of “where is God”? I believe the disciples found an answer to their question: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” I believe the survivors along the Gulf Coast can find an answer to their question: “God, do You not care that we are perishing?” I believe that we can find an answer to the question: “God, do You not care that they are perishing?” I believe we can find an answer to the question: “God, where are You?” Jesus awoke and stilled the storm – as if to say: “Yes – I care!” God will come to the survivors along the Gulf Coast through the aid that – even as we worship today – is finding it’s way to them. Through the National Guardsmen restoring order to the area God is saying “Yes – I care!” Through the Red Cross workers and so many others from so many other organizations – including Presbyterian Disaster Assistance we are supporting though a special offering -- that are giving food, shelter, medical attention, assistance with rebuilding, and so may other needed things – not to mention just a person saying: “We are here for you” God is saying “Yes – I care!” Does God care? Yes! Where is God? In the lives of the people who are working to bring His love to those who are hurting. If you are wondering where God is – just look around you. God is in the people who are going to the Gulf Coast to bring His love to those in need. God is in the people who are donating money and supplies to go to the Gulf Coast so His love can be shared with those who are in need. God is in the people who knit afghans for those in need – whether the need be local or somewhere else. God is in the people who give food and bags for distributing the food and coupons so food will not cost as much for those who come to the Reidsville Outreach Center. God is in the people who volunteer their time for local agencies that show His love to those in need. God is in anyone who is doing His will – reaching out to those in need – showing His love in any way they can. That’s where God is. Yes – natural disasters may make us pause – think – and wonder about God’s will in the midst of such things and if God cares about those affected by such things. They may make us wonder where God is in the midst of them. But the truth is God is there. Through us and others who work to bring His love to these situations and so many others locally and around the world – God is there! That’s where God is! AMEN

Matthew 16:21-28

2005-08-26T09:47:00.000-05:00

Matthew 16:21-28A Life Of Faith August 28, 2005

50 years! Half a century! 18,250 days! 438,000 hours! 26,280,000 minutes! The screen on my calculator won’t hold all the numbers for how many seconds! It’s a long time – a lot of years – a lot of days – a lot of hours – a lot of minutes – and a lot of seconds! Yea – 50 years is a long time – but yesterday I turned 50 – and celebrated it – thanks to many of you and many other friends – in grand style. I hope I can celebrate many, many more. Many of you know that I am a strange mix of introversion and extroversion – I enjoy being around people and celebrating – but I also enjoy – and even need – time to think and pray and read and contemplate. So – I have not only celebrated my birthday the past few days with friends and a party – but I have also taken time to think about what it means to turn 50 – and what I want from life now that I am 50. What do I want from life now that I have turned 50? Jimmy Buffet has a song about a pirate looking at 40 – and what that means for him. Well – what about a preacher looking at 50? Don’t worry – I am not going to sing about it – but I have given it some thought. What does this preacher see – and what does he want – at 50? A loving family? Certainly. Friends? Hey – you know me – of course friends are important. Material things? I could say no – but you all know me and my love for “things” – especially electronic “things” – so I must honestly say that “things” are important to me! But – what is it that guides – directs – and gives real meaning to my life? I confess that at times it seems that there is not much that guides or directs my life – and at times it seems that there is little direction to my life – but when I am at my best there is something that guides me and gives my life meaning. My faith. My relationship with God. I am not saying in any way that my faith or my relationship with God is perfect – but it is important to me – and it is where I find meaning and direction for my life. When times in my life are good – I try to celebrate and thank God for that. When times in my life are not good – I try to remain faithful anyway. When I can sense that God is blessing me – I try to praise God for that. When I have wandered from God and can sense that I have made some mistakes in my life – I try to some back to God and pray for His guidance again. I try to make my faith – my relationship with God – the thing that gives meaning and direction to my life. Let me ask you – what do you want from life? Probably some of the things I mentioned earlier – a good family, friends, and probably material things. But – what gives your life meaning and direction? As great as family, friends, and even material things are – they can’t be counted on to give true meaning and direction to your life. Only your faith can do that. Only your relationship with God can do that. Only a life of faith can do that. We have a hard time accepting that. We want success in material things. Jesus wants us to look for success in other things – things like giving of ourselves – things like serving God and others – things like doing what we can to bring God’s will for peace, love, and justice into the world. Jesus had a hard time teaching the disciples how important giving of themselves was. The disciples may have had ideas of Jesus coming to set up a kingdom of power of glory – and even overthrow the hated Roman government. While Jesus was in the world to bring a kingdom of power of glory – it was much different than the disciples or anyone else expected. In our scripture passage for today, Jesus talks about going to Jerusalem – which the disciples probably were excited about. Finally they were going to Jerusalem – the capitol – and they probably thought they would lead a revolt while they were there – kick out the Romans – set up a new kingdom – and make Jesus king. Things would be just like they were under David – even better! The Jews would have their own kingdom and would become a powerful nation under King Jesus! But – Jesus had other ideas. What does our passage for today say?

“From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Jesus was not interested in power and being king in the same way the disciples did. He did not say to the disciples that he was going to Jerusalem to kick the Romans out and set up a kingdom. He said he was going to Jerusalem to undergo great suffering – and be killed – and yes – rise again – but I bet the disciples did not understand or even hear that part. All they heard was suffering – and be killed. I think Peter spoke for the rest of them when he said:

God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you

In other words, this was not in the disciple’s plan for things. For people who may have been looking to Jesus to be a political leader these words must have seemed to go against everything they had hoped for – everything they had committed their lives to. And then Jesus faces the rest of the disciples and says that not only must He suffer and die – but the disciples must give of themselves, also.

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it

If the disciples had looked to Jesus for power and glory and riches, they were going to have to look elsewhere. If we look to Jesus for power and prestige and glory and riches, we would do better looking elsewhere. If the meaning of life for you is in power and prestige and glory and riches, don’t expect to find meaning for your life in Jesus. But – if the disciples had looked to Jesus for the true meaning of life – they had come to the right place. If we look for Jesus for the true meaning of life – we are looking at the right place. Jesus makes it plain – true meaning in life does not come through family – friends – or material things – but in giving of ourselves – serving God and others -- doing what we can to bring God’s will for peace, love, and justice into the world. Sure – this goes against what we would expect – but it is precisely what God expects. It may go against what we want – it certainly went against what Peter wanted at that moment – but it is what God wants! So – I’ll ask again – what gives your life meaning and direction? Unless you can say that it is your faith – your relationship with God – then I am afraid you will find you have it all wrong. Unless you can say that it is following Jesus – and giving of yourself when need be – serving others when you find a need – doing what you can to show God’s love to the world and bring in God’s kingdom of peace, love, and justice – then I am afraid you will find that you are not really following God’s will for your life. If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it You can try everything else – but serving God and others -- doing what you can to show God’s love to the world and bring in God’s kingdom of peace, love, and justice – is what will bring meaning and purpose to your life – God’s meaning – God’s purpose. Try all else – but what will give your life purpose and meaning is your faith – your relationship with God. That’s what life is all about. Back a few years ago when I was an EC Teacher’s Assistant in the county school system I heard about a book titled A Smile As Big As The Moon. It is the story of a class of Special Education students -- kids with learning disabilities -- physical problems -- emotional problems. They dreamed of going to the NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. That might not seem like a big deal, but Space Camp is designed for gifted and talented kids -- not kids who find school difficult. It wasn't easy to get the camp to accept these kids. Nobody expected that they would do well. Their teachers spent a year preparing them, though, and they were hopeful. As it turned out, the Special Ed kids did very well, and came away with a fistful of awards. The reason was that, working for a year toward a common goal, they stopped fighting each other and started helping each other. They learned to stop focusing on self and to start focusing on the task -- and each other. And they did well at the camp. They did great! Competing against the brightest and the best, the Special Ed students walked away with more awards than anyone. The biggest surprise was the Right Stuff Award. Most awards are presented to teams, but the Right Stuff Award is presented to an individual -- to the student who best displays the characteristics of a true astronaut -- to the kid who demonstrates the best leadership. They awarded the Right Stuff Award to Scott Goudy who, in the words of his teacher, "just one year earlier had found his greatest pleasure in picking on his classmates." But, during the year of preparation, Scott had learned to care about the other kids. He had become a leader. When Scott received the Right Stuff Award, the first thing that he did was to get a pair of scissors. Then quietly -- off to the side -- with no fanfare -- Scott cut the Right Stuff ribbon into twenty pieces. Later, at a victory party, he gave a piece of the ribbon to every kid on the team. Scott's teachers were stunned! But then they realized how much Scott had grown during their year of preparation -- and during the week of camp. They also realized that the people at the camp, observing from the background, saw what was happening and rewarded Scott for his good work -- for his selfless service -- for his caring leadership. They see smart kids every day. Genius IQs are nothing new to them. What they were looking for was a kid who was willing to make sacrifices in behalf of the team. Scott did that, and the people at the camp noticed. It wasn’t Scott’s intelligence that mattered to those selecting the honorees. I was his willingness to give – to put himself aside and do for others. Giving. Putting self aside and doing for others. As Jesus put it,

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it

Serving God and others – doing what you can to show God’s love to the world and bring in God’s kingdom of peace, love, and justice – is what will bring meaning and purpose to your life – God’s meaning – God’s purpose. As I look at 50, that’s what I want for my purpose in life – my meaning in life. That’s what I want for my life. I can’t say I’m perfect in this – or that I ever will be – but I can say that it is a goal for me. A life of faith. A life of giving of myself. A life of doing what I can to show God’s love to the world and doing my part to bring in God’s kingdom of love and justice.

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it

That’s a life of faith. Amen.

Matthew 15:21-28

2005-08-13T19:36:00.000-05:00

MATTHEW 15:21-21 HANG IN THERE! AUGUST 13, 2005

I am sure most of you are familiar with the popular cross stitch with the picture of the cat hanging on to a rope that says:

“When you get to the end of your rope tie a knot and hang on”

Many of you may have that cross stitch on your walls – I know one of you does. Some of us have adopted a saying – when things are not going too well for us – for whatever reason – we will respond if someone asks : “I’m hanging in” Of course, some of us say: “I’m hanging on” or even: “I’m hanging!”

Hanging in. Hanging.

“When you get to the end of your rope tie a knot and hang on”

I think that cross stitch is popular because there are many times we find ourselves “hanging on the end of the rope” – not able to do much more than hold on for dear life. What can you do when you have endured long hopelessness – and you are about to lose hope? What do you do when every attempt to find help has ended in disappointment? What do you do when you need so badly for something to happen – and it doesn’t happen? What do you do when something that was very important in your life is taken away? What do you do when it seems that your prayers get only as high as the ceiling and then stop – and that God is not listening at all? What do you do when things get so bad that you just want to curl up and die? You hang in there. You keep the faith. No matter how hard it is – the secret is to not give up – even if all you can do is "tie and knot and hold on.” Our scripture passage for today tells us a story of a woman – a mother – who came to Jesus who was certainly at the end of her rope – who was certainly just hanging on. I have struggled with how to preach this passage today – struggled with finding “the message in the passage”. Let me ask you – What do you think of the story in our passage before us today? Probably not much. At first glance this lesson makes the Jesus sound like something of a jerk. My first reaction is to want to find some way of explaining away this conversation that will put Jesus in a bit more flattering light. The more I prayed about and studied the passage this week, the more confused I got. The commentaries I looked at were all over the place in trying to explain Jesus’ behavior and His words here. Some have said that Jesus was just having a bad day. He and the twelve had gone north, out of Galilee. He had been having trouble escaping the demanding crowds; things were dangerous politically (King Herod had recently beheaded his cousin, John the Baptist); he was frustrated in his efforts to make any headway with the religious establishment and he was regularly misunderstood by his own closest followers. Now, he heads out of town for a little "R&R," a place where perhaps he could get some peace and quiet – but no - he is confronted by this insistent Momma, and instead of reacting to her as he normally might, first he ignores her, then he tries to blow her off, then he insults her, and finally, he wises up and acts decent again. Bad day. Even the Son of God is entitled to one every so often. That is what some commentators say. Do you buy that explination? I do not. And for one basic reason: these Gospel records we have did not come from transcriptions of cassette tapes or film on the 11:00 o'clock news - the source for these stories is the gathered and sanctified memory of the community of the faithful that were written down perhaps forty or fifty years after the fact. Why in the world would any follower of Jesus want to record for posterity such a less than flattering story unless the portrait is not so unflattering after all? Makes you wonder – doesn’t it? Other commentaries say that this encounter was part of the Lord's growth and development - a learning experience for him. They contend that He was – in some ways -- like us – and learned and changed from things He experienced. Jesus grew up a Jew, they contend, and Jews did not think much of Gentiles (fuel for the fires of Hell, as a matter of fact). But in this insistent mother Jesus is confronted with faith that is not nurtured in his native tradition – and He has to acknowledge its validity, and through the encounter learns that divine love knows no boundaries, racial or otherwise. Maybe – some commentaries say – this was a learning experience for Jesus. Do you buy that explination? I guess I could live with it – but not very enthusiastically. How about some other possibilities? Well -- other commentators say that this bantering back and forth between Jesus and the woman was merely the Lord's way of teaching something. By His initial reluctance to care for any Gentile, he was simply giving voice to the not-so-quietly harbored feelings of his Jewish followers. By finally coming around and acceding to the woman's cry for help, Jesus was demonstrating the inclusiveness of God's love and thereby taught his disciples that racism had no place in the Kingdom. This encounter was simply one more of Jesus' parables, this time, come to life. Maybe. But -- I think that is a stretch, though. How about the language of the encounter? At first glance, Jesus sounds awfully rough. "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She had already heard him say he was sent only to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel," and she knew perfectly well how much animus there was between Jews and Gentiles. But calling her a dog to her face? Again, folks explain that away. After all, calling someone a dog is a term of abuse, if ever there was one. As one writer has it, The pariah dog was not an estimable animal in Near Eastern culture then, any more than he is today. But it is not the pariah dogs that are intended here...It is the dogs beneath the table...household pets, the children's playmates; and this is confirmed by the fact that the word for 'dogs' used by both Jesus and the woman is a diminutive...The woman was quick-witted enough to deduce from Jesus's words the kind of reply to him that would win the granting of her request: 'Sir, even the little dogs under the table eat the children's left-overs!'" Sharp lady. And it worked. Her daughter was healed. OK. I can live with that -- although still a little reluctantly. I can live with it even more comfortably when we realize that we have a wonderful opportunity to misunderstand because we don’t know the tone of voice Jesus used. Take the simple sentence, "I didn't say you were a fool." Depending on your emphasis, you convey different messages.By saying, "I didn't say you were a fool"...implies that someone else did. Or "I didn't say you were a fool"... implies that I said something else. How about, "I didn't say..." (but I thought it). Or "I didn't say you..." I said Charlie was, and so on. Yes, conveying tone of voice is a problem. Perhaps we are getting closer to an answer. To be honest, none of these explanations have ever been completely satisfying to me. To be honest, until yesterday afternoon, I was content to come into this pulpit and tell you I have no idea how to understand this encounter, but I was willing to say that there must be more here than I can fathom, because I know ...to the depths of my being, I know...that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would never mistreat anyone, particularly a helpless mother, desperate for the healing of her child. There is a wonderful message here, even if we have to wade through some material we might not understand to get to it. More about that in a minute. I say I did not truly understand this encounter until yesterday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon I glanced at the web site of David Leninger, a Presbyterian minister I have known off and on for almost 25 years. He had on his web site a story that helped this passage make sense to me. It was a story he had heard from a Medical Missionary to India. She told of a time she was a physician's assistant in India 30 years ago. They had been trying for a long time to encourage the Harijan (the outcastes) to come to the clinic, as they (being toilet sweepers) were at high risk for disease. The Harijan, for whatever reasons, at that time were willing participants in the caste system of India. They had their own interior and social structures for dealing with it. They were comfortable knowing their place in the system – and were not willing to fight for a better place. But one day a Harijan finally did come to the clinic. The very fact that he appeared there, among the 280 casted persons in the waiting room, told us that he was unusual. His good grooming, his body stance, and his speech told us that he was a man of dignity, self- respect, and appropriate entitlement. Speaking what was on everyone's mind, she said to him loud enough for everyone to hear, "What's a pig's son (standard form of address) doing here? I thought only casted people got sick." "Even pigs bleed red," he replied, holding up a bloody hand, "like Americans." (Americans were considered to be outcaste; also 'red-blooded American' and 'Yankee pig' were phrases that were well known.) So – the missionary concluded: If folks took caste seriously, why were the casted people willing to come to an outcaste – an American -- for treatment? If they could come to an outcaste American for treatment, then they could jolly well welcome another outcaste who came for treatment. It was an absolutely brilliant reply on his part and brought the house down. From then on, the Missionary reported, they had no trouble with the Harijans hanging back from seeking medical care. I thank Dave Leninger for the story. Now I understand. My problem was that I was looking at this text through Western eyes and not through those of the culture of the Middle East or even the Orient. The truth is – I believe – in the faith and persistence of this mother – her ability to hold on – to “tie a knot and hold on” when she was at the end of her rope – her ability to somehow keep trying to get help when it seemed that there was no help coming – even from Jesus. Here was a lady - the kind of mother we wish every youngster had - who would go to any lengths on behalf of her child. She had enough chutzpah to go up to someone she had never met, through his whole entourage, and everyone of them of a nationality that despised hers - it was as if a black woman had gone, looking for help, into a Ku Klux Klan rally. How much help could she possibly expect? On top of that, remember that this was a woman ... and women were not permitted to address men in public in that society. But this woman did. Once those hurdles were climbed, she got this healer of whom she has heard so much to actually acknowledge her existence but -- He does so by calling her names... But this lady hangs in there. She banters right back. She finally hears those words that, deep in my soul, I know she knew she was going to hear. "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." The lesson in all this is that there is no substitute for faith. As Jesus said on another occasion, it can move mountains. The lesson is:

“When you get to the end of your rope tie a knot and hang on”

Church historians among us will remember what a hopelessly debauched prodigal Augustine was as a young man. Many parents would have thrown up their hands, yet his mother absolutely refused to give up hope that be could become great in the sight of God. As he went from bad to worse she prayed day and night, sharing her broken-hearted pleas with her priest and her bishop. Even the most distressing news of his last escapade could not break her faith in his eventual salvation. Finally, the weary bishop concurred and wrote to her: "It is not possible," he said, "for the son of all these tears to perish." How right he was. How right she was. Augustine became a leader in the Church – one whose writings are still treasured. How right was the mother of our lesson. "And her daughter was healed instantly." After World War II the Jewish Holocasust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel spopke on the subject: "After Auschwitz, Can We Still Believe!" People filled the hall to listen to the recollections of one who survived the furnaces of Dachau. Thin and fragile, Wiesel stood at the podium for nearly an hour telling one story after another of the horror and despair of those bleak days in the '30s. His stories were of people confused with their imprisonment and sometimes destroyed with their release. Painfully, silently, the audience relived the events of Wiesel's young life when he was the only surviving member of his family. Finally the stories ceased. His eyes dropped to the floor. There was no sound at all in that mammoth room for what seemed an agonizing eternity. Then he repeated the question, "After Auschwitz, can we still believe!" He shook his head slowly, sadly, "No, no,..." before concluding powerfully, "but we must!" Yea –

“When you get to the end of your rope tie a knot and hang on”

You see – when we are thinking about whether to have faith in God or not – when things get so bad that we can’t imagine them getting any worse – but they do – when we feel that we are making our prayers and trying to live faithfully but that God is not listening of paying attention to us because our lives do not improve -- We really have 2 choices – Give up and fall Or Tie a knot and hold on – sure that God will some day – somehow – come to us. The Canaanite mom chose to hold on – to “hang in there” – and knew that Jesus would eventually bless her. Elie Wiesel chose to hold on – to “hang in there” – despite the cruelties and hardships – and believe that God was with him – even if the experiences around him told him otherwise. We can choose, also, to “hang in there”! You can choose, also, to “hang in there”! The message of this wonderful mother is "Hang in there!" What can you do when you have endured long hopelessness – and you are about to lose hope? What do you do when every attempt to find help has ended in disappointment? What do you do when you need so badly for something to happen – and it doesn’t happen? What do you do when something that was very important in your life is taken away? What do you do when it seems that your prayers get only as high as the ceiling and then stop – and that God is not listening at all? What do you do when things get so bad that you just want to curl up and die? You hang in there. You keep the faith. When you have endured long hopelessness – and you are about to lose hope – hang in there. Keep the faith. When every attempt to find help has ended in disappointment – hang in there – keep the faith. When you need so badly for something to happen – and it doesn’t happen – hang in there – keep the faith. When something that was very important in your life is taken away – hang in there – keep the faith. When it seems that your prayers get only as high as the ceiling and then stop – and that God is not listening at all – hang in there – keep the faith. When things get so bad that you just want to curl up and die – hang in there – keep the faith.

“When you get to the end of your rope tie a knot and hang on”

You see, once upon a time there was this woman...a mother... who came to Jesus... Amen

Matthew 14:22-33

2005-08-06T19:46:00.000-05:00

Matthew 14:22-33 “O.K – By The Grace Of God” August 7, 2005

The story of Jesus walking on water is one almost everyone knows – either in this form as we have it in Matthew – where Peter also does a little walking himself – or in the form that John gives us – where Jesus merely (if you can use the word merely to describe any part of this story) walks out to the boat – gets into the boat – and the storm ceases. This is a story we are all familiar with. Mark Twain was familiar with the story, also. He referred to it when he told of a time he was in the Holy Land with his wife. One of the nights they spent at a resort on the Sea of Galilee was particularly beautiful –- a full moon over the sea made for an especially romantic setting. Twain and his wife decided that they wanted to go on a moonlit ride on the lake. Twain approached one of the local fishermen and asked them how much they would charge to take them out in a boat. The man looked at Twain – observed his white suit, hat, shirt, and shoes – and supposed him to be a rich man. “For you – my friend – twenty five dollars!” the fisherman replied. Twain knew this was too much – and turned away. But he was heard to say: “I always wondered why Jesus walked. Now I know!” We all have heard jokes about people “walking on water” – or made comments about people who – as we say “think they can walk on water”. Usually the punch lines of the jokes have something to do with knowing where the stumps are – or something like that. I’ve heard of a radio preacher in Charlotte many years ago known as “Daddy Grace”. He was really a scam artist of the worst kind – getting people to give him lots of money for his “ministry” and then pocketing it for himself. I understand that he would tell people to throw their money in the air – and that whatever stayed in the air belonged to God – but whatever landed on the ground belonged to Daddy Grace! The sad thing is people would actually do it! Anyway – Daddy Grace told everyone one week to come to the Catawba River on Saturday morning and see Daddy Grace walk on water. Of course, tickets were sold – and, of course, a lot of people came. At the prescribed time, Daddy Grace appeared – and promptly walked across the river. Everyone cheered. More money was given to his “ministry”. One of his colleagues, though, asked him how he did it. Daddy Grace winked and said: “These folks were here when I walked across the river on Saturday morning. They weren’t here when my team build the platform just under the surface of the water on Friday night”. But sometimes there are jokes about people who actually do “walk on water” – but it’s not good enough to impress people. One has a congregation calling its first female pastor and immediately running into a concern from two elders (who happened to have been dead against calling a woman to their pulpit) who were used to an annual fishing trip with the preacher. What should they do? Invite HER? Well, they do – and she accepts. The fateful day arrives, they get in the boat, and headed out. When they had get a way from the shore, they realize they have forgotten their bait. The pastor jumps up, says she will get it, steps out of the boat and walked across the water to shore – as if it’s nothing. "I told everybody all along this whole thing was a mistake, this calling a woman," said one of the men, "she can't even swim!" Yea – we’ve all heard jokes and stories about walking on water. But when the disciples first experienced Jesus walking on the water – I don’t think they were laughing! I wonder how Peter and the other disciples remembered this story after the fact. They had been frightened when they saw Jesus walking on water -- and Peter made a fool of himself by stepping out of the boat and sinking. Philip Yancey is an author who wrote an article for Christianity Today magazine entitled “Happy Memories Of Bad Times” in which he wrote about his grandmother's tendency to recall difficult times "with a touch of nostalgia." He mentioned polls that suggested that the London Blitz, where London was on the receiving end of German bombs, was, for many Londoners, remembered after the fact as one of the happiest times of their lives. It might not have been happy at the time, but they remembered it happily, because "a new spirit of community and patriotism sprang up to eclipse even the horror of bombs and V-2 rockets." Yancey went on to write about elderly people who happily swap stories about the Great Depression and World War II -- two of the most terrible times of the past century. Yancey noted, "They speak fondly of hardships such as blizzards, the childhood outhouse, and the time in graduate school when they ate canned soup and stale bread three weeks in a row" ("Happy Memories of Bad Times," Christianity Today, March 8, 1993, p. 88). So I can imagine that the disciples would remember this story of Peter and the storm fondly. "Hey, do you remember the time that Peter stepped over the side of the boat and sank like a rock!" And they would all laugh. They wouldn't laugh in Peter's presence, of course. Peter was the Alpha Male in that group, and you had to be a little careful. But that is what made the story so funny. Here was Peter -- strong Peter -- tough Peter -- stepping out of the boat and sinking like a rock -- hollering, "Lord, save me!" I am sure that every now and then the disciples would resurrect that story -- and a few more like it -- just for laughs. But they weren't laughing that night. They were in a storm in a small boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. They had been with Jesus all the day before and had been rowing against the wind most of the night. They were wet, exhausted, and far from home. I can't imagine circumstances much more miserable. But then one of them spotted something odd. It looked like a man walking across the water. The disciples were fishermen, and they knew where they were -- in the middle of nowhere. The only thing that they could imagine was that they were seeing a ghost. One problem with seeing a ghost, of course, is that you don't know what to expect. You don't know whether you are really seeing a ghost or simply going mad. The most frightening thing, of course, is that the ghost might be coming to make a ghost of you. But – why were the disciples in the middle of the sea at night in a storm? Had they decided amongst themselves to set out on this trip? No – Jesus had sent them. They were simply following Jesus’ orders. And – when Peter stepped out of the boat – but began to sink – was he doing something he should not have done? Not really – Jesus told him to come to him. He was simply following Jesus’ orders. But it seemed that following Jesus’ orders got the disciples – and then Peter – into trouble. Step out of the boat! Jesus said. But doing what Jesus said just got Peter in trouble. Did you ever feel like you were doing what Jesus wanted you to do -- only to find yourself in trouble? I read of a minister who recounted a time when he felt he had stepped out in faith and done what God had called him to do – but felt he had only gotten into trouble. It happened when he was young -- still a student -- serving a small rural church in the northeast corner of Kansas. It was a harsh winter night – in the middle of a roaring blizzard – but he went out to visit a family who had come to church a time or two – and he was desperately that they would join his small congregation. He felt proud of himself for being out on such a night doing his pastoral work. Driving hone he found himself in the middle of a blizzard on a gravel road in the middle of nowhere trying desperately to spot the next crossroads so he wouldn't get totally lost. He decided to open his car door, and the wind caught it and nearly ripped it off its hinges. His throat tightened up and he had to force back tears. He managed to get the car door closed and somehow found his way home. He said that it took awhile for him to see past the fact that he had almost died doing what God had wanted him to do – and see the fact that God was with him. I’m sure the disciples had problems for awhile seeing past the fact that they had almost died doing what Jesus told them to do – and see the point that Jesus had come to them in their struggle. I’m sure it took awhile for Peter to see past the fact that he had almost drowned doing what Jesus called him to do – and see that Jesus had been with him all along. I’m sure there are times for all of us when we see the troubles that may come from doing what God calls us to do – and fail to see that God is with us – even through those troubles. I can appreciate how the disciples felt in their little boat in the middle of nowhere with a storm raging around them -- doing what Jesus had told them to do – and getting in what they thought was trouble. I can appreciate how Peter must have felt – obeying Jesus -- getting out of the boat –- and nearly drowning! Maybe you can appreciate the situations they found themselves in, also. And maybe you can appreciate the questions they may have had for Jesus. “Step out” Jesus said to Peter. And Peter may have done so – then wondered “what am I doing? This is crazy” We might feel the same way when Jesus tells us to “step out” and do something for Him. But Jesus still says to us: Step out! Be bold in your witness for Christ! Step out! Even when what Jesus may be calling you to do makes little sense – Step out! I came across a quote this week that fits very well here. It’s on your bulletin cover for today. I invite you to take it out and read it – take it home and paste it on your refrigerator door or in some other prominent place in your house. The quotation was by a man named Jack Cranfield, who wrote a commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. He wrote:

"If it is a result of obedience to Christ's command that the church or the individual Christian is in a situation of danger or distress, then there is no need to fear."

Let’s read that together this time:

"If it is a result of obedience to Christ's command that the church or the individual Christian is in a situation of danger or distress, then there is no need to fear."

What the quote means is this: If we are doing what God wants us to do, by the grace of God, it will come out O.K. Henri Nouwen was a Catholic priest, an author, and a much beloved man. He once had the privilege of conversing with Mother Teresa. He told her of some of his problems, and asked her advice. She replied: "If you spend time each day in prayer and never do anything which you know is wrong, you will be all right."
Some people would be put off by that answer, because it seems simplistic -- but Nouwen was not put off -- not at all. He said:

"With those words she answered none as well as all of my problems at the same time. It was now up to me to be willing to move to the place where I could hear God’s answer. "

"If you spend time each day in prayer and never do anything which you know is wrong, you will be all right."

What Mother Teresa was saying was simply that, if we are doing what God wants us to do, by the grace of God, it will come out O.K. It came out O. K. for Peter. Jesus reached out and grabbed him – helped him – and he got back into the boat. It came out O.K. for the disciples. Jesus told them who he was and joined them in the boat. When he came to them, the storm stopped. When we find ourselves in the midst of storms, especially storms that come from obeying Jesus’ call to us – it will come out O.K.

"If it is a result of obedience to Christ's command that the church or the individual Christian is in a situation of danger or distress, then there is no need to fear."

This is not a promise that we will have no problems if we follow Jesus, because that isn't true. The disciples had plenty of problems after they began to follow Jesus. Nouwen had problems. Mother Teresa had problems. I have problems. You have problems. But when Jesus comes to us -- when we allow ourselves to be quiet for a few minutes and invite him to guide us -- the storms stop. When we spend the time it takes to know that Jesus is with us, we find that we are no longer afraid. When we are doing what he wants us to do, we can be sure that everything will come out O.K. The noted psychologist Lee Salk tells a story of his mother. As a young girl in Minsk, Russia, she was driven from her home by Cossacks who galloped in without warning and burned the entire village. She fled for her life, made her way to Poland, and then crossed the sea to America, crowded in a ship's hold. She was 12 when she arrived in New York City in 1901 and immediately went to work 16 hours a day in a sweatshop on the lower east side. She tried to go to school at night but kept falling asleep over her books. Even after she married had a family it was a horrible struggle to keep food on the table. But no matter how poor we were, she urged her family to think about what they had, not what they didn't have. She taught them that in hardship you develop a capacity to appreciate the beauty that exists in the simplest elements of life. She always told her children:

“When it gets dark enough, you can see the stars.”

In the days ahead, you will face many storms. Some of them will be little squalls that pass by quickly, but others will be full-blown hurricanes. Get ready! Invite Jesus to join you -- to come into your heart -- to direct your life -- to guide you day-by-day and moment-by-moment. If you will do that, when the storms come, you will be O.K.

"When the darkest parts of you life come, you will still be able to “see the stars”. "

"If it is a result of obedience to Christ's command that the church or the individual Christian is in a situation of danger or distress, then there is no need to fear."

By the grace of God, you will be O.K. Amen

Matthew 14:13-21

2005-07-30T18:40:00.000-05:00

MATTHEW 14:13-21 July 31, 2005 “Counting On Jesus”

Several years ago Bill Murray starred in the movie “What About Bob?” In it he plays Bob Wiley -- the patient of a psychiatrist who is desperately trying to take a vacation with his family – but Bob does not think he can make it a month while his psychiatrist is on vacation. He takes the bus from New York to the psychiatrists’ vacation home in New Hampshire – and spends the entire month with the psychiatrist and his family. In the process the psychiatrist learns how much good he is doing others – and decides to continue the practice – although at the start of his vacation he was ready to quit. At one point the psychiatrist says :

“You know – I never thought anyone was counting on me!”

It’s a funny movie –and shows how we need to be available for others – even when it’s not convenient to us. Jesus was certainly willing to be available for others – even when it was not convenient for Him. In the passage directly before our passage for today – John is killed by Herod – and Jesus wants to get away for awhile. Take a break. A vacation. Time alone with the disciples – and with God. Not an unfair request. His cousin – his predecessor in ministry – had been killed. Jesus wanted some time to sort things out – so to speak. Time to think about what He was doing. Maybe some time to pray about God’s will for His life. Time away from the increasingly pressing crowds. But – the crowds follow Jesus and the disciples. They can not get away. What does Jesus do? Does He yell at them and tell them to go away – come back later? Does He refuse to see them? No – He has compassion. Compassion Compassion for the crowds. Compassion for their needs. Compassion. He heals many of them. He teaches them. He has compassion. So much compassion that the day gets late – everyone is hungry – and no one has any food. What does Jesus do? The disciples want Him to dismiss the crowds so they can go into the nearby towns and villages and get something to eat. But – what does Jesus do? He has compassion. Jesus refuses to send the crowd away. “You feed them” He tells the disciples. But -- how? How could they do that? they ask. They don’t have enough food to feed so many – they figure there must be at least 5.000 people there – they are not prepared to feed such a crowd – and don’t have the money to buy enough food. They found 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish – but what were they in such a large crowd? How could they give them something to eat? You know what – there was something the disciples had forgotten how to do. They had forgotten how to count. Not in the traditional way – but by Jesus’ way -- a “new math” of abundance! They saw the situation by the following mathematical equation:

(5 loaves and 2 fish) divided by (5,000 people) = a desperate need they could not meet

They know how to “count” in the sense of world – but they did not know how to count in Jesus’ new way – the “new math” of abundance! They forgot one important factor in equation – JESUS They forgot that – whatever they had – Jesus could take it and bless it and use it for His work and will in the world. They forgot that they could always count on Jesus – but when they counted on Jesus – a miracles occured! What they thought was just a small amount of food – 5 loaves and 2 fish – suddenly became an enormous amount of food! You may remember the episode of the “I Love Lucy” show where Lucy is baking bread – and glances down at her cookbook and reads that she needs to add in 12 cakes of yeast. When her friend Ethel arrives she questions whether that is too much – but Lucy says “that’s what the cookbook says”. They look at the cookbook again – and discover that Lucy had misread the cookbook – she only needed to put in 2 cakes of yeast – not 12. But – they figure the cakes of yeast are very small -- and won’t be any problem. They go shopping – and when they return home – Lucy notices the door of the oven is ajar. Opening the door to investigate, an enormous loaf of bread emerges – so big it pins Lucy against the cabinets on the opposite side of the kitchen. Ethel runs to get a huge lumberjack saw – and rescues Lucy from the monster loaf of bread! Like the small cakes of yeast can do powerful things -- Jesus can take small things – and do powerful things. Here’s how the true mathematical equation the disciples were facing in trying to feed the 5,000 should have looked like:

(5 loaves + 2 fish) plus JESUS divided by (5 loaves + 2 fish) = A Miracle!

A miracle occured when they gave what they had to Jesus – and let Him do His miracle! Like the psychiatrist in the movie “What About Bob” – the disciples learned to care and have compassion that day – but they learned more than that – they learned how to count on Jesus’ ability to care – Jesus’ ability to meet needs – Jesus’ ability to work miracles. They learned that – when they step up do what they can – Jesus can do the rest. They learned to

COUNT ON JESUS

OK – so – what about us? Aren’t there times we are like the disciples – so overwhelmed by needs around us in world and community – that we just want t get away? Aren’t there times we feel like saying “God – take care of those needs I see around me” But – we feel Jesus says “No – you do it!” Aren’t there times we want to ask – God -- surely you don’t expect me to take care of all these needs – Like the disciples – we forget how to count – not by the world’s standards – but by Jesus’ “new math” of abundance! The mathematical equation for how we see it may look something like this:

(Our limited resources) divided by (the world’s great needs) equals disaster!

This story before us today is a word for every weary disciple. It is a word for each of us. Although we may feel we are confronted with impossible expectations - - we are supported by Jesus’ promise to give us more than enough to reach out to those in need – if we will just do it. The mathematical equation we should be looking at is:

(Our limited resources) plus (JESUS) divined by (the world’s great needs) equals A MIRACLE!

How can we do all God has called us to do? How can we find enough to meet the needs of so many people? How can we visit the sick – console the distressed – find a word of hope for others – help those who desperately need it? The task is obviously impossible – but – like the disciples – if we will simply do what we can – and depend on Jesus for the rest – things will get done. Yea –

Our limited resources) plus (JESUS) divined by (the world’s great needs) equals A MIRACLE

! You see -- Jesus is not really saying – you do it Instead – Jesus is saying: “Let’s do it together!” When we look at needs and situations around us we might be overwhelmed – but we need to count Jesus into equation

Our limited resources) plus (JESUS) divined by (the world’s great needs) equals A MIRACLE!

Instead of feeling overwhelmed – remember to count on Jesus Feel for the needs of others – and do what you can to meet their needs. Feel compassion for others – and do what you can to help them. Think of what you can do – what we together can do – what we together with Jesus can do – to meet the needs of others Think of what can be done when we add Jesus to the equation Think of what we can do – when we count on Jesus We don’t have to feel like the psychiatrist in “What About Bob” whose patients would not leave him alone -- or the disciples overwhelmed by needs of those around them – We can count on Jesus We can find our needs met We can find miraculous power – when we willing to do what we can – and count on Jesus to do the rest! A minister tells the story of one day – while walking into the Hospital to visit someone – a mother and her young daughter were ahead of him. Just before they got to the entrance, the little girl noticed the closed door and asked her mother how they were going to get inside. The mother smiled – walked forward – and the electronic eye opened the door and they walked in. As they wre walking in, the little girl turned to him and said: “It’s ok – just step up and a miracle will happen” Jesus says to us – “It’s ok – step forward in faith – and a miracle will occur!” Step up – in faith – and count on Jesus! AMEN

Matthew 13:31-33,44-52

2005-07-23T16:37:00.000-05:00

MATTHEW 13:31-33, 44-52 “DISCOVER!” JULY 24, 2005

There are many stories and legends surrounding the life of Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher. One story is that one day as Socrates was walking along by the ocean a young man came up to him and began pleading: “Socrates -- can I be your disciple?” Socrates did not say a thing -- but he did begin wading into the water. The young man followed -- pleading: “Socrates -- please make me one of your disciples!” Socrates said nothing - - but continued to wade deeper and deeper into the water. Finally -- when he was over waist deep into the ocean -- Socrates spun around and grabbed the young man by the head -- pushed him under the water -- held him and held him and held him until he knew the young man could take no more -- then let him up. The young man surfaced -- gasping for air - breathing hard -- and finally asked Socrates why he had done such a thing to him. “Young man” said Socrates -- “until you discover that the truth is as important as air -- you can not be my disciple.” What in the world was Socrates doing? What in the world was he talking about? Now -- Socrates was known for strange actions and even stranger words -- words that made very little sense to many -- but that made good sense and even changed the lives of others. So -- how about it? What was Socrates doing -- pushing the unsuspecting man -- who only wanted to be his disciple -- his follower -- down under the water and holding him until he knew the man could take it no longer -- then let him up -- sputtering -- gasping for air -- only to say: “until discover that the truth is as important as air -- you can not be my disciple.” What was this truth that Socrates had such a passion for? What was this truth Socrates wanted this young man to have such a passion for -- and graphically illustrated his desire to this young man? Well -- to Socrates and other Greek philosophers of his day -- truth meant knowledge -- knowledge meant truth -- whatever was “right” was good and true and this was his passion. But -- I wonder - - what about God? Is there another “truth” -- a “truth” that God wants us to have -- a “truth” God wills for us -- a “truth” that God wants us to be passionate about -- that God wants us to discover -- a “truth” that God wills for us to have as important to us as the air that we breathe? What do you think? I believe that there is -- and this is what I believe that it is -- I believe that this truth that God wants us to discover -- this truth that God wants us to make important in our lives -- this truth that God wants us to have as important to us as the very air that we breathe -- is that Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God God wants us -- God wills for us -- God yearns for us -- to discover His kingdom at work in our lives -- and to let it be as important to us as the air that we breathe.

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

Discover the Kingdom of God -- Discover God’s surprising work -- in your life -- your family -- this church -- this community -- the world.

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

But -- what is this Kingdom? What is this Kingdom of God that God wants us -- wills for us -- yearns for us -- to discover in our lives? What is it? Is it a glorious place of peace and rest -- no pain -- only good things -- with nothing to upset us? Is that what it is? Or -- Is it a place where pain and joy -- peace and quarrels -- things that upset us and things that excite us -- some how exist side by side simultaneously? Which is it? What do you think? For that matter -- Where is this Kingdom of God? Is it somewhere far, far away -- “in the sweet by and by” as that old Gospel song has it -- almost inaccessible to us? Or -- Is it somewhere among us -- waiting to almost jump up out of the ordinary events of our lives to surprise us? Another good question -- huh? What do you think? Surely this Kingdom of God that God wants us to experience and have as such a vital part of our lives that it is as important to us as the air we breathe can’t be in the midst of the daily things that disturb or upset us or the daily routine that tends to bore us to death. Surely this Kingdom God yearns for us to experience can’t be among these things -- can it? But -- if not here -- then where? If not now -- then when? Indeed -- if God wills and yearns for us to have His kingdom as important to us as the air we breathe -- then we need some answers -- don’t we? But -- what are the answers? Where do we begin looking for answers about this Kingdom God want us to experience and have as a vital part of our lives? Do you think we need to look at Jesus -- and what He said about the Kingdom? Maybe so -- huh? In our Scripture lesson for today Jesus makes it clear that the Kingdom of God is full of surprises. Not exactly the straight answer we’re looking for -- is it? It’s more like the strange answer of Socrates. But -- Jesus says -- the Kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed that turns into a tremendous tree. Or a very small pinch of leaven that leavens an entire 3 measures of flour. Or a treasure discovered in a field. Or a valuable pearl -- searched for a lifetime -- and finally found. Or a fishnet that indiscriminately catches all kinds of fish. Or a person who keeps new and old things in their chest of valuables. Yea -- Jesus’ answers are a lot like Socrates’. And a lot like the Kingdom of God. Full of surprises.

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

If Jesus were here among us today -- maybe He would answer our questions about the “what” and “where” of God’s Kingdom with a story something like one I heard not long ago. The story goes that there was a beautiful Monastery in a beautifully wooded setting -- but it had fallen upon hard times. It had once been the home of a great order -- but no one wanted to join a Monastery any more. Only five Monks -- the Abbot and four others -- remained at the Monastery -- and now they were over 70 years old. Clearly their order was dying. The Monks were all discouraged -- and you could tell it in the way they treated each other. Also in the woods close to the Monastery was a cabin a local Rabbi used for prayer retreats. One day, the old Abbot of the Monastery was walking in the woods -- contemplating the trouble his Order was in -- and noticed that the Rabbi happened to be at his cabin. He knocked on the door and introduced himself to the Rabbi. The Rabbi invited him in, and they began to engage each other in conversation. During the conversation the Abbot told the Rabbi about the plight of his Order -- and asked if the Rabbi had any suggestions for him. The Rabbi looked at him -- and said -- “I have only one thing to say -- the Messiah is among you!” The Abbot walked back to the monastery -- frustrated and dejected. He had not gotten the straight answer he had wanted. When he returned to the Monastery, he reported to the other Monks what the Rabbi had said. “How strange!” They all thought -- “the Messiah could not be one of us -- could He?” They all looked at each other -- and wondered. But -- something began to happen. On the chance that one of them might be the Messiah -- the Monks began treating each other with more dignity and respect -- and on the very outside chance that they may be the Messiah -- each Monk began acting in more loving and caring and devoted ways. Well -- the Monastery grounds were beautiful -- and people from all around had for years come to picnic there. Suddenly the guests began noticing something different about the Monks that seemed to permeate the grounds themselves. They were friendlier -- more devout -- more respectful. The guests liked what they saw and felt on the Monastery grounds -- and began coming more often -- inviting friends -- and before long many used the grounds for picnics and times of solitude. Before long, some were so attracted to the lifestyle they saw the Monks now living that they decided to join the Order -- and within a few years -- the Monastery was once again filled with devout -- respectful -- Monks. Friends -- we need to

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

Discover that God’s Kingdom -- God Himself -- is always among us -- even in us -- even part of us!

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

Discover the joys of God!

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

Discover God in your life -- let God be as important to you as the air you breathe --

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

What is the Kingdom of God like? It’s like our world -- our lives. Full of pain -- Full of hardships -- but also full of joy. In the midst of it all is God’s surprising work.

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

Discover God’s Kingdom in and through you.

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

Let God’s Kingdom be as important to you as the air you breathe.

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

Sure -- there are going to be times when do not resemble God’s Kingdom in any way. Things happen that have nothing to do with God’s Kingdom -- and many times our actions show everything but God’s Kingdom to others. But -- even in those times -- it is still here. Maybe working slowly -- almost imperceptibly -- like a pinch of yeast in flour until -- suddenly -- the whole loaf is leavened -- maybe as small as a mustard seed -- but slowly growing into a beautiful. large bush -- still there -- waiting to surprise us -- if we will just discover it.

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

We need to be on a search for God’s treasure -- God’s Kingdom -- in us and with us and through us. We need to discover that God’s Kingdom is among us – at all times – and in the midst of all things. Then – we need to share God’s Kingdom – God’s love – with the world. We need let God act through us in ways that will touch other’s lives – and let the leaven of God’s love and grace continue to permeate the world. We need to discover that God’s Kingdom is among us – so we can then help others discover it, also.

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

There is a story about a dining room in St. Anthony's Catholic Church in San Francisco where they feed a thousand needy people every day. A sign over the doorway reads

CARITATE DEI.

A young man visited San Francisco and found himself in the wrong part of town with the wrong people. He got drunk, was rolled, and ended up in jail without a penny. There, he learned that he could get a free meal at St. Anthony's Church. When he got out of jail, he went to the church to get some food -- but he was very suspicious. When he saw a woman cleaning a nearby table, he asked, "When do we get down on our knees, lady?" The woman replied that he didn't have to do that to get a meal at St. Anthony's. So he asked, "Then when's the sermon?" She said, "Aren't any." So he asked, "What's the gimmick?" The woman stopped for a moment, and then pointed to the sign over the doorway –

CARITATE DEI.

The man asked, "What's it mean, lady?" "Out of the love for God!" she replied -- and then, with a smile, she began cleaning the next table. The young man could not believe people would do something like this simply “For The Love Of God” – and it made an impression on him. He gave his life to Christ – and became active in the ministry of the Church. People discovered the Kingdom of God among them in San Francisco – shared that with others – and slowly but surely – like the yeast in the dough – it made a difference.

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

The Kingdom of God is one person giving a dollar -- out of the love of God -- so another person can eat. The Kingdom of God is a Christian -- someone with a thousand other things to do -- who takes time to listen to someone else who needs to share their problems. The Kingdom of God is a group of folks who come together to worship God – then go into the world to share what they have discovered. The kingdom of God is to be found all around us -- in the little things that we do for others -- out of our love for God.

DISCOVER! DISCOVER!

Discover the Kingdom of God – as it is among us and in us – even when we cannot see it. Make discovering God’s Kingdom the most important thing in your life – as important at the air you breathe. Then – discover ways to share this Godly Kingdom with the world.

AMEN

Matther 13:1-9, 18-23

2005-07-09T20:04:00.000-05:00

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 “A Dirty Church” July 10, 2005
Not many people like dirt. It’s usually something you try to get rid of. Things that are dirty are usually considered bad. Most people like things clean instead of dirty. When your house is dirty, you clean it. When your car is dirty, you want to wash it so it can be clean. When your clothes are dirty, you wash them so they can be clean. When you are dirty, you take a bath or a shower so you can be clean. Most of us like things clean instead of dirty. Unless, or course, you are doing something with the dirt. Take Sally for instance. She likes to have her hands in the mud making pottery. She comes home covered with dirt – clay – mud from head to toe. But before she leaves the studio you know what she does? She cleans her wheel and her work area. And when she gets home she puts her clothes in the dirty clothes basket so they can be washed. And she takes a shower to get the mud – clay – dirt off of her. I know the joke about taking a bath on Saturday nights whether you need it or not – but the truth is most of us like to be clean instead of dirty. And we like things around us to be clean. We take great pride in things being clean -- and spend a lot of effort getting things clean. Most of us do not like dirt. Unless, of course, we enjoy planting flowers or growing vegetable. When I was growing up we had a man that would help Mom and Dad with yard work on occasion named Nick White. Nick was an elderly gentleman who could tell people where to plant plants. He would dig around in the yard – getting “soil samples” as it were – then would announce: “You can plant here. It’s good dirt.” Good dirt. Sometimes you just need good dirt. What makes for good dirt? A proper balance of nutrients to start with – some fertilizer can’t hurt – maybe a little Miracle Grow – then some water and sunlight. These things can help plants grow. But first – you have to have good soil – or as Nick would say – good dirt. To have growth in plants – you have to start with good dirt. And you have to be willing to get dirty. The Parable before us today is a story Jesus told about a farmer who sowed seeds – the different types of dirt the seeds fell into – and what happened in each type of dirt. Now – most of you know I am by no means a person of great horticultural skills – which is say I am no farmer. But even I wondered at the farming practices of the man Jesus told about in His story. But these were normal practices for the farmers of the first century. First century farmers usually broadcast the seed by hand as they walked through their field. The fields were small by today's standards, and the sowing very imprecise. It was natural that some seed would land in unproductive areas. Many times pathways interlaced the fields, and were packed hard by many feet. Much land had a shallow layer of soil over a stone base. The rock would absorb heat during the day, releasing heat to the seed during the night, causing the seed to spring up quickly – as happened in verse 5 of our text. Then there was the problem of borders of the fields that would be infested with thorns, and weed seeds would blow onto freshly plowed ground. The farmer would not be able to see them, but in time they would sprout and choke out the good seeds the farmer was sowing. So – there you have the types of soil Jesus describes: The hard ground The rocky soil The weed infested soil Problems every farmer in the first century had to deal with. Problems all of Jesus’ listeners could relate to. But then there was the good soil. The good dirt. But Jesus had more in mind when He told this story than telling a tale of a farmer and what happened to his seed. Why do you think Jesus told this story? Well – Jesus knew that – as His disciples and others were doing His work – not all “soil” – not all “dirt” -- would be “good soil” – or “good dirt”. Not everyone would believe in Christ. Things would interfere with the growth of God’s Spirit in their lives. Some wouldn’t even listen Others would – but not let it “take root” Others would – then let the world choke it out And – there would be other “seeds” that others would spread that at times would seem to take root quicker and be more productive than the “Gospel seeds”. But – sometimes – there would be seeds that land in the “good soil” – the “good dirt” – and these would take root – and bear fruit – and God’s work would be done. We know that still holds true today. We can do everything we can – be as faithful as we can -- but there are still those who don’t listen as we try to spread the Good News of God. There are still those who don’t let the Good News of God’s love make a difference in their lives. There are still those who let the concerns of world choke out the message we try to give them about God and God’s love for them. There are still others spreading other seeds that are not the love of God – and sometimes these seeds seem to take root and be more productive than the “Gospel seeds.” And then – there are still those who let God’s love make a difference in their lives and change their lives! We live in a world where a lot of different “seeds” are being sown. Some are seeds of hatred and violence. We see evidence of these seeds being sown every day – most recently on the world stage in London last Thursday – but they are being sown everywhere. Some are seeds of addictions. We see them being sown in peoples lives all the time – and see the results – what happens when these seeds of addiction begin to bear fruit in peoples lives. Some are seeds of poverty – hunger – homelessness – loss of jobs – and despair. We see them being sown every day – and can see what happens when they bear fruit. But there are others who are sowing seeds of hope – of love – of God’s love – as a response to these other seeds that are being sown. Even though these do not always bear fruit – we can sometimes see what happens in people’s lives when they do – and can work to continue spreading those seeds of God’s hope and love in the world. Let me give you an example of 2 people who spread God’s seeds – “Gospel seeds” in the world – in a place where it was dangerous to do so – but continued spreading the seeds. In 2002 Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer were workers in Afghanistan trying to bring Christ into that war torn country. One of the families they showed the Jesus film to betrayed them to the authorities. They were arrested by the Taliban – but freed when our forces drove the Taliban out of their area. They still hope to return to Afghanistan to continue their work there. When asked if they would do anything differently next time, Dayna Curry said: "I know particularly that we did not have that many people praying for us the day we were arrested. Normally we did, but on that one day we didn't. If you are going to do something like show the Jesus film, make sure there's a whole lot of prayer coverage" Dayna and Heather are examples of faith – and knowing that sometimes it may seem your work for God is unproductive, but you can’t give up – because that productive time – that good soil – that good dirt – is out there – you just have to make sure the seed gets to it. Every day we have to spread the seeds – share God’s love with the world. Certainly some will take root and produce fruit – and some wont. But we still have to spread the seed. How do we spread the seeds of God’s love in the world? We can do this every day as we work to help those around us. We can spread seeds of hope and love as we reach out to those in need. We can do this through volunteering for organizations that help others – or donating to organizations that help others -- or making afghans for the homeless – or visiting someone who is sick -- We can spread seeds of hope and love as we share a smile or a friendly word with a stranger. We can spread seeds of hope and love by working for legislation that helps those in need. We can spread seeds of hope and love by praying for those who are in need – those who need to experience God’s hope and love in their lives – and for those who are working to bring God’s hope and love to others. There are so many ways that we can spread God’s seeds of hope and love in the world. Sure – There will sill those who don’t let the Good News of God’s love make a difference in their lives. There will still be those who let the concerns of world choke out the message we try to give them about God and God’s love for them. There will still be others who will be spreading other seeds that are not the love of God – and sometimes these seeds seem to take root and be more productive than the “Gospel seeds.” But – there will be those who will let the “Gospel seed” we sow take root in their lives – and in whom the Gospel will take root and bear fruit. We just have to sow the seeds. But – we do not only have to sow the seeds. We need to see what kind of dirt we have here! Do we – here in this Church --- have an environment in which seeds can grow – and be nurtured? Do we have an environment where the seeds God has sown in each of us can grow and flourish? Is our Church “good soil” – Is it “good dirt”? What kid of “dirt” do we have here? We need to have a “Dirty Church”! My apologies to all of you who work so hard to keep our Church clean – but there are some respects in which our Church needs to be dirty! We need to be “dirty” in that we need to create an environment in which the seeds God sows in us can grow and flourish – so we can go out and sow more seeds. So – what kind of “dirt” – what kind of “soil” do we have here? Is it the kind of soil that is like the path Jesus spoke of – well worn – comfortable – traditional – but not exciting and refusing to try new things God may be wanting us to try? A Church that is like the well worn path is a Church that does not give the seeds God plants within us a chance to take root. Or – is our Church like rocky ground – where the seeds God plants within us can quickly grow – but have no opportunity for nurture and no opportunity to take root and grow? Or – is our Church like the thorny ground – choking out the seeds God plants within us before they can begin to produce fruit? Or – is our Church good soil -- good dirt that promotes the growth of the seeds God plants within each of us? We need to be a “Dirty Church” – a Church of good soil – good dirt – that promotes the growth of the sees God places in us so we can produce fruit – and go out and sow more seeds. Earlier I mentioned some things that made for good soil – good dirt. Things like: A proper balance of nutrients to start with – some fertilizer can’t hurt – maybe a little Miracle Grow – then some water and sunlight. These things can help plant seeds grow. What about God’s seeds – the seeds God plants within each of us? What makes for good dirt – good soil – for these seeds? For these seeds to grow – they need things like Worship – Worship that is exciting and also inspiring. Worship that opens us up to what God may be saying to us – and the directions God may be moving us. Study – Study that is challenging and that opens us up to God’s word and God’s will for our lives. Service – Service that helps us spread the seeds God has planted in us. Fellowship – Fellowship that helps strengthen the bonds God has blessed us with – the love we have for each other and the love God has for us – and helps the seeds God has planted within us grow. These are the things that make for good dirt – good soil – where the seeds God has planted in us can grow and mature and produce fruit – so we can go out and spread God’s seed in the world. Let’s be good soil. A Dirty Church. A Church that is good soil for the seeds God plants in us can grow. Not a well worn path where no roots can take hold Or rocky ground that does not promote growth of God’s seeds in us Or thorny ground where the seeds are choked out Let’s be good dirt – good soil A Dirty Church that promotes growth of the seeds God plants in each of us – then let’s go out and spread more seed for God’s glory in the world. Yes – There will sill those who don’t let the Good News of God’s love make a difference in their lives. There will still be those who let the concerns of world choke out the message we try to give them about God and God’s love for them. There will still be others who will be spreading other seeds that are not the love of God – and sometimes these seeds seem to take root and be more productive than the “Gospel seeds.” But – there will be those who will let the “Gospel seed” we sow take root in their lives – and in whom the Gospel will take root and bear fruit. But for that to happen – we have to be good soil – good dirt. AMEN

2 Chronicles 7:12-22, Mark 12:13-37

2005-07-02T19:56:00.000-05:00

II CHRONICLES 7: 12-22 GALATIONS 5:1, 13-25 MARK 12:13-17 “GOD, BLESS AMERICA” JULY 3, 2005

GOD BLESS AMERICA LAND THAT I LOVE STAND BESIDE HER AND GUIDE HER THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH A LIGHT FROM ABOVE. FROM THE MOUNTAINS -- TO THE PRAIRIE TO THE OCEAN WHITE WITH FOAM -- GOD BLESS AMERICA -- MY HOME SWEET HOME GOD BLESS AMERICA -- MY HOME SWEET HOME.
So are the words of this familiar patriotic song. The sentiment of this popular song -- written so many years ago -- is shared by most of us today. I am sure that all of us here today -- especially on this glorious weekend when we are celebrating the 229th birthday of our great nation -- are proud to be citizens of America -- and pray for God to bless America. I know I am glad to live in this great country of ours -- and I am sure all of you are, too! But -- today is not only July 3 -- it is Sunday, July 3. Sunday -- the day we gather together to worship and give praise to God. Sunday -- and on this particular Sunday we gather around the Lord’s Table to partake of the sacrament of Communion. How do we combine our love for God and our love for our country? GOD, BLESS AMERICA
What does our relationship and loyalty to God ask of us? What does our relationship and loyalty to our country ask of us? GOD, BLESS AMERICA
Our Gospel and Old Testament Lessons for today give us no direct answers -- but they both give us some guidance to the question of responsibility and loyalty to God and country. GOD, BLESS AMERICA
“

Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them -- or should we not?”

When asked a “trick” question -- a question intended to force Him to make a statement that would either make the Roman government or the Jews mad -- what does Jesus do? Jesus does a very wise thing. He asks for a denarius -- the money used to pay the tax. On it was a picture of Tiberius -- the emperor -- and an inscription bearing Tiberius’ name. Clearly -- the coin -- with the picture and inscription of Tiberius -- belonged to Tiberius. So Jesus replies:

"Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's,”

but -- then He adds --

“give to God the things that are God's."

GOD, BLESS AMERICA
Sometimes the distinction between our loyalty and responsibility to God and our loyalty and responsibility to our county gets a bit confused. On the one hand -- we have a tendency to become overzealous in our patriotism and cheer for our country -- particularly on this weekend -- even when at times things are being done by our country and things happening within our country and -- quite frankly -- decisions made by our leaders that we -- as Christians -- should question instead of wholeheartedly support. Or -- on the other hand -- we can sometimes become so “religious” that we feel that we can not be involved in such “worldly” matters as civic or national affairs. But -- the bottom line is -- both of these attitudes about God and country are wrong.

Give to the country the things due the country Give to God the things due to God

GOD, BLESS AMERICA
Our Old Testament Lesson for today can help us understand the true relationship between God and country. King Solomon -- King of Israel -- a great king in his own right and son of King David -- has completed the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This was the Temple that King David had wanted to build -- but it had been left up to Solomon to build this magnificent Temple for the Hebrew people to assemble in and worship God. God speaks to Solomon after the Temple is completed -- and tells Solomon that He approves of what Solomon has done -- and will bless Solomon and his country if they will follow in God’s ways. But -- if they fail to follow in the way of the Lord -- He will not bless them -- but will curse them. GOD, BLESS AMERICA
God promises to bless Solomon and the people of Israel if they will follow Him.

“if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

GOD, BLESS AMERICA
However, God also promises a curse upon Solomon and the people of Israel if they fail to follow His way.

"But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck you up from the land that I have given you;”

GOD, BLESS AMERICA
The promises that God gave to Solomon centuries ago still hold true today. GOD, BLESS AMERICA
These are indeed great words -- and the thought behind them extremely commendable -- but -- we have to ask ourselves What is it that we owe to God -- and what is it that we owe our country? What are the things that involve our loyalty to our country?

Our support Our love Our devotion Joyous celebrations of our freedoms

What about our loyalty to God? That involves

Our ultimate loyalty Our ultimate love Out ultimate devotion All our energies and our strength Our very lives

It is God who we are to love and obey above all others - even our country. We are to give God -- and the things of God -- our ultimate support -- not anything else -- even our country.

GOD, BLESS AMERICA

If we seek God’s blessings upon America -- if we truly want America to receive God’s blessings -- then we need to give to God the things that are God’s. We need to give our lives to God. We need to follow God’s teachings and God’s ways. GOD, BLESS AMERICA GOD, BLESS AMERICA
Scripture gives us some basis for these blessings and freedoms we pray for and hold so dear. So do the words of that great document -- The Declaration of Independence. Listen to one of the most famous parts of that great document: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Great words. But -- 229 years later -- have they truly become a reality? Do we really believe that all people are created equal -- and have the same rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Or do we prefer to save these rights for a few -- and forget about the rest? As the rich continue to get richer by whatever means they can – and the poor are cast aside and not taken care of – As people fight legal battles to ensure that people have the right to decide end of life questions and die with dignity – while every day people are dying with no one to consider their dignity – As people fight to stop abortions – but at the same time fail to make sure that children have their basic needs met – As we vow to fight terrorism – but refuse to let countries decide for themselves how they are to be ruled – We have to question whether we truly believe that all people are created equal -- and have the same rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We have to wonder whether we truly believe in liberty and justice for all – as we say in our pledge of allegiance – or if it is really liberty and justice for some. Friends -- America has been called a great nation. This is very true -- America is a very great nation. However, America is only truly great if Americans have a truly great faith in God -- truly give to God the things due God and to our country the things due our county -- and live in God’s ways – sharing God’s love with all people – and working for God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace on earth. America is only as great as our faith in God. America has been called a Christian nation. Indeed, our country was founded upon Christian principles -- but we must return to those principles -- truly give to God the things due to God -- and deepen our faith in God. But -- America is only a Christian nation as long as we -- Americans -- are a Christian people. Once we stop following God and Christ, we can no longer be considered a Christian nation. As a nation, America is only as Christian as we -- it’s people -- live out our faith and let our faith determine what we do as individuals -- and as a country. America has been called a strong nation. Once again, this statement is only true if we -- as Americans -- have a strong faith in God – a strong commitment to giving to God the things due to God and to our country the things due our country Only if we let our strong faith in God and our strong commitment to God determine what we do as individuals -- as a community -- as a Church -- and as a nation can we be considered a strong nation. Only if we commit ourselves to acting on our faith – and working for God’s love and God’s will a world filled with God’s love, justice, and peace – can we be considered a great nation. America’s true strength is not a military strength -- but the strength of our faith in God. As long as we -- as Americans -- have a strong, vibrant faith in God that helps us live in God’s ways -- giving to God the things due to God and to our country the things due our country -- a faith that helps us judge what God would have us do as individuals -- a community -- a Church -- and a nation -- America will be a strong, vibrant nation. America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon the depth of the faith of its people -- the depth of its people’s commitment to give to God the things due to God. And that means my faith and my commitment -- and your faith and your commitment. GOD, BLESS AMERICA
Bless America with true blessings that come with working for God’s will for justice and peace for all people. Bless America with true blessings that come from being humble before God -- and doing God’s will. GOD, BLESS AMERICA
This will only happen when we as Americans begin again truly following God -- and making sure that the freedoms we hold dear are protected for everyone -- and everyone has a right to experience the freedom God give us -- as well as the freedoms we hold dear as Americans. GOD, BLESS AMERICA
While Sally and I were at the beach last week I read the book Natural Law by Alberto Piedra. In it Piedra asserts that we need to return to a society built upon God’s will for what is right and what is wrong instead of having a society where right and wrong is determined by our own feelings. As I read this book, I felt that I could not agree more. GOD, BLESS AMERICA
I pray that we -- and our country -- do not miss out on any of the things God wants to bless us with. I pray that we will turn back to God -- and do what we can to bring our country back to God. I pray that we will do all we can to ensure God’s will of peace, justice, love and compassion for all people. GOD, BLESS AMERICA
Come to the table -- and commit yourself again to giving to God the things that are God’s -- your love, your life, your thoughts, your words, your actions. Commit yourself to doing what you can to ensure these liberties we talk so much about are experienced by all. Indeed -- GOD BLESS AMERICA -- MY HOME SWEET HOME GOD BLESS AMERICA -- MY HOME SWEET HOME

Matthew 10:24-39

2005-06-18T20:45:00.000-05:00

Matthew 10:24-36“Brave Servants” June 19, 2005

Last week we began looking at being a servant of Christ. We looked at Matthew 9:35 – 10:8 – and considered what it meant to be what I called a “compassionate servant” – caring for others and sharing God’s love with them because God has cared for us and shown His love to us -- and calls us to care for and calls us to share His love with others. The Gospel reading for today has Jesus continuing His conversation with the disciples about what it means to serve Him. To serve Christ it takes compassion. It also takes bravery. Now – you may be wondering why it takes bravery to serve Christ. Well, Jesus answers that question very directly in our passage for today. Jesus knew what was awaiting Him in Jerusalem. He knew that He was going to be arrested – tried – mocked – abused – and crucified – not for anything He had done wrong but for what we have done wrong -- but He still bravely went to Jerusalem and endured it all – so our sins could be forgiven. He also knew that the disciples were going to be persecuted and some were going to be killed because they believed in Jesus. It only made sense.

A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

In other words, if Jesus was going to be mistreated and abused and ridiculed and – the authorities thought – killed – the disciples could expect the same thing! But like Jesus the disciples needed to be brave in serving Him. Compassionate servants – yes. But also brave servants. When Jesus said this, He knew that he was going to die on a cross, and He knew that life for his disciples would be hard. He warned them that their lives would be no easier than his -- although, at the time, they didn't understand how difficult that would be. Jesus went on to tell them to have no fear of his opponents. He said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." Now -- that is scary talk. I don't know about you, but I fear those who can kill the body. I try to be careful where I walk at night. I lock my doors. Killing the soul is bad, but killing the body isn't wonderful either. This is serious, scary stuff alright! Jesus says here:

"Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven."

What does it mean to "acknowledge" Jesus? The King James uses the word "confess" – "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." Whether we use "acknowledge" or "confess," Jesus means that we should give some sort of evidence, by word or deed, that we accept him as Lord. But – acknowledging Jesus as Lord – and bravely doing so – regardless of what others might think or do or say – isn’t easy! Serving Christ isn’t easy! Acknowledging Christ is not easy! Being a follower of Christ is not easy! We need to be brave servants! Jesus was telling the disciples that He expected them to remain faithful -- to continue their public witness -- even in the face of danger.

"Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven."

When Jesus promised to acknowledge His disciples in heaven, He was pointing toward the great day at the end of history when God will gather us before His throne to determine whether we are sheep or goats -- the sheep being rewarded and the goats being punished. Jesus was promising on that day to stand with His disciples -- to protect them -- to be their spokesman -- their defender.

"Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

But he went on to warn,

"Whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven."

> He was telling them -- telling us -- that Christian discipleship is an either-or proposition. He expects our loyalty, even if the going gets tough. We need to be brave servants – no matter what. It is not unusual for the going to get tough. You would think that people would welcome Christians -- would encourage them -- would be drawn to the witness of their lives. That, however, is often not the case. Christians have the habit of telling the truth even when the truth is uncomfortable. Sometimes Christians must say that the emperor is naked. Sometimes Christians must say that the rich and famous are stealing from the poor. As a result, Christians who do the right thing often find themselves in hot water. That's what happened to Martin Niemoeller. Niemoeller was a Lutheran pastor in Berlin when Hitler came to power. He protested Nazi interference in church affairs and Nazi persecution of Jews. He started the movement that grew to become the Confessing Church -- a church that opposed Hitler and his policies. Hitler hated Niemoeller, and in 1938 had him arrested. Niemoeller was a brave man, but he feared what lay ahead. But –as he was being led down a long corridor to the courtroom where he would be tried, he heard a voice quietly quoting, in Latin, a verse from the Book of Proverbs: "Nomen Domini turris fortissimo," the voice said. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower." The Latin was from the Catholic liturgy, which is surely how the guard knew them -- but Niemoeller knew them too. "Nomen Domini turris fortissimo" -- "The Lord is a strong tower." It was a call for Niemoeller to have courage, even as he entered the lion's den. Those words gave Niemoeller strength to face what lay ahead. When I read that story, I was amazed not only at Niemoeller's courage, but also at the courage of that guard. If anyone else had understood his words, he would have shared Niemoeller's fate. I won't know that guard's name until I get to heaven, but I think of him as one of the great heroes of the Christian faith. "Nomen Domini turris fortissimo" -- "The Lord is a strong tower." Niemoeller was imprisoned at Dachau, where so many died. He survived seven years in that concentration camp -- survived to help rebuild the church in Germany and to lead his people to face their guilt. He is famous for these words:

First they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Finally, they came for me and there was no one left to speak out.

Jesus said, "

Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven

." This is a call to be brave disciples – brave servants – brave witnesses for Christ. This month’s issue of Christianity Today magazine tells about Hamid Pourmand, an Assemblies of God lay pastor who faces charges in Iran of “apostasy from Islam” and of proselytizing Muslims. Both 'crimes' are punishable by death. Jesus says, "
Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven
." This is a call to be brave disciples – brave servants – brave witnesses for Christ. A few weeks ago there was an article in the Wall Street Journal about how the government is trying to stop Su Xueling from telling others about Christ. Ms. Su was the daughter of a communist, and knew nothing of Christ until she was in her 30s. When her husband was dying of cancer fifteen years ago, a nurse suggested that she might find solace in Christianity. Struggling with grief and debt -- trying to make a living selling noodles door to door -- Ms. Su visited a church. One thing led to another, and Ms. Su became a Christian. Through friends, she began to raise money for a noodle factory. When she opened it, she named her business Gospel Foodstuffs, Ltd., and printed "Gospel Noodles" boldly on the packages. Her business prospered, and a friend challenged her to donate money to start a seminary. The seminary prospered and grew until it was serving 200 students. Refusing to bend to a law forbidding evangelizing, the seminary even taught Arabic in the hope of sending missionaries to the Middle East. But then the government shut down the school and Ms. Su's noodle business. Later, they backed down, in part because Ms. Su was popular -- they couldn't afford to treat her roughly. Ms. Su doesn't plan to restart her noodle business, but she does plan to start a private school, and is raising money for that purpose. Jesus says, "

Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven

." This is a call to be brave disciples – brave servants – brave witnesses for Christ Christianity is spreading rapidly in China in spite of government efforts to contain it. We think that there are half as many Christians in China today as in the U.S. in spite of generations of persecution, and I believe that the church in China will within a few years grow larger than the church in the U.S. Nobody knows the numbers of Christians in China for sure, because so many belong to house churches that worship underground -- but Christians are becoming bolder day by day. The revival that began in the countryside is sweeping through cities, where businesspeople and professionals are converting to Christianity and using their resources to further the gospel. Jesus says, "

Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven

" This is a call to be brave disciples – brave servants – brave witnesses for Christ Which brings me to this question – What are you doing to acknowledge Jesus publicly? What are you doing to spread the word about Christ? When the time comes for you to stand before Christ, how will you respond when he asks, "What did you do to acknowledge me?" What will you say? There are many ways to acknowledge Christ publicly: -- Your presence here in worship today is public acknowledgement of your faith. -- When you read your children a Bible story or have prayer with them at bedtime, you are acknowledging Christ. -- When you pray before eating, you are acknowledging Christ. -- When you give money to support the church, you are acknowledging Christ. -- When you donate money to agencies that reach out with God’s love to the others, you are acknowledging Christ. -- When you do an act of kindness for a person in need, you are acknowledging Christ. -- When you stand up for the poor and oppressed, you are acknowledging Christ. -- When you render any service to the church, whether it is sweeping the floor or washing the dishes or fixing a broken handrail, you are acknowledging Christ. Now -- none of those things is especially costly or difficult. The question is whether you are doing them. You see – if you fail to acknowledge Christ in the ways that are not very difficult – you will probably fail to acknowledge Him if you had to in the more difficult ways. How do you acknowledge Christ – in the not so difficult – and yes – even difficult – ways? And the final question is, if the ways you may be acknowledging Christ that are not so difficult suddenly became costly or difficult, would you continue to acknowledge Christ -- to serve Christ -- to witness to Christ? If Nazis or Communists or Muslim extremists were to seize control, would you continue in your faithful witness? Jesus said, "

Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven

." This is a call to be brave disciples – brave servants – brave witnesses for Christ. Be brave. Be a brave servant – for Christ. AMEN

Matthew 9:35-10:8

2005-06-11T19:50:00.000-05:00

MATTHEW 9:35-10:8“COMPASSIONATE WORKERS” JUNE 12, 2005

Some of you may watch the TV show on CBS “60 Minutes”. Even if you don’t watch it, you probably know that it’s a show in a News Magazine format where newsmakers are interviewed and stories are reported by the likes of Dan Rather and Ed Bradley. It is usually a pretty good show – with investigative reporting that has – at times – helped uncover things we need to know about – even if at times their stories have turned out to be false and even at times biased. I watch the Sunday Night version of the show at times – when I’m home and not working or blogging or instant messaging my nephew or watching sports – or if Sally’s home watching something else on TV – so I guess I don’t watch it very often -- but when I do I enjoy the commentary by Andy Rooney – a curmudgeon of a guy who usually has funny comments on things he sees around him or things in the news. Andy Rooney sometimes begins his commentary with: “Don’t you just hate it when”… then he proceeds to talk about – and poke fun at -- something he does not like. Well – with all apologies to Andy – don’t you just hate it when … you go into a store – and the clerks don’t seem to care? You know -- when the clerks don’t pay you any attention at all -- or – the flip side of that – when they pay you too much attention – but it’s obvious they are only trying to make a sale – and don’t really care if they have truly met your need or not? Don’t you just hate it when you can tell the clerk is not trying to understand your need – but only trying to sell you their product as quickly as possible – even if it’s not what you need? Don’t you just hate it when you leave the store thinking: “That sales person doesn’t care about me – just my money?” I might give this idea to Andy Rooney – he would probably give a lot of funny but true illustrations of this. And he might pay well for a good idea. It’s not a good feeling – is it? It’s not a good feeling when you feel that a clerk in a store is more interested in a sale than in you – or just is not interested, period. But we get that feeling sometimes – not just wondering if sales clerks are interested but if anyone is truly interested any more. In our busy, hectic, stressed world – we may wonder if any one really cares any more. So many times we deal with automated responses on the phone – and may wonder if we will ever talk to a real person – and when we do they are so rude we feel the automated responses may have been friendlier. Or we might go to a restaurant – and it is obvious the people working there are not excited about it – and could really care less. Coming back from South Carolina a few weeks ago Sally and I went through a McDonalds drive through for a quick supper. It was obvious from the time the voice came over the speaker to take our order: “Welcome to McDonalds – may I take your order?” until we picked up our order and she said: “Thank you for choosing McDonalds” that she really did not want to take our order – and wished we had chosen somewhere else. I am sure all of you could tell stories of times you felt clerks or friends or family members really did not care about you. Sometimes we may wonder – does anybody care any more? Christopher Lash in his book The Revolt Of The Elite And The Betrayal of Democracy writes about how the dynamic of the rich getting richer in America and the poor getting poorer has created a feeling of not caring among society. His point is that as people become rich they hold those who are not in contempt – feeling that if they worked hard enough they could be. Those who are not rich hold those that are in contempt because they are rich. Lash is afraid that a feeling of mistrust and contempt for each other is beginning to permeate our society – and that it is hard to find someone who really cares for – and is willing to serve and help – others. Indeed – caring – really caring – may seem like a lost art – or even a lost cause. But – caring – really caring for others -- is so vital and so necessary// It is vital and necessary -- especially for us – God’s people – as we go into the world dong God’s work In our Gospel passage for today –Jesus is going about His ministry – going – as Matthew tells us – from town to town and village to village teaching, preaching, and healing. The way Matthew describes it it appears that this was the routine activity for Jesus. But Matthew also lets us know that this was far more than “routine” for Jesus – for wherever He went He had compassion on the masses of people He met. Everywhere He went He saw the crowds – and had compassion

Compassion Heartfelt compassion Caring

Jesus’ life was being driven by God’s Spirit to have compassion. He was not just “doing a job” – He had compassion for those around Him. He cared for them. He wanted to help them. He had compassion for them. Too many times when I see crowds – well, I just see crowds. And if I see crowds at the Outreach Center I at times wish I had a back door I could slip out of – or that “Scotty” could just “beam me up” – Too many times I do not have compassion for them. It’s just a process of Tell me what you need Give me your information Let’s get on with it No – I don’t want to hear your story – let’s just make this quick When Jesus saw crowds, however, He saw needs. He did not lose sight of why people had come to Him. They came with needs – and He did what He could to meet their needs. He had compassion. He cared for them. He wanted to help them. He had compassion for them. There is definitely a difference between how I feel when “pressed” by crowds – and how Jesus felt. And I am afraid that too many others react and feel as I do – not as Jesus did. But – is the feeling of love – compassion – seeing the needs of others – is that a “Jesus only” quality? In other words – is it just a quality for us to look at and admire and say “wasn’t it great Jesus felt that way”? No – not at all. You see – Matthew tells us that Jesus commissioned the disciples – and told them to –Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

In other words – have compassion! Care! Be concerned! Have compassion! Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons Have compassion!

The disciples were sent out to be workers for Jesus – Compassionate workers Workers sent out to Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons Workers sent out to:

Care! Be concerned! Have compassion! Compassionate workers.

So – Jesus sends the disciples out to be compassionate workers. But – is this quality of being a “compassionate worker” just a quality Jesus and the Disciples? Did Matthew give us this story just so we can look at it -- admire it -- and say “wasn’t it great Jesus and the Disciples felt that way”? I think y’all know the answer to that question. Maybe you’re thinking – Bill – you don’t think we are supposed to be compassionate workers – that we are supposed to he concerned for others – care for others – and have compassion for others – do you? Well, yes – I do think that! I believe that Jesus calls all of us – me – you – and all who believe in Him – to be compassionate workers. Jesus calls all of us to be the laborers He prays for here in Matthew – going out into the world to have compassion for others --

Caring! Being concerned! Having compassion!

Jesus calls us to be compassionate workers. Jesus calls us to see the needs in the world – to see the needs in others – to have compassion – and to respond in heart felt love. Jesus is calling on us to see the needs of the world – of our community – of those around us – and to respond in caring – to respond in love. Jesus needs workers who are willing to see the needs in the world – and to respond in love and compassion. Jesus is calling us to go against the increasing “norm” that Christopher Lash and others see in society of not caring for others and not having compassion for their needs –

He calls on us to be different. He calls on us to have compassion. He calls on us to Care! Be concerned! Have compassion! He calls on us to be compassionate workers

. He calls on us to know the gifts He has given us to offer to others – to help them – to get involved and reach out to them –

To Care! Be concerned! Have compassion!

Why do we dare get involved in the lives of others in this way? Because that is what God calls us to do. Because somebody somewhere got involved in our life when we needed it – and showed us God’s love. Because God has shown us compassion and love and has blessed us in so many ways.

Be a compassionate worker! Care! Be concerned! Have compassion!

There are a lot of ways to do this. This week a campaign was launched on the internet called The One Campaign – where people were encouraged to commit to doing what they can for others – one person at a time. That ‘s what God is calling us all to do. Whether it’s volunteering your time for an organization that helps others – or donating money or other things to these agencies – or volunteering at a nursing home or hospital – or just calling someone you know that is in need or paying them a visit – or just going out of way to be friendly and helpful to others every day – However you choose to do it – be a compassionate worker for Jesus’ sake and with Jesus’ love.

Commit to doing what you can for others. Commit to Caring! Being concerned! Having compassion! Be a compassionate worker!

Amen. .

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

2005-06-04T18:29:00.000-05:00

MATTHEW 9:9-13, 18-26 JUNE 5, 2005 “DR. GOD”
You may have seen the TV commercial for a brand of cough syrup that has been around for some time now where a group of children are lined up in front of a closed door. You think they are in a Doctors office waiting to see the physician. Suddenly, the door opens – and standing there in her white lab coat – spoon in had – ready to dispense the advertised product – is -- Dr. Mom. The marketers for this brand of cough syrup are trying to cash in on the fact that – regardless of the advances of modern medicine – there are times we all want to be cuddled, cured, and taken care of by a loving parent – regardless of our age. Many times the clinical approach to modern medicine does not seem to satisfy our search for “wellness”. This may explain why so many people – including me at times – have turned to what some consider to be “unconventional” therapies such as chiropractics, acupuncture, herbal remedies, or some other form of healing that may not be clinically proven – but sometimes gives us the results we need – healing. Healing We all – at some point in our lives – need it. Whether it be physical – or emotional – or spiritual – there are times in our lives we all need healing of some kind – and – at times – people turn to what many consider “unconventional” ways to find the healing they need. Many of us have tried methods that some might call “unconventional” – but if it works, it works. I have found a great amount of relief from Chiropractors at times – even though at times I have finally needed surgery to correct my problem – I have tried Chiropractors first – and have found relief from them. We all look for healing at times in our lives – and there are times the clinical approach to modern medicine does not seem to satisfy our search for “healing.” At one point or another – in everyone’s life – there is a need for healing Our Gospel passage before us today from Matthew 9 gives us several people who need healing.

Matthew The woman suffering from the hemorrhage -- The daughter of Synagogue leader -- And yes – even the Synagogue leader himself --

All need healing And they all find healing – but not in what some might call “conventional” methods – or practioners of “conventional” ways of medicine – whatever they might have been at that time – but in another doctor – another form of medicine -- a medical practice that far outweighs – even today – what the best doctors are able to do. Now – you might be thinking -- come on Bill -- you mean these folks who lived 2,000 years ago knew of medical practices that are far superior to what we have – even today? Yes – that’s what I mean What if I were to tell you there is a doctor –- who can give you a cure for all that ails you – and can give you new life – even eternal life? Would you want to visit that doctor? What’s the name of this great doctor I’m referring to? Well – if Matthew – the woman – and the Synagogue leader or his daughter were here they could tell you – but since they’re not I’lll share their secret with you – the name of this great doctor they found is -- Dr. God Dr. God
Who “healed” Matthew – accepted him – gave him the acceptance he longed for but could not discover until that fateful day – It was Dr. God Who healed the woman – both physically and emotionally – when no one else could? Dr. God Who brought the daughter of the Synagogue leader back to life – and gave the leader new hope for his own life -- You know who -- Dr. God Who do you think can heal us – forgive us – accept us – save us – and give us new life – it’s none other than Dr. God God is the one who came to Matthew and found a new life God is the one who the woman came to and finally found healing after twelve years of finding no help -- God is the one the Synagogue leader came to and found healing and new life for his daughter – as well as hope for himself in the midst of his despair. God is the one we can go to when we need to find healing – forgiveness – and new life Dr. God Dr. God has some powerful tools He uses to heal – forgive – and give new life to those who know that they can not find healing – forgiveness – or new life anywhere else and have no other place else to turn. One tool Dr. God uses is prayer. Prayer heals. Even modern science is finding that prayer heals. In studies it has been found that those who have prayed or have been prayed for have better rates of improvement, fewer complicating problems, and fewer lasting medical needs than those who do not pray or those who are not prayed for. We have all heard stories of patients whom doctors have said could not possibly live do so – and the thing that keeps them alive is prayer. Prayer is definitely one of the powerful tools Dr. God uses – and prayer definitely heals. Another tool Dr. God uses is love. Love heals. Compassion, empathy, and concern are all parts of the healing tool of love. Again, even modern scientific studies are beginning to find that patients who have friends and family who love them, spend time with them, and don’t give up on them have a higher chance of survival – a better rate of improvement – and fewer complicating problems than those who do not. Those who have friends or family who lovingly care for them are more apt to be healed – not just because they have people around them who will make sure they have what they need – but also because there is a power in being shown love. Love is definitely one of the powerful tools Dr. God uses – and love definitely heals. Faith is another tool Dr. God uses. Faith heals. Again, even modern science has conducted studies and found that those who have faith have a better chance of survival than those who do not. A recent study out of Duke University showed that people who practice their faith are healthier than those who do not – and when they do become sick have a better survival rate than those who do not. Yes – faith is definitely one of the tools Dr. God uses – and faith definitely heals. Prayer – Love – and Faith are just some of the tools Dr. God can use to bring healing in lives where there is the most need for healing – forgiveness – and new life. God can bring healing into your life when you need it the most. God can bring forgiveness into your life when you need it the most. God can bring you new life and new possibilities when you need them the most. Dr. God. Experience Dr. God If you need healing – I would invite you to experience Dr. God. Experience His powerful tools of prayer – love – and faith. If you don’t particularly feel in need of healing at this time in your life – you still need Dr. God. Medical doctors are finding that too many people wait until they have problems to come to them – where if they had been coming to them on a regular basis for checkups and practicing good healthy habits of what is called “preventive medicine” their problems might have been caught – and treated -- before they became acute illnesses. Practicing “preventive medicine” with Dr. God – incorporating His powerful tools of Prayer – Love – and Faith into your life before you hit a crises – is highly recommended. Discover Dr. God. But – once we find a good doctor – especially if we have been looking for one -- what’s one of the first things we want to do? Many times it’s tell others! “Let me tell you about this Dr. I’ve found …” What about God? Do we tell others of the healing powers of Dr. God – and His tools of prayer – love – and faith? A lot of times we can’t wait to tell others about a new doctor we have discovered – but are reluctant to tell others about Dr. God. Don’t be reluctant! Tell others what God has done! Tell others about the powerful tools of prayer – love – and faith! And – be a part of Dr. God’s team. Every good doctor needs assistants. So does Dr. God. God needs us to be a part of His team – and use His tools of prayer – love – and faith to help others find healing. Pray for others. Our time of Congregational Prayer is an important time in our service when we life others up to God. We need to be a congregation that prays. Bring up names of those you know are in need that are not on our list that we have in our bulletin every week. We need to be a congregation that prays. We also need to be individuals that pray. Pray every day for those you know are in need. You might want to carry our prayer list that is in the bulletin with you every day – and add other names to it you know of – so you can have the list handy when you have a few minutes to pray for others. Be a part of Dr. God’s team. Use His powerful tool of prayer. Love others. Show that powerful tool of God – love – to others who need to experience it. We need to be a loving Church. We need to be loving people. Be a part of Dr. God’s team. Use His powerful tool of love. Have faith in God. Tell others about your faith – and let them see your faith in action as you reach up to God and out to them as you live your life. Be a part of Dr. God’s team. Use His powerful tool of faith. Dr. God’s powerful tools of prayer – love – and faith can work miracles – and give healing – forgiveness – new life and new possibilities to others. I read about a young family of a Dad, Mom, and young boy and a younger girl. The 2 children loved each other – and played together beautifully. The girl became very sick – and was rushed to the hospital. The doctors told them she was critical – and they had to accept the fact that she was dieing. The brother demanded to see his sister. Finally the doctors let him visit her – and for a few minutes he sang to her – talked to her – and placed his toys in her hands. The next day the doctors were amazed – for the little girl was improving! Instead of planning for the little girl’s funeral – the family brought her home – and she was well. That’s an example of what Dr. God – with His tools of prayer – love – and faith can do. That’s an example of what God can do through us when we share those tools with others. When you need healing, come to Dr. God. Find ways to share Dr. God with others. Using the tools of prayer – love – and faith – puts us all on the same team – and we all know who the head Physician is – It’s Dr. God. Amen.

Trinity Sunday 2005: Matthew 28:16-20

2005-05-22T17:38:00.000-05:00

GENESIS 1:1-2:4(A) II CORINTHIANS 13:11-13 MATTHEW 28:16-20 “IT’S TRIPERSPECTIVAL!” TRINITY SUNDAY MAY 22, 2005

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW PRAISE HIM ABOVE THE HEAVENLY HOST PRAISE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST.

The beautiful words of The Doxology that we sing every Sunday are not only beautiful -- they are filled with praise -- and are filled with power. They are filled with the power of God as we sing our praises to God -- one God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Shirley Guthrie was one of my Theology professors at Columbia Theological Seminary. While I was taking both my Masters and Doctorate classes I always wanted to take classes from Dr. Guthrie – or Shirley as almost everyone knew him. He died last year – but during his tenure at Columbia taught many students and wrote many books that were helpful to ministers and lay folk alike. His book Christian Doctrine has become a considered a classic because of his ability to communicate the doctrinal truths of Reformed Christianity is a way that lay people can understand. A student of the great theologian Karl Barth, Shirley was able to take Barth’s teachings and bring them to a level that the average church member could understand them. In Christian Doctrine, he begins the chapter on the Doctrine of the Trinity with a make - believe conversation that has probably taken place in many Sunday School classes or study groups -- or if the specific conversation has not taken place then probably one like it has - - or at least the question posed by this conversation has probably been considered – if not voiced -- by almost all serious Christians at one time or another. The conversation Guthrie gives goes something like this: A student asks: “Do we have to believe in all this business of three - in - one and one - in - three to be Christians?” “Yes” - the teacher replies. “The church has always held that the doctrine of the Trinity is essential.” “Well” - - the student asks - - “what does it mean? How can you put three persons together and get one - or divide one person into three and still have one?” The teacher then blunders through some fuzzy explanation then concludes hopelessly: “It’s a mystery no one can understand. You just have to accept it in faith.” Some will respond – or at least think: “Well - if you’re supposed to believe it - I guess I do - whatever it is.” But others may respond – or at least think to themselves: “If no one knows what it means, and no one can explain it, it must not be all that important.” Today is Trinity Sunday - the day when the Church celebrates the Triune nature of God – that fact that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We actually celebrate this every Sunday as we sing The Doxology -- but today is a time to actually think about what it is we profess as we sing these words -- what it really means that we worship one God -- who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What does the doctrine of the Trinity mean? The doctrine of the Trinity is vital - - not because it is something to merely know and accept - - even if we do not understand - - but the doctrine of the Trinity is vital for us because of what it tells us about God. When we look at the doctrine of the Trinity, we begin to learn some things about God. What can we know about God? The doctrine of the Trinity helps us understand - - and not only understand - - but experience - - God as the

Creating Strengthening Guiding God that God is.

It helps us experience God’s work in our lives. The Doctrine of the Trinity helps us know more and understand more about God – because we can not really understand God until we understand all 3 dimensions of God:

Creating Strengthening Guiding

These 3 dimensions of God are vital in our understanding of who God is and what God does in our lives and the world. Many of you know that my nephew, Rob, works for Campus Crusade for Christ in Orlando, Florida. He has a Blog (that’s short for Web Log – a place on the Internet where he posts about different things – and people can log on to his Blog and read the information he’s sharing. I also have a Blog.) Anyway – Rob posted on his blog the other day about a new word he had learned from one of his co workers. The word is: Triperspectival (If you want to know how to spell it look in your bulletins – it’s in my sermon title.) I’ll define the word the way Rob did – because it is so new there are no dictionary definitions. The way Rob defined it – triperspectival means talking about something from 3 different but related perspectives. Or triperspectival means that you can't fully understand one without an idea of the other two. The more I thought about this new word Rob had learned the more I thought “that’s what the Doctrine of the Trinity is all about!” It’s triperspectival! It means talking about God from the 3 different but related perspectives of God the creator – God the strengthener – and God the guide. It also means that we can not fully understand God from only one of these perspectives – but have to consider all 3 to really understand God. The Doctrine of the Trinity is, therefore, triperspectival We have to understand – and be able to see God at work in our lives and in our world – on all 3 levels of creator, strengthener, and guide before we can really understand God. Think about it -- what can we know about God? Well – imagine with me for a moment that you are God. What would you want your creation to know about you? What things would you think it important for your people to know about you? Different ones of you may give different answers here, but for me the answer seems to always fall in three areas. I would want them to know: That I am their creator and provider That I loved them That I was with them What can we know about God? Our passages for today tell us three basic things about God:

God is always creating God is always redeeming and loving God is always strengthening and guiding

Through the Father - Son - and Holy Spirit - the Triune God - God is always at work in our lives - always creating and re-creating us - always loving us - always working for peace among us - and always strengthening and guiding us. To fully understand God we have to have an understanding of this triune nature of God. We can not fully understand God if we only see God as a creator. We can not fully understand God if we only see God as a loving God. We can not fully understand God is we only see God as a strength and guide for our lives. We have to see God as the creating, loving, and strengthening God that God is to fully understand God. We have to see all three natures of God to fully understand God. We have to understand the Doctrine of the Trinity to fully understand God. The nature of God is triperspectival – we have to understand all 3 to truly understand each one. Through the Father - Son - and Holy Spirit - the Triune God - God is always at work in our lives - always creating and re-creating us - always loving us - always working for peace among us - and always strengthening and guiding us. Friends - this is not just dry doctrine - this is not just dry facts - but this is exciting. This is how God the Father - Son - and Holy Spirit works in our lives. God is always creating - giving us new opportunities to live as God’s people - renewing us so we can indeed be God’s people. God is always loving - always showing us God’s love and always offering a relationship with God. God is always strengthening and guiding us - God is “with us always” as Jesus promised - always offering guidance into God’s ways and God’s will for us. This is an intimate relationship with God - Father - Son - and Holy Spirit we are dealing with here - not just facts and dry doctrine. Through the Father - Son - and Holy Spirit - the Triune God - God is always at work in our lives - always creating and re-creating us - always loving us - always working for peace among us - and always strengthening and guiding us. What can we know about God? We can know the intimacy of the relationship our creating - loving - guiding and sustaining God offers us. The creating - loving - guiding - and sustaining work of God in the world is not history - but God is still at work - still creating - still loving - still strengthening - still guiding. Our Old Testament lesson for this Trinity Sunday gives us a vision of God who created all things -- and created all things good. God created all things -- and sustained and provided for all things. And -- as the author of Genesis so eloquently puts it -- all things are good. Indeed -- they are very good. At the beginning -- and -- by God’s renewing -- loving -- and life-giving power -- all things have the potential for goodness. The creating - loving - guiding - and sustaining work of God in the world that Genesis 1 so beautifully portrays for us is not just history - but God is still at work - still creating - still loving - still strengthening - still guiding -- still offering to all the potential to truly be the good creation they were created to be. When we think things have gotten as bad as they can get - there is God - Father - Son - and Holy Spirit -- the one who created all things good -- creating new possibilities for us - giving us new ways to relate to each other in goodness and peace - strengthening us to do His work and will in the world. That’s not just dry facts - that’s more than just doctrine - that’s good news for us - for our lives - here and now. Our Epistle and Gospel lessons give us examples of the renewing -- strengthening -- love of God -- Father - Son -- and Hoy Spirit -- all the power of God to make us new and bless us -- that we can experience for ourselves and share with others. We can know that God is always creating - giving us new opportunities to live as God’s people - renewing us so we can indeed be God’s people. We can know that God is always loving - always showing us God’s love and always offering a relationship with God -- always offering us ways to be more and more like Him -- ways we were indeed created for. We can know that God is always strengthening and guiding us - renewing us. God is “with us always” as Jesus promised - always offering guidance into God’s ways and God’s will for us and others. This is the triune – the triperspectival – nature of God. God is always creating - giving us new opportunities to live as God’s people - renewing us so we can indeed be God’s people. God is always loving - always showing us God’s love and always offering a relationship with God -- always offering us ways to be more and more like Him -- ways we were indeed created for. God is always strengthening and guiding us - renewing us. God is “with us always” as Jesus promised - always offering guidance into God’s ways and God’s will for us and others. What a wonderful truth that is! This is an intimate relationship with God - Father - Son - and Holy Spirit we are dealing with here - not just facts and dry doctrine. We can know the intimacy of the relationship our creating - loving - guiding and sustaining God offers us. We can know the forgiving and renewing work of God in our lives. The Holy -- yet loving - - guiding - - and sustaining work of God in the world is not just history - - but God is still at work - - still loving - - still strengthening -- still creating still making all things good -- still guiding. No -- friends -- the Doctrine of the Trinity -- God as Father -- Son -- and Holy Spirit -- isn’t just “head stuff” -- it’s not just dry doctrine -- it’s “heart stuff” it’s relational -- it’s good news for us - - for our lives - - here and now. The good news is that because we know that God is Father - Son - and Holy Spirit – because we know that God is always creating and re-creating us - always making all things good -- forgiving us and yet challenging us -- we can relate to God in certain ways - - always remembering God’s power and love -- and always open to God’s loving creating - - renewing -- challenging -- and strengthening work among us. Then -- we can relate to others in ways that are open to sharing God’s creating - - loving - - challenging -- and strengthening work with each other and with the world as we experience it in our lives. The doctrine of the Trinity is not just intellectual gymnastics - it is the very mystery of our relationship with God. It tells us what we can know about God. It tells us about the triune – or triperspectival – nature of God. Because of the Doctirne of the Trinity, we can know that - - even now - - God is creating and renewing -- making all things good -- giving us new life - - forgiving us -- giving us new strength and yet new challenges -- new ways to relate to each other and to Him - - Because of the Doctirne of the Trinity, we can know that -- even now - - God is loving and forgiving us -- and giving us new ways to be His people - - Be Because of the Doctirne of the Trinity, we can know that -- even now - - God is giving us new strength to do His will. The Trinity: God the creating Father God the loving Son God the strengthening and guiding Holy Spirit is really one - creating -- loving - - strengthening - forgiving -- renewing -- challenging -- guiding - - God that invites us to not only understand doctrines - - but invites us into an exciting -- creating -- loving -- forgiving -- challenging -- relationship with God and the world. So – it is triperspectival – We have to understand all 3 aspects of God to undertand God. But – once we begin to understand that it is through the Father - Son - and Holy Spirit - the Triune God – that God is always at work in our lives - always creating and re-creating us - always loving us - always working for peace among us - and always strengthening and guiding us – we begin to understand who God is and what God is doing in our world – and sing and proclaim with enthusiasm:

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW PRAISE HIM ABOVE THE HEAVENLY HOST PRAISE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

Pentecost 2005:.Acts 2:1-21

2005-05-14T14:35:00.000-05:00

ACTS 2:1-21 1 CORINTHIANS 12:3(B)-12 JOHN 20:19-23 “GET SMARTER!” PENTECOST COMMUNION MAY 15 2005

Today is Pentecost – the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Disciples – the day we consider “the birth of Church” Pentecost is one of most exciting days of Church – but a day that – in many churches – is not celebrated as it once was. I’m afraid that the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost is something we want to admire and look at - but keep at a safe distance - like a lion or tiger whose strength and beauty we may admire - as long as we know it’s a safe distance from us. We are not too comfortable if it gets up close and personal. Is that the way we want to deal with Pentecost? Is that the way we want to deal with the coming of the Spirit? Is that the way we want to deal with the renewing and life-giving work of the Spirit? I’m afraid so. At least that’s what our action show. Today is Pentecost. One of the three most important days in the church year - along with Christmas and Easter. Easter and Christmas draw large crowds to church. But Pentecost? Apparently not - huh? Why do we not celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in the same way we celebrate the coming of Christ - or the resurrection of Christ? I’m not sure - - but I’m afraid it has something to do with the fact that we are scared. We are comfortable with looking back at the Bible and saying - “Yes - how wonderful the coming to the Spirit was ” - - but – we want to keep it at a safe distance. If we talked too much about the coming of the Spirit – we just might get some of it ourselves – and who knows what that might bring! Of course, the advertising industry has not found a cute gimmick for Pentecost. Christmas has a jolly fat man to put on cards – and Easter a cute bunny – but Pentecost? The idea of a card with flames of fire just doesn’t seem to interest folks too much. A friend of mine tells about going shopping the Friday before Pentecost – and not any indication that there were only 2 shopping days left until Pentecost. The closest thing came when he went to the nursery department at his local Lowe’s and saw that there were Pentas on sale. (For those of who, like me, have no idea what a Penta is – I went home and looked it up and found out that it is a bushy, round evergreen shrub with bright green leaves and clusters of star – shaped, tubular flowers.) Anyway – he asked the sales clerk: “Excuse me – but how much does a Penta Cost?” And that was the only mention of the day on that Friday – just 2 days before! Regardless of our lack of excitement about it – or the lack of emphasis we may place on it – Pentecost is truly – one of most important days of Church. Today is also the day we are honoring our graduates. So -- what can I say – What memorable comment can I make – What can I say that will make a difference to the Church on this Pentecost – and to our graduates? Well – I have 2 words to say -- Sure – I’ll use up a lot more words explaining them – but 2 words of that I feel are of importance today

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

What? Our graduates may be thinking – “I just finished High School – I just finished College -- I’m smart enough!” “Get Smarter” is not even correct English No – but it is a catchy phrase – one I hope you’ll remember What? Yes – you have spent a lot of time learning – but I hope you never stop learning. Try to learn something every day. Continue your education every day.

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

OK – but today is also the day of Pentecost – that important but mostly overlooked day when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. What does that mean for us – here and now? Are we just celebrating something that happened years ago – or can it really mean something here and now? And if so – what? What can Pentecost mean for the Church – and for us as individual followers of Christ? I believe that Pentecost can be a wake - up call I believe it can be a call to

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

It can be a call to always look for the new directions God and the Holy Spirit may be leading us. New ways to do things New ways to reach folks with God and Christ It can mean not being satisfied with the way things are or the status quo – but always looking for the new directions God may be leading us – and the new things God may be calling us to do In other words – it’s a call for us to

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

Many times the church is too predictable. Have you ever gone over to Greensboro when they have the Battle of Guilford Court House reenactment? It’s a lot of fun – and interesting to go through the camps and see how the soldiers lived. It’s also fund to watch the battle take place. But – everyone knows the ones dressed as British solders will win. Everyone also knows that even though the British won that battle the lost the war. It’s fun – but it’s also predictable – everybody knows what is going to happen. I’m afraid the church can easily slip into patterns that are just as predicable as battle reenactments. The church can easily become a place that is fun – maybe even exciting – but where everyone knows what will happen in the end and the ending is scripted before anything is even begun. Great for a battle reenactment – not so great for a church that is supposed to be serving a God who is alive – active – and calls us to be alive and active in our faith and always look for new ways to show Him to the world. I heard a story that illustrates this point well. A man attended a Church for the first time – and liked what he heard in the scriptures that were read and the prayers that were prayed. But after a few weeks he began to become disappointed. He finally went to the minister and asked: “When do you do those things”? “What things” the minister asked – “You know” – the man replied – “the things you read about in the Bible – the sick healed – the loaves and fish multiplied …” “Oh” the minister replied – “We don’t really do those things here. We believe in them and pray for them – but we don’t do them”! The church can easily become a place where we believe in God’s actions and pray for them – but don’t do them! Friends – we need to

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

We can’t just believe in power of Holy Spirit – we have to live it! We can’t just pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit – we have to act on it!

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

We can’t just “remember good old days” of dynamic Church growth and the Apostles who preached and witnessed boldly and 3,000 were saved we have to do it!

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

I have always said the best definition of insanity is

DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER BUT EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS EACH TIME

Maybe it’s time for us to do things differently Maybe it’s time for us to

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

So many things seem to be “smarter” these days – from watches that automatically set themselves by the National Atomic Time Institute to small cards you can swipe at a gas pump and get gas to “intelligent” building controls that can control the buildings energy, security, and communications needs – going as far as automatically turning off lights when a room is empty. What makes these things “smarter”? Usually it’s a “chip” – something put inside the gadget – or whatever – that transforms it and gives it the ability to do something it could not do before. What can be – in us – to make us “more intelligent” - smarter – able to do new things – as a Church? Just buy books on Church growth or doing a demographic study of the neighborhood? These are good – but first – we need something new and different inside us – like a “gadget” needs a “chip” inside it. We need the Holy Spirit inside us. Only by the Holy Spirit can we

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

The Holy Spirit is the “chip” – so to speak – that can be inside us and lead us to better ways to be God’s people.

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

Pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon each of us. Pray for the Holy Spirit to show us new ways to be God’s people in the world. Don’t be scared of what might happen if the Spirit should lead us – but follow it’s lead – That is how we – young people graduating from High School and college – and adults – are going to

GET SMARTER ---- GET SMARTER

AMEN

John 17:1-11

2005-05-06T11:29:00.000-05:00

JOHN 17:1-11 “PROTECT THEM” MAY 8, 2005 SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MOTHER’S DAY

Today is Mother’s Day -- a day when we honor our mothers and think about our mother’s love. We need days like this – days to reflect upon what our mothers have done for us – the love they have shown us – the sacrifices they have made for us. Some say that Mother’s Day is just a day for the florists – the card companies – and the restaurants to make a bunch of money. Well – it has become that in some instances. But – it is still important. We need days – special times – set aside to honor our mothers – because without them we will probably just go on our ways and not really consider what all our mothers have done for us. What makes a good mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? The ability to love a child – even when they are doing things that are not easy to love? The ability to sacrifice yourself and your needs for your children’s needs? Yes –- it is these things – and many more! Our mothers do so much for us! I believe that even mothers who can not provide for their children still love them – and ache because – for whatever reason – they have problems providing for them. I see in mothers a deep concern for their children – and a desire to protect and care for them – even when their children are grown and on their own. Our Gospel lesson for today takes us back to Jesus' prayer for his disciples just prior to his arrest. His words take on a pleading tone as he prays for the Father to protect the disciples. He prays:

"And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, PROTECT THEM in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one."

Those words suggest how difficult it must have been for Jesus to leave the disciples. He had lived with them and led them for a long time. He had tried to teach them everything that they would need to know, but for the most part they had not understood. After His ascension, Jesus would need them to carry on his work, and there was no hint thus far that they would be able to do that. But what really hit me as I read this prayer this week was that Jesus loved the disciples and wanted the best for them. He was going to leave them -- and it was wrenching for him to do so. And so he prayed, "Holy Father, PROTECT THEM!" Mothers – and fathers too – are familiar with this request. Any parent who has said goodbye to a son or daughter – as they leave for school, go out into the world to a career, leave for their homes after a visit – watch them as they go off to war – can imagine Jesus' deep feelings for the disciples as he prays God's protection for them. "Holy Father, PROTECT THEM!" And – you know – many children can understand these feelings also – especially children of older parents as they leave after a brief visit to return to their own homes – of as they leave their parents in a nursing home – or as they watch their parents being taken in for serious surgery – or as they stand by the bedside as their parents are dying – "Holy Father, PROTECT THEM!" My Mom tells the story of how – when I came home with the news that I was accepted into Seminary – after I left she went into the bedroom and got down on her knees and prayed: “Lord – I give him to you and ask you to protect him as he serves you.” She knew it was not going to be easy – but she also knew that God would be with me. "Holy Father, PROTECT THEM!" This is the love Jesus had for the disciples – and the love many mothers have for their children. I am reminded of a poem I read recently. I am not sure who wrote it – but it expresses this love many mothers have:

There are times when only a Mother's love Can understand our tears, Can soothe our disappoints And calm all of our fears. There are times when only a Mother's love Can share the joy we feel When something we've dreamed about Quite suddenly is real. There are times when only a Mother's faith Can help us on life's way And inspire in us the confidence We need from day to day. For a Mother's heart and a Mother's faith And a Mother's steadfast love Were fashioned by the Angels And sent from God above...

That’s the kind of love – the kind of passion -- that I find in Jesus' prayer just before his death. Jesus prays:

"And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, PROTECT THEM!"

"Holy Father, PROTECT THEM!" Jesus is leaving his disciples. He will no longer be there to guide and support them. This is his passionate prayer in their behalf -- and in our behalf, too, as Jesus' prayer later makes clear. He prays not only for them but for us. We are tempted to read Jesus' prayer as we would read a newspaper -- with no emotion -- with flat affect -- with little power. We are tempted to imagine Jesus praying as we sometimes pray -- just saying words that we have said a thousand times -- saying them with no heart-felt emotion. But Luke records Jesus sweating drops of blood as he prayed in the garden -- and I think that he was sweating drops of blood as he prayed for his disciples. "

Holy Father, PROTECT THEM!"

It is a prayer in which he shows how much he loves his disciples -- and how much he loves us. It is important to remember that Jesus loves us -- and loves us passionately. He demonstrated that by coming down from heaven to be born in a stable -- to be raised by ordinary people. He showed it by reaching out to needy people to meet their needs -- to heal those who needed healing -- to teach those who needed to learn -- to rebuke those who needed to change. And Jesus shows his love for us in many ways today. He shows it by allowing us the freedom to choose him or not -- but he also shows his love by pursuing us throughout our lives as a lover would pursue the beloved. Jesus never gives up on us – but prays for us – and blesses us. One of the ways Jesus blesses us is with a loving family. On this Mother’s Day it’s important to remember – and celebrate -- the love our families have for us – and the ways our families share with us Jesus’ love and protection. I believe that Jesus began pursuing me years before I was born. My Mom’s father – a Methodist minister – suffered a nervous breakdown and killed himself and her mother four years before I was born. Mom was pregnant with my middle sister Alexa – and almost lost her in her grief over her parent’s sudden and tragic death. But Mom determined to not let the tragedy of her parents death extend into our family – and decided that being loving and caring to others – regardless of how your may be feeling – was the answer to life. The rest of her life – to this day – has been spent caring for and loving others. She selflessly gave of herself for me and my sisters – and when Dad became seriously ill with advanced Diabetes and Parkinson’s – and became almost immobile -- she spent several years sitting with him – waiting on him – loving him. It was almost to the point that the rest of the family was not sure that Mom’s health was good – she never got out and never did anything but sit with Dad and would not allow us to hire anyone else to help her -- but since Dad’s death she has shown us that she is perfectly able to do things – it was just that she chose not to so she could take care of Dad. The other person was always more important to her than herself. Doing for others was always more important to her than doing for herself. If I am a person that cares for others – I get a lot of that from Mom! I don’t do a very good job at copying Mom in this – but I do try! This is one way Jesus has made a mark on me through my family – or more specifically through my Mom. And Jesus kept on pursuing me – showing me love and care -- through the efforts of Sunday school teachers -- through friends – through Church youth groups and camps -- through the encouragement of a host of Christian people through the years. Jesus continued His pursuit – showing me love and care -- by calling me to ministry. I was reluctant, and many times wanted to pull away and do something else -- but Jesus kept calling me back. Jesus always gave me the freedom to go my way, but worked to pull me his way. I can see Jesus’ hand in where I went to Seminary – in where I did my Intern Year – in making sure Sally and I met and making sure Sally could not see all my imperfections until after we were married – and I can see how Jesus has blessed me with a loving marriage that at the end of the month will celebrate 22 years! I can see Jesus’ loving and protecting hand guiding me when I accepted a call to ministry after Seminary – guiding me here to this place where I could serve and be served by such loving people. Even in hard times – if I let myself step back – I can see Jesus’ loving and protecting hand upon me. I can almost hear Jesus praying: "Holy Father, PROTECT THEM!" Think about your own life. Think about the ways that Jesus has loved you. Think about the ways Jesus has shown love to you. Think about the ways Jesus has protected you. I hope that He was able to give you Christian parents, because Christian parents are a special blessing. I hope you can give praise to God for your mother – just as I can for mine – and remember the special ways she loved you and cared for you – and showed God’s love to you. I hope He has given you Christian friends. I hope He has spoken to you in many ways -- sometimes when you were not even aware of His influence. I hope He has spoken to you through the words of Sunday school teachers – I hope He has spoken to you through the scriptures -- through worship. Think about how God has blessed you – and give praise to God for how He has blessed you. If it has been through a loving, Christian mother – give praise to God for that – and if you can – let her know how much you love her! If she has died or is not close by, lift up a prayer giving praise to God for her love – and the many ways God blessed you through her. Yes – Mother’s Day –- with all it’s commercialism – is important – and necessary – for it gives us a chance to think about our mother’s love – thank her – and praise God for the ways He has blessed us through her. Indeed – Happy Mother’s Day! Amen

John 14:15-21

2005-04-30T19:26:00.000-05:00

JOHN 14:15-21 YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND

You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running to se you again. Winter – spring – summer - or fall All you have to call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

Ok – I probably have lost some of you for the rest of the sermon as you are trying to remember the rest of the words to the song – or remembering where you were when you first heard it - - or going through all the different memories the song brings up for you. The song – of course – is “You’ve Got A Friend” – written – I think – by Carol King – and made famous by North Carolina’s own James Taylor. It’s a beautiful song with a beautiful message of commitment and love. I do remember one extremely funny sketch on Saturday Night Live with Carol King and – I think – Steve Martin. Carol was inside a nice, warm house – the fire in the fireplace blazing – playing the piano and singing “You’ve Got A Friend”. Outside was a blizzard – the snow falling at a fast rate and the wind howling. Steve Martin was outside the house – and you could hear him pounding on the door and screaming: “Carol – open up! It’s your old friend – Steve! Open up! It’s freezing out here!” But Carol just continued playing and singing “You’ve Got A Friend” Steve then appeared at the window – screaming – pressing his face against the window – yelling for Carol to open the door. Carol continued playing and singing – oblivious to Steve. As the skit continued Steve was hanging onto the window – screaming – grimacing as only Steve Martin can – and finally collapsed into the snow. Finally Carol got up from the piano and looked out the window – but Steve was covered by the snow and she couldn’t see him. A funny skit – But the sentiments of the song “You’ve Got A Friend’

You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running to se you again. Winter – spring – summer - or fall All you have to call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

are serious. We all need friends. Surely there have been times you wished that you had a friend – or were glad you had a friend – someone to help when the chips are down. Surely you have wished at times that you had someone to talk to when you were lonely -- someone to listen to your problems -- someone who cared -- someone who would love you even if you were in the wrong? Or you were glad you had a friend like that. Have you ever heard someone say, "He doesn't have a prayer"-- or "She doesn't have a prayer." What they mean, of course, he or she is hopeless. Have you ever felt like you didn't have a prayer? That you were hopeless? When you felt hopeless, wouldn't it have been nice to have a friend to talk to? Or if you had one – weren’t you glad you did? Wouldn’t it have been nice at those times in your life to have a prayer? Wouldn't it have been nice to talk to God and know that He is listening?

You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running to se you again. Winter – spring – summer - or fall All you have to call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know that God is your friend? Wouldn't it be nice to know that God loves you and will help? Because, if God loves you, you are not hopeless! If God will help you, you have hope! If God loves and will help you, things will work out! If God is your friend – then you can make it through the hard times in life. Yea – for most of us it is important to have friends. For most of us it would be important to know – beyond the shadow of a doubt – that God is your friend.

You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running to se you again. Winter – spring – summer - or fall All you have to call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

Well – maybe you don’t think you need friends. Maybe you never felt hopeless. Maybe you're one of those beautiful people that we see in magazines -- with symmetrical features -- good hair -- perfect teeth -- great talent. Or maybe you are a good athlete -- or always get A's on tests -- or make people laugh – Or maybe you have succeeded in your career -- or things are just going well for you. There are people like that, you know. Or at least it seems that way. Beautiful! Successful! Never in doubt! Or so it seems. But you know what -- beautiful people have their problems too. Even beautiful people need friends. Philip Yancey is the author of the book Where Is God When It Hurts? He talks about interviewing the beautiful people -- famous football players -- movie stars -- authors -- TV personalities. He talks about how we idolize them -- how we want to be like them -- how we want to know every detail of their lives -- their clothes -- their romances -- even their toothpaste. Then he goes on to say:

"Yet I must tell you that, in my limited experience, these our 'idols' are as miserable a group of people as I have ever met. Most have troubled or broken marriages. Nearly all are hopelessly dependent on psychotherapy. In a heavy irony, these larger-than-life heroes seem tormented by incurable self-doubt. (Philip Yancey, Where Is God When It Hurts?)

"Tormented by incurable self doubt!" Hard to imagine, isn't it! But we know that it's true. We know about their broken marriages -- their addiction to drugs and alcohol. We know that their talent has a dark side. If the beautiful people find themselves "tormented by incurable self doubt," we need not feel odd if we, too, sometimes feel lonely -- isolated -- uncertain. – like we need a friend. That is part of the human condition.

You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running to se you again. Winter – spring – summer - or fall All you have to call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

That is how Jesus' disciples felt -- lonely -- isolated -- uncertain. Like they needed a friend. You might even say that they felt betrayed. Jesus was talking about leaving them. He was talking about dying. The disciples had made great sacrifices to follow Jesus. They had staked everything on him. They had walked away from their fishing businesses. They had left home and hearth. They had allowed themselves to believe that Jesus was the one who would turn everything around -- would make everything right. They had believed that he was the Messiah -- the one who would save Israel. And now he was talking about leaving them. Can you imagine how they felt? The sense of betrayal! Why had Jesus asked them to follow him if he intended to leave them? Why had he brought them this far only to abandon them? Yea – I’m sure the disciples felt that they needed a friend. Jesus knew that his disciples were afraid – that y felt that they needed a friend -- so he made them a promise. He said, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever." An advocare. A friend. In the original Greek, the word we translate as "Advocate" is "parakletos." So what? What does "parakletos" mean? Well it means "someone called in to help." A parakletos could be a lawyer called in to defend you. It could be a witness called in to testify in your behalf. A "parakletos" could be anyone called in to help in your hour of need. A friend. Jesus, knowing that he would soon ascend back to the Father, promised his disciples a "parakletos"– someone on whom they could call when they needed help -- someone who would be there for them in their hour of need. A friend. Jesus promised that this friend would be with them forever. That is where we come in. The – "parakletosthe friend -- that Jesus promised to these first disciples is available to us as well. This "parakletos– this friend -- is there to help us when we need help – to guide us when we need guidance – to steer us rightly – to protect us from harm. When Jesus talked about the "parakletos -- the friend -- He was talking about the Holy Spirit – God's Spirit dwelling within us – God's Spirit living in our hearts. The promise that Jesus made to those first disciples is a promise to us as well. Jesus has made it possible for us to have a "parakletos -- a helper on whom we can call in time of need – a friend – God with us – God dwelling in our hearts. Jesus is saying – in effect –

You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running to se you again. Winter – spring – summer - or fall All you have to call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

That might seem pretty academic to you -- not especially useful "where the rubber meets the road" in the nitty-gritty of your life. But it isn't academic at all, because it works -- it helps. I remember reading about Colonel Thomas Schaefer, the highest-ranking military officer in the U.S. Embassy in Teheran when that embassy was overrun and the Americans taken prisoner. Colonels are seasoned veterans and tend to be strong -- and Schaefer was no exception. However, being taken prisoner in a hostile nation -- not knowing if he would ever see his family again -- held in solitary confinement in a tiny cell with nothing to read and nothing to do -- Schaefer found himself at the edge of his limits. But he was a Christian, and so he got down on his knees and prayed, "God, I cannot handle this. I need your help." He says, "And I got it!" He received the help that he needed to survive those long, seemingly endless, days of captivity. The "parakletos – the friend -- the Holy Spirit -- gave him the strength that he needed. John Claypool is a minister whose little daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. He thought, "I don't believe I can survive if she should die." But he was a man of faith, and called on God to help him. He describes what happened. He says:

"The truth of the matter was that this crisis did bring its own special potencies with it. Looking ahead I would say, 'I do not think I can stand it,' and looking back I would say, 'I do not know how we were able to survive,' but the truth is we did.... I and my daughter and the members of my family were met in the worst of times by energies we knew nothing about ahead of time.... All I know is: the Lord did provide as he promised and coming to trust in him is enormously encouraging to me as I face the future."

As you see from these examples, those who live in the presence of the Holy Spirit cannot expect easy lives – Jesus never promised us a bed of roses – but the Spirit helps us to prevail no matter how difficult the circumstances.

You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running to se you again. Winter – spring – summer - or fall All you have to call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

Earlier in this sermon, I mentioned Philip Yancey, who interviewed football heroes -- movie stars -- television personalities -- only to find that these beautiful people had feet of clay -- that they were "tormented by incurable self doubt!" He went on to write about the other side of the coin -- people whom he calls "servants" -- missionaries -- doctors and nurses working in Third World countries -- linguists living among primitive people in remote places, often for decades, to translate the Bible for those people. Yancey says:

I was prepared to honor and admire these servants, to hold them up as inspiring examples. I was not, however, prepared to envy them. But as I now reflect on the two groups side by side, stars and servants, the servants clearly emerge as the favored ones, the graced ones. They work for low pay, long hours, and no applause, 'wasting' their talents and skills among the poor and uneducated. But somehow in the process of losing their lives they have found them." (Philip Yancey, Where is God When It Hurts?

Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit, and has delivered on that promise. Those of us who believe in Christ can expect the Spirit to help us when we need help -- anytime -- day or night. The only question is whether we will follow faithfully. If we will, God will bless us with lives that become stronger day by day -- with faith to drive out fear -- with lives solid at the core.

You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running to se you again. Winter – spring – summer - or fall All you have to call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

On the cover of today’s bulletin there is an old Southern prayer. Let’s read that prayer together:

"O Lord, help me to understand that you ain't goin' to let nuthin' come my way that You and I together can't handle. Amen.

Yea – you’ve got a friend! Amen.

John 17:1-26

2005-04-23T20:03:00.000-05:00

John 17:1-26 April 24, 2005 Easter 5 Evangelism Is ….

What do you think of when you hear the word: Evangelism? What about the word: Evangelist? What about the words: Share your faith?

Do these words conjure up positive images for you? Do you feel some ownership to these words – like they describe you – or what you feel you should be? Do you feel that you are to be about evangelism – that you are to be an evangelist – that you are to be sharing your faith? Or do you feel that these are things for “someone else” to do – but not you? I was at an Evangelism Conference at Columbia Theological Seminary this week – and discovered that the way we think about evangelism has a lot to do with the way we do evangelism. So – what do you think of when you hear the word evangelism? Going out and bringing people to Christ? Going door to door and witnessing? These have been images of evangelism for many people. And it is not something that many people want to be a part of. What about the word evangelist? What do you think of when you hear the word evangelist? Someone with a floppy, well – thumped Bible who stands and yells at you until you finally give up and make a decision for Christ – just to get them to be quiet? Someone who will get the pianist to play “Just As I Am” 100 times if necessary until people respond? I heard a joke not long ago about a Revival Preacher who ended his message on the final night of meetings with the usual invitation. The pianist played and played – but no one came forward. Finally a young boy came down the aisle – the preacher praised God and said “And a little child shall lead them!” -- and “Who else is God speaking to – right now?” and the boy went straight to the front of the Church – then turned right to go out the exit door to the rest rooms. Not exactly the response the preacher wanted! This is the image that many have of an evangelist – and for many it is not a very positive one! What about sharing your faith? What do you think of when you hear these words? Passing out tracks of pamphlets? Going up to someone and starting a conversation by saying: “If you were to die do you know where you would go?” This is the image that many have of sharing your faith – and for many it is not a very positive one! Many people do not have a very positive image of evangelism – or of evangelists – or of sharing their faith. And since they do not have a positive image of it, they do not take part in it – leaving it to someone else – feeling that there is no way they are going to take part in evangelism – or being an evangelist – or sharing their faith. Yes -- the way we think about evangelism has a lot to do with the way we do evangelism. The negative ideas we have about evangelism have a lot to do with why we do not do evangelism. Presbyterians have not done a very good job at evangelism in the past few years – and we have lost many members and not gained many more because of it. A recent study of the major denominations showed that the Presbyterian Church (USA) lost thousands of members every year – leading the way in membership loss of the 25 top denominations. Yea – We’re Number One! But membership loss is not something you want to be number 1 in! Maybe we need to take another look at evangelism – evangelists – and sharing your story! What is evangelism? What is an evangelist? What does it mean to share your story? And – is it something everyone should be doing? The original meaning of them word evangelism – in the original Greek – means sharing the good news! So – an evangelist is someone who shares good news. And sharing your story means sharing how good news has affected your life. What if we were to think about evangelism as sharing the good news of God’s love. What if we were to think about an evangelist as being someone who shares the good news of God’s love. What if we were to think of sharing your story as sharing how God has touched your life and changed your life. And – what if we were to think that this work of evangelism – this sharing the good news of God’s love – was everyone’s job? What if we all took the role of evangelism – sharing the good news of God’s love – personally – seriously -- and became involved in it—passionate about it – excited about it? We may lose our number 1 ranking of being the top denomination as far are losing members. Our churches may grow – and more and more people come to know about Christ. But first we need to let it sink in that evangelism does not have to be going out and bringing people to Christ eangelism does not have to be going door to door and witnessing evangelism is simply sharing the good news of the love of God in the best way we can do it evangelists do not have to be someone with a floppy, well – thumped Bible who stands and yells at you until you finally give up and make a decision for Christ – just to get them to be quiet evangelists do not have to be someone who will get the pianist to play “Just As I Am” 100 times if necessary until people respond? evangelists are simply people who try to share the good news of God’s love in every way they can. sharing your faith does not have to be passing out tracks of pamphlets sharing your faith does not have to be going up to someone and starting a conversation by saying: “If you were to die do you know where you would go?” sharing your faith is using any method you can to get tell others about the good things God is doing in your life.

Evangelism is sharing the good news of God’s love! Being an evangelist is being someone committed to sharing the good news of God’s love! Sharing your story is using any method you can to share the good news of God’s love! And we are all called to do evangelism – to be evangelists – and to share the good news of God’s love!

Our scripture passage before us today – John 17:1-26 – is a prayer Jesus prayed for His followers – and those who would come after them – at the Last Supper. A beautiful prayer for those who – with the strength of the Holy Spirit -- will be doing the work of Jesus in the world – sharing the good news of God’s love with others in words and actions. It is a prayer for evangelists – a prayer for those involved in evangelism – a prayer for those involved in sharing the good news of God’s love with the world. It’s a prayer for each of us. Churches need to be "evangelizing communities" -- or communities that are committed to spreading the good news of God's love! Christians need to be busy telling how God has shown them love -- and can show love to others! We all have a story to tell -- the story of God's love.

That’s what evangelism is! That’s what being an evangelist is! That’s what sharing your story is all about!

Dr. Leighton Ford, the brother in law of Billy Graham and at one time one who would preach along with Dr. Graham at many of the crusades they held around the world, was one of the main speakers at the conference I attended this week. The point he kept driving home was the need to do evangelism. We all can not do it like Billy Graham or Leighton Ford – but we all can do it some way. We all can share the love of God with the world. We all can tell our story of God’s love. Dr. Ford asked each of us to think about the first person who shared the love of God with us. He said that for most of us it was probably not a “Bible thumping” preacher – the Evangelist who conjures up negative images in our minds – but a loving friend – or parent – or grandparent – who simply told us that God loved us in a way that made that love real for us. That’s what evangelism is! That’s what being an evangelist is! That’s what sharing your story is all about! We need to be committed to that! Not just as a denomination that is losing thousands of members a year. Not just as a Church that is losing members. But also as individual Christians – called to be evangelists – called to be people of faith with a story to tell! So – how can we be evangelists – people committed to sharing the good news of God’s love with the world? Well – first of all it takes prayer. We need to be in prayer that God excite us – and give us a way to share the good news with others. Second – we have to have a story to tell. Has God changed your life? Has God made a difference in your life? If so – tell the story! If not – listen to someone else’s story – so you can learn what God can do for you! So – we have to pray. We have to have a story to tell. Then – thirdly – we have to be willing to go out into the world and tell that story of how God has changed our lives. In the past we could just sit back and wait for folks to come to the Church – but things are different now. Now the Church – and that means each of us – have to be willing to go out and take the message of God’s love into the world. Times have changed. The world is a different place than it used to be. The church is not as important to people as it used to be – but the message of the church – the good news of God’s love – still needs to be proclaimed – more so now than ever before. But we have to take it to the people instead of expecting the people to come to us to hear it. There are 3 ways we can respond to the changes in the world – in the culture. span style="font-weight:bold;">

We can fight it. We can change with it. Or – we can see how God is still working in the world – identify the places God is working – and be a part of that work.

The third option is the option of Christ – who prayed to God to bless His followers as they take His message into the world – just as He had done. Unless we are willing to take the message of God’s love into the world – every day – the message will not change the culture. So – we have to pray. We have to have a story to tell. We have to be willing to go out into the world and tell that story of how God has changed our lives.

That’s what evangelism is! That’s what being an evangelist is! That’s what sharing your story is all about!

So – What do you think of when you hear the word: Evangelism? What about the word: Evangelist? What about the words: Share your faith? Try to remember that it’s sharing your story of how God has changed your life. Try to remember that we have to pray. We have to have a story to tell. And we have to be willing to go out into the world and tell that story of how God has changed our lives. Try to remember that we are called to share our story of God’s love with the world every day. Try to remember that if the Church is going to be renewed, we have to do the work of evangelism! Try to remember that

That’s what evangelism is! That’s what being an evangelist is! That’s what sharing your story is all about!

AMEN

Luke 24:13-35

2005-04-09T15:57:00.000-05:00

ACTS 2:14(A),36-41 LUKE 24:13-35 LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE EASTER 3 APRIL 10, 2005

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

The resurrection of Christ makes a difference in our lives -- our Church -- and our world. We don’t have to live in the past -- or as Peter calls it “this corrupt generation.” The old ways of sin -- the old ways of lack of faith -- of lack of commitment -- or lack of concern for others -- of lack of forgiveness shown to others -- of a seeming inability to drop habits that are destructive to ourselves and others -- all these and so many more “old ways” are no longer necessary for us. Why? Because

Christ has risen Our lives have been changed Our world can be changed Because Christ has risen.

Our ways of sin -- our self-destructive habits -- our lack of faith -- our lack of excitement for the things of God -- our lack of the ability to forgive those who hurt us -- all these things can be changed -- they are no longer necessary for us -- but we can be

Holy Faithful Committed Excited Loving Caring people

This is the difference the resurrection can make in our lives. We can

LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

But -- do we? Does the resurrection make a difference in our lives? Do we realize the difference the resurrection makes in our lives? Do we

LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; Save yourselves from this corrupt generation”

In other words

LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

When Peter spoke these words, it was the day of Pentecost. The Spirit had moved mightily among the disciples and Peter had begun explaining to the crowds about Christ -- and how to live as if the resurrection of Christ truly made a difference in their lives. The message of Peter was so persuasive that day that the author of Acts tells us that 3,000 people came to believe in Christ on that day. This is a story we marvel at. It’s a miracle along the same lines as those of Christ. Just imagine 3,000 people coming to be baptized at the same time! But -- I wonder -- what miraculous thing would happen here and now if we would just let the resurrection make a real difference in our lives? We need to realize the difference the risen Christ can make in our lives -- and then

LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Too often we choose to not let the resurrection make a real difference to us. Too often we choose to live as if we don’t even realize that it ever happened. Look at Cleopas and his friend on the way to Emmaus. They had heard that Christ had risen. They had heard that the women had seen a vision of angels who had declared the glorious news of the resurrection. They should have been filled with excitement. But -- instead -- they are distraught. The news of the resurrection does not make them joyous. No -- instead of joyous it makes them even more confused. They are not able to see what the resurrection can mean for them. They do not realize that the resurrection can change their lives. They do not realize that the despair of their lives can be changed into glorious hope because of the resurrection. But -- what happens when the resurrected Christ breaks the bread? Their eyes are opened -- They understand -- Yes -- they do not have to live in despair -- Yes -- they can live in glorious hope -- Yes -- their lives can be changed -- Yes -- they can live as if the resurrection makes a difference --

LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; Save yourselves from this corrupt generation”

Like Cleopas and his friend -- too many times we choose the old ways of living -- the old patterns of our lives -- as if we were oblivious -- or blind -- to the resurrection. We choose to live in ways the world and our sinful habits dictate to us . Ways that have nothing to do with proclaiming the resurrected Christ to the world. We even choose to live as we did before we even knew Christ. Our actions are not as different as they could be. We may even live as if we have not heard -- like those Peter addressed did not know until Peter told them about the resurrection and the difference it could make in their lives. Maybe we choose to do God’s will -- until something else comes along to attract our attention. Maybe we choose to be faithful and committed to God and the church -- until we find something else we deem more interesting. We may even take part in the work of our risen Lord and the work of the church - - until we find something else that we prefer. We may try to live as God’s committed, excited people in the world -- until the ways of the world interest us again. We may be able to control destructive habits for awhile -- until the temptation of go back to our old ways becomes just too great.

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; Save yourselves from this corrupt generation”

Friends -- Christ has risen!

LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Like Cleopas and his friend after recognizing Christ -- Like the crowd that Peter addressed -- 3,000 of whom became believers -- Let the risen Christ touch your life. You don’t have to live without a commitment to God. You don’t have to live in old ways with old habits and old ways of doing things that may be destroying you and others -- no matter how strong those old habits and ways may be and how difficult they may be to break. We can all be loving -- faithful -- committed -- excited -- caring We can all

LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

How can we do this? Well – I am sure that you have heard of Ashley Smith. You might not recognize her name, but you have certainly heard her story. Ashley is the young woman taken hostage by Brian Nichols, the man who killed a judge and three other people in Atlanta. Ashley has had a troubled life -- drugs and other problems. Not so long ago, when she hit bottom, Ashley spent two months in a Christian clinic for drug abusers. The counselors not only helped her to get off drugs, but they also helped her to get her heart right with God. When Brian Nichols took her hostage, she had in her possession a copy of "The Purpose Driven Life" -- a book about Christian faith -- and she had read part of it. God had done a good job of getting her ready for her encounter with a killer. When Nichols took her captive, Ashley talked to him about God. She showed him pictures of her family. She read to him from "The Purpose Driven Life." When Nichols asked what she thought he should do, she was honest with him. She told him that he needed to stop running -- he needed to turn himself in. She told him that, when he went to prison, he could fulfill his "miracle" by "sharing the word of God" with other inmates. You know the rest of the story. He let her go -- and she called the police -- and Nichols surrendered peacefully Ashley let God change her life. Ashley was changed from a young woman with many problems to a young woman with a story to share – and willing to share it with others. Ashley let God make a difference in her life – and lived as if Christ made a difference to her.

LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Now – of course you don’t have to be kidnapped by a killer to begin living your life as if Christ makes a difference in your life. You can live as if Christ makes a difference in your life every day. Every day as you let Christ change you – every day as you share the love of God with others – you are living as if Christ has made a difference in your life.

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; Save yourselves from this corrupt generation”

Friends -- Christ has risen!

LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Like Cleopas and his friend after recognizing Christ -- Like the crowd that Peter addressed -- 3,000 of whom became believers – Like Ashley Smith -- Let the risen Christ touch your life. You don’t have to live without a commitment to God. You don’t have to live in old ways with old habits and old ways of doing things that may be destroying you and others -- no matter how strong those old habits and ways may be and how difficult they may be to break. We can all be loving -- faithful -- committed -- excited -- caring We can all

LIVE AS IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Are you ready? Well, then, let’s do it!

AMEN

John 20:19-31

2005-04-03T13:54:00.000-05:00

Acts 2:14(a), 22-32 John 20:19-31 Easter 2 April 3, 2004 Believing Is Seeing

A week has passed sense our celebration of the resurrection of our Lord. What kind week has it been for you? Has it been a week filled with glorious hope -- the glorious hope and power of God and the new life we have because of the resurrection of Christ? Has it been a week of joyous response to God because of the way our lives and our world are changed because of the resurrection of Christ? Has it been a week filled with bringing the new life and hope we have in Christ into the world with joy and enthusiasm? Is that the kind of week it’s been for you? Or -- Has it been pretty much a week of “business as usual” -- some joy but mainly just the mundane -- work and whatever we usually do? Did you leave the joy and excitement of Easter here last Sunday? Did you forget to take it home with you -- and out into the world? Has the promise of the new life we have because of the resurrection of Christ changed your life --and given you a joyous message to proclaim to the world -- Or Does the reality of the world seem to sap the energy and enthusiasm and “good news” right out of you? Or Is it that your life and world just seems so hard to change -- and you give up trying to let the resurrected Christ make a difference in your life and world before you even start? Indeed -- as we come together today we may find ourselves wondering -- “So what if Christ has risen?” “What difference does it make -- to me?” “What difference does it make in my life?” “What difference does it make in this church?” “What difference does it make in the world?” “Where’s the new life Christ offers?” These are very legitimate questions. Particularly this week as we have been bombarded with the battle over the life – and then the death – of Terry Schiavo – the death of the Pope – - the war in Iraq – and so many other events in the world – and for many of us events in our own lives – we might wonder what difference the resurrection of Christ might make in our lives and in our world. Indeed -- “So what if Christ has risen?” “What difference does it make -- to me?” “What difference does it make in my life?” “What difference does it make in this church?” “What difference does it make in the world?” “Where’s the new life Christ offers?” These must have been the types of questions the disciples were asking to themselves - - if not aloud – as they tried to make sense of the events of that first Easter day. As they gathered that first night – with their grief over Christ’s death still strong – they must have had trouble believing Mary’s story of seeing Christ. And John and Peter may not have been able to fully understand the meaning of the fact that they did not find the body when they rushed to the tomb that morning. They might have seen evidence of the resurrection – but not yet believed it. They might have seen evidence of the new life Christ offered – but not yet believed it. The “dots” may have been right in front of them – but they may not have been able yet to “connect” them and get the beautiful picture of the risen Lord – and the beautiful life He could give them. And then – something happened. Jesus appeared – breathed the Holy Spirit upon them – and they saw the evidence that helped them believe in the risen Christ – and the new life Christ could give them. Jesus appeared – and finally it all began to make sense. Mary had come to them with the story of the risen Christ because Christ had risen! John and Peter had found the tomb empty because Christ had risen! They had had the evidence before them – but had not believed it. Now – they believed it – saw it for what it was – and their lives were changed! Seeing is believing. But believing is also seeing. Sometimes we get the impression that if we see something we will believe it. “Seeing is believing” we like to say. That can be true – but what if the evidence of something we need to believe is right before our eyes – but we do not believe it? While it is true many times that seeing is believing -- it is also true that believing is seeing. Believing is seeing. The disciples may not have believed the evidence of the resurrection that was right before their eyes until Christ helped them believe. Then they could see it for what it was – and the joy and excitement of the risen Christ changed their lives. Believing is seeing. Believing is seeing. Maybe it’s hard for you to see evidences of the new life Christ offers us. Maybe it’s hard for you to believe in the new life Chist offers you. Maybe when you look at the world all you see is that many people going homeless and hungry – or all you see is wars, drugs, and violence – or people sick and dieing – and sometimes people using the death of others to promote their cause instead of really caring for the person dieing – Maybe when you look around you at your family and friends you see many of your friends and loved ones who are sick and showing little sign of improvement -- indeed may be getting worse – or maybe you see that your home life – your family life – is definitely not what you would want it to be -- Maybe you see things that make you feel: “So what if Christ has risen?” “What difference does it make -- to me?” “What difference does it make in my life?” “What difference does it make in this church?” “What difference does it make in the world?” “Where’s the new life Christ offers?” “I don’t see the difference – so I can’t believe it!” Friends – many times Believing is seeing. Believing is seeing. Like the disciples who had the evidence of the resurrection right in front of them but could not believe it – we have the evidence of the new life in Christ right in front of us – but can’t see it for what it is until we believe it! Believing is seeing. Believing is seeing. Every day God is changing lives. Every day miracles happen. But we don’t believe it to be what it is -- and don’t see it to be what it is! Believing is seeing. Believing is seeing. Christ has risen! New life is possible! New ways to live are possible! Believe it! See it! Look at the world again with eyes that are open to the new life Christ offers. Look at the world again with eyes that believe the evidence of the new life Christ gives us. The evidence – the cause for rejoicing – the cause for believing that God is changing the world through the risen Christ – is before us every day. Every day God’s people are making a difference in people’s lives! Every day the hungry are being fed! Every day people who are sick and dieing are finding peace as God’s people reach out to them with love and compassion! Every day relationships are being changed as people find new ways to relate to each other – ways that are more peaceful – more caring – more understanding. Believe it! See it! Let the power of God to change lives change your life! Let the power of God that can change lives change your perspective! Let the power of God that can change lives give you a renewed sense of hope and excitement for life! Believing is seeing. Believing is seeing. The power of God – the power of the risen Christ – is at work in the world every day -- Believe it! See it! Share it! Share the power of the risen Christ – the power that can change lives – with others. Help others experience the life changing love of Christ as you reach out into the world with the live of God. Show others God’s love. Reach out to those in need of a helping hand. Give a smile to those who are lonely. Visit those who are sick of depressed. Help make a difference in the life of someone who needs it. Christ has risen. The world can be changed. Lives can be changed. Believe it! See it! Believing is seeing. Believing is seeing. Amen