Sermon, January 5, 2020
Tomorrow, January 6, is the day churches around the world celebrate the 12th day of Christmas, or the Three Kings Day, often called Epiphany. The word epiphany means an aha moment! It is a sudden realization or insight. In the story of Jesus’ birth and the following years, several epiphanies happened.
Epiphanies can have both negative and positive impacts on a person and his/her life forever after!
An example of an epiphany that had a negative impact: King Herod, who lived in a palace and had the whole of Israel under his rule, thought he was the most important person in the world. He lived as though his power was real and true. He controlled thousands of people through any whim he might have. Can you imagine his stroke of insight when he realized a tiny baby, born in the backwoods of Bethlehem, was considered a king...a king more noble and powerful than himself. That moment of sudden comprehension set a rage in him that had dire results on the people of Israel.
The original epiphany occurs in the Bible when three wise men, also known as The Magi, or as the Three Kings, see a divine star in the sky, which leads them to the Christ child. This child’s nature as a king is revealed to these men while the rest of the world was unaware. The wise men had a stunning realization when they met the Christ child at home with his mother. How could this child be a king, a light to the world? But that awareness was what made them take a different way home to avoid King Herod and his murderous desires.
As Mary nurtured this child which had been promised by God to come through her, she also had an epiphany. Perhaps what God’s angel had told her just might be absolute truth!
In literature across the ages and in most countries, epiphanies are used to point out a turning point for a character in the near future. It is sometimes used to change the opinion of one character about other characters, events, and places after a sudden awareness of the situation. For example, in
Shakespeare’s play HAMLET, he uses an epiphany to explain why Hamlet ultimately ceased to want to avenge his father’s murder. While Hamlet was contemplating revenge, he suddenly had a flash of realization when he understood, “There is a divinity that shapes our ends.” He realized there is no wisdom for him in trying to inflict the perfect revenge on Claudius, his father’s murderer. He must take hold of his thoughts and deal with his loss in a more acceptable way.
Now, not all epiphanies are so dramatic. Some are sweet and simple. Others are thought-provoking. And some, do change the way we deal with events, challenges, and life.
Every Christmas as we celebrate the birth of goodness, as we sing the hymns of angels and shepherds and wise men, we also might have epiphanies when we realize we are here to proclaim this marvelous good news that Christ and all his name contains lives within us day after day. He is known as Emmanuel...God with us. Once we are clear and see this knowledge, then our lives do change..and always for the better.
So during 2020 how will you become more aware of the power of this Christ Spirit? How will you proclaim his love and acceptance of all to those who may not know this majestic energy we worship. Will you bring light to the dark places on this coast? Will you choose to seek the divine in every person you meet? When you walk outdoors among trees, plants, and flowers and become aware of both the sunlight and moonlight will you realize that in every moment of your life God is longing to show his Godself to you? And when you do recognize your intimate connection to God what will your response be?
At one time in a later biblical story, Jesus asked his disciples, his best friends this question: Who do you say that I am?
On this day of epiphany, perhaps Jesus is asking you the same question: Who do you say that he is? And what do you do about your answer?
Amen
Sermon, January 12, 2020
The Baptism of Jesus
I am often asked the question, why was Jesus baptized? The people who ask this think the Jewish baptism was/is the same as the Christian baptism. There are similarities, but also differences. The people who ask this question also believe Jesus was “without sin”, so why did he have to repent and be baptized?
Jesus was not a Christian, because Christianity did not come into being until after Jesus’ death and resurrection. So, when he was baptized, he was baptized as a Jewish man. And he was baptized by a Jewish man we know as John the Baptizer.
Moses initiated Jewish baptizing or cleansing baths during the Israelite 40 year journey in the wilderness. The earliest ideas of Jewish baptism concerned cleanliness: a person could become unclean by touching a dead body or touching someone who had touched a dead body. One could be unclean if he came in contact with a hog or pig, or had unauthorized sexual conduct. A woman after giving birth was also considered unclean. Early on cleanliness was strict to keep the Israelites healthy and safe...the very beginning of our idea of salvation. Where purity was once closely associated with your external bodies, it quickly began to include our purity regarding our thoughts, words, and deeds. These too can make people sick, or unclean.
In the Old Testament book of Exodus, the Lord told Moses to make a vessel for washing. He was told to place the vessel between the meeting place called a tabernacle, a temporary movable tent where God could live, and the altar of stones where animals were sacrificed and also eaten. Moses was also told to put water in the vessel for Aaron and his sons, who were priests, to wash their hands and feet in the water when they go into the tabernacle or when they come near to the altar to minister….they will do this washing or they will die. When natural water was available (rivers, streams) people were to submerge fully into the water.
In Leviticus, the message was enlarged to include anyone who had become unclean must wash their entire body in water before they could be considered clean again and enter the tabernacle.
The Hebrew noun for a ritual bath or washing is called a mikveh. That word is similar to tikvah which means hope, or alignment with God. The idea of mikvah meaning pools of water and tikvah meaning hope and confident alignment with God is beautifully explained in Jeremiah (17: 5-6) where the prophet poetically expresses the ideas through metaphor of trees are either rooted and flourishing beside water or drying up for the lack of water . The meaning is we thrive and flourish when we submit ourselves to God. But, when we put our trust in humans only we dry up for the lack of choosing God. Jeremiah wrote: “Lord, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be dried out, meaning ashamed. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water.”
Some biblical scholars think that quote may be a play on words. The text actually says, “the Lord himself is the Mikveh of Israel, the one who gives abundance of a new life in God, the hope of Israel. Remember all through scripture God shares the message that he is the water of life, the well of living water that springs up to eternal life….because that is exactly who he is.
So Jesus asked John to baptize him to cleanse and refresh him so that he could enter the tabernacle to worship his God. It was a perfectly normal thing for a young Jewish man to ask and do.
It wasn’t until years later the Christian version took on an altered meaning of baptism. Depending on which denomination focuses on which aspect of baptism, we see a wide range of beliefs from “be baptized so your sins will be forgiven. Or be baptized to publicly admit you are repenting of your sins. Or, be baptized to receive the Holy Spirit. Or to let your family and friends know you want to change the focus of your life from yourself to your God.
Sometimes a combination of all those reasons is why we baptize. We have no scripture of Jesus ever baptizing any one ever. However, Jesus asked his disciples to go into the world to preach the good news, to make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. This last phrase “baptizing in the name of the Father, the son, and the holy spirit, was added on to Matthew’s words, because the phrase was not first used until the eyar 180 when Theophilus o Antioch used it in reference to God, God’s word, and God’s work. Three hundred years later the doctrine of the Trinity came into being.
In Matthew’s scripture he did add, teach these new disciples to obey the commands I have given you.” And remember his command was this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Then love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.
So today as we celebrate the Sunday set aside to remember the baptism of Jesus, let us also remember our own baptism.
So a question: If you were baptized, why? And if you were, are you living into the meaning of your baptism? And do you relate your baptism to being refreshed and safe?
Amen
Sermon, January 19, 2020
What does it mean to be human and humane?
Scripture tells us we were the last of the major animals to appear on earth...science tells us there were approximately 27 different types of hominids who preceded homo sapien on this earth. The last of those to die out was the Neandertal people who lived until about 30,000 years ago, leaving only homo sapien (thinking man) to rule the earth.
Physically we are similar to our predecessors as well as the great mammalian apes...we all have a brain of different sizes, two eyes, two ears, one nose one mouth, two arms and hands...however we are the only mammal that stands up straight without using our arms as legs. So the primary difference in us and other animals resides on the inside of us, not the outside.
We as humans can communicate not just through guttural sounds or songs like animals and birds, but through an elongated larynx and flexible tongue. Through those traits we are able to communicate ably using words and symbols as well as body gestures, posture and facial expressions. As humans we make our own decisions and bear the consequences of them. We make and wear clothing to keep us warm in winter and cool in summer. We are able to think about thinking, and to ponder our past, present and future. We are also able to fit into different groups such as racial, cultural, religious, and political ones. We have curiosity and intelligence...all God given at our births. These are what we inherit from our ancestors genes.
Humans are not specialized as other animals are. Because of our intelligence we can run like a dog, climb like a squirrel, swim like a dolphin, and fly (using our own creations) like birds.
All other animals are specialized and therefore limited in scope and reason
Those are the most important things that make us human...in the image of a flexible and non-specialized God entity. We as humans are truly amazing creations that have only now begun to understand all that we are in the image of our creator.
Because of our intelligence and awareness of life around us, we can learn to be humane humans. To be humane means we have compassion for others, we show gratitude, we live frugally in the midst of plenty so that we can share with others, we live not just for ourselves but also for our families and neighbors. In other words, being humane means advancing the creation of God, in both tangible and intangible ways.
There is an age old conflict among intellectuals: some say we are born compassionate through our human nature, others say we learn compassion and love by the way we are treated in our formative years. I believe we are born with the capacity for compassion and love, but we must learn how to accept those traits as gifts from our creator and learn to act on them to enhance life and bring the kingdom of God to where ever we are at all times. I believe that is one reason Jesus the Christ lived and died when and why he did. I don’t think he died to appease the wrath of God. I don’t think he died to save us from our sins. Rather, I think he lived and died to teach us the glory of being humane, which is another word for love of self and others. That was the great divide that occurred 2000 years ago ...when people stopped centering their lives on power and greed and began to understand the power of loving others at all cost!
Being humane encompasses the best qualities of mankind. Where animals are limited in being compassionate to others, we as humans can show tenderness, compassion, love, and acceptance to other humans and animals. If someone is inhumane, he or she lacks compassion for the suffering of others.
I expect God expects his creation, human and otherwise, to respect him and the ways of living he has planned out for us...not to benefit God so much as to benefit our selves. It has been scientifically proven that the more love you give the better you feel about yourself, and the more you like yourself.
Someone once told me then love is selfish...aha...this is the beauty of being both human and humane...life is a circle. What we sow we reap. What we give to others returns to us 30, 60, 100 fold in many different ways. Life, love, compassion, and all eternity is a circle with no beginning and no ending….in between we have our own personal lives to choose how to live and with how much humane-ness. God has given it all to us, but he allows us to either be miserly in giving love and forgiveness, or to be so loving, so forgiving, so compassionate that we are truly happy and peaceful no matter what else happens to us. That is great secret of human success hidden or expressed in every Biblical story, every proverb and every commandment.
We can and need to rejoice in our humanity, and to be as much like our humane God Spirit as we can be. It makes life an exquisite experience filled with love, joy, peace, and grace.
Amen
Sermon, January 26, 2020
Have you ever been in complete, total darkness? Well, I have. Years ago I was visiting my son Harry in Zurich. He insisted we go to a restaurant called in German “The Blindy Coo” which means the Blind Cow. It is a restaurant owned, operated by blind people. When we arrived the manager took our watches, our telephones, and even our eyeglasses and said we would get them back after lunch. We were led to a space that enclosed us in dark curtains. Then someone (we don’t know who because it was too dark to see) took each of us by hand, led us to a table, helped us sit down, put a napkin in our laps, and handed us a fork. There was no need for a knife. Then the waiter told us what our food options were. I literally could not see my hands 3 inches in front of my eyes, and I surely couldn’t see Harry across the table. I felt under the table to see if I could touch his feet with mine to give me comfort. That utter darkness was a terrifying experience for me...I could hear voices around me but could not see anything. I don’t know what I ate, but I do know Harry had dessert. I knew, because when we entered the light again he had chocolate pudding all over his face and shirt.
So, I learned more than ever that physical darkness is to be avoided at all cost. I want to take really good care of my eyes and eyesight. Darkness is not where I want to be. I was so happy to see light again, and completely relieved.
However, having said this about physical darkness, it is internal darkness that causes most despair in today’s world. It is internal darkness that seems to force us to look for crutches to get us through the day...crutches like drugs, alcohol, sex, acting out in disrespectful ways, blaming others for our wrong doings. This internal darkness is usually caused by fear, anger, guilt, insecurity, jealousy, being easily offended, and not following the way the Lord asks us to live. Those are the ingredients in darkness that is within us.
Because we all have intellect and awareness, we choose how to spend each moment of our lives. But, in some cases, we become creatures of habit. Once we start belittling people and getting away with it, we belittle more. When we tell a lie and get away with it it becomes easier to lie again, and again. When we take something insignificant that is not ours and we don’t get caught, then we are likely to attempt to steal something of more worth. So, that is what is really wrong with sin...it easily becomes habitual...and the other thing really wrong with sin is that it usually hurts someone besides just the sinner. Yes, all of us sin and fall short of the glory of God. But, if we know the commandments, if we know how Jesus lived morally and ethically, we can usually recognize when we do wrong and then stop ourselves from doing more of it. We repent and cease to behave in destructive and damaging ways.
In scripture the gospel of John tells us Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have he light of life.” John wrote these words 80 or 90 years after Jesus’ birth. So Jesus may or may not have said them. What we do know is that John saw Jesus as the light...the one way to empty ourselves of darkness. When John told us Jesus was the light of the world he meant Jesus shows us the way to live. The life of Jesus is like a steady beam from a flashlight in the darkness leading the way to safety, to joy, to peace. When we choose to live his way, we can rejoice because we are free from the habits that wreck havoc with us, our souls, our families, and our entire lives. The light is what we want and need…but all too often people choose the darkness which can and often does lead to more darkness.
So here is a recipe to live in the light: learn about how Jesus lived. What his values were. How he treated others, all others. What he taught as the most important aspects of life. Then imitate him through doing your own good deeds; seek the truth. Don’t believe everything you hear or read from secular, money making sources. Seek God’s truth in every situation. Don’t conform to what your peers want unless they want what God wants….and that is real shared love for one another.
In another verse the early church taught that “Jesus is the light of the world. No one comes to the father but through that life.” In this verse the word “father” is the fullness of life...life in abundance of love and grace. And when it was said the only way to that abundant life was through him it meant to walk and talk the way Jesus did in regard to all other human beings. There is no other path to joy, goodness, righteousness, or peace except through living every day a life full of love. Love in your actions, for God, self, and others...it is the way of life...and we are people of the way.
This is the truth. Believe it and live it.
Amen
Sermon, February 9, 2020
Today is a birthday celebration. Our Nourishing Place is 23 years old today. The idea of this church lived in my imagination for years before it became a reality. I imagined a church as a gathering of people who would be open to worship with all people, in a come as you are state of being, where the gathering would acknowledge the human Jesus as the essence of unconditional love, and the purpose of the church would be to share that kind of Jesus love to all people within their realm of existence. Through the years the image of that church grew and became clearer with each passing year. However, it was eventually brought into being primarily due to 4 unexpected events. One event was disastrous, the other three were God- created miracles delivered through human hands. These 4 events changed my life and created a church.
The first unexpected event that brought me to my knees involved my oldest son...my golden boy. He caused serious legal problems for himself. He was convicted as a felon, and went to prison. Because I had invested everything I owned in his business, I lost it all. I truly had no money nor assets left except I still had an old truck, which I did not want to live in. I was homeless. I stayed with a friend for month or two and spent every weekend driving my son’s children to prison to visit him. I wanted a place of my own to live in but I did not see how that was possible. I laughingly said Jesus’ teachings became very personal….I was as poor, marginalized, and outcast as any of the people Jesus favored.
At that lowest point in my life, a second unexpected even occurred which proved to be a miracle. I went to the post office where I got my mail, opened the mailbox and there was an envelope addressed to me, with no return address. I opened it and it was a gift card in the amount of $3000. I thought it had been sent to me in error. I called the bank where it came from to tell them. The agent looked up the card number and said it was purchased in my name for me. I tried to discover who had sent it, but to no avail. I prayed and asked God what to do with the funds. The card stayed in my wallet. But every morning I took it our and stared at it as I asked God, “Hey, what do I do with this unexpected money?” One day I held the card up in the air and said, “Please God let the person who sent this know I am grateful.” Then, I went directly to my architect...which was actually the place on highway 49 which built sheds. I bought a 16x20 foot shed, had it moved to the yard behind my friend Gail’s house. She and I insulated the room, put sheet rock up, painted the inside. Within 2 weeks I moved in. I called that time in my life my minimalist period, living in a tiny shed. What that statement really meant? I was dead broke. But, I prayed hours of gratitude to God and my unknown benefactor. I was happy in my nest….just a bed, a tiny couch, a small table, a little fridge, and a hotplate. I had all I needed. And that was enough. I was at peace. In that shed, on my tiny table, I began reading theological books, commentaries on biblical chapters, books by noted ministers. Hour after hour I studied. I was fascinated by the books I read, bout biblical characters...the odder they were the better. The more colorful, the more human they became. In the midst of this obsession, the third unexpected event occurred. It too turned into a miracle.
I had gone to the post office again, got my mail, and there was an envelop addressed to me with a return address from an attorney in Jackson. I was so fearful it might tell me something more terrible about my son in prison that I would not open the envelope. It sat on my table for a couple of days. Finally one morning I opened the envelope and a check fell out in the amount I could hardly take in. A dear friend of mine, Mrs. Gertrude Ford, the richest woman east of the Mississippi River, whom I had befriended when I lived in Oxford, had died. I was shocked to find that in her will she had left me money, as the accompanying letter said, to “see me through.” I was overcome with gratitude for her unexpected generosity. Eventually, I knew I would use her funds to attend seminary. For the next 31/2 years I studied the Bible and Spiritual development from two different seminaries: Columbia Presbyterian Seminary in Decatur, GA, and the Universal Christian Church. I both fearfully and somewhat excitedly, wondered if indeed one day my imagined church might be a reality. But I knew I would never be a preacher. I did not ever want to preach at people and insist they had to live by rigid dogma rather than by love, compassion, and forgiveness. If I ever had the opportunity, I just wanted to open a window to minds and souls to see a bigger, more embracing image of God given to us through Jesus, the anointed one. One thing I did learn beyond a doubt is this: If God plans it God sees it through.
During the last month of my seminary experience, I knew I was destined to have a church of people who wanted to know the truth. The truth about the holy scriptures, about the who-ness and what-ness of Jesus, and of themselves. I told God, “I will go anywhere you want me to and do whatever you want me to do. But do not send send me to Gulfport. I will never be accepted there as a minister because of my multiple divorces and my son being in prison. And God said, “Trust me.” Then I told God “do not make me ask people to give money. That’s your job.” Can you imagine telling God what he can not do? Well, God ignored one of my requests and sent me home to Gulfport. However, through his graciousness he honored the other request. Here at TNP we do not ask for money nor preach about money. The congregants, like all of you, are so generous our dove and the mail box are full enough each week to do what God asks us to do. And we can never out give God.
I agred to go to home to Gulfport but wondered where the church building would be? All I heard was, “It is under your feet.” My shed, my home, my only home, was to be the church? I was ok with that, but I asked, God where will I live? His nudging reminded me there was an empty garage just around the corner. I could use the rest of Mrs. Ford’s money to buy the garage. I did, and once again Gail and I insulated, sheet rocked, and painted my new abode. It even had a small kitchen and bathroom! I was living high and loving it.
“What do you want me to call this church of yours”, I respectfully asked God? The answer came in a delightful way. One night, my friends Gail, Jo Kennedy and I were having supper together and drinking cheap wine. Jo reiterated her desire to have a small cafe and cook for people. She was a marvelous cook and wanted to nourish people by feeding them healthy food, beautifully prepared. Laughingly, I said, “You want to nourish people with food and I want to nourish people’s soul and spirit with Christian truth.” We all laughed. Then Gail said,”That’s the name of the church. The Nourishing Place! Jo can cook for the congregation and you can teach. The Nourishing Place was born with the help of these two mid-wives and God’s generosity through loving, caring human beings.
Soom later, I was reflecting on all that happened and thrilled by it. But then I realized there was a missing piece. I had my ordination and certification. I had a place for the people to gather as a church, and I was ready. I knew of all of this planning came together in harmony, and the church became a true reality, I knew I would do this work for God our of love...so I would never take a salary or any income from the church. But I did need income to survive and to support the soon to be church. I didn’t think I could hold a full time job somewhere else and build God’s church at the same time. I gave that problem to God, and I asked God...what should I do? Clearly I heard a voice that said, “About this church? I asked you to do it, I will see you through it. Trust me”?
I felt ashamed for doubting.
The very next week the fourth unexpected event occurred...it too proved to be a miracle. I met Max Peck. We had lunch together once a week for a year and never really had a date. One day he spent over an hour telling me what a terrible man he was. He listed his weaknesses, his past sins, his fears, and he never once mentioned the many, many good wonderful things about himself like his generosity, his love of young people, especially those in trouble, is desire to use whatever he was or had to make life better for those he loved. After listening to his list of misdeeds, he then said it would make him happy if I would marry him. I said nothing for a few seconds then I burst out laughing. I couldn’t stop. He said, “what is so funny?” I said. “that is the worst proposal I have ever had. If we marry it will be because you will have to support me and our church. He said, “gladly.” Then there was a caveat: one more thing. I want a real proposal, on bended knee at the end of Courthouse pier under a full moon with a witness. Would you do that? He did. I’ve worked for God as my only boss with delight and pleasure for these 23 years without worrying once about having to pay a bill. God sent Max to me and to the Nourishing Place. God’s grace is always more than sufficient.
These miracles created by God are offered by human hands.
So that is today’s chapter. At another time I would like to tell you to the story of our second church building and then our third. So stay tuned. But for now, be brave, be loved, trust God to meet all your needs and beyond. If you choose to make God’s abundant love your life’s priority, then enjoy and embrace the fireworks that will surely follow.
Amen
Sermon, February 16, 2020
Today’s scripture comes from the book of Colossians. Paul wrote this book, which is really a letter, while he was in prison. Unlike other letters Paul wrote to churches where he had visited, he had never been to Colossae nor met the people there. Colossae was in Asia Minor, which is now Turkey, and that was about 100 miles from where he was probably inprisoned. However, Paul had heard the congregations in Colossae were troubled by false teachers. The people there were in fear, for they were not sure of what a believer in this Christ should do, or how they should behave. So Paul sets out in writing to offer assurance that they were not under the control of hostile powers, because they had their minds and hearts which were free to worship the one God and obey the teachings of Jesus, the anointed one. Paul strongly desired for the Colossians to become deeply rooted in Christ alone, who is preeminent. Knowing that Christ alone can teach the truth was especially important in view of false teachers who would lead them astray.
This particular part of Paul’s letter points to the centrality of Christ and tells Christians how they ought to behave as Christ’s people in their homes, at work, and in society at large.
Read the scripture: Colossians 3: 12-17
In this letter Paul urges the believers in that community to a live lives of virtue...of goodness. Early Christ followers knew it was essential for them to live at peace with one another so that pagans (any one not a believer in this risen spirit) could see how virtuous their relationship to Christ was, and hopefully that might lead others to their community of faith. To draw others’ attention to their way of life, they were instructed to live compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. If they chose to live with these virtures as priorities, then Christ would be the only one to control their hearts.
This concept of true, active living the way Jesus did is just as important today as it was in the time of Paul. Often we hear about people going to church but do not seem to live their faith on an everyday basis, especially in the way they treat their own family, or people different from themselves. Remember, in Christ we are all one...one God, one spirit, one church.
None of us can hope to fully practice our beliefs unless we are first filled with a sense of gratitude. Giving thanks always, rejoicing in our God always, is the virtue that reminds us how much we depend upon our Lord and our God...giver of life, author of love, creator of compassion and forgiveness. As believers we must encourage expressions of gratitude rather than complaint or criticism.
One way Paul taught the early believers in the way of Jesus live was to make sure they knew if they loved Jesus, then part of them died with him. But the good news, the gospel news, is that Christ was risen and we are too. In Christ we are new souls. Paul said it like this: put off the old person you were and put on the new person you are in Christ….having in your actions the same traits of love, compassion, and forgiveness that Christ shows us even today. Each one of us as a believer receives from God forgiving love, harmonious love and corrective love...which we in turn must share with others. By practicing our beliefs in the God of love, illustrated best through the life of Jesus, then we too help bring the Kingdom of God here and now, in this place. The Now-ism of Christ love is ever present.
Let us remember, Jesus’ divine nature is the image of the invisible God. And when we believe, and practice that belief, then we too are the images of the invisible God who lives within the temple of our physical bodies and speaks through our holy actions. That is a high calling for each of us….but what an incredibly joyous church and community this would be if we all did what our Lord and God asks us to do today and all our tomorrows. Let each one of us try with a courageous heart and a willing mind to tear down the barriers of hostility wherever we find them and to open the doors for love to flow, to flow especially to those people we tend to disregard. We are the visible images of the Living Lord.
Amen
Sermon, February 23, 2020
Read 2nd Timothy 1:7
Have you ever heard a parent say, “Oh, I wish my child would misbehave.” Or have you ever seen a book entitled How to live an unhappy life? No, of course we have not. Most of us know what is good and right for ourselves and our children. But sometimes it helps to be reminded of who we are and what we are all about. Not fear, but we are power, love, and a sound mind.
What kind of power is this spirit of power God gave the disciples and gives us? I think its like this: When you believe something and you act on that something, you have a boldness about yourself that you may not be aware of in other times. Example, when you discuss an issue that is extremely important, something you believe in wholeheartedly, usually your voice gets louder, you use your hands to help emphasize, and you are completely absorbed in defending what you believe; you are energized. That is a kind of personal power God gives us when we desire to be heard. When we forget ourselves enough to speak boldly about what is right and good and healthy and safe, we have an added power to our thoughts and our speech. This power is God given…..to all of us. But do we use it?
Paul also told Timothy that God gives us a spirit of love. Most of us probably relate love to emotion. To God, love is action. It’s what you do. It’s how you treat yourself, how you treat others, and how you treat your God. That power of love enables you to care about life and most people. To love is to reach beyond yourself and hope that your family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances have their needs met and do find some joy in life. Love also enables you to pray for your enemies and be good to those who persecute you. To us in the 21st century that might seem foolish. However, the spirit of love is what helps you save yourself...it gives you confidence, patience, and freedom to be all you are intended to be. You are not subject to another’s rule! The results are you like yourself better, you see yourself as a part of bringing God’s Kingdom to the here and now. You are an expression of our living Lord. So, act lovingly!
The third thing Paul wanted Luke to live by is to know and act on the fact that God gives us a sound mind. Biblically speaking a sound mind means good judgment, or self-control. Sometimes our emotions run amok and we get embroiled in situations that are not healthy and that we need to move away from. However, most emotions are like glue...they stick to us. But, self control gives us the strength to take a step back to evaluate the situation. Then with thoughtful consideration the riaght, appropriate decision will probably be made.
Think of the courage it took these early apostles and disciples of Christ to be brave enough to speak eloquently about the saving grace of Christ. The people they reached out to did not want to hear their message. They wanted to destroy not only the teachings and messages of Jesus but they wanted to kill the messengers. It is due to centuries of struggle, hardship, yet joy, that today we still have the biblical stories and the amazing teachings of Christ.
We all are here to serve an Almighty God. We acknowledge and remember the thousands and thousands of people who have gone before us determined to keep God alive for us today.
Then why do we worship the God of convenience? Or the God of money? Greed? Unhealthy power? Listen to some very current statements by some of our friends and co workers: Oh, I can’t come to church. I have to sleep in on Sunday mornings. I party too late on Saturday nights. No, I can’t give to that charity; I want to buy a new cell phone. No, I don’t want to study the bible, it is boring. I don’t need anyone telling me how to live and what to do.” These common comments run through our communities and this neighborhood today.
So, what happened to us? Where has the fervor gone? The commitment to our loving, compassionate, forgiving God? How has the greatest gift ever given to humanity, the grace of Christ, been turned into an inconvenience, an out of date idea, a concept not worth pursuing? Our Creator God asked you and me to help bring the Kingdom of God to earth...to here in this community. And to do it willingly, joyously, and with power, love, and good judgment. That is our task our life’s goal
I leave you with a question: what are you doing with the life God gave you? And, is it enough?
Amen
Sermon, March 1, 2020
How many of you remember the story of Little Red Riding Hood? There are 58 versions of that ancient story. It began as a folk tale in Europe in the 900’s, that’s over a 1000 years ago. Each country in and around Europe had its own version of the tale, and each one told it as a parable, fable, or moralistic story.
Some scholars believe it was also a way of summing up briefly and colorfully the core message of our Bible’s New Testament, including life, good vs. evil, a heavenly reward, a savior, redemption, and rising from the dead. Here is the story as you may have heard or read it in your youth:
Little Red Riding Hood lived in a wood with her mother. One day Little Red Riding Hood walked through the woods to visit her granny. She had a nice cake in her basket to give to her granny. When she was with her granny LRH felt special and loved.
On her way to Granny’s house, Little Red Riding Hood met a wolf. As the wolf said, ‘Hello!’ he seemed pleasant and friendsly. In a pretended gentle voice the wolf asked her ‘Where are you going?’
The wolf seemed charming, so LRH told him.
‘I’m going to see my grandmother. She lives in a house behind those trees.’ The wolf said, “Have a nice day.”
Then he quickly ran to Granny’s house and ate Granny up. He put on one of Granny’s night gowns and a lacy night cap. He climbed into Granny’s bed, and waited. A little later, Little Red Riding Hood reached the house. As she entered she walked toward the bed and looked at the disguised wolf.
‘Granny, what big eyes you have!’ ‘All the better to see you with!’ said the wolf.
‘Granny, what big ears you have!’ ‘All the better to hear you with!’ said the wolf.
‘Granny, what big teeth you have!’ ‘All the better to eat you with!’ shouted the wolf. LRH screamed and screamed.
A woodcutter was in the wood. He heard the loud screams and ran to the house.
With all his might, the woodcutter hit the wolf over the head. The wolf opened his mouth wide and Granny came rolling out, alive once again!!
The wolf ran away and LRH never saw the wolf again.
Let’s see how it resembles the message of the New Testament. The woods Red Riding Hood walked through is life…we know both the beauty and the dangers of life that we all experience. The girl, Red Riding Hood, represents all people, humankind. She, representing us, met evil in the form of wolf. In this story the wolf not only represents evil but also manipulation and cunning. Like most people who want to cause hurt, the wolf made himself appear to be nice and kind. Evil often appears to be loving to woo us to its own terribleness. When the wolf appeared to be kind and interested, he ask the little girl where she was going...she said to her grandmother’s house….of course that means she was going to where she would be safe and loved...an image of our heaven.
The wolf tricked her, as evil does. While the little girl slowly made her way toward her goal...i.e.granny, heaven, safety, the wolf ran quickly. He opened the grandmother’s door, went to her bed, grabbed her and ate her up...clothes and all! He then opened her closet and put on one of her nightgowns and a lacy cap to hide his ugliness. Sometimes wolves show up in sheep’s clothing. Shortly, Red Riding Hood got to the door and went in. She thought she saw the grandmother in the bed and walked toward her saying, I’ve brought you a nice cake.” That statement means we all have something to offer to help reach our goal...whether a daily goal or as an end of life goal.
As the little girl got closer she said, “Grandmother, what big ears you have!” “The better to hear you with,” said the wolf.
“Grandmother, what big eyes you have.” “The better to see you with,” said the wolf.
You see, evil always has a reasonable answer to its plot to hurt you!
"Grandmother, what big teeth you have!” The wolf jumped out of bed and said, “The better to eat you up!” said the cunning wolf as he jumped out of bed and grabbed the girl.
The little girl screamed and screamed. We all call for help when we need it...sometimes quietly and sometimes in dramatic ways.
A woodcutter walking by heard the screams, ran into the house. He grabbed Little Red Riding Hood out of the wolf’s hands, and saved her! Our redeemer! He hit the wolf in the head with his ax so hard the wolf opened his mouth wide and Granny fell out. Good always overcomes evil...ultimately good wins out. LRH was rescued and Grandmother rose from the dead, just as we are taught Jesus rose from death, and we shall do so as well.
The wolf ran off never to bother LRH again. Once we face our savior and realize his saving Grace, then we too eagerly avoid evil and are more aware there are people who want to harm us. We walk a safer, proven path.
That’s the story told in families for hundreds of years to teach children biblical stories about spirituality and morals.
How many grandmothers or parents are still reading this story to their children and explaining it in way that might encourage them to read more about them selves, the woodcutter who saved the child, the grandmother who is heaven, and life!
Amen
Sermon, March 8, 2020
Today let’s think about praise. God asks us to praise Him not because God needs our praises, its because praising God is good for us. It puts life into perspective. When we truly praise God with sincerity, we live in proper order. In other words, true praise keeps our egos in check...it helps us understand we are not THE most important part of the world, though we are important to the world.
Praising through words, thoughts, or songs changes us for the better...it makes us more hopeful. I become a relationship we have with God rather than a ritual. And, it helps us move from words to loving actions. Praising God is to our benefit and encompasses more than us and God, it encompasses all of life.
Here are some examples to consider. When you hear a masterful piece of music, one that is thrilling, that makes you feel something significant, you enjoy that music but you praise the composer who created it. It is that musical creator that gives you the gift of music.
Consider a painting or sculpture that takes your breath away like the statue of David or the Pieta. The statues speak to us, but we praise the creator, in this case Michelangelo. He was the artist who envisioned the magnificence of these two pieces of exquisite art.
When you read a book, or a poem, and are emotionally moved by the story, you are happy to read the piece, but you praise the author. It was the creator of the story who shared his or her self with you through their story telling.
Then consider our world...all the various plants, trees, flowers, vegetables...there are thousands of them for us to enjoy. Look at he variety of animals and creatures who share our environment. Again, there are thousands of different creatures. And then humans. There are billions of us on this planet. Some we love and cherish, some we ignore, and some we don’t even know they exist. However, when we love a human, or an animal, that love strengthens us, gives us peace and comfort, but we don’t praise that person or pet, we praise our God for creating love and people and animals to love.
So when God says he inhabits the praises of his people, he is telling us he is in us, in our thoughts, in our emotions, in our world and he shares all he has and all he has made with us. So to praise God, means we are expressing thanks and gratitude for all the good things about life that we experience. To praise God is being thankful for life itself, for love, compassion, forgiveness, hope, and faith...all the things that add quality to our daily lives.
One of the healthiest things you can do is wake up each morning and first thing, praise God, praise life, praise love before you even rise from sleep. It starts your day off in the right way...because the right way to live any life is to praise the life you have by praising God for it. So, here is something I have learned through 80 years of living...praise God when you are hurt, praise God when you are angry, when the folks around you are screaming and acting out, pause and praise God. When you are driving in traffic and someone cuts you off, praise God. When you are peaceful, happy, or content praise God.
Praising God gives us power we get no other way. And we all need and want personal power to make sense out of this amazing yet often confusing experience of living. There is power in praise.
I have a question for you: Seriously, how often during a day do you praise God, and mean it? If you don’t do so often, perhaps that is the root of any difficulty you may have...because whatever challenge you face in a day, there is always a divine answer to it...and you find the answer through praising God.
Amen
Sermon, March 15, 2020
A New Meaning to An Ancient Meal
You do remember Jesus was a Jewish man. He was born a Jew, worshiped Yahweh as a Jew, was a Jewish rabbi, and later became recognized by some as the Jewish Messiah...or in the Greek language, the Christ.
In Jesus’ life there was one day of great importance...it was the High Holiday of the year. It was a time when the entire nation of Israel remembered that God through Moses brought the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. It was also the time when the Angel of Death passed over every household in Egypt that had sprinkled blood on its doorpost. This remembrance was and is called the Passover.
Even after 4000 years, it is still celebrated in kind every year throughout the world by faithful Jewish people.
At this Passover festive meal, there were five items that had to be served: lamb, unleavened bread, 4 cups of wine, bitter herbs, and apple/cinnamon dip. The wine made in Israel in the first century could be one of 3 different varieties: made from grapes, other fruits, or onions. Yes, onion wine. The alcohol content would be from 10 to 20 percent.
The bitter herbs served were usually romaine lettuce, horseradish, chicory, and radishes...they were dipped in a sweet paste made from fruits and nuts. The Jewish families could add to the menu and if so it would be with apples and boiled eggs. The 4 cups of wine symbolized the 4 promises of Exodus 6: God said I will bring you out from under the burden of the Egyptians, I will free you from their bondage, I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and I will take you to Me for a people. Today, the Jewish nation still considers itself the chosen people, rescued, redeemed, and loved.
The unleavened bread represented the fact that in the exodus the Israelites were in a hurry to cross the river to freedom and did not have time for their bread to rise. In haste they prepared the wheat, dampened it, covered it in cloth and hurried off to cross the river or the Reed Sea to their freedom. Unleavened bread is a clear reminder they are a free people.
And then there was the matter of the lamb. The lamb had to be without spot or blemish. The lamb was brought into the house several days before the Passover meal and in effect it became a pet for the children. Maybe as a child Jesus played with their lamb and maybe even slept with it. Then when the day came for Passover, the father would take the perfect lamb, slit its throat, and roast it. Every morsel was considered sacred.
Decades later, the symbol of the perfect lamb being killed was how the Jews who followed Jesus explained the death of Jesus. Just as the lamb at Passover was killed to nourish the people, so Jesus was killed and then referred to as the lamb of God. His death was a death that nourished and therefore saved God’s people.
Now with all of different food items that were integral parts of the Passover celebration, Jesus chose only two of them for special mention. He chose the unleavened bread and wine to become the meal of the New Covenant he made with his followers. These were the two items that even very poor people would have available, for Jesus never wanted anyone to be left out of any celebration of love and freedom.
He said whenever you are together, share your bread and wine and remember me. I think he meant not just as a rite and a ritual, but at every meal, at every celebration, remember the One, the holy One, who taught us the power of love, the joy of freedom, and the gratitude we should express for our lives in the Spirit of the ever living Christ. Toward this end, let us celebrate communion together.
Jesus broke the bread, gave thanks for it, and served it...this is my body which is given for you. Eat and remember me.
Then he took the wine, gave thanks for it, and served it….this is my blood which is given for you. Drink and remember me.
Let us do so as we share in the communion meal.
Amen
Sermon, March 22, 2020
This week has been particularly hard for people both near to us and people around the world. Close at home we mourn the death of our beloved Drew Allen who has meant so much to us throughout our years at the Nourishing Place and before. We pray and offer our love and support to his wife Nancy, his children Grace, Andrew, and Darby, and his extended family. He will be missed.
Additionally, around the world millions and millions of people are hurting, are ill, are losing jobs or being temporarily laid off, are fearful and many are alone. It is a time where world wide people are experiencing the same hardships, fears, and dismay. How do we successfully and lovingly deal with such a crisis in the world and in our own families and community?
Perhaps our scripture today will give us some spiritual insight. From Matthew 5 we read, “Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come to fulfill them. I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law (and that law is love) until all things have taken place. Therefore I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not see the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to your ancestors ‘you shall not kill, and whoever kills will be liable to judgment’. But I say to you, ‘whoever is angry with his brother will be liable. Be righteous in all things.’
So let’s look at what Jesus means by “righteousness...what is it anyway? According to Biblical scholars, the biblical definition of “righteousness” is ethical conduct. Meaning God acts ethically, or in a right way, always. Righteousness is one of the chief attributes of God. The word righteousness is often used to designate a person’s moral and ethical actions toward others.
Too often we tend to interpret biblical commandments legalistic, in a narrow, legalistic manner. However, according to Jesus, we are to look for the spiritual intent behind commandments that tell people what the law really means. Our Creator God, and our teacher Jesus, tells us to take the basic ideas in the scriptural laws and spread them out beyond the physical words. For example, in scripture today we read “you shall not kill,” but Jesus says whoever is angry with his brother will be liable. Jesus takes, and asks us to take, the idea of not killing someone to the level of not even calling anyone a “fool.” To go even further, Jesus is not just talking about killing a body; he teaches not to kill a person’s spirit through abuse in language or actions.
How many precious young children, just starting out in life, full of positive energy, are by the age of 4 or 5 convinced they are not important because mom or dad or a sibling has repeatedly called them “stupid,” an idiot, or worse. They go to school already emotionally and spiritually diminished...their enthusiasm, their spirit, has been damaged. We must be careful of the words and phrases we use in talking to children and adults...in fact all of our communication with all others should exhibit a respect and love. If we are to do the works of Christ and be his followers, then all our communication with all others must be righteous, moral and ethical.
Today, because of some tiny virus that finds new life in human cells, many people around the world are cut off from friends and family, are lonely, some are angry and hurt...what does our righteousness have to do with hard and difficult times like these? The answer is, no matter what, we as followers of Christ must be righteous...not arrogant, not prideful, not better than anyone else, but morally and ethically responsible for our thoughts, words and actions. Today of all days, we need to be tender, loving, forgiving of each other. We are to be patient when all we hear through the media is that life is terrible and going to get worse. Each time we listen to these threatening words, we feel more anxious and alone. So instead of pondering them, go outside, breathe some fresh air and look to our loving Lord and trust him!
Let us remember, that all through the ages God has found someone, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus to provide for us laws and commandments to obey. And the law is made for our own good. God’s way is all about love for each other...love your neighbors as though they are you. Honor yourself enough to be righteous, morally strong, ethically wise...all of us need to use, practice and exercise these traits especially during these difficult times.
Let’s make it simple. Every time we open our mouths to complain, instead let us look beyond ourselves and bless the world with our own love and righteousness.
All of us sin and fall short of the glory of God. So why do we have these laws, commandments if we are not going to obey them? Because, if we use the sense and wisdom God has given us we know these are the right ways to live because they keep us healthy, safe, and happier than any other way to live. God created us and at the same time gave us the plan and instructions for right way to live. So our task to is examine our own righteousness and see how closely we live according to God’s plan for us. If there are ways to change to be closer aligned to righteousness, may God help us have the strength, wisdom, and desire to make those changes. We need to grow spiritually a bit each day...it keeps life intriguing, fun, healthy, and meaningful….even in the most stressful of all times. So today, trust God, love yourself, and be extra kind to all others.
Amen
Sermon, March 29, 2020
The scripture today is from Philippians 4: 6-7. Paul wrote this letter to the people in Philippi while he was in prison...the prison was dark, damp, rat-infested, and dangerous. The letter Paul wrote in this hideous circumstance is all about joy and thanksgiving to a God of love. Sounds strange, doesn’t it...how can he rejoice while living in this horror of a prison? Perhaps the lesson here for us is we can rejoice in whatever circumstance we are in, because we are a reflection and representative of our God-given role-model for life, Jesus our Christ. So here are the scriptures for today: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and asking with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that passes all human understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Thursday morning I was on my porch, swinging, meditating, and fretting about the sermon for today. I had outlined two or three and none seemed appropriate. So I just sat. Close to noon my phone rang. When I answered it, dear, sweet, loving Mrs. Ruth Irby began singing to me in a beautiful voice. The words she sang were, “The Lord knows his way through the wilderness. All we have to do is follow him! A cloud by the day, a light that lights our way, all you have to do is follow him.” What a blessing that was to me. Ruth ministers to me, as so many of you do, and I am grateful. All ministers need the loving spiritual support from their congregations. I certainly receive these blessings from our church family. Thank you to all of you.
No one can deny these days are full of irritation, inconvenience, fear, and anxiety. We are living in a wilderness because there is very little that is familiar in these days of separation and confusion. But, Ruth is right. The Lord knows his way through the wilderness and all we need to do is follow him. He has even sent to us and the world a role-model who shows us the correct, right, blessed way to live. And that is Jesus.
Yet who knows more about frustration and unfairness than Jesus himself? Jesus, the one who shows the rest of us how to love and forgive, how to be patient, how to care for one another, how to be joyous in all ways, was murdered for a crime he did not commit! Every day he preached and offered love to all people, even the worst of us, but he was cursed, beaten, spat on, and eventually killed. He was able to endure his misery because he had faith, he was willing to be patient, and he knew his mission of love was of vital importance to the entire human race. But most importantly he experienced a moment by moment, loving, grace-filled relationship with is Father, his God. Because of that relationship, he was able to rejoice with his family and friends in spite of every day’s hardships, losses, inconveniences, and a ruling class that wanted him dead! How did he live each day while he was here? He rejoiced. He followed his God. He found joy in the simplest of ideas, of experiences, of interactions with others. He knew joy as the road to peace. God never promised Jesus or us that we would have a life without burdens and difficulty. But God did promise to see us through what ever was dealt to us...if we followed his path of love. God knows his way through the wilderness and he will lead us through ours...if we allow him to do so.
It’s ok for us to have frustration, anger, anxiety...it is how we deal with those feelings that is important. Do you let these feelings linger and simmer into something stronger, like hate? Do they cause you to judge, to belittle, to speak ill of the people or events that create these situations causing grief? Do you harbor grudges? When we choose hurtful words and vengeful thoughts and actions we are harming ourselves not the people or situations that have caused our great inconveniences.
Each one of us can learn to rejoice in all things and praise life and love and hope and faith instead of moping, wailing, complaining, and grieving? Can you find someone to laugh with you? Can you find humor in odd and unexpected situations? Can you manage to see light even in times of darkness? You can do these things when you do them through the Spirit within you...the one God himself places into you...His Spirit. Rely on the God within you rather than on what is outside of you.
This time when thousands are ill, out of work, losing what little savings they may have, rejoice that you have a place to stay, food to eat, clean water to drink, and a God who encourages you to live the better part of who you are every day...but especially during these difficult days of this deadly virus. This too shall pass. In the meantime, may we learn the difference between grace and griping, and choose grace, always. So let it be!
In the name of the Father, the son, the Holy Spirit, go into this week with enthusiasm, with love, kindness and a joyful heart. You can do it. We must do it. Sending love to each of you.
Amen
Sermon, April 5, 2020
Palm Sunday
One week from today we celebrate our faith tradition’s Highest Holy Day…Easter Sunday.
But today is Palm Sunday. This day can be colorful, uplifting, and exciting for us who are believers, who have experienced the saving Grace of Christ. But for Jesus, 2000 years ago, he felt two opposing emotions mixed together. One emotion was a peaceful joy that his mission on earth was coming to an end and he had endured to complete what God had asked him to do. The other emotion was one of intense sadness, that his people, the Jewish people, had for the most part not believed his message of Grace, Goodness, and God-love. When he topped the hill that looked down on Jerusalem, he tucked his feet up under him so he would not fall off the little colt he was riding, and he wept great tears of grief.
Perhaps he wept because he may have thought he failed in his mission to bring all people into the reign and realm of God. Maybe he wept because he knew his earthly life was very soon coming to an end...and he did love to live. But knowing his compassion, he cried for his people, the Jewish people, for not accepting the great peace, comfort, strength, and love Jesus offered them. They seemed to prefer cruel self-centered leaders, pomp, military might, and extravagance at the cost to common people. Jesus cried for the people he loved.
Today, he might still cry over most of us when we do not act on or give to others the powerful, unending love each of us has within to give away...to give generously to friends and enemies alike.
Does your withholding of love for some people cause Jesus to weep for you? That is a question each of us must take time to consider...and change our actions if needed.
We celebrate Palm Sunday as a special day, but do we really know why we do so?
We have heard the story over and over again about Jesus sending two men to find a donkey and the foal of a donkey which would be tethered close by and bring it to him to ride. We also know that as Jesus rode toward Jerusalem his disciples, a few followers, perhaps not as many as he had hoped for, lined his path and put down greenery, palm leaves, and even cloaks to honor him as worthy, a tradition long associated with Jewish heroes. But why did Jesus’ followers reenact this scene?
This is why: They were fulfilling a prophecy found in the Prophet Zechariah’s (9:9) writings that claim one day the Messiah, the savior of the Jewish people, would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey or colt, entering humbly with an offering of eternal peace to all.
The prophecy also told people would lay palm branches and other greenery in the path because a palm branch is a symbol of peace, but more importantly it is a symbol of victory. The people creating this scene knew the prophecy and they were proclaiming it is here, it has come to pass...this is the king, the messiah we have long awaited. And they sang from the Psalms (118:25-26) “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.” Thus Jesus entered Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace, for all of us, yet being recognized as such by only a few.
Here is the rest of that story. Across town Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, was also entering Jerusalem at the command of Rome’s Emperor Tiberius, to keep the peace during the large Passover Festival which was beginning on that very day. Pontius Pilate and his parade of strutting horses ridden by hundreds of mounted soldiers and hundreds of others marching beside him, swords raised in anticipation of a rebellion, entered Jerusalem feeling and acting like they were the victorious ones.
To the dismay of Jesus, thousands of his Jewish people lined the streets cheering Pilate and his military might, singing praises to Rome. By comparison, Jesus’ entry was minor in appearance, yet eternal and truly victorious for us.
We know the glorious end of the story, which event is truly victorious. Yet that story is still a beginning for many new believers. We know what happened just a week after that first Palm Sunday. Jesus was murdered. But the power of his great love, concern, compassion and forgiveness lives on this day for us and in us to honor, cherish and to share.
As this day progresses, let each of us remember Jesus rode a donkey, not a war horse. Peace is still the way he travels and the way he asks us to travel, and to be, every day. Together may we repeat often these words, “Lord, we lift up your name. With hearts full of praise, be exalted, our Lord, Our God! Hosanna in the highest!
Amen
Sermon, April 12, 2020
Easter Sunday
Good morning. It is a great morning, in spite of separation and isolation, because today is Easter Day, Resurrection Day. Today is a reminder that God is real; God is eternal; God is present. We live and breathe because God lives. Although Easter is celebrated by families, churches, cathedrals all around the world, in the final analysis, Easter is always personal!
We become resurrection people, Easter people, when you and I as individuals realize we are on this earth to live for the Jesus of long ago. We, as believing humans, keep Jesus the Christ and his Spirit alive by acting on his wisdom and living his way every day. When we place love above all other priorities we extend resurrection moments to those who are near to us, who witness our words and actions. When we live the power of a resurrected life there is no more darkness of depression or despair, no more sin of hating or belittling other humans, no more desire to be anything other than who we are with our own God-given skills, talents, knowledge, and attitudes. Because of the Christ faith in us, we can live our own resurrection. By so doing we have unending freedom to trust our God with every single person and thing we hold dear. That complete trust in our loving, capable God takes away our fears, our anxieties, and gives us peace, joy, compassion, and life eternal.
We are Easter people, people of the on-going, never ending resurrection. Because of the resurrection of Christ, God tells us we too can arise from the dark of night into the light each morning and can choose to live anew with a commitment to faith, hope and love. We are asked by the guiding Holy Spirit within us to acknowledge all life as sacred, all people as worthy of love. As Easter people we change, we grow in spirit daily, when we choose to live the path that Jesus himself walked every day. As Easter people we are the dams that keep evil confined and diminished. We, those committed to a Christian life, are probably the only dams that keep evil confined.
It is an honor that God chose our brand of life, humanity, as the way to live out His dream of ultimate reality...that each one of us will know and acknowledge that we are not God but God is the core of our being!
We know the eternal God, the Creator and Master of the vast universe, created our planet, and perhaps others as well, to be self-sustaining. Yet in His wisdom, He provided for us a sustaining Guide which is the ever-present Spirit of the Christ. Therefore, we are how God lives among us today because we are his eyes, his hands, his feet, and his serving attitude. We are Easter….and it is my prayer that we take that image to heart and live it fully for as long as we have left on this side of the eternal.
May your Easter be a re-newel of faith and a re-commitment to serving our God as a first priority in your own life. I pray that will be so.
Blessings, good will, and love to each of you.
Amen
Sermon, April 19, 2020
Matthew 25:34-40
The lesson today is one that many of us do not like to consider, or take seriously, but it is the essence of our Christian faith. That lesson is Jesus is in us, and is present in our neighbors, the people we see in grocery stores and even in liquor stores, people we consider different, strange, unclean, or forgotten. Jesus said in our scripture today, “what ever we do to others we do to him.”
In her acceptance speech after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, Mother Teresa said “It is not enough for us to say, ‘I love God, but not my neighbor. How can we say we love God whom we do not see if you do not love others whom you do see, touch and with whom you live?” After several moments she continued, “If now we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten how to see God in one another. If each person saw God in his neighbor, do you think we would need guns and bombs?” Great and thought provoking statements. Do you see Jesus in others? This idea came to me in real life when I was about 12 or 13 years old.
I went with some other young people from my church to Ridge-crest. That is a Baptist Conference Center in the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina. I had never been away for a week with out my parents, so I was a bit anxious about the experience. But the mountains thrilled me...the cool weather, the rocky outcroppings we could sit on to see the horizon were new adventures for me and I was enthralled. However, once we went back inside the buildings, we had to attend classes to learn more about The Bible, Jesus and God, and our church theology. During one session, trying to make the lesson relative, our teacher asked each of us to name our favorite movie star. There were only girls in the class because at that time girls and boys were kept separate every minute of the whole week. So one girl blurted out “I like Bobby Driscoll, he’s starring in Treasure Island.” Another girl said, “I just love Brandon deWilde . He is in the movie “Shane!” When the teacher asked me I said, “Gene Autry!” Everybody laughed. One girl asked, “What in the world do you like about that old man?”
I was embarrassed and blushed a brilliant red. But I stood firm. I liked Gene Autry. When the laughter stopped, the teacher said, “Tell us why you selected him as your favorite.”
“Ok, I said, “I like him because he’s really nice to children and old people. He is never mean to people different from him. He helps people who are in trouble. And I think if I knew him he would be nice to me, too.”
The teacher paused for a minute then said, “Those are the same traits Jesus has. Why didn’t you name Jesus?
I said, “Jesus is not a movie star...that’s who you told us to select.”
“Yes, you are right. I did specify movie star. But we need to think about who we see Jesus in, because even though he is a risen Christ and is alive around the world, we see him most often in other people who choose to act on the teachings of Jesus.” She was a wise teacher.
Even today, we know Jesus is real, is alive, is active because he lives in, through and by those who honor, follow, and worship him. If you are one of those, then you have a responsibility to be sure that what you say and do reflects Jesus and not some lesser ideal. That is a responsibility we agree to take on when we proclaim to be Christians. And what the world needs today are Christians who are happy, healthy, who seek wisdom, and who follow the steps of Christ himself. The rewards are great because we feel good, we experience love, we know joy and peace...these are the gifts we receive when we believe that Jesus is the Christ and we choose to reflect him and his teachings in our own lives every day.
Some of us need to think in a revised, new way. We need to allow the mind of Christ to merge with our minds and lead us into new directions...in both thinking and acting.
God calls us into action, and the question we have to answer is: am I ready to serve Him as a first priority?
How you answer that question determines the quality of your life. Choose wisely and you will be guided every step of the way.
Amen
Sermon, April 26, 2020
Courage
Today I want to talk about the man Jesus...the mid-eastern, Jewish man...the one our faith is founded on. Sometimes, the image we have of a person, the image of his physical being, determines how much faith we can place in the stories about him and his life. When I see artists’ renditions of Jesus, the images that were painted or sculpted years after his death, I am a bit disheartened. It seems the Greeks and Romans re-envisioned Jesus. Archaeologists tell us as a Galilean Jewish man, Jesus was about 5’5” tall, had a sun-tanned complection, black curly hair and brown eyes. He was a bold, compact, muscular carpenter/stone mason. But the Greeks and Romans made him look like their own gods to meet their political/religious needs. They chose to depict Jesus as a tall, slender, pale-faced, blue-eyed man with long lanky hair. The Europeans re-created Jesus into a somewhat weakened version of the original Jesus.
The original Jewish Jesus could walk miles in a day and sleep on a hillside under the moon. He was loud-spoken so hundreds of folks on a mountain side could hear him. Or he could stand in a boat and preach to folks on shore and they could hear him. He spoke bravely and boldly about his God and the sheer earth-shaking power behind that God. This original Jesus convinced people everywhere that God was strength itself and love took a person of courage and confidence to express it and pass it on. Jesus was no weak, effeminate man. He was fearless. He touched lepers, those people no one else would go near. He met frightened rulers in the middle of the night to help them find peace. He spoke the truth about the God of the Universe who created each one of us in his image. Jesus was a rebel, he ignored his own faith’s dogma and strictness to set people free to be, to love, to grow in spirit and to do remarkable things under the guidance of God’s own Majestic Spirit.
Jesus was a brave, courageous, un-self-conscious man. He had no certificates of learning, no money or wealth, no political power, yet he defied the ruling classes and yes, the Roman occupiers and the Jewish priests murdered him on a cross for their own benefit, greed, and power.
But a strange thing occurred. Everywhere Jesus and his disciples went, grass roots swell of love began to infect the people he talked to, healed, encouraged, and embraced. One to one they told each other Jesus’ God is a God of loving power, life-altering power, not a vindictive, revengeful God. And these people, who had been oppressed for years and years, responded with awe, with a joy almost unbelievable. Person to person, tribe to tribe, people were shown unconditional love. They were introduced to forgiveness and redemption, they were offered grace. What the ruling class of people did not do and could not do, the masses of ordinary people who had no other power than that of friendship, courage, and inspiration did do and it has lasted for over 2000 years. The regular citizens began to care for one another and show it as never before. They began to see and know their God as the center of the world. He was approachable, willing to listen and to make a difference in their lives...lives that had been down trodden for centuries. Imagine the excitement they felt, the encouragement they experienced!
Just what kind of courage did it take to stand up to people with far more political and military power than Jesus ever had? It was confidence in his God, his spiritual Father, that strengthened and sustained
him. He persevered in the face of adversity. He did not back down. He stood firm on what he knew was right. It also meant he endured suffering, but he did so with dignity, faith, and forgiveness.
How did Jesus, or how do any of us, receive that kind of confidence, that kind of personal power? The answer is through his and our relationship with the God who made us, the God of love and peace, even in the midst of chaos. We know, and we ought to use more often, this truth: God has given each of us not a spirit of fear, but of love, and power and a sound mind! Where is our boldness? Where is our courage to speak out, to love those who seem to be unlovable, and to forgive the worst in us all?
In spite of knowing what his fate would be, death by crucifixion, Jesus continued to do as God asked him. He was rebelliously bold as he exposed the religious leaders of the day for misleading people with false teachings. He stood firm against the worlds’ contaminating influence. He continued to teach love and redemption despite pressure from all who opposed him, even those who tried often to kill him before his time came. Even after is arrest, when lies were told about him, when he was beaten, when his best friends betrayed him, he maintained his faith and his dignity. While he was being murdered, in the act of being killed, he showed his remarkable love for others by asking John to take care of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Even his last breath was one of triumph! Jesus is the boldest, strongest, bravest, fiercest, kindest change-agent who has ever lived. That is the Jesus I know, honor, worship, and talk to. No weak, watered down Jesus for me.
We as Christians need to keep before us this true image of Jesus. That image of courage and strength in the face of chaos and crisis needs to be our guide every day. That image needs to encourage us to do the right thing for the right reason. Today of all days, this time in history, we must act on a strong, brave commitment to serve one another with tough love and complete forgiveness. That is our job, our spiritual calling, today. We must say YES to God and do his work whether we want to our not. Our future depends on our courageous faith, loving actions and our confidence on God’s benevolence. We must imitate the same boldness Jesus lived every day of his earthly life. It’s because of his earthly faith, strength, and boldness that we now have access to his powerful risen Spirit that abides in us, awaiting our actions.
We must stand together as a people who believe in a better way of life, a way of love, of grace, of Christ like living, of spiritual courage. That life is one of boldness under-girded by unconditional love. Let us commit and live into the knowledge that God’s way is the best and only way to live, the only way to live every day. Can we become bolder Christians? Please, can we do it?
Will you do it?
Amen
Sermon, May 3, 2020
As Christian believers, people who follow Jesus and his messages, we need to know more and more about Jesus. Who he was, what calling he had, and what he actually did on a day to day basis. Toward that end, let’s talk about one aspect of the earthly life of Jesus...Jesus as a prophet.
Recently, someone asked me, was Jesus a priest? During his earthly life Jesus was not known as a priest. After his death the writers of the New Testament did call him the High Priest, the one we pray to. He was not known as a priest here on earth because priests had very specific tasks.
Their duties were always the same because everything was written down in the law. Jewish priests worked primarily to preserve the Jewish past, to keep its history unchanged. They were the chosen people and so they must not become different from who they were. Priests dealt with rites and rituals such as animal sacrifices, offerings for the temple coffers, provided readings and discussions in the temple, and services based on The Law, what we would call doctrine. Priests were provided payment for the rituals and services. A priest’s job was to represent Israel and the Jewish people to God.
Jesus was not a priest. Jesus’ task was to be a rabbi, a teacher, and a prophet.
In Israel, to be a prophet was a difficult, demanding job. A prophet may never know what he is called to do from one day to the next. Every day could be different and he did not have a prescribed text to refer to like the priests did. The prophets worked to change the present by changing hearts and attitudes. Prophets usually addressed an entire nation and was the conscience of that nation and the nation’s leaders. The leaders did not want to hear what a prophet told them because they did not want to change! Also, prophets had no guarantee of of income. They relied on friends, disciples, and others who saw the need for their words and at times offered food and housing to the prophet. A prophet’s job was to represent God to Jewish people. Let’s look at a few of the Old Testament prophets.
Some of the strangest, craziest characters in the Bible are the Old Testament Prophets. For example, God told Isaiah to strip off all his clothing and take off his shoes and walk around the town naked for 3 years.
Jeremiah hid his underwear in a rock and did not go get them back for along long time. Jeremiah also wore a cattle yoke he had fastened o his shoulders until another prophet broke it off of him.
Then there was Hosea. He was asked to marry a prostitute and to name their daughter Lo-ruhama, which means “unloved.”
There was Jonah who disobeyed God and ended up in the stomach of a whale until the whale vomitted him out.
The weirdest one seems to be Ezekiel. God told Ezekiel to cook bread on the street in front of the public gathering and to use cow manure as the fuel. Even though Ezekiel was to speak for God, God made him mute. So he took a clay tablet and drew a picture of Jerusalem being attacked. Then he lay down on his right side with an iron pan separating him from his clay art. He laid that way for 390 days, then turned over onto his left side and stayed that way again for 390 days.
These men were chosen by God to be His prophets...his conscience to the people. Their strange actions were symbolic acts that illustrated divine messages. For example, Isaiah being naked symbolized the future when Egypt and Ethiopia were conquered by Assyria...all those people would have nothing and therefore be naked. It was God’s warning to his people.
Jeremiah’s yoke symbolized the Jews eventually being conquered by Babylon and being their slaves. Ezekiel cooking bread over cow manure illustrated the fact that the Jews in exile would have to eat unclean food...which was a forbidden act for all Jewish people.
Hosea’s marrying a prostitute illustrated God’s forgiveness of all sinners.
Jesus as a prophet also did some very strange things...things not seen before. His actions were bizarre and confusing to the social standards of his day. He promised to rebuild the temple in 3 days, he enjoyed dining with tax collectors and prostitutes, he drove demons into a huge herd of swine, he healed a blind man by rubbing mud on his eyes, and he walked on water, just to name a few strange acts.
Each day, Jesus moved from place to place, and he spoke to large groups of people encouraging them to have a change of heart, to repent and do the right thing. If you read the stories about Jesus you will begin to see that many, maybe most, people rejected his message because they, like their leaders, did not want to change. But Jesus as a prophet continued his work because he was ordained and authorized to speak for God and declare God’s word to the people. Jesus represented God to the people of Israel.
Today, when some people hear the word prophet, they seem to think prophets told fortunes or were future tellers. In biblical times, and probably now, that is not so. A prophet often would speak about a present or current situation that might have an impact on the future….such as if you do not change your ways, results will not change. To change your future life, you must change your present one.
Today, none of us are priests or prophets...however, as people of faith, God does call us to do specific, very essential actions for him. We are to stand on our faith, face any moment and any challenge, with full knowledge and assurance that if we obey, God will be with us, putting words in our mouths, strengthening our resolve, and giving us the wherewithal to be his servants for the benefit of his people. That is a calling every Christian shares. No one is left out. The only questions are: will you listen to what the Spirit of God is encouraging you to do, and then will you do it?
If we all answer “yes!” and do the God-given assignments to love unconditionally, to forgive all, and to have compassion, and do so without excuses, we would experience a different world. A world full of love, peace, joy, and hope
Don’t be a faith drop-out. If you believe, turn your beliefs into action. God is calling you by name today. Will you say “yes?” I pray so.
Amen
Sermon, May 10, 2020
Mothers’ Day
Today I want to discuss mothers and trust. Sometimes, they are one and the same.
Today is Mothers’ Day when we honor and pay tribute to the courageous, un-selfish mothers who raised us to be sane, caring, and faithful people. But are we? Did the “raising”, the “rearing” take? I think most of us are a bit rational, sane, and do care about someone or something, but are we faithful? Faithful to God? To our families? To our church? To be faithful in any way requires trust.
Since to be human is to be in relationships, then all relationships that have meaning must have trust. We first, very early in life, learn trust from our mothers, and that leads to trust in God.
So, how are mothers sometimes like God?
Mothers and God are consistent. If they love you they always will. You can count on that fact.
hey both have compassion for others, and live it.
They both respect boundaries: in other words your mother gave you boundaries for your own safety, “Hey you, stay out of the street a car is coming!” and God gives you boundaries because God will not force you to love him. He wants you to choose to love him.
Mothers and God are respectful and expect respect in return
Mothers and God are grateful and are pleased when we are grateful too
At some time you learn you can not truly love with out trust. Any relationship you have that is not built on a secure foundation of faith/trust, that relationship will break. Trust is paramount in being effective, loving humans, because relationships are at the very core of our human existence. Nearly every drama, every song, every story is about our deepest needs, our deepest longings, our human struggles, our pain at loss. But relationships are also the source of our joy, peace, and excitement about living. In fact our being human is found in relationships.
The issue of relationships comes back to what most mothers teach their children about trust. Can you remember your mother saying, “ How can I trust you if you are not honest? How can I trust you if you don’t do what you say you will do? How can I trust you to have a healthy relationship if you don’t treat your friends with affection and respect?”
God asks us the same thing. How can he trust us to be faithful if we do things that are not kind, loving, compassionate, forgiving? Those are actions God trusts us to do everyday, in every encounter, and in every relationship. Just how trustworthy does God see you to be? And how trustworthy do you find God to be?
In spite of all the false teachings we listen to, in spite of all the popular slogans, and cheap sound bites, if we want personal peace, joy, meaningful relationships, then we must trust God first and foremost, wholeheartedly, always, and to trust him with our lives and the lives of those we love the most. Trusting God means obeying what he teaches us, which is this:... what you give out to life and to others is what you will receive.
You want love? Then act lovingly. You want joy in your life? Offer joy to others. You want a personal relationship with God, then trust God because you matter to God, you belong to God, and God wants what is best for you.
But do you want what is best for you? Do you really want it or your afraid God may ask you to do something you really don’t want to do? Are your relationships with God and with others meaningful enough to carry you through the best of times and the absolute worst of times?
If not, perhaps you have trust issues you might need to admit and begin to re-build into your own life more trust, more faith….what have you got to lose by doing both?
And while you are at it, remember this truth: We all belong to God. But we all also belong to each other.
So today, let us make a renewed and spiritual effort to trust God absolutely in every way. God does know best!
Amen
May 17, 2020
Sermon on Prayer
Romans 12:12
Today what the world needs, what our nation and community need, and what we need is prayer...effective, honest prayer that is an on-going conversation with our God through Christ Jesus.
The urgency to connect or re-connect to God is greater today than ever before. To talk to God about our fears and our faith, is our only hope for a come-together, non-divisive country where political parties will work harmoniously together for the good of us all, and where people will put their belief in the power of a loving God into daily action in their own lives.
Many of us say a brief prayer in the morning and maybe another at night. But is that prayer? Is that effective prayer?
Let me ask this. I suppose most of you have had or now have a best friend. Someone you are comfortable with. Someone you can trust your secrets to and also someone who laughs with you. When you have access to that person do you just offer one sentence when you meet up and then say a nice good-bye? What about all the time in between those two bookends? Don’t you talk freely, sometimes with tears sometimes with laughter?
So how is it you are more at ease with a best friend than you are with God who nourished you in warm comfort to bring you safely to earth, who made you with love, and who created you with hope and unending possibilities? Perhaps we need to rethink what prayer is.
Here is one way to look at prayer that is effective: Prayer doesn’t only happened when we kneel or put our hands together, ask and expect things from God. Thinking positive and wishing good for others is a prayer. Your good intentions, whether you act on them at the time or not, is prayer. When you hug a friend, that’s a prayer. When you cook something to nourish family and friends. That’s a prayer. When we send of our near and dear ones and say “drive safely, or be safe,” that’s a prayer. When you help someone in need by giving your time and energy, that’s a prayer. When you forgive someone that is prayer. Prayer is a vibration, a feeling, a thought. Prayer is the voice of love, friendship, genuine relationships. Prayer is an expression of who you are and what you do.
In reality, prayer is doing, is love in action. Prayer is the way you live.
When Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer and made the statement, to God “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” he stated a profound but misunderstood statement that tells us who we are and how we are to live. He told his disciples and us that to live in God’s kingdom is here on earth, now, present tense. It is how we live and how we treat ourselves and others every day that creates heaven for us, because then we live in the presence of the risen Christ spirit in all its power and glory.
But who today believes that and lives by it?
Most people seem to think heaven, or hell, begins the moment we die. That is not what God, Christ, or the scriptures teach us. For most modern Christians, the idea of “going to heaven” is a key belief. But early Christians had very different ideas on the subject. They believed that by the resurrection of Jesus heaven had arrived on earth. N.T. Wright teaches that later, from the third century on, some Christian teachers tried to blend this belief of where heaven is and when it occurs with the Platonic belief that we leave earth to go to heaven. That thought became mainstream by the Middle ages and lives today in some denominations. But Jesus and his followers never considered that view point. The very early Christians did not believe they would go to heaven when they died, but that in Jesus, God had come to live with them on earth. That was the view which they saw as the hope of the world.
In contrast, if the only point of belief is to save souls from the wreck of the world so you can leave earth and go to heaven, why bother to make the world a better place? Great question. We must attempt to make it better because here and now is where Jesus lives, as well as in the beyond! Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we are to make the world a better place by prayerful action, to love and forgive beyond measure, and to know that we will forever, beginning now, be in the presence of the living Christ who loves us and is here, now, today, and forever.
That is the heaven Jesus taught. That is the heaven we pray for. That is the heaven we can live in with Jesus. That is the heaven the Risen Christ Spirit offers us...to be with him.
Once we realize and live in that Presence, then we do not concern ourselves of our after life. What ever it may be, we are certain we will still be living in the Presence of our God and our Lord.
Pray and know! Pray and trust! Pray and be assured. Life now and life later is all God. When you fully grasp this mystical knowledge then you will know it is enough.
Amen
Sermon: May 24, 2020
Faith
This morning I want us to think about faith, faith especially when our world seems confusing and often chaotic.
We are living in changing times. We are living in a technological age where people beyond our kin make decisions we all must live by. Technology makes it easy to order groceries and any other items we might need; it can entertain us and keep us in touch with family and friends with no effort to write letters. It allows us to keep in touch by having church services and Bible Study on line. A lot of good comes from technology. However, there are many different forces that try to influence us to think and live as they want us to do. This is especially true of politicians and folks in high offices. Because of these constant influences, our world can be very dangerous.
Today might be a good day to re-look at the words of Paul from Ephesians 4:14, “do not be tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” In other words we need a true sense of stability to counteract all the rapid changes we are required to meet. As Christians, that stability only comes from a strong faith in our living, loving God through Christ, the Lord.
Faith is present tense; it is now; it is this minute, then the next minute, then the next one. We can only live one moment at a time. You use the faith you have now, not tomorrow. The faith you may have in two weeks or two years does not help you face the challenge you have this moment. Only practical faith in the now is reliable.
Faith means standing firm in your allegiance to someone or something that has great meaning to you. In our Christian life, that meaning is God as represented by the risen Christ Spirit. All faith is true faith only when there is evidence of it. The evidence of faith is obedience. Do you obey the teachings found in scripture? Do you obey the principles that Jesus lived? Do you abide by the 10 commandments? Just how obedient are you? How you answer that tells you how much faith you have and how faithful you are in your daily walk. I have had several people tell me they live by faith in God. On some occasions those people might drink too much alcohol which changes their behavior, or they may have verbally abused their family, or they take the Lord’s name in vain so very casually. Would you say a people like that are people of faith? Well, we are not to judge because God still loves sinners and hopes they change their ways. We don’t judge but out of kindness and concern we pray for those people to look more closely at their own faith walk. We pray instead of judge...that is also a show of faith.
Faith without obedience has no power to change lives, to alter attitudes, or to risk doing what is right but unpopular. Having said that, perhaps today is the day to rate our own level of faith by seriously examining our obedience to God and his way of living. A faith built on obedience can move mountains, can conquer doubt, can find peace in the midst of chaos, can provide patience in these unsettling times. There is a lot of talk in scripture about faith, but when we teach about faith we often leave out the tough part...the obedience part which is absolutely essential to be a faithful person. Please take some quiet time today and think about obedience in your own life. Who do you obey more often, God or your own desires? Great question. Answer it honestly and see if there is room for deep, abiding spiritual growth by being more obedient to your God who redeems and loves you.
We give thanks to the God who made us, and praise God for adding the great and awesome gift of faith. I pray we have the wisdom to use faith every day to the glory of God and our own sense of well-being.
Amen
Sermon, May 31, 2020
Hope
The Bible teaches a great deal about Hope. Here are several verses to read and remember:
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Psalms 146:5 “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”
Proverbs 23:18 “Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”
Colossians 1: 27 “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Having read those powerful scriptures we must realize there are in reality two kinds of hope: Christian hope and Non-Christian Hope. Non-Christian hope is fearful, uncertain, and is more like a wish than a hope. Examples of Non-Christian hope are: “Oh, I hope I don’t wreck my new car!” Or, “I hope I don’t get the Covid-19 virus.” Or, “I hope I can soon go back to the casinos and try to win a jackpot!” These kinds of hope are actually wishes, gambles, un-grounded.
In contrast, Christian hope is based on certainty. Christian hope is grounded on our accepting God’s word, knowing Jesus is the anointed one God sent to teach us how to live like him. Christian hope believes the promises God made to all of us such as the Christ Spirit is resurrected, raised from the dead, and set loose to embrace the people of the world and fill them with love, compassion, and forgiveness. Real power resides in the certain hope that God is with us and lives through us to do His good will. Christian hope is an anchor for our soul. It is firm and secure.
Here are some examples of Christian hope: This certain, Christian hope gives us a more positive approach to daily life and keeps us from seeing events and happenings in the negative. It keeps us from a “disaster” mentality, which harms us all. Christian hope helps us see disappointments as opportunities for growth, stepping stones, rather than the end of something. Christian hope counteracts fear, and gives us boldness. Christian hope keeps us from being depressed; we can envision a future that is good, healthy, and wholesome. Scripture assures us of this in the verse from Jeremiah: “God has a plan for you, a plan to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Certain hope keeps us reaching out in love and patience with others. And, it helps to keep a keen sense of humor...which we all need more of! We can readily see hope is a valuable asset for us to have and to use.
Christian hope is vital today probably more than ever before. We are all facing questions about the stability of life, our country, our way of governing, our relationships with other countries and countless other unknowns. However, when in doubt we can rely on the words of the old hymn The Anchor Holds. “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, when the clouds unfold their wings of strife? When the tides lift and the cables strain, will your anchor drift, or firmly remain?’
Our Christian hope is a certainty that no matter what befalls us, what problems we face, what unknowns threaten us, God is with us and we have access to his majestic loving grace and strength in every situation and circumstance. We do have to reach out to God and ask for these blessings, then we receive them.
Let us remember hope is infectious and healing. When we feel the world and our lives are dark and fearful, use that marvelous brain God gave you and trade those negative feelings for feelings of peace that come only from reaching out to the God who loves and cherishes you. Instead of fear you will receive peace in the midst of turmoil. His hope will give you courage and boldness. This kind of hope will provide endurance and patience and can give you confidence in the face of doubt.
Each day, morning, noon, and night offer a prayer of thanks to God who made us, and praise God for adding the great and awesome gift of hope to us, as humans made in His likeness. I pray we will have the wisdom to use hope every day to counteract all the negatives in our paths, and also to the glory of God.
Amen
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Gratitude
Two weeks ago we talked about faith. Last week we focused on hope. Today I want us to concentrate on gratitude. These are three of the important gifts God built into us when we were created. He gave them to us to use in abundance. But, alas, I fear many of us don’t use them nearly enough to keep us healthy and balanced.
Take gratitude. Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. An important quality of gratitude that you may or may not know is this: gratitude can affect your emotions and your health. In contrast negative emotions such as fear, complaints, criticisms, gripes all zap your mental and spiritual energy and can lead to health problems.
It is vitally important to recognize your thoughts and your words, and be aware of their impact on your body, behavior, attitudes, and relationships.
So, let me ask you a question. During the past 24 hours were the words you spoke more often words of complaint or words of gratitude? If you said honestly that you offer gratitude and thanksgiving more than negative thoughts and words you are a unique individual. But, the facts are that many human beings operate in a deficient mode most of the time, because their primary words, attitudes, and thoughts are negative.
Negative words and attitudes create chronic stress, which upsets your body’s hormone balance, depletes the brain chemicals necessary for happiness, and damages the immune system. Chronic stress can decrease our lifespan. Anger, expressed or unexpressed, is related to high blood pressure, heart disease, and digestive disorders.
The cure for those negative words and attitudes is to increase your positivity and your gratitude. The scientist Barbara Fredrickson writes: “In order to offset negativity and experience a harmonious emotional state, we need three positive emotions for every negative one. Positive words, attitudes, and emotions can reverse the physical effects of negativity and build up resources that contribute to a flourishing, abundant life.
Brene Brown, the author of a number of books and articles on the subject of gratitude, teaches that there is a relationship between joy and gratitude. However, she shares a surprising twist. “It is not joy that makes us grateful, rather it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” How many of you truly want to feel better and be happier? Than listen to this: people who express thanks are usually healthier and happier than those who focus on the ‘poor me” attitudes, or the feelings of hopelessness.
People who live and express gratitude are more able to handle grief and frustration without falling apart. Through gratitude, some people are able to see challenging times with optimism and hope, knowing that their dilemmas will lead to personal growth and an expanded outlook on life.
Our Bible began teaching these important aspects of our humanity thousands of years ago.. But have we learned them? In the book of First Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul says, “Rejoice always, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
In Ephesians we learn, “Make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, (Eph. 5: 19-20). In the Psalms we read, we are to “Praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.” And, “Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his love endures forever.” Not that God needs our thanks and gratitude but he knows we need to feel and express gratitude for our own good and sense of well being.
People who are grateful, who give thanks and gratitude for life, for love, for God, for blessings live happier, healthier lives. Many people spend hours in exercise, at gyms, they run, walk, eat right and all of that is good for us and does give us good physical health. But we need spiritual health even more than we need physical health...because one day our body will die, but our spirit never will. It behooves us to keep our spiritual lives growing in strength, peace, and joy so we too can help God co-create our world now and in the life to come.
Let us be good to ourselves and reverse the trend. Rather than having to have 3 positives to overcome one negative, let’s just commit to be more positive all the time, then maybe we will experience a reduction in the negative aspects of our own lives. We will no longer be living in a state of distrust, dis-ease, debilitation, or deficiency. Be aware of the moments you offer gratitude. Intentionally give thanks more often, praise God with gratitude more every day and experience your self feeling better, sleeping better, being more joyous more often. Take the time to make gratitude a large part of your every day experience….you will not only make yourself happier….you will certainly make the people who live with you happier as well. Develop that attitude of gratitude... Its worth it. Let’s do it together and learn to be energized people of faith, hope, and gratitude. It will please God, and I think it will please us as well.
Amen
Sermon, June 14, 2020
Let’s talk for a minute about what it means to be holy. Holy and holiness are mentioned more than 900 times in the Bible. The Hebrew word for “holy” is Qodesh pronounced “Kaw-doshe’. It literally means “set apart.” The book of Leviticus tells us among God’s characteristics none is more important than his holiness.
And the book of Ephesians tells us the Christ not only saves us from sin and error, he saves so that we might become holy (1: 3-4)
For example, the in the 10 Commandments we are told to keep the Sabbath holy...that is to keep it apart, separate from the other days of the week. It is a special day for rest, for worship, for contemplation, for family and friends. It is not a day for business, commerce, sports, or yard work! It is a day set apart so we would have time without distractions to commune with our God.
God is holy because God, too, is set apart from all else. There is no one, no thing, no entity like God. God is unique. God is set apart. Yet, He imparts to his universe, including use, His spirit as a way of connecting to us. We are not God, but God is in us.
Because God’s spirit is in us, it is the very breath we breathe, God asks us to be holy. He asks us to live in the world but to be apart from the world in the way we behave, act, and share with love being the basis of our lives. He asks us to be unselfish, to consider others, all others, as holy too. That is a huge stepping stone for most of us. How in the world are we to see holiness in others when they kill, steal, lie, cheat, berate others? The answer is to understand they are not their behavior...within them is the God waiting to be let out in their thoughts, words and actions. That’s why we are not to criticize others because there is always hope they will see the light, change their ways, and live into the holiness just waiting for their recognition.
God through Christ asks us to not heed the wooing of the world, rather allow the word of God to woo us. Now, admittedly, that does not sound like fun to most of us. And, we are all about fun. But let me remind us all of something: God is the God of joy. God is the God of fun, and funny, and hilarity. He has to be or he could not have created a duckbilled platypus, a giraffe, an octopus, a monkey, or us humans, the glory, jest, and riddle of the world, unless he was a God of good humor. But, according to his plan, the way to have a fun life is the path toward holiness. Believe it or not, to be purer in thought is good mental health, to be forgiving of others makes us like ourselves more, to offer love to the unlovely helps us recognize kindness in all its human power! Holiness is not arrogance, it is not pride, it is not an attitude of “I’m better than you are”….not at all. Holiness is a recognition of your true nature, the real you under all the misconceptions and misdeeds by which we seem to live.
So, if you want to be real. If you want to feel a genuine sense of self worth and love, if you want to experience true joy and peace and happiness, then seek the path of holiness to become more like our Lord Jesus, who gave it all up so that we might learn who we are through his grace and goodness.
Having said all that, let’s assume you are willing to walk a path toward being holy. Here are a few things to consider: make a commitment to intend to be more Christlike to self and others; ask for the Holy Spirit to be more apparent to you in your own life... that is ask and you will receive; be willing to review the 10 Commandments and the sermon on the mount in Matthew Chapter 5 and ask for help in living by those holy laws; recognize that Jesus is far far more than just a moral teacher...he is a teacher of eternal gifts beginning with your own thoughts and behavior; then be kind to yourself. God does not expect perfection, but God would like improvement...in all our lives.
So, maybe this week you can re-think what being holy is all about...think of it in its broadest sense...and realize the personal power, confidence, worth, and fun you will have in your own life when you walk hand in hand with the Christ Spirit within you as you seek to become more holy, more like Jesus himself.
Have fun with this...and in the process grow enormously in spirit!
Amen
Sunday June 21, 2020
Father's Day
Today is Father’s Day. I commend all men who act as fathers whether or not they have children. I remember growing up on Camp Avenue. We were a close-knit neighborhood...my friends’ fathers corrected, praised, scolded, and loved each of us no matter to whom we belonged. And, even the men who had no children participated in our upbringing. We were blessed children to have that kind of attention all through our formative years. Unfortunately, thousands of children in our community did not have that. It saddens me to think of it.
But let’s move on to something joyous for a minute. I like men. I have known a lot of them, I have married a few of them, and I have many as cherished friends today. But I have to admit, men are different in many ways from the women and ladies I know, or have known. For one thing, our brains don’t function alike, and our language is different. We females use language of nesters, while males use language of outer ideas. For example: men don’t always say what they mean.
When a man says, “Take a break Honey, you are working too hard.” What he means is, “Stop, I can’t hear the game over your vacuum cleaner.”
When a man says, “”That’s interesting, dear.” He means, “Why are you still talking?”
One more: When a man says, “I don’t remember saying that”, he means “Anything I may have said 6 months ago is not admissible in any argument. In fact, all past comments become null and void after 7 days.” Can any of you relate to those male rationalizations?
I know there are just as many confusing comments for men coming from women...but that’s for another day. Today, I want to talk about courage.
Over the last few weeks we looked at faith, hope, holiness, and today courage. When I think of courage, for some reason my mind moves immediately to men who are courageous. I know women are too, and I have known some very brave females...but I seem instinctively to see men as a synonym for courage. I suppose because most of my early education at home, school, and church involved biblical stories of the iconic heroes...who were primarily men. Noah, Abraham, Joseph, King David and certainly Jesus, just to name a few. What is amazing about these stories in each case God asked these men to go, and to do, and usually with no destination nor directions given. Look at Noah. He was told to build an ark but not why. At the risk of being made a fool of by his neighbors, Noah did as he was told. He had enough faith in his God, whoever that was, that he believed and obeyed. His courage to act in spite of years of criticism caused him to became the first savior of the human race.
Then there was courageous Abraham. He and his family had lived in Haran all of their lives. They had a home, animals, an extended family...but no children of their own. Evidently like Abraham’s father, they probably worshiped idols as gods and goddesses. Yet, the unknown God told Abraham to move but did not tell him where to go. God said “Walk and I’ll tell you when to stop.” Can you imagine what Abraham’s wife Sarai thought about that? “Move? where, why, when?” And Abraham answered “don’t know where, don’t know why, but the time is today!” And off they went. Because of their faith overcoming their fear, and their courage to move beyond the known, they became the founding dynasty of what became Israel and the chosen people of God.
There was Joseph. He was kidnapped by his brothers and sold into slavery to the Pharaoh of Egypt. He was imprisoned and survived by interpreting the dreams of his fellow prisoners. One day the Pharaoh's wife asked him to interpret a dream for her. He did. Then she wanted other favors from him. But he had the courage to refuse and stand on what he knew to be right. That could have gotten him killed, but instead, because of his faithfulness and courage, he became the Prime Minister of Egypt. When Israel was doomed by a famine, Joseph was generous, forgiving. He saved his brothers and all their families by sending food to Israel.
And King David. As a very young man, David had more courage than the entire army of Israel. He stood face to face with the Philistine Giant Goliath who threatened David and said come to me and I will feed your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. David responded, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin. But I come to you in the name of Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied.” David killed Goliath with a slingshot.
And the ultimate man of courage was Jesus himself. He knew if he kept on teaching the good news of love, forgiveness, and salvation the Jewish priests and the Roman rulers would judge him to be a rebel, and a trouble maker. They said he claimed to be King of the Jews and that was treason. He knew how his earthly life would end, but he believed in his mission and had the courage to pursue it at the ultimate cost of his life. After his physical death Jesus became the living Christ of Spirit who abides with us all, always. That Spirit helps us overcome fear and timidity and urges us toward courage!
It is true that all of us humans have fears. Our lives are minefields of challenges, problems, and terrible situations that take their toll on our courage and our faith. But God keeps nudging us to overcome our fear and not to give up. He is near. He knows best. And his timing is perfect.
The question I have for you today is: do you follow God in a way that requires faith and courage? Or, do you do anything at all that requires courage and confidence? When all seems hopeless and you are ready to give in and give up, remember you still and always have God. So consider these truths:
If you are lonely, you have a wonderful opportunity to discover God’s presence in your life.
If you are weak and fearful, you have an opportunity to discover God’s strength in your life.
If you are in pain, you have an opportunity to discover a purpose God has for you.
If you are ashamed of some of your behavior, you have an opportunity to discover God’s grace.
If you are depressed, or feel like you live in darkness, you have an opportunity to discover his light, the brightest light in the universe.
Stay strong. When you want to give in or give up and call it quits, recall what Winston Churchill said when he gave his famous speech to the boys at Harrow’s school. It was during a time of great fear, for England was facing Hitler and the vicious Nazi Army. Churchill stood at the podium facing boys who were terrified that they may have to join the army and fight... many did. But they took Churchill’s words to heart. Here are Churchill’s words: “But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this time, surely from this period of ten months, this is the lesson we must not forget: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never---in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” Stand for who and what God is, wait, and then rejoice in the blessings that come. Those are words of wisdom for each one of us as we face this rapidly changing, bewildering chaos in which we live this day. Stay strong in the faith. Be courageous. Your blessings will come. Amen
Amen
Sermon, June 28, 2020
The words to the holy hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness are inspiring. I often thing about God’s faithfulness through all the centuries that humans have been on earth. But I also think how Unfaithful most of us are or have been at some times in our lives. Yet God still loves us and woos us.
When we choose to participate in wrongful deeds we hurt not just ourselves but families, friends and communities as well. However, trouble can often help us change our thoughts and actions, and lead us to a better life. I think that is the aim of the biblical book Lamentations. Many preachers, ministers, do not ever teach Lamentations because it is a terrifying story. But let’s look at it. It may be a warning sign to those of us who sometimes get too complacent.
Just reading through the book of Lamentations tells us people have been faithful and unfaithful all through the centuries, in every era of history. Yet at one time most people neglected God’s way. That’s what the book of Lamentations teaches...the word Lamentations simply means “tears.” And the book of Lamentations is aptly named because it is about a people who lost everything. Their priests, who were also their leaders, were cruel, self-centered, and greedy, yet claimed to be holy and God-fearing. Their lack of faith and obedience to God’s word led the people to be unfaithful as well. The book of Lamentations is a series of laments by the prophet Jeremiah, who had warned the people over and over again to stay the course, be godly, obey God’s laws. However, life, poor leadership, and selfish desires got in their way.
When we read Lamentations we are taken right into the streets of the grief-stricken city of Jerusalem 2500 years ago. The city had fallen to conquerors who took all things precious to the people and destroyed individual treasures and holy icons as well. The beautiful holy temple is a heap of worthless ruins. Hungry animals are kinder to their young than are the distressed citizens. Those who once attended lavish banquets now hunt for food in garbage-heaps. The wealthy princes are now poorer than others. Those who died an immediate death by the sword are better off then those left behind who suffer the lingering death of starvation. The most tragic of all the verses in Lamentations is 4:10 “With their own hands compassionate women cooked their own children, who became their food.” The once impregnable city collapsed in total ruin. All because of the sins of the priesthood, their leaders. In the grief and dismay, the people of Jerusalem neglected their God and all things sacred and holy.
Lamentations is a horrible story of what happened when people refused to use good common sense God gave them, who chose to follow evil leaders, and who forgot who their God was and how faithful God had been in their past.
This same story has happened over and over again in our human history. It happened in Korea, in Japan, in Germany, in many African countries. It happened to Israel twice It can happen again if we don’t return to a God who knows what is best for us.
My question: how close to destruction is the America we love because of our unbridled divisiveness, our lack of interest in God, and/or the loss of commitment to God’s way of living? Just how close are we to being a nation that once was great and had the affection of our Great Faithful God but seems not to be so any longer?
Most of us can say, well I am doing my part. I pray, I come to church, I vote, I try to be a good citizen. Well good for us. But, is that enough? Jeremiah had done all of those things too. Many citizens of Jerusalem had done some of those things as well. But conquerors do not see the difference. They just want to destroy in hopes of gaining what ever riches and goods and intelligence we have and they want. Conquerors who do not worship and follow God cause the strife, grief, and terribleness of life.
So Jeremiah was lamenting over the devastation of his beloved Jerusalem and the people who were God’s chosen ones. Yet in the midst of this tragedy, Jeremiah had a transition, a change. Instead of listing the wrongs and the hurts and the tragedies, he began to recall who God is. What he says next is said to us as well as it was said to the people 2500 years ago: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. God’s compassion never fails. He is not a God who will let you down if you turn to him. His promised saving help will come but not always at the moment we feel we must have it! God does not willingly bring affliction. We bring it on ourselves!
We too are reminded to take our eyes off what we think we have lost and look to the unshaken God of creation, God of love. We must ask “pardon and forgive us” and mean it by ceasing to think or do ill will to others. We must ask God to comfort us because tragedy can be used for good and we must seek to do that which is good and godly. And we must earnestly pray, “Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return to you.”
We are responsible for ourselves, our choices, our words and our actions. What would it take for each of us to seriously re-think how committed are we to doing God’s work, following all of God’s commandments, and being loving, ever forgiving people. Today is the day to make such decisions. Is there any room for improvement in our own way of seeing all people as children of our holy God? Or, do we still hold some bias against people different from us, people who seem to exhibit more evil than good, and how does those judgments put us and our nation in peril?
Perhaps this story is a warning to all humanity, including us today. Pray about it. Above all, seek God’s will while we still can do so.
Amen
Sermon, July 5, 2020
Today is July 5 and yesterday we celebrated the birth of America 244 years ago. At least that’s when the documents were signed to certify our freedom from the rule of the English king.
How excited these first Americans must have been to be free. And years later in 1865 Abraham Lincoln officially freed all slaves in American. How excited the slaves must have been to know they were free.
In spite of official declarations, real changes take a long time to accomplish. We live in troubled times because some of our American friends feel they are still not free. Some are white, some are black, some are Latino, some are Asian, some are trans-sexual or homosexual. Some are college students who want to spend the summer in protests rather than school or jobs. So across the spectrum of races and ethnic groups in America there is sadness, anger, fear, and desire for change. Many choose to protest peacefully, which is a lawful way to express the need for change. Still others resort to violence, hatred, and destruction to express their dismay. When those actions occur, when the rule of law is suspended, when there are few or no consequences for deadly acts, then our nation is in great peril and citizens everywhere are in danger and under extreme stress. I think we as Americans are there today.
As Christian Americans, are we willing to stand up for and act on the love and forgiveness that Christ teaches? What will it take for us to stand and speak out for the rule of law in our communities and our nation? Do we have it in us to make demands for safety and honest dialogue just as others are demanding hurt and harm even to innocent people.
I seek answers to these questions. I read philosophers, I read the Bible, I read about leaders past and present who also faced these kinds of terrifying actions. Many have answered my questions with varying solutions, but all of them, all of them, required individual faith and strength which then kindles the faith and strength of holy and sacred institutions such as the church. The church today should be the lighthouse for our difficulties. The sincere prayers of the followers of Christ, prayers for peace, patience, and understanding, could also be lights that lead the way for us and for others.
There is a hymn in our songbook called “Rise Up O Church of God.” The words in that hymn tell us one way to counteract the negativity that abounds. Hear the words: Rise up O church of God, have done with lesser things. Give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of Kings. Rise up O church of God. His kingdom tarries long. Bring in the day of brotherhood and end the night of wrong! Rise up O sons of God. The church for you does wait. Her strength unequal to her task, rise up and make her great. Lift high the cross of Christ. Tread where his feet have trod. As followers of the Son of Man, rise up O Church of God.”
Can we do so as individuals and as a church? Can we do away with lesser things like complaints, ill will, bias, and disregard for others in need? Can we do better? Can we do more? Can we be more Christ like by learning more about his eternal teachings, then practice what we learn?
I think the next few months may be a critical time for us and our country. We must join together in unity to serve our holy God and thereby save our community and our country. I don’t think any of us, not even the violent protesters, want to live in an ungodly, unruly, unlawful nation...yet it will take each one of us doing our best to spread peace and love every single day to help preserve the values and freedoms we still have today. Perhaps there has not been a time in recent history when our own actions require more from us than now.
So I ask each one of you today to take a moment to renew your commitment to live as Christ has asked you to live...to love, to give, to serve, to pray, to extend kindness, and stay on the path of goodness, for goodness’ sake. We must act on the command to love our enemies by praying for them to see the light, to change hate into love, and to seek peace instead of violence. Now is the time to take our faith seriously and to rise up in spirit and faith and call on our holy God to come, come now, and give us the aid and guidance necessary to return to him...all of us.
Love to each of you. Be who God needs you to be now.
Amen
Sermon, July 12, 2020
Note to the readers: the sermon will be enhanced if you will get your Bible and turn to the Psalms. There are 2 places in the sermon where you might want to read the verses: Psalm 77:1-15a, and Psalm 83:1-8. 15-18. Those passages are marked in the sermon. Enjoy and be stronger! Jane
All through our Bible, we read stories of men and women who were everyday. ordinary people, yet each one made an impact on their friends and neighbors by being obedient to the words of their Lord. These people often made an important impact on their families, clans, and even on the nation of Israel in spite of their lives being difficult, harsh, cruel, and oppressive.
One man stands out among many, and you may not have heard of him before. He lived 3000 years ago at the time of King David. His name is Asaph. Asaph was a Levite, meaning he belonged to the tribe of Levi. Levites were the people designated by God to care for the temple, to direct worship, celebrations, rites, and rituals. Asaph was King David’s chief musician. He also wrote the lyrics to 12 hymns, that we know of as Psalms. Asaph wrote Psalm 50 and Psalms 73 through 83. In the time of David, before and after, people sang, chanted, their problems, their concerns, their fears. They also sang, chanted, the devotion to God. It was a unifying process to share the words of anguish as well as joy and hope with all the people of Israel. Hopefully, we can read the Psalms with a better understanding that they are the backbone of Israel’s history. They are the way people were counseled and guided. They were what kept God’s chosen people together when everything else was trying to tear them apart and destroy them and their entire community of faith. It might behoove us to find a collective way to express our current concerns, and then find solace in the Psalms as well.
In our earlier reading we got the sense that music was important...and indeed it always has been. Early on in human life, when words failed to express a person’s or a tribe’s deepest feelings, then music was chosen as the way to express joy and sorrow, exultation, and fear. As a musician, Asaph was to express the emotions of the tribes of Israel. He was to display for all to hear the distresses, the disappointment, the terror. Yet he was to end the song or the psalm on an encouraging word.
Let’s just look at Psalm 77 (1-15a) Many of us may have felt this way...and this is the way the Israelites felt because of being oppressed for so many years. The lyrics are all too real and profoundly deep. Yet, Asaph ended the expression of loss with remembering all the good God has done. Can’t we do the same and rediscover true faith and trust?
In today’s world, where human life seems to have little meaning for many people, we must be the people who courageously counteract the negativity that is hurting all of us. When we don’t know how to express our deepest fears and concerns, we need to look again at some of the Psalms that express clearly what we feel today and what we must do. Listen to some of the verses of Psalm 83:1-8, 15-18.
In our own prayers, our conversations with God, we might say “God, we don’t understand the countries like North Korea, China, and sometimes Russia who seem to want to destroy all that makes America a caring, loving, creative country.” We might also say to God, “Lord, let all of those who are against you be ashamed and in disgraced. Let them know you, whose name is the Lord, that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”
Many of today’s young people seem to want everything given to them so they won’t have to work to earn a living. We need to find ways to help them understand that labor is who we are and what we do. We need to illustrate the joy of earning our own way in the world. We need to encourage schools and universities to re-open dialogue so that our children will know how to speak their opinions as well as listen to others’ opinions and knowledge so growth can occur. We need to tell our young people, even our little children, our true history, warts and all, so that the generations to come will learn the good our America has done for the world. Yes, we are imperfect, but we can improve if we know where we have been and what we have done, and what we want our future to be. We must not be idle and leave those essential elements of society to others who may not be quite as interested in truth as we are.
Like Asaph, we as believers need to be honest with God, admit aloud our sins and wrongdoings to him so that we can be redeemed and forgiven. Let us go to God first with our concerns about our loved ones, our communities, our nation, and sing for joy to the God who is our strength. “Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre, sound the Ram’s horn and know your God is Good, 81; 1-3. Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever, from generation to generation, we will recount your praise.” 79:13
If we read the scriptures we will see and hopefully acknowledge that whatever befalls us, whatever challenges we face, if we stay connected to our God, live in our faith, then we too can sing praises of trust, joy, and love. Now listen to this: if you are angry about what is happening tell God. He can handle it! God would much rather you express any feeling to him, than to have none.
Whether you think God hears you or not, be assured God does hear and in his own way he will respond. Trust, trust, and in that trust sing, rejoice, believe, and love yourself and others.
Isn’t that what we all want?
Amen
Sermon, July 19, 2020
Matthew 13: 1-9
This parable of the seed that is sown is an example of how Jesus explained the mysteries of faith in language that the people listening to him could understand.
The great commandment, on which all others are based, says we should love the Lord with all our heart and soul and strength. The Jewish rabbis asked Jesus what this meant. The response was that we should love the Lord with our intellectual ability, with our lives, and with all of our resources….financial and talents.
It’s interesting to me to understand the Jewish view of “our hearts.” To them our heart is not where we feel, rather it is where we think. Therefore, to love the Lord with all our heart is to love God with our mind. This was vital to the growth of Judaism….because the Jewish leaders knew that what we think is indeed what we say and what we do. The mind is first! (That’s why so many Jewish people are geniuses, they learn early that thinking and creating are two essential elements of human life.)
To love the Lord with our soul means to love the Lord with our lives, meaning our bodies. In Biblical times the soul was the body. Think how often we read “there were thousands of souls listening to the teachings.” When we love God with our bodies it means we take care of our souls/bodies...no abuse, lots of exercise, good nutrition, resting well, and keeping our bodies fit and in shape.
To love the Lord with our strength means to love God with what we possess...our abilities, our talents, our finances, our material possessions. Because these gifts enable us to serve God by serving those who are less fortunate than we are. The Jewish people recognized that God is all and owns all...what we have is virtually on loan to help all people come to a place of peace and respect.
In the parable we read, when Jesus says some of the seed fell on the path and it represents those people who heard the word without understanding it. Further, it meant they did not love the Lord with all their heart for they did not apply their intellectual ability to know God.
Likewise, when Jesus says some of the seed fell on rocky ground and it represents those who hear the word but deny it during time of hardship or tribulation, it means they did not love the Lord with their soul/bodies.
When Jesus says some seed fell on good soil and produced fruit a hundred or sixty or thirty fold. This means those who learn and obey reap the benefits of peace, joy, good will, and everlasting love.
Jesus told this parable so that we would realize we have a solemn responsibility to cooperate with the grace of God in our own lives. It is not enough to think nice thoughts about God to call ourselves believers. We must dedicate our minds, our lives, and all that we have to the service of he Kingdom.
Anything less will not produce true peace, nor active love.
Amen
Sermon, July 26, 2020
Why God? Exodus 20:1-3
Why God? Several times during these Covid 19 months with the isolation and restrictions it is causing, some people have asked, “Where is God?” Those who believe in God ask, “Why did God allow this to happen, or why hasn’t God cured this disease and the confusion it is causing us?”
Good questions all around. However, they point to an even more significant question of “Why God at all?” Why do we have God if God doesn't do what we want him to do?
Most of us grew up in a nation that was founded on religious beliefs, but also religious freedom. God, either the Christian version or the Deist version, reigned supreme...up until a few years ago when secularism (having no restrictions except those we place on ourselves) took over as the number one competition for Christianity.
As a teaching minister, my response to these questions is to interpret what our spiritual scriptures say about God. Whether we like it or not, most of our morality and ethics come from the Bible. The first thing to consider is the Ten Commandments. America’s civil laws are based on these commandments. Our civil laws, like the Commandments, are designed to help all people in America live so that everyone is safe and everyone can benefit. The very the first Commandment is this: You shall have no other god before me.” Why? Because God said right before that sentence, this one: “I am the Lord your God, I am who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” God rescued us, back then and now.
Let me explain how ultimately important this statement is. All humans are born into a world, a land, of wonder, of unknowns, of no facts….we as infants and children are controlled by our emotions until we are old enough to be taught and understand that thoughts are more constructive, more helpful, than emotions. When God said “I brought you out of the land of slavery”, what he emphasized was “I rescued you from life lived through emotion.” Emotions can make you a slave to them. When you focus on how you feel and you identify with your emotion, you bring suffering on yourself. Identifying with your emotions is like throwing fuel on a fire. If you choose to identify with your anger, it will burn even hotter and take longer to die down. The same thing is true of the other poisons you choose, such as attachments to hurtful people or things, jealousy, or arrogance. Identifying with your emotions is a sure recipe for needing to be rescued. Only infants and infantile people continue to control others through their outbursts, yelling and screaming, their misbehavior, their anger, and their temper tantrums. We all want to stay away from people whose emotions make them demanding and dominating. (Most of the violent riots continuing in America today are carried out by people’s emotions of anger...look how they act out that emotion in such destructive ways.)
On the other hand, choices are available. God brings you choices. God created life, therefore in the broad scheme of things the entity we call God created you. At that time God built into you an intelligence and consciousness that can bring you joy instead of fear, love instead of hate, peace instead of anger, and forgiveness instead of holding grudges. God brings you life rewards when you choose what is best for you and others.” God is one “o” short of good...because when God’s laws are followed good follows. Good for us and good for others.
That is “why God”? There is no other entity which inspired such non-self-centered laws that have passed the test of time than these biblical laws. These laws are called holy laws because they give us affirmation as worthy people. These laws teach us how to live, how to love, how to honor, and how to respect ourselves and others. They give life abundant when we make the choice to follow them as the way to live today and tomorrow.
But, how many of us can even name the 10 Commandments….and if so, how often do you think about them as a life plan...a plan that can and does rescue us from self-centered-ness, egoism, and unnecessary suffering?
Perhaps we each could spend some time this week re-reading the Ten Commandments. They are found in the 20th chapter of Exodus, the second book of the Old Testament. Read them, study them, and recognize the power and brilliance they convey. Why would we turn to anything less to help us live lives of goodness, joy, and peace. God, by whatever name you call that entity, is the first answer to any question we have about life. All other answers will be secondary.
When you read a book that has you confounded, don’t ask a friend, call the author. When you see a sculpture or a painting you want to ask about, call the artist. When you want an answer about your life, call God.
God waits to hear from you….your faith in the answer that comes will indeed rescue you. It will save you.
Amen
Sermon, August 2, 2020
There is an Italian story about a king and one of his servants. Apparently, the servant was not very smart. The king often was frustrated by the servant’s ignorance. One day, in the midst of great annoyance, the king told his servant, “You are the stupidest man I know. I command you to carry this large staff wherever you go. If you ever meet a person more stupid then yourself, give the staff to that person to carry.”
Time went by. When the servant was in the market place he found many people he thought were stupid, but none more so than him. He carried that large, cumbersome staff every day for years and years. Many years later, the king became quite ill. The servant went in to see the king. In the conversation, the king said to the servant, “I am going on a long journey.” The servant asked, “When will you return?” The king told him that this was a journey from which he would never return. The servant asked the king, “Have you made all the necessary arrangements?” The king sadly replied, “No, I have not.” The servant replied, “Well, could you have made arrangements?”
“Yes,” said the King. “I could have but I was busy with others things that had more interest for me.” The servant said, “Let me get this clear. You are going on a journey from which you will never return. You have had your entire life and all the time you needed to make arrangements, but you did not?” The king with remorse said, “That is correct.” Then the servant handed the large staff to the king and said, “King, Sir, take this staff, for I have finally found a man more stupid than myself.”
Ok this is not a story about finding a lawyer and writing a will. It is about your own life, birth and death, and all that happens in between. It is about how you choose to live every day. For most people, from about 5 or 6 in the morning until 10 or 11 at night. Some, however, must work in the dark hours of night. Each of us has about 12 hours every day to do what is necessary to make ourselves and our surroundings better, expanded and improved so that others might benefit from our being alive.
If we spend say 10 hours a day, in a year we have 3,650 hours to create good. If we live 70 years we have 255,500 hours to help create and build a better, healthier, safer, kinder world. That is ample time.
Whatever your time schedule is, you have hours of living to do. What is your priority during those hours? Is it getting all the creature comforts you can afford, or charge and pay for all your life? Is it being the best dressed? The most handsome? The funniest? Is it being better in every way from your neighbors? Or, is it about how your treat your neighbors, yourself, and the community in which you live?
Is your priority self? Or others? Is it yourself and your lifestyle, or God and God’s chosen path for you?
We are all on a journey that will end in death. You have no real control of when death might occur. However, if...and its a big if...if you choose to be more self-less, more God centered, more loving toward every human you encounter, you never need to fear what death might bring for you.
If you choose to believe the words of Jesus the rabbi, the teacher, as well as Jesus the risen Christ, then when you ask his spirit to be in you and with you, you need never fear again. Because what ever is deep in you that makes you you, that is the you that will be eternal. So choose your life’s commitments carefully.
Every one of us carries a large staff with us everyday, because none of us do what we are put here to do every day. We often fail through circumstances, more often we fail through choices. However, perhaps the very best way to face each and every day is to make a decision about your thoughts, your words, and your actions and make certain your energy, your intelligence, your consciousness, leads you to have loving thoughts, kind words, and gracious acts toward all others. What kind of world would that be if just a few of us committed to this practice?
The world, our world, needs this kind of commitment from caring Christians today more than ever. Let us make an effort to pass the staff on to others who truly need to change in significant ways...truth be told we all know someone like that who needs to wise up, to make better, more loving decisions...and sometimes, that someone is you.
Please, talk to God about who God is to you and then listen, and act.
Amen
Sermon, August 9, 2020
Colossians 3: 12-17
Today’s reading is a powerful comment on who we are meant to be and how we are meant to live, for God, for ourselves, and for others.
Perhaps as you heard or read these words you began to realize how very social we as human beings are designed to be. By social the Bible doesn’t mean Facebook, parties, cliques...though those can sometimes be meaningful experiences. Rather, I think, this reading helps us understand just how important we are to each other. How we treat ourselves and others creates the world in which we live in today.
If you read the paper or watch certain news shows, you will recognize many, many people don’t seem to love others. They don’t seem to care about others or what belongs to others. They don’t seem concerned about protecting communities or the values most of us hold dear. And, in some cases, these same people don’t seem to care at all about our country. They seem set to disrupt life as we know it. Perhaps a bit of that is important. Perhaps we do need to sit back and ponder for awhile some ways that our country or community can be of more value and service to its people. Maybe there are better ways to increase meaningful education, better methods of helping the poor rise out of their poverty, and better opportunities for young people who are not college bound. But solutions must not involve violence!
The nation we live in is ruled by a government that should be for all people. What seems to happen here is that a few people, granted people we voted to put in place, make the decisions for all of us and often without listening to the people who most need the assistance.
For example, just how many high school students across the nation have been interviewed about their career and work desires, followed by practical solutions to help gratify their needs. Just how many really poor people have been interviewed regarding what their real needs are? How many of us ever participate in a poll to express what we as local people see as the greatest needs, and the best ways to have them met?
Do we ever get together in a symposium, or panel discussion, to talk about what is really important in a democracy and how we can be helpful beyond behaving ourselves and voting. How many of us take the time to write to our senators and representatives, or to our mayor and supervisor, or city council person. I think some of us may just want to complain, throw in the towel and say, what can I do?
These should be the bases of some of our conversations with each other, with our elected officials.
Regarding the vital question of what can I do and when, we can always seek guidance and wisdom from what we consider our holy document...the Bible. Whether Christian or not, there is some proven common sense suggestions for us throughout the Bible...like today’s scripture.
Let’s look at one Biblical hero for a minute. In his early life, Paul’s name was Saul. In his early life he was a sinner, a law breaker, a murder of innocent people, and a political activist that didn’t mind using violence to get his way. Saul abused and often killed Christians and their families. It has also been suggested that since he was a member of the Pharisaic Guard, perhaps he was the one who brutally stuck the sword in the side of Jesus while Jesus was hanging on the cross.
Needless to say, Saul was a vicious man and a cruel one. Yet, he had an experience that radically changed him. Changed him so much his name was changed from Saul to Paul.
After this experience, Paul discarded the wrong inside of him, the hatred, the anger, the prejudice, the arrogance, his position of power, and opted for a new self. He clothed himself in Christ Jesus, adopted the behaviors of a loving, caring, non-biased person, and became one of the most poerful teachers ever. He spread the good news of Christ and love more than any other person at that time. He tried to brign the world into harmony and peace through the reign of Christ Spirit in each of us.
Most of us are sinners...thankfully and hopefully not as extreme as Saul. Isn’t it time for us to look at the way we sin, at what we harbor inside of us, and make the tough decision to throw away all the past sins and our reasons for committing them?
We can do this. We have the power and the Godly wisdom to change ourselves. If we do change, discard the wrongs and hurts in us, we will have space within to build up a sense of goodness, a joy of living the good life, the pleasant sleep we gain by clothing ourselves in actions suggested by Jesus himself.
If we don’t change, if we don’t want to change, if we think it is too hard or too late, then we can keep on hurting the world and people around us whether we realize we are doing so or not. Scientists tell us every thought we have is like an electric current that rises into the ether around our globe...if it is negative energy it actually makes our environment heavier. If out thoughts are loving, caring, forgiving, then they make our environment lighter. Teilhard de Chardin called that area around our globe the Noosphere, the sphere of knowing. He taught “we are one, after all, you and I. Together we suffer, together exist, and forever will recreate each other.” How we treat each other continues to make us collaborators in creation.
If we are willing to change by swapping our negative feelings for positive ones, we can help lighten our environment, lighten our own spirits and that might bring more peace and harmony to this tiny corner of our community. I want to make this commitment: To start each day with a prayer to help me clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. And to forgive all that needs to be forgiven. I want to be thankful and peaceful.
I want you do have these gifts as well. They come free of cost from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our decisions regarding our thoughts and actions do impact and influence the world around us. Praise to our Holy God for creating kindness as a way for each of us to live.
Amen
Sermon, August 16, 2020
This is a day of remembrance for me. Fifty two years ago, on this date, my mother died. She was the best teacher I ever had both in school and at home. She taught me the importance of cognitive, creative, and critical thinking. Through her I learned individual responsibility, that is to willingly take responsibility for my thoughts, words, and actions always, which is of utmost importance if I want to live a useful, meaningful life. She also taught me that love of God and love of our country are closely akin.
For the past two or three weeks I have had these concepts at the forefront of my thinking. I feel compelled to speak a bit about them this morning. So today I want to remind myself and some of you who are willing to hear, about something we already know, but are often reluctant to discuss with others. Our reluctance perhaps comes from our fear of offending someone, or saying something we might later regret because some people might think it is all about that taboo topic, politics.
Let’s review for a minute. It is a fact the men and women who decided to form a government in this fairly new country called America were, yes, sinners. However, they were also godly people. These founders, as they are called, used Biblical concepts to help form this ruling body we call government. Most of these founders were either Christian or Deist. Most of them really did believe God created all people equal...in God’s sight...all were loved equally, all were given the basic emotions equally, all were given absolutely the same basic needs. These founders knew all people, regardless of race, religious beliefs, or other differences, were very much alike….and therefore, entitled to the same basic rights. Men, boys, women, and girls fought England to build a country upon these rights where everyone had a voice through the vote.
There were terrible snags making these desires realities...with slavery being a major one. Many people today falsely believe slavery began here in America. Slavery has been with humans since the beginning of time. Egyptians had slaves 4 to 5000 years ago, the African continent had slaves from the beginning of their time and still do in some cases. Slavery is, and has been, found in some form in countries around the world for thousands of years.
America finally outlawed physical slavery...however slavery still exists here. It exists in the form of utter dependence on this once powerfully, concerned government. In recent decades we have seen a decline in Christian or any religious affiliation and in respect for our nation. Today more people in America look favorably on the idea of more government involvement in our lives rather than less. Instead of being responsible for themselves, many American residents no longer look to God or church for guidance. Rather they turn to the government in Washington or Jackson or Harrison County to solve their problems and lessen their challenges. No longer is personal problem solving taught anywhere. No longer do families, churches, schools teach manners, civic responsibility, personal goal setting, or even how to manage life to benefit self and others. They want more and more government, and less and less personal responsibility, to the detriment of each one of us. There is real evidence of this happening today.
For example. Look at China. A lady name Lindsey Jansen wrote about it clearly. In China people and institutions are run completely by the ruling class in Beijing. All religion is restricted, all learning prescribed, and tragically all beliefs, organizations, learning opportunities must agree the Chinese government is the higher authority in any and all situations and endeavors. There is no freedom.
All people who reside in China are slaves to the ruling class. Bibles are destroyed. Preachers are imprisoned. Even Muslims can not wear clothing indicating their faith. The government rules every aspect of human life and to disobey the government often results in imprisonment or death. Is America becoming a China?
Because of the increasing failure of everyday, caring, spiritual people to speak up and act for what is holy, good for all, beneficial across the board, America may lose its reason to exist. Individual responsibility is waning. Love of God being akin to love of country, not government, is disappearing. Churches are weakened by the wooing of secular entertainment and lack of consequences for hurtful, sinful behavior.
As any government grows in power, people lose power.
Currently, there are pockets of faithful people who are trying to stem the flow and redirect to a more Godly approach to life where all people are equal, have equal opportunities, and where favor comes from personal industry rather than through hand-outs. The church should be the first place people look to for guidance and for help in coping with life and life’s inequities. It’s up to us who believe these things to act a bit stronger and get a bit more involved in local problem solving. We do not need a larger more controlling, costly government. Rather we need to move toward a spiritual approach to all life that once made this country a true lighthouse to others. Today we need open minds and open dialogue, to better determine how to govern ourselves, our families, our schools, and our communities for the benefit of all.
Personal responsibility is tough to learn if you did not learn it as a child. However, I can not emphasize it enough, it is worth the effort to be responsible...to know you, your God, and your country are closely akin and relying on each one of us to do our part to bring loving, thoughtful spirituality as a priority in every thing we do or attempt to do.
Today is when that responsibility is needed. To survive and thrive as individuals and as a nation we must come together to combat whatever is to come down on us...cold war, real war, or far worse biological warfare. Possibly, Covid 19 is only the first wave of crippling biological warfare. It isn’t going to stop unless we become more responsible and self reliant...as well as supporting our basic institutions of family, church, school, and community. Stop looking to government to tell you who you are and what to believe. Think!
God is in us all. He, as our creator, has given us the proper way to live and love. God has provided a role model for us in the life of Jesus. God himself designed the church, that is the sacred gathering of people, to be the vehicle by which God’s hope is offered to us all. It is not about labels. It is not about democrat or republican or independent or black, red, yellow or white...it is all about ceasing to be offended...we are better than that. We need to be brave people, willing to discuss any essential ideas which keeps us away from extended oppressive government. We must be willing to grow in personal responsibility, faith, trust, and love. Then as part of that effort strengthen our homes, churches, and schools through support, participation, voting, working hard, being responsible, and dialogues across all labels.
Perhaps, hopefully, an embolden effort by each of us just may keep us safe and alive long enough to pass on that which is holy, good, full of grace, and eternal. You be part of the solution rather than the problem. Be responsible, a sacred God-given law.
Amen
Sermon
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Luke 4: 14-21
Does Jesus disappoint you?
Jesus certainly was not what his neighbors wanted him to be. Like them long ago, many of us want Jesus, as Lord, to cure all our ills, to fix our country, to solve all our problems...and when that doesn’t happen many of us say to ourselves...well, he must not be all powerful after all.
The scripture today tells us Jesus went to his own hometown synagogue. He was invited to teach there. From a scroll in the synagogue he read a portion of Isaiah which taught:
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed (chosen me) to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
The other men in the synagogue knew Jesus. They were his neighbors...many had probably grown up with him. So, they were listening to every word he said. Probably sitting on the edge of their seats, thrilled that one of their own now had such a great following. All was well.
But then, after Jesus had read the scroll, he rolled it up and sat in their midst. Then he made one simple statement. All he said was, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Evidently this statement infuriated his listeners. Perhaps they wanted him to say Roman rule would be over thrown, perhaps some of them wanted an immediate healing, others perhaps wanted the same kind of recognition Jesus was getting. What ever they wanted, they must not have received it because we are told all the men in the synagogue were filled with wrath...anger...and they rose up together to put Jesus out of the city.”
Let’s look at what his statement to the men really said: in one brief comment he tells them what the year of the Lord’s favor really is, and that it is happening today and everyday. He says it is like a person who loves enough to care that the very poor are given good news of healing; it is like when a person cares that others are sad, hurt, brokenhearted and offers comfort; and it is like when there is someone who reaches out to people in bondage, either through external reasons or internal ones, and assures those people they can be set free. There is hope.
Listen to this: that is exactly what he is telling you and me today. We might think, well he was talking about Galileans 2000 years ago and not about advanced, brilliant, powerful Americans like our country produces. Not true...he was talking to us today just as assuredly he talked to his peers way back then.
Look at our community today. People are fearful. People are hungry. Many people don’t have medicines they need or can afford. Many young people go uneducated because of drug abuse, or sheer lack of determination. There is a huge gap between today’s haves and have-nots. Is that what the kingdom of God looks like?
None of us desires a socialistic government. But the churches and our own good will toward others can help bridge the gap even without government intervention. Maybe we as individuals and as a church can make more of a difference if we added the personal touch to our charitable work. Maybe we ought to listen to Jesus more often and with more commitment.
Let us reiterate this lesson. Jesus told us the kingdom of God will come when we dare to befriend people in trouble, when we show love and compassion to people who are lonely, oppressed, confused, and bitter. We can, and ought to, listen to people in pain, who are hurting, and listen long enough to hear their despair or their anger or their disappoint and offer just a bit of encouragement. Even a smile, a pat on the back, one word of hope from you might open a new door. The kingdom will come at any moment when we pray for those who are ill and when we offer a new vision of life for those who are blinded by hate or loss.
You might ask, how and when can we do this? Here is just one small example. Our give-away items in the back porch in our parking lot is one door to reconciliation. When you bring things to the porch, if people are here looking for supplies or clothing or books, stay long enough to talk to them. Be concerned. Be helpful. Ask questions like, “What is your name? What do you need, how can we help? Then listen to the responses. It will amaze you what you might learn about us and this community.
Many of us drop off items to the pack porch, and think we have done enough. We have not. Giving old clothes or things we no longer need is just the doorway to reconciliation. The items help, certainly. But the kingdom of God comes when we listen to the folks who need what you cast off. When we willingly inquire of what else they might need that we could either supply or offer suggestions of where that help might come from.
My questions to you today are: Do you want to be part of bringing the Kingdom of God here in Magnolia Grove? Or, are you disappointed that Jesus asked us to be uncommonly kind. How often in a day do you consciously ask yourself if you really care about the sick, the broken heart-ed, the poor, the homeless, the alcoholic who sleeps on our porch, or the pregnant young woman who already have 4 or 5 children she can’t support?
Do you care enough to take the time and the energy...of which we all have some of…and seriously do as Jesus asked? Do you want to participate in bringing the Kingdom of God to your hometown, your church’s back yard, your realm of influence? Really?
Today can be the day you help bring God’s Kingdom, his day of favor, to our community. Or, do you get up from your seat in church or in your home and in disappointment usher Jesus out of our church and neighborhood like Jesus’ friends did to him 2000 years ago? Do you silence him and his teachings, or do you embrace both?
Disappointment or life abundant?
Amen
Sermon, August 30, 2020
“Does God Use Sinners to Assist Him?”
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
For those of us who grew up in a Christian Church we became familiar with Old Testament iconic heroes... men and women who saved the Israelites, who preserved the Ark of the Covenant and Jerusalem, who did God’s bidding to save their families and later their tribes.
Having read and heard of these heroes throughout the years we tend to elevate them to people of absolute holiness, pure in their devotion to God, deeply spiritual, and free from recurring sins. Yet that image of them is absolutely false, NOT true. Everyone of these characters were sinful, doubtful, and generally self-centered or self-serving. In many ways they did great harm to their families, their friends, their enemies, and their own tribes.
My question, “Does God Use Sinners to Assist Him? Is answered with a YES, of course God does. He uses sinners because sinners are all he has to work with.
We are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. Everyone of us, everyone we love, everyone we know, everyone we celebrate as our own heroes...we are all complicit in doing wrong, hurtful, sinful acts. We are all the same. When we look at humanity as a whole we get the idea that God’s pool of loving, serving talent is very very shallow.
Look at the major heroes who saved God’s chosen people and the laws by which we all still live. Noah left the ark, began to enjoy wine a bit too much. He passed out and did not know his own grandson slipped in his tent and raped Noah’s wife. Abraham, the father of our Jewish and Christian faith, was a schemer and liar. He gave his wife, who was also his sister, to a Pharoah to keep himself from being killed. Moses, who we call the first savior of the chosen people, was a murderer. He killed an Egyptian then ran off and hid for 30 or so years. Rahab, who saved two Jewish soldiers and allowed the Israelites into the city to conquer Jericho, was a prostitute who sold her body. She is one of only four women listed in Jesus’ genealogy. Samson, strong in body, weak in spirit. He was a lustful, angry, betrayer. He killed thousands of people. David, one of the most illustrious of all kings, was an adulterer. He had Bathsheba’s husband killed so he could marry her. Paul, the great missionary who set up churches all around the known world, began as a persecutor of the new church and killed hundreds of new believers. Peter, a liar, a denier of Christ, was also a coward.
These are just some of the biblical people we adore, admire, and look up to….but it isn’t their sins and shortcomings that draw us to them, it is what they accomplished when they did what God asked them to do. That is wherein their heroic deeds live, and live on forever.
So, why am I telling you about them? Because God wants to use you too. Your responses that you are not good enough, skilled enough, talented enough, or wise enough to work for God are no longer a valid excuses. That you are not good enough is the great lie you tell ourself that keeps you safely home rather than out doing love...which is the root of all salvation for all people. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, what you know or don’t know, you can be helpful to our Living and Loving God. In fact, God needs you to assist in helping to re-create this world that is in turmoil by living in and through the Spirit within you. Overwhelm people with kindness. Answer every angry word with a blessing for that angry person. Forgive the worst that has happened to you so you can be free to really live again. You are needed, wanted, counted on by our Lord. Don’t let God down with excuses.
When you are asked by God or others to participate in the work of God your answer must be yes. One glorious way to respond is “Here I am, I will go and I will do. “ Once you do so the Christ Spirit within you will give you the strength, the courage, and the wherewithal to do what you are asked to do.
By looking at the ancient heroes we learn even more about ourselves and God. God’s view of life and ours is different. We may look at intelligence. God looks at our hearts. We talk about what we have and own. God looks at what we give away. We might enjoy the fact we know important people. God notices whom we serve. We live for a good name. God looks for humility. We seek facts. God looks for wisdom. Our human condition is temporary, God’s is eternal. This God wants you to act for him.
If you are asked to sing, sing. If you are asked to pray, pray. If you are asked to read the Bible, read the Bible. If you are asked to share, share. If you are asked to help with Bible Study, help with Bible Study. And hear this...there is a powerful sermon inside each and every one of you. Tell it to a friend who needs to hear it.
In closing, never ever let fear or excuses stop you from living your faith. Just imagine what you can do when you say Yes to God’s work of loving all others, all others. Children learn to read, families stay together, walls of distrust and dissension fall down, churches are rebuilt, nations are saved. It just takes your participation and your “yes” to God’s life in you.
Amen
Sermon, September 6, 2020
PRAYER
Today I want to talk to you about prayer.
For many of us prayer seems to be the words we use to talk to God or to petition God for specific things. There is nothing wrong with that approach...however, there is far more to prayer than words.
In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus used words to teach his disciples the Spiritual Concept of the best way to live. First, recognize that God is the Almighty One, the One we honor. God is “in heaven” because “heaven” is the best of all circumstances. Jesus told the disciples, and us as later followers, we are to assist God in making earth also the best of all circumstances...that is how His Kingdom comes to earth. In that prayer, Jesus taught the disciples to be grateful for the vast array of edible food God has placed on this planet...enough for all of us every day if we share. Another way to bring God’s will to earth is to forgive, as God forgives us of all sins, if we ask for that forgiveness. Then he ends his teaching by saying God does not offer us temptations, but he does lead us away from them. Therefore, the entire structure of the Lord’s prayer puts in proper perspective the way we are to live. God first, doing His will, then living the results. The totality of that teaching is to realize your life is your prayer….how you live each day, what you honor each day, how you treat others each day is who you are. So, what kind of prayer are you?
Another way to look at prayer is to hear from someone who has spent his life thinking, writing, and teaching about prayer. The man I want to quote to you is Frederick Buechner. Buechner is an ordained minister who preferred to teach in an all-boys school for most of his life rather than ministering a church. He is brilliant, comic, and his writings speak to all people, different as we are, because he speaks the truth. Here is what Frederick Buechner says about prayer.
“We all pray whether we think of it as praying or not. The odd silence we fall into when something very beautiful is happening, or something very good or very bad. The "Ah-h-h-h!" that sometimes floats up out of us as out of a Fourth of July crowd when the skyrocket bursts over the water. The stammer of pain at somebody else's pain. The stammer of joy at somebody else's joy. Whatever words or sounds we use for sighing with over our own lives. These are all prayers in their way. These are all spoken not just to ourselves, but to something even more familiar than ourselves and even more strange than the world.
According to Jesus, by far the most important thing about praying is to keep at it. The images he uses to explain this are all rather comic, as though he thought it was rather comic to have to explain prayer at all. He says God is like a friend you go to borrow bread from at midnight. The friend tells you in effect to drop dead, but you go on knocking anyway until finally he gives you what you want so he can go back to bed again (Luke 11:5-8). Or God is like a crooked judge who refuses to hear the case of a certain poor widow, presumably because he knows there's nothing much in it for him. But she keeps on hounding him until finally he hears her case just to get her out of his hair (Luke 18:1-8). Even a stinker, Jesus says, won't give his own child a black eye when the child asks for peanut butter and jelly, so how all the more will God answer when his children seek and ask. (Matthew 7:9-11).
Be persistent, Jesus says not, one assumes, because you have to beat a path to God's door before God will open it, but because until you beat the path maybe there's no way of getting to your door. "Ravish my heart," John Donne wrote. But God will not usually ravish. He will only court and woo.
Whatever else it may or may not be, prayer is at least talking to yourself, and that in itself is not always a bad idea.
Talk to yourself about your own life, about what you've done and what you've failed to do, and about who you are and who you wish you were and who the people you love are and the people you don't love, too. Talk to yourself about what matters most to you, because if you don't, you may forget what matters most to you.
Even if you don't believe anybody's listening, at least you'll be listening.
But do believe somebody is listening. Believe in miracles. That's what Jesus told the father who asked him to heal his epileptic son. Jesus said, "All things are possible to him who believes." And the father spoke for all of us when he answered, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:14-29).
What about when the boy is not healed? When, listened to or not listened to, does the prayer go unanswered? Who knows? Just keep praying, Jesus says. Remember the sleepy friend, the crooked judge. Even if the boy dies, keep on beating the path to God's door, because the one thing you can be sure of is that, down the path you beat with even your most half-cocked and halting prayer, the God you call upon will finally come.”
~originally published in Wishful Thinking and later in Beyond Words
“In honesty you have to admit to a wise man prayer is not for the wise, not for the prudent, not for the sophisticated. Instead prayer is for those who recognize that in the face of their deepest needs, all their wisdom is quite helpless. It is for those who are willing to persist in doing something that seems to be childish, yet crucial.” F. Buechner
[Shape] Remember, the most important and practical prayer you have is your own life and what you do with it. Amen Sermon, August 30, 2020
"Does God Use Sinners to Assist Him?”
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
For those of us who grew up in a Christian Church we became familiar with Old Testament iconic heroes... men and women who saved the Israelites, who preserved the Ark of the Covenant and Jerusalem, who did God’s bidding to save their families and later their tribes.
Having read and heard of these heroes throughout the years we tend to elevate them to people of absolute holiness, pure in their devotion to God, deeply spiritual, and free from recurring sins. Yet that image of them is absolutely false, NOT true. Everyone of these characters were sinful, doubtful, and generally self-centered or self-serving. In many ways they did great harm to their families, their friends, their enemies, and their own tribes.
My question, “Does God Use Sinners to Assist Him? Is answered with a YES, of course God does. He uses sinners because sinners are all he has to work with.
We are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. Everyone of us, everyone we love, everyone we know, everyone we celebrate as our own heroes...we are all complicit in doing wrong, hurtful, sinful acts. We are all the same. When we look at humanity as a whole we get the idea that God’s pool of loving, serving talent is very very shallow.
Look at the major heroes who saved God’s chosen people and the laws by which we all still live. Noah left the ark, began to enjoy wine a bit too much. He passed out and did not know his own grandson slipped in his tent and raped Noah’s wife. Abraham, the father of our Jewish and Christian faith, was a schemer and liar. He gave his wife, who was also his sister, to a Pharoah to keep himself from being killed. Moses, who we call the first savior of the chosen people, was a murderer. He killed an Egyptian then ran off and hid for 30 or so years. Rahab, who saved two Jewish soldiers and allowed the Israelites into the city to conquer Jericho, was a prostitute who sold her body. She is one of only four women listed in Jesus’ genealogy. Samson, strong in body, weak in spirit. He was a lustful, angry, betrayer. He killed thousands of people. David, one of the most illustrious of all kings, was an adulterer. He had Bathsheba’s husband killed so he could marry her. Paul, the great missionary who set up churches all around the known world, began as a persecutor of the new church and killed hundreds of new believers. Peter, a liar, a denier of Christ, was also a coward.
These are just some of the biblical people we adore, admire, and look up to….but it isn’t their sins and shortcomings that draw us to them, it is what they accomplished when they did what God asked them to do. That is wherein their heroic deeds live, and live on forever.
So, why am I telling you about them? Because God wants to use you too. Your responses that you are not good enough, skilled enough, talented enough, or wise enough to work for God are no longer a valid excuses. That you are not good enough is the great lie you tell ourself that keeps you safely home rather than out doing love...which is the root of all salvation for all people. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, what you know or don’t know, you can be helpful to our Living and Loving God. In fact, God needs you to assist in helping to re-create this world that is in turmoil by living in and through the Spirit within you. Overwhelm people with kindness. Answer every angry word with a blessing for that angry person. Forgive the worst that has happened to you so you can be free to really live again. You are needed, wanted, counted on by our Lord. Don’t let God down with excuses.
When you are asked by God or others to participate in the work of God your answer must be yes. One glorious way to respond is “Here I am, I will go and I will do. “ Once you do so the Christ Spirit within you will give you the strength, the courage, and the wherewithal to do what you are asked to do.
By looking at the ancient heroes we learn even more about ourselves and God. God’s view of life and ours is different. We may look at intelligence. God looks at our hearts. We talk about what we have and own. God looks at what we give away. We might enjoy the fact we know important people. God notices whom we serve. We live for a good name. God looks for humility. We seek facts. God looks for wisdom. Our human condition is temporary, God’s is eternal. This God wants you to act for him.
If you are asked to sing, sing. If you are asked to pray, pray. If you are asked to read the Bible, read the Bible. If you are asked to share, share. If you are asked to help with Bible Study, help with Bible Study. And hear this...there is a powerful sermon inside each and every one of you. Tell it to a friend who needs to hear it.
In closing, never ever let fear or excuses stop you from living your faith. Just imagine what you can do when you say Yes to God’s work of loving all others, all others. Children learn to read, families stay together, walls of distrust and dissension fall down, churches are rebuilt, nations are saved. It just takes your participation and your “yes” to God’s life in you.
Amen
Sermon, September 13, 2020
Luke 14: 27
Today I want to talk about two important aspects of life that are far more closely connected than we might think. Those two aspects are worship and work, or as the Bible calls it, labor.
I am often disturbed by the fact that over the centuries we as Christians have tried to over-holy scripture which leads us to consider scripture too sacred to realize its practical uses. We have misunderstood Jesus’s basic message which is to love and respect ordinary people while they are doing ordinary things, and to see ordinariness as sacred. We forget worship and work are equal partners in keeping human beings human and humane. Worship is a major part of being a Christian...but the word worship simply means to give reverence to your God at all times, in every endeavor. When you work and revere God while doing so, then you will never labor in vain, and you are indeed responsibly taking up your cross and doing as Jesus did.
The scripture says, “anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” That may sound pious or arrogant...but it means just the opposite. This “take up your cross” language has a powerful and a practical meaning. Taking up your cross means in what ever endeavor you are involved with, do it as a gift to your God. God is at work in and through everyone of us for the sake of the world God created. God gives you life, your gift to God is how you live your life...in labor and in worship.
There seems to be a disconnect for many Christians between what they experience during Sunday worship services and what they do during Monday through Saturday. Is there anything that happens during Sunday worship that assists you in making sense of your life, your challenges, your disappointments, your hurts, your illnesses during the rest of your week? Does church worship really make a difference in the way you live every day? Do you believe that what you do at home, at work, at school, or in leisure really matters to God? Do you think that what you do is holy and sacred? The answers to all of those questions should be YES. Your everyday efforts are important to God because you are God’s partner in doing good work in the world. Labor, hard work, earning wages to support your family are holy yet practical experiences. Without people being willing to labor in thousands of ways, none of us could exist.
Whether you run a large corporation or work underground in coal mines or make up beds every morning, the labor you exert is part of your walk with God. Each one of us can choose to see all work as dignity. My grandmother once told me that it isn’t the job you do or have to do that makes life grand...it is the attitude you have toward the labor you do. If the only way you can earn funds to support yourself and your family is menial, like washing dishes in a restaurant or cleaning bathrooms in a hotel, do it with self respect and dignity. Appreciate the fact you have an opportunity to labor. Give thanks for it. And for other people who are willing to do tough jobs. Toward that end, how often do you thank a store clerk for working on a holiday while you have an opportunity to shop? How often to you thank a waiter or waitress or the cook at a restaurant so you can dine and be served? How often do you thank plumbers, electricians, policemen, firemen for being available to work any time to keep you safe? How often do you stop and say thank you to anyone in military uniform who lives so you can raise your family in relative peace? How often do you thank doctors, nurses, hospital workers so you can receive help when you need it most? How often do you thank your children or grandchildren’s teachers and administrators for their labor on behalf of your family? Just how grateful are you for the benefits you have living in a community of people willing to work?
If we do take time to be grateful and express that gratitude, and if we are aware of other people’s sacrifices so we can be free to do things on our wish list, and thank them for their labor, then we are following Jesus, we are taking up our cross to follow our Lord and redeemer. Gratitude is one of the biggest blessings Christianity has to offer.
The reason there seems to be a disconnect between what Christians do and experience on Sundays and what they do and experience the rest of the week is that worship often stops as people leave the sanctuary. However, scripture should help us make sense of our lives in the broader world of Monday through Saturday. The worship service should be the first step of the week enabling you to rejoice in your labors for the rest of the week. When you are trying to work through a problem or situation at home or school or work do you think about a spiritual solution, a godly solution? That should be your first consideration, because for every situation there is a divine solution. Just ask yourself how God would handle what you are dealing with. Realize you are God’s partner in life and God has elevated you to a position as co-creator of your world. Together you make it work, alone you seldom do.
True worship should be part of how you live every hour of every day. Take up your cross and carry it, work it, as though Jesus himself is the laborer. Your life will be enriched. So today, change an attitude if you need to do so. To make life better for yourself, those you love, and your fellow citizens, consider seeing worship as practical and all labor as holy.
Amen
Sermon, September 20, 2020
Trusting God
Our ancient beliefs seem to say to us: “If you do not trust God you live in a mental and spiritual prison of self doubt, angst, and fear. So, let’s talk about trusting God.”
The scripture today is from the Old Testament book of Exodus. Approximately 80 percent of the New Testament is a re-telling of Old Testament stories and lessons. Therefore, it is important to realize that the Book of Exodus has had much influence over the faith of Israel, as well as Christian theology...that is the study and knowledge of God. Several themes in Exodus can also be found in the life and ministry of Jesus.
For example, Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus delivered the new law of love. Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness to give life to the people; Jesus was lifted up on the cross to bring eternal life to all who trust him. The Jewish Passover served as the base on which Jesus developed the Last Supper as a spiritual memorial for his followers.
Thus in the very beginning of our Judaeo-Christian belief, trust in God is named as an essential element in living an abundant life. Trust.
Many people seem to feel faith and trust are the same thing. Both are needed, but they are different. Faith needs no evidence for belief or practice. The nature of faith itself suggests tangible evidence does not exist. On the other hand, trust is based largely on evidence that is real according to our senses, human history, and human reason. That is why stories of real life are essential to gain knowledge and wisdom. They teach us to trust. One of the earliest stories in the Bible comes from Exodus. It is about the Israelites living in Egypt who were reduced to the status of slavery and forced to work on Pharaoh’s building projects. The were beaten, starved, and held as prisoners. When the Israelites finally turned to God for deliverance from their bondage, God quickly responded by saving them. Other stories of deliverance followed, such as God’s call to Moses through the burning bush to lead His people out of Egypt into the promised land. Many plagues were sent to the Egyptians to encourage Pharaoh to free the people. The miraculous crossing of the Reed Sea (Red Sea) followed by the destruction of the Pharaoh’s army is another story of trusting God for deliverance. And then there was the provision of food and sustenance for the Israelites in the wilderness. These stories have continued for 4000 years to reassure us that God is still available and still is asking us to trust Him. But we must do our part and surrender to his superior will and way.
How do we learn to trust God and trust him with all things including our lives? We recognize trust may take a little time to develop. That is true because doubt seems to fly around inside our minds. To defeat doubt we need to be aware of doubt, then follow through with a plan to trust God more.
There are four practical steps that may help us learn to trust God.
1. Make a decision not to worry! Oh my, that is a biggie. We all worry and the more we worry the more we worry. To consciously decide you do not want to worry you train your mind to stop worry when it starts and begin to trust God’s desire to care for you. If you have trouble accomplishing this step, keep this verse close by and read it as often as you need to. It is from Philippians 4: 6-7 “Do not be anxious about any thing, but in everything by prayer and requests let your needs be made known to God and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ.” That is trust!
2. Develop a habit to monitor your thoughts and feelings. Begin training yourself to notice when you are falling into negative thought patterns, stop them, and give them to God. He can handle any and everything about you. Be brave and wise enough to try this monitoring...it is essential that you control yourself and your emotions do not control you!
3. How do we stop these negatives? You find something to replace them, like staying mentally in touch with God. Every time you bring up a negative, stop yourself and tell God you need his help. He is ever ready to monitor your thoughts with you, not for you. Read scripture, read the stories in the Bible about what happened to people once they learned to trust God completely. That is evidence! Amazing stories will give you positive ways to respond to your destructive thoughts. It may not seem easy, but the more you practice changing your thoughts the easier it will be. Ephesians 6: 13 tells us to persevere. Know the word of God. It helps keep you alert. The only thing we really have that successfully overcomes the wrong and the negative in us is the reassuring word of God. That is theological truth, that is psychological truth, and that is wisdom.
4. Replace negative thoughts and feelings with the promises of God. Here are some of His promises for you to memorize, think about, and live by: God promises: I will be with you always; I will protect you; I will be your strength; I will answer you; I will provide for you; I will give you peace; I will always love you.
If you live by these assurances, you will be trusting God. Then the relief and freedom you feel will be well worth the effort to arrive at this place of serenity.
Remember this verse too: “Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge God and he will direct your paths and your actions.” Proverbs 3: 5-6
May we encourage one another to love and trust God which helps us gain wisdom, peace, patience, and a more thorough understanding of God’s abundant grace which is for us….his people.
Amen
Sermon, September 27, 2020
The Focus of Love
If Christianity, our Christian faith, is based on love, then we need to talk about love this morning. In many ways, we have trivialized the meaning of love. We love peanut butter. We love the newest series on television. We love the new fall sweaters on sale. We love our houses and cars and friends and family...oh yea, and we love God. Spoken with the same passion, the same spontaneity. It shows why the Christian faith seems to be losing its power, its attractiveness to others.
Perhaps in all honesty we might say we like peanut butter. We enjoy the new series on television. We hope we might buy one of those nice sweaters on sale. We are grateful for our homes and cars and friends and family. Those words seem more appropriate. Let us use the word love for what it is intended.
All deep, abiding, authentic love is to a degree sacrificial. Sacrificial love is life-altering, life enhancing, life expanding, lifting human beings up to a deeper understanding of who the Christ is and who we are as his spiritual heirs. We want our world to be safe, where dignity and respect come again into popularity, where we learn to cherish the fact that doing either right or wrong has consequences...and in some cases serious consequences for good or ill.
A sacrificial love is like this: if a child becomes ill and needs a kidney what parent wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to give one of his kidneys so his child could live! A sacrificial love is like a single mom with three children struggling to make ends meet. She meets a neighbor, old and frail, unable to cook decent meals for herself. And this mom gives up some of her own dinner every night to feed the neighbor in need. Sacrificial love is like a teacher who gives up a higher paying office job to be in the midst of children in special education classes where she can offer love, support, and encouragement as she teaches the ABCs of learning. Sacrificial love is when a person is so moved and touched by a desire to improve the lives of others that this person who is as poor as anyone on the planet comes to the alter and puts a quarter in the dove so he too offers kindness to others.
Years ago I read Nikos Kazantzakis’ “The Last Temptation of Christ.” If you saw the movie, it is a bit distorted from the book. But the story is amazing. The book is a work of fiction...but the author uses Jesus and the disciples as characters in the book. The story shows divinity is not a given, but rather as a process Jesus explores through his humanity.
In this story, while Jesus is hanging on the cross dying he has a dream. In the dream he refuses to accept his role as messiah. Instead, he marries Mary Magdalene and together they have children. This family moves into a home on the crest of a hill that overlooks Jerusalem. Years later, Mary dies, and Jesus stays on with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Toward the end, when Jesus is quite old, the destruction of Jerusalem begins. People flee from the burning city and run up the hill to escape death. Jesus stands near the edge of his property and watches as people run by. One by one his disciples arrive at the spot where Jesus is standing. The disciples are withered, worn, haggard, desperate. In their frailness they only nod at Jesus. He nods back. Soon another disciple strides up the hill. He is tall, muscular, powerful. His full head of hair and long beard blow in the wind and his eyes are aflame. He too sees Jesus and stops in front of him. In a raging anger he screams at Jesus. “You are a coward. No Messiah are you. You should have gone into politics!” Jesus doesn’t speak. Then he recognizes this angry fierce man as Judas. The one who betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. Jesus recoils. Judas in a seething voice says to Jesus, “Lord, I was the only one who loved you enough to sacrifice my reputation and my life to do what had to be done. Someone had to make the prophecy about you come true so you could be the Messiah... our savior! I became that person. I sold you for 30 pieces of silver. I pointed you out to Herod’s soldiers so they could arrest you! Those are what our sacred scriptures prophesied, told us had to happen for the Messiah to be the Messiah. I loved you. I loved you. We needed you to be the Messiah. You were to sacrifice yourself for love, love for all. I know the personal cost of sacrificial love. And had you gone through with the crucifixion, it would have all been worthwhile...salvation for every human.”
Then in the dream, Jesus recommits himself to his Father God. He awakens. He realizes he is on the cross and he is dying. Jesus is at peace. He did complete the mission and his purpose on earth. In Jesus’ final moments on the cross his divinity is fully revealed. No greater love!
How do you forget a story like that? How are you not changed by learning stories of fierce, unselfish love?
Understanding that part of Christ’s nature, which was truly human, helps us understand and love him. His humanity aimed toward divinity is what enables us to pursue his passion as though it is our own. If Jesus the man had not had within him the warm human element of deep, sincere caring for the condition of human beings, he would never have been able to touch our hearts with assurance and tenderness; he would not have been able to be a model for our own lives. With his gifts of persuasiveness, his tender compassion, his personal power Jesus could have been a forceful politician, as Judas suggested in the story. Jesus could have been wealthy, held a position of high esteem. Instead, he chose to be without a home of his own. Without wealth. And opted to live among the poorest, the neediest, the sinners of the world who struggle even today to find meaning in a world full of hatred, where they and some of us are considered the least of all.
If the Bible and ancient scriptures teach us anything at all it is this: love of others, sacrificial love of others, is the one and only activity that will ever save any of us, and our world. God help us all.
Amen
Sermon, October 4, 2020
Today there is an abundance of knowledge and information...readily available night or day. However, where is wisdom?
Let’s look back for a minute. The original universities in Europe and America were Christian institutions set up to teach theologians, preachers, and ministers. Those universities taught all knowledge already exists, having been created by God at the beginning of time. Early theologians readily agreed that if knowledge is not based on a respect for and gratitude to our Holy God, we will misuse knowledge instead of shaping it for good.
When God deems us mature enough to know how to correctly utilize pre-existing knowledge, he will allow us to uncover and discover it, step by step. This process should help us make life-affirming decisions.
Early Spiritual education practiced eduxi meaning “has brought out” like in the quote from the bible which says, “I am the Lord thy God who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” To paraphrase, knowledge is to bring us out of, or deliver us, from darkness, from unknowing into receiving the light of God. For centuries, the Bible has been the major “text book” for students everywhere. Only recently have our leaders decided to quantify and systematize learning into separate categories based on age, gender, and what the policy makers in our nation deem important. In elementary grades through college discussions and debates on important issues seem to be absent. School success depends on test grades. Not so in life.
Where can we find true education, real enlightenment, that leads to wisdom? As Christians, a great start is to go to the Bible. In Biblical scripture there is a bit of history. There are biographies of great heroic men and women, some of whom were also great sinners! There are poems to help us understand what metaphors are, how to compare good with its opposite, sin. There are stories that reinforce the concept of consequences for good or ill, based on our decisions of how to act toward God, ourselves, and others.
There are tragic stories, love stories, funny stories, stories teaching morals and ethics, and stories about how to act, and behave when we live in a chaotic, dangerous world.
Real education, whether discovered in schools or churches, is a matter of coming to see, understand, think, love, and act in the world and for the world. Therein lies wisdom.
What will lead us to this wisdom? If we can honestly be true to the creation and on-going development of all knowledge, which is God, then church, bible study, small group discussions can be places where we meet the transcendent God as he leads us to the practicality of the sacred. It’s one thing to see God as holy and to worship him. The extension of that is to find holiness in how to live, serve, and interact with one another with grace. All too often we do not see the holy, inspiring aspects of life in current movies, television series, newspapers, in political debates, or on news programs. God has been left out of our national and international relationships and conversations….to the detriment of us all.
Today churches are needed more than ever! The gathering of people of belief, standing strong together, might help move humanity forward in the best possible of ways. We need to learn, then rely on, proven ancient wisdom written in the scriptures. Be assured Christianity is not anti-science, rather spirituality and science work hand in hand. The more we know who Christ was and is, the more we can be tolerant of one another, and see the absolute need for forgiveness. We must accept non-violence as ultimately more powerful than war, and true justice...judgment based on love...as far more important than monetary profit.
So let us recommit during the coming months to not fear reading the bible nor finding it boring. Rather learn to love it for its basic wisdom which includes the power of Christlike love for all. Let us be educated in spirituality, bringing forth in all of us the recognition of the intriguing mystique of biblical lore. Then fall in love with the knowledge that correct answers to all challenges are gifts from the divine. They are always before us. They lead to peace, patience, understanding, and wisdom beyond our normal lines of sight.
My questions today are who do you listen to? Who is teaching you? And what are you learning? Please give yourself time to think about these questions. How you respond might add to the quality of your life.
In closing, don’t diminish the absolute necessity of churches. Recommit to knowing the Christ philosophy. It changes your life, making you stronger and more peaceful. You will be happier, more forward looking with less fear, less anxiety. Together, let us be better educated by reestablishing our foundational commitment to God as the source of truth, wisdom and blessings. No better way to live. No better way to love.
Amen
Sermon, October 11, 2020
The story I just read is the scripture. The story is self-explanatory so it doesn’t need to be re-stated. But, we can relate to it and we can learn from it. Each of us has at certain times had an expectation that did not come into reality...at least not in the way we expected. And we were disappointed.
Expectations are good for us. They keep us hopeful, and forward looking. However, when we rigidly hold on to an expectation, and then not have it met, we tend to be upset, angry, or feel unworthy. Rigidity keeps us from seeing, or experiencing, the good things God has in store for us.
Lets talk about what we can learn from Naaman’s story. But first, something I really enjoy about the Bible, and this story, is the recognition of who the real, true heroes in life are. You saw some of that in the story. In Naaman’s story, he is the elite warrior, looked up to by all in his country. What he wanted he received. The people catered to him and his desires. But, when this high and mighty man became infected with leprosy, his life changed. He could not believe this evil sickness would dare to touch him. He was too important. However, he did want to be healed. His remedy came from unlikely people. It wasn’t the powerful who helped and guided Naaman, it was the servants. Every one regardless of social or economic status can be used by God for good things to occur.
So, what are the lessons we can learn from this story and apply to our own lives?
The true lessons here are:
* God’s ways are not our ways.
*Obedience to God’s laws are healing in themselves.
*Unnamed and unknown people are often our real heroes.
* You don’t have to be powerful, or hold a high position in the community, or have wealth, to be used for good by our Lord and our God.
*Pride is never a healthy attitude. Your own importance and wanting others to acknowledge it leads you down a path of ill, hurt, and wounded-ness.
*When your expectations are not met at all, or when they are not met in the way you hoped, do not stop, do not give up, keep going because the Lord who loves you as his own has something better in store for you! Always.
Here us the bottom line: Sometimes life will disappoint you.. You will not have all your expectations come to pass; but respond to the disappointments with gratitude. Thank God for knowing what is best for you...at all times and in all ways. Gratitude in the morning, throughout the day, and in the evening is an attitude that will prevail and lead you into accepting the life you have, and providing joy in it. This lesson is one each of us must take to heart and live into. I pray you will do so every day.
Amen
Sermon, October 18, 2020
Romans 8:25
Are you fed up, disgusted, out of patience with what passes for news of happenings around our globe? Are you tired of hearing the same information hour after hour, day after day! Are you ready for all the political dramas and traumas to stop? Of course, we all are. Our spirits seem to lag and wilt when all we hear is bad news, disturbing situations, horrifying pictures of humans hurting, wounding, killing one another.
Is that the way the world should be? No. We realize terrible things are happening, and we are tired of it all. So what should we do?
I can’t answer that for you, but I can offer you a little verse of poetry written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I memorized it years ago. I say it when I get so impatient. It helps me; maybe it will help you. Here it is: “Let us then be up and doing, with a heart for any fate. Still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labor and to wait.”
What is that poem telling us? How can that be helpful? Well there are 3 ways.
1: It’s clear that impatience should not stop us from getting up every morning and doing good! Doing what needs to be done at home, at school, at work, even in leisure. Don’t shut down because you are tired of world wide foolishness. Have the faith to keep on keeping on, and do so by trusting God, not the media or politicians.
2: Then it says to us, “Have a heart for any fate.” That seems strange but it us telling us we can not control what happens outside our our own being-ness, so we must learn to deal in a healthy way with whatever is happening. It doesn’t mean we have to like what’s happening, but it does suggest we cope well with whatever is and make the best of it. We do so by standing strong in our own faith, our commitment to a loving God, and then behave with love and respect even if no one else seems to be doing so.
3: The verse goes on to say, keep on achieving. Don’t stop. And keep on pursuing what you know to be right. In the end evil never wins. Faith, love, goodness wins. Staying involved in doing something worthwhile helps us be more patient. If it is to be a distraction, make it a worthy one. Bottom line is this: we all must discipline ourselves and learn to be patient. Patience is one gift of the Spirit.
The bible is full of stories about being patient. One of the most notable ones is that of Job. He lost everything...family, property, wealth, and friends. He suffered so much that even his wife and friends told him to curse God and die. But he persevered. He never ever gave up. He remained faithful. Instead of cursing God, Job said, “Yea though you kill me, yet will I worship you.” In the end Job was mightily blessed and had all he needed to be himself again. Through the spiritual gift of patience, Job trusted God, thereby he made new discoveries of divine resources and present help.
Another story of patience is that of Joseph. His brothers put him in a pit hoping he would die. However, travelers rescued him and took him to Egypt. There he was placed in prison. He felt hopeless, loveless, and abused...as he was. He did not give up. With patience and trust, life gave Joseph many gifts...one of which was saving his entire family from famine...the same family who had abandoned him. He was patient; he waited on God to intervene. And God did.
Look at the verse in Hebrews 6: 11-12. “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” That was certainly true in these two stories of Job and Joseph.
Will you let it be true for you as well?
To truly understand our own lives we must understand patience… and use it. “Patience” has two meanings. One is to wait calmly for something you hope for; the other is to endure suffering with assurance because there will be many obstacles in your way. This is true for all of us. We endure what we must, but we also cope and hope…trusting that in God’s way and time, all will be well, good, and as it should be.
Praise God for the gift of patience and the assured outcome of God’s promises to us all.
Amen
Sermon October 25, 2020
Matthew 28: 18-20
There are two aspects to today’s scripture, which requires two parts to the sermon. Let’s look at the first one: “Go and make disciples of all nations. That is to extend God’s love through you to people wherever you meet them, locally or far away.
Have you ever wondered what is your purpose in life? I think we all wonder at times, but if we trust what the Bible teaches us we have our answer. Each one of us is asked to go and make disciples. That is let others see the way of the Christ in you. You do this by living a life of faith, and standing firm in your faith especially in the midst of challenges. Your words are important, however your actions will always speak louder than your words. How you treat yourself and others is teaching the way of the Lord. It is the way we all make disciples whether in our own town or around the world. To share God’s love and forgiveness is our purpose in whatever endeavor becomes our calling.
We are created by our Creator to be people of purpose. How do you think people live when they either do not recognize their purpose, choose not to follow it, or are forcibly prevented from following it? I recently read an article which reported that in World War II the Nazi regime built a camp for prisoners in a country adjacent to Germany. The prisoners labored every day under horrific conditions. Some had no shoes or ruined ones, no warm clothing, very little to eat. But in spite of these hardships they were made to labor from dawn to night. One day all the prisoners were forced to move an enormous pile of garbage from one end of the camp to the other end. The next day they were forced to move it all back to the original site. They were given no reason to do so, just that they had to move the garbage. A pattern was set. Day after day for weeks on end the prisoners moved the same mountain of garbage from one end of the camp to the other end. It was meaningless labor. It began to take a terrible toll on the prisoners. After weeks, one day an older man began to cry loudly and he was led away. This terrible effect on the men continued until one man in the camp bolted away and threw himself on the electrified fence. He died in a blinding flash. In the days that followed dozens of prisoners went insane. Their captors did not care. What the prisoners did not know was they were part of an experiment in mental health. What would happen to people who had no meaningful purpose? What would happen to people who were subjected to pointless activity? The doctors wanted to see what life would become for people who had no sense of purpose. The conclusion was: insanity and suicide. Specified purpose is integral to life. (Collin Wimberly)
Is that what is happening in certain areas in our nation? People have no purpose so they destroy themselves and others. Is that what is happening to churches? Are we losing people because we have forgotten our purpose? To make disciples, that is lovers of God, who will live a good life and pass it on? Is that why young people are leaving school? They have not been led to a purpose driven life?
Great questions. How do you answer them?
The second aspect of this scripture is this question:
What does it mean to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. When you are baptized in water, you are emulating Jesus burial and resurrection. You go under the water (whether submersed or sprinkled) then you come back up as in resurrection, to live a new kind of life of putting God first in all that you do. When you are baptized in the name of the Father you are acknowledging that you are one with all humanity...God created all of us as one family, one race, of human beings….doesn’t matter if we are different in appearances, culture, or life styles. God created us all. Then to be baptized in the name of the Son, which in our faith is Jesus, means we accept the fact that this “brother” of ours is here to show us how to love, how to forgive, how to have compassion so that our own lives will be enriched with peace, joy and assurance. Jesus is like an older brother to show us the way, the right way, the purpose driven way to live. Then added to that is to be baptized in the name of the Holy Spirit. We accept the Spirit within us to motivate and encourage us daily in pursuing this purpose. It also means we are now part of a spiritual family who has major influence while we are on earth. Our spiritual existence far outlasts our human one...so by being baptized in the name of all three we publicly admit we believe and desire to act as a family, a warm, loving, nurturing family of human beings; we accept the Son Jesus to guide us on the path of holiness thus saving ourselves from the despair of a sinful life. Through the Holy Spirit that resides within us, we are encouraged to cope in whatever state or condition we are in...which leads to life forever in the realm beyond.
This is our purpose in life according to Matthew 8: 18-20. Go and make disciples of all nations and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...that is bringing each disciple into the loving arms of this family. This command from God is a mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual way to enhance our lives and the lives of others here and now and forever.
As a family of God, we are all connected. In God’s eyes we are all equal. We are to behave like a healthy family, caring for one another, sharing, teaching, enjoying each other, under the safe guiding light of brother Jesus. In this kind of affirming family, we will be influential, encouraging others to join us in living the real life, the life designed for us by the Almighty one.
To truly be spiritually happy in this life, we must have a purpose for living and a purpose for dying. Both enrich us as nothing else can.
Amen
Sermon, November 1, 2020
In two days, or maybe a bit longer, we will know who the next President of the U.S. of America will be. Many of you may have already voted. Most of you probably know which party or person will receive your vote. Your decision to vote will have been made in the midst of confusion, mis-information from both political parties, both major candidates, and media which seems to be slanted in favor of one candidate over another.
Having said that, your right to vote is important. It is one of your very basic rights and obligaations. And the only way to maintain that right is to vote. When voting ceases to matter, when citizens cease to vote, we will lose our democracy and our freedoms.
Recently politics have been subjects we fear to discuss with family, friends, and others because people have decided if your opinion differs from theirs, then you are offending them. How did we ever get to this unstabilizing state of being in our beloved America? And, what can be done about it?
There are two major questions for us to consider.
As a Christian teaching minister I will not tell you for whom to vote. I will not publicly endorse any candidate or party. But what I will do, and must do, is this: to remind you if you are a Christian, and if your first loyalty is to our God and his prescribed way of living, then I must tell you to go into the voting booth and cast your vote for God.
Now, God will not be listed on the ballot by name. But what God values, and what we value, should dictate how we vote.
In our country we do not have the divine right of Presidents, like other countries do for Kings and Queens. We do have the right of conscience, the right to make and act on moral decisions. Nowhere in our Constitution does it demand the elected president be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or Atheist. A choice of religion, or none, is not a requirement to run for or be elected to the presidency. However, that is not true for private citizens. We have a basic right to use our faith, our hope, our spiritual life and guidelines to be the base on how we vote and for whom we vote. We are Christians first and Americans second. If you have forgotten this priority, more than ever, now is the time to re-think its importance.
We should be grateful we are not voting to elect a Religious Leader for the nation...such as a Pastor-in- Chief or a Rabbi-in-Chief, or a Pope-in-Chief, or an Atheist-in-Chief. Rather we are electing a Commander-in-Chief to keep us safe from enemies within and outside of our country. We are electing an individual who will hopefully still be checked by Congress and a Supreme Court. Our founding fathers were brilliant to set up this three pronged way to govern successfully. We should also be grateful our Constitution forbids our government or elected officials to ever demand an allegiance to just one faith. May we never have The Church of America like other countries have. We are free to chose whom to worship, and how and when to worship. That is a freedom we must never neglect, abuse, or change!
Again, this sermon is not to tell you for whom to vote. But I hope it will tell you on what to base your decision. Vote on God’s values which should also be your values.
*Life is a number one value in God’s directives: life before birth, life after you are born, life as you live it, and even life as part of death are major priorities for people who honor God and his gift of life to us. To destroy any life, except for the reason of protecting your own, your loved ones, and your nation, diminishes all of us. All life is important and should be treated as such.
*Other values we take from our God are: compassion;
*care for the poor and those most vulnerable;
*quality for all people in every socio-economic category. This possibility arises first and foremost through rigorous free education and job training...no one should use government hand-out funds as a reason not to work and achieve;
*justice based on prescribed law and order;
*the dignity of all people,
*and fair immigration laws with oversight.
Those are just a few of the values we should have if we are to represent our God in our time. Now, this is important. These are not to be used to Christianize our country...rather they are to be used to act like Christians to members of other religions and faith. America is a melting pot. And if we acted like Christ we could get along in harmony with people of every faith and religion.
We hear people say government is broken. That is not true, because we are the government if we vote and participate. It is true that some of us are broken in spirit, disappointed in life, crushed by the many hardships we face...but we are not broken. There is always hope. There is always redemption. There is always a possibility of peace...a real possibility.
Having said all of that, if you have not voted please do so. Voting is a religious and civic responsibility and duty. Thousands of people through the years have given their lives to maintain this privilege. Now it is the time to respect your obligation and conscience.
We all suspect whatever the outcome of the election, whatever party is successful in gaining the winning votes, there may be turmoil, riots, and other harmful events. Our prayers and our practices must be civil, kind, respectful to the majority who will rule for the next four years. We may like who wins; we may dislike who wins. Nonetheless, whatever happens we can be sure by living day to day the path laid our for us and shown to us by Jesus the Christ, we will prevail, and we will survive.
Above all, love and trust our God and prayerfully respect his gifts to us as a people and a nation.
Amen
Sermon, November 8, 2020
Sunday Close to Veterans Day
This coming Wednesday, November 11, is veterans day. On this day we honor all who served in any war, and we honor all who serve to protect us today.
In hearing about veterans and military personnel, one thing speaks volumes. They know whom to obey...their Commander in Chief. And they are trained to obey without question.
Today, it behooves us to honor veterans and military people who willingly, when called, leave the comfort of their homes, the arms of their loved ones, to protect and save the rest of us. They not only protect us, but through that protection they provide a quality of life in America that is seldom found anywhere else.
Listen to these words for they suggest a few vital ways in which veterans have influenced our lives for the better.
It’s the veteran, not the reporter, who gives us freedom of the press.
It’s the veteran, not the preacher, who gives us freedom of religion.
It’s the veteran, not the poet or writer, who gives us freedom of speech.
It’s the veteran, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to assemble.
It’s the veteran, not the lawyer, who gives us the right to a fair trial.
It’s the veteran, not the politician, who gives us the right to vote.
It’s the veteran who salutes the flag and serves under it.
May we never forget what veterans have done for us...all of the above and so much more. We owe them gratitude and appreciation. As a way to honor their commitment to us, it might be a marvelous idea for us to learn from them and emulate their commitment.
Christians are similar to military personnel for we too have a Commander in Chief. If we are to be obedient people, whom do we obey? Our answer is God. God through Christ is our Commander in Chief in all things spiritual. We should willingly obey God for God knows best. But do we obey?
Just how precisely do we obey our God and his commandments and laws? Perhaps I should add we need to obey without question...however, God understands when we doubt or question. That is how we learn more about the love and generous nature of our God and the laws he values. How do we know what God’s values are? They are found both in scripture and in the lives of human beings who do obey God. He has shown us through the Christ what his plans for us are. The plan is to live love, live compassion, live forgiveness, and live to serve God by serving others.
So, what does it take to be a veteran or a soldier of Christ? Three important actions:
*know the scripture so you can obey the commands and laws therein
*engage your enemies...most of which are inside of you, such as anger, guilt, insecurity, fear, and selfishness
*Never give up. No matter how discouraged you are at any given time, do not give up.
And, like any good team of soldiers, we as Christians must not fight each other. Rather we need to be unified. Together, if we follow the plan Christ taught us, we can help ourselves and others to have more peaceful, joyous, and meaningful lives.
Nearly 2500 years, Thucydides, a great ancient historian and a military general, told his troops this: “If you want to win in any situation, if you want to live with joy, then recognize the secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom is courage. Understand the bravest people are those who have a clear vision of what is before them. Then, whether danger or glory, they go out to meet it.”
Perhaps we could think about his philosophy this week. If we do, we might recognize our Jesus lived that philosophy. He was in constant danger, yet he never gave up. Our present-day world may have increasing danger in it. We have enemies here and across the globe. We must be brave. We must meet what life sends us with courage. If so, God will provide the strength and wisdom for us to follow through on his plan for life...now and forever after. All soldiers follow the plan laid out by their Commander, and we as Christians must do so as well.
For those of us who grew up in Protestant churches, early on we were trained to be soldiers, soldiers for Christ. In Sunday School and church we sang these words: “Onward Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle, see His people go!”
Are we still soldiers for Christ? I pray we are.
On Wednesday, November 11, at 11 o’clock in the morning, let us stop what we are doing, bow our heads, or raise our hands high, and give thanks for the brave men and women who have through the years given us the life we have today in this beloved, free America. We are indeed blessed beyond measure.
Share the love and the hope of our Almighty God.
Amen
Sermon, November 15, 2020
The Gospel of John 7:16-19
What do you think of our country today? In America where do you find peace, or hope? How do you cope when things are not to your liking? What do you do about your anxiety and fear?
Those are essential questions we as believers need to answer in order to keep our sanity, to continue to resist revengeful or evil acts, and reassert our commitment not to lose our faith.
Look at what is happening in our country today. Violence leading to fear. Anarchy leading to feelings of helplessness. Misinformation leading to confusion and bewilderment. Unpredictability in our government leading to anxious times and fretful moments. These actions are real. People across the country are experiencing these feelings, emotions, and are living into the emotions.
I ask you, why live by your emotions which are fleeting, instead of living by what you know? And what you know is God’s grace and goodness are available always. Ask yourself, do you trust God’s grace and goodness in your own life? Do you?
Consider today’s scripture reading. God through Jesus taught us how to live and interact with others every day. We have that plan from God our Creator. Yet all too often we replace those healthy inclinations and choose to live self-centeredly. We often have a spiritual coup. We over throw God and put ourselves in his place making our decisions based on emotion rather than truth. Then we wonder at the chaos that surround us. Arguments, unpleasantness, wanting to control others, expressing hostility to those who think differently from us. Choosing to feel offense when none is intended. Yeah, chaos.
Admittedly, life in America right now seems disruptive and divisive. But we do not have to duplicate that destructiveness in our own existence. We can choose a better path. Jesus taught us through his own human existence to have a lasting personal power no matter what is happening outside of us...in our surroundings or from other people. Throughout his life Jesus chose real power in all of his actions, and then taught us what real power is. Love is power. Kindness to all others is power. Forgiveness of hurt and sin is power. Compassion for the most vulnerable is power. Peace expressed in your own decisions and offered to others is power. Trust in God’s way is power. And, believe it or not, joy and happiness are power. These are the actions we need to live by and share with all others: family, friends, strangers, and especially with those we seem to dislike.
So this is just a suggestion. Perhaps the intervention we seek from God to make life better in the here and now begins with us, believers in goodness and grace. If we stand firm in our commitment to God’s laws, if we refuse to give up our faith, refuse to give in to doubters and haters, then the church, which is us, will rise again and the celebrations of the enemies of Christ might come to an end. We have an opportunity, just like Jesus did, to live the lives God has planned for us. where our thoughts, words, and deeds of love and service conquer the destructive elements that exist today.
Think about it. Pray about it. What are you willing to do to curtail hate and hurt from others by answering with love and blessings to them? What are you willing to do to stamp out revenge by answering with forgiveness to all for all. What are you willing to do to end negative talk by changing the way you communicate. If you are willing to do these actions consistently, you then are allowing God to use you as part of the on-going intervention of love as the only real change agent that has ever existed or will ever exist.
In closing, let us remember our greatest peace and hope come from God’s word, our scriptures. If you are fearful read Psalm 27:3: Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; thought war arise against me, yet I will be confident.”
Psalm 34:4-5 “I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 23: Yeah though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me and your rod and staff shall comfort me.”
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Psalm 119:81 My soul longs for your salvation, I hope in your word.”
2 Corinthians 3: 12-14 “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”
Indeed we as believers must be bold. I pray we live as bold believers, knowing God is within us, around us, above us, and under us...always, always everywhere we are. Let that be apparent in the way you choose to live, speak, and act every day while you are on this planet. Then you too will be part of God’s great intervention to save the whole world.
Amen
Sermon, November 22, 2020
Sunday Before Thanksgiving Day
It’s difficult to go into stores just to look around in the midst of this pandemic. But, if you have ventured into a store you probably did not see much about Thanksgiving. Maybe a sign saying “Turkeys on Sale.” But what you will see most is Christmas decorations, Christmas cards, Christmas toys, etc. Thanksgiving is squeezed into the loud markings of Halloween and Christmas. Thanksgiving is quickly becoming passe in the commercial establishments. What is worse is that it is becoming passe in our lives.
I can’t imagine having just one day as a nation set aside to give thanks for all the benefits we have by living in the United States of America. Each of us should take a time every day to pause, to realize how thankful we are because, no matter how bad off we seem to think we are, we are all more affluent than 90 percent of the rest of the world’s inhabitants. The poorest among us is still blessed. The saddest among us is still blessed. The one hurting most, the most ill, the most cripple, the hungriest among us are still blessed...because even if you or your family can not provide food and services, there are agencies, churches, and organizations who are available to help and assist.
We must be thankful...we must express gratitude. Thanksgiving should be an ingredient in every morning’s busyness, every noon time, and every night as prepare to rest. God wants to hear from us. I know we complain to God a lot. We all do. And God listens. But, what if we thanked him more than we complained to him? Can you imagine how much more meaningful our lives would be? How much healthier and happier we can be? We are not unlike our God. Like God we too get tired of hearing our family members or friends complain constantly, criticize, belittle, and mis-speak. Would you prefer to hear a lot more positives? A lot more thanks? A lot more words of grace, gratitude and appreciation?
I think so.
Our reading today is an interesting one because David, King of the Israelites , wrote it. He sang it. He danced it. He was passionate about the words he used. He was thankful, because he knew he had not earned one minute of God’s grace, forgiveness, or love. Yet he had all three.
David was a hero because as a young man he killed Goliath, the giant who wanted to destroy Jerusalem. When David grew older he was not a nice man. He was cruel. He was an adulterer. In fact, he arranged for Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband to be killed in battle, so he, David, could marry Bathsheba. David slaughtered armies, when treaties might have been more productive. In spite of his evil acts, he knew God and he appealed to God to forgive him and love him. He must have felt God’s forgiveness, love, and compassion to write the words of Psalm 103. In the reading could you hear his relief, his gratitude, for being forgiven? That’s the same joy we can have when we accept God’s forgiveness for our wrongdoings...and also when we forgive ourselves!
All of us have sinned, all have caused hurt and harm. Yet, I don’t think anyone of us have done all the acts of horror that David committed. But if he can be forgiven and loved and adored...we can too.
We recognize this important fact. David did not just praise God with thanksgiving in a cavalier manner. No, he was serious about it. He didn’t sing to God just in religious ceremonies, nor when he entered the temple. Rather giving thanks was part of his everyday experience. He was grateful,! He could not help but praise his God.
Think about a time in your life when you desired something with your whole heart….and after many weeks or months that desire became a reality. Remember how spontaneously you shouted, “Oh, God, thank you! Thank you.” You couldn’t help yourself.
That’s the kind of thanks, gratitude, we need to have and express if we want a powerful, loving, forgiving relationship with the God of the universe...our God, who knows us by name.
David was made whole because of his relationship with God and the gratitude that goes with it. We too can be made whole in the same way. No longer do we have to doubt ourselves, or have a hurtful image of ourselves, or wish we were better, stronger, more useful. None of that relates. When your relationship with God is firm, and you can’t help put praise him, then you know your are loved, cherished, and adored just as you are...no changes are needed.
Now having said that, when you reach that state of being, you will want to grow, want to blossom, want to shine and that too will happen. When you reach that state of being our internal enemies will almost totally leave you alone. These are the enemies that lead us astray: depression, anger, lust, hate, jealousy, pride, greed, on and on...you will not want to succumb to these ever again.
David said, I will praise him with all that is within me. That means I will praise him with my attitudes, my actions, my family, my finances, my words and my work, my faith and my relationships, my voice and my vocation, my church and my children, my hobbies and my habits. We could use David’s enthusiasm for thanking God as a role-model for us. There is power in praise no matter what condition or situation you are in. You have God’s own spiritual power to use in every occasion and situation of your life.
We must genuinely thank God with everything that is within us. Then, we too will know we are partners with God Almighty during this life and those to come.
Do not doubt it, do not forget it. Thank you, God.
Amen
Sermon, November 29, 2020
Matthew 25: 36-44
Today is the First Sunday in Advent. Advent is a season of the church year observed in most denominations as a time of preparation and waiting for the celebration of the birth of Christ. In many churches it is also a recognition of the return of Christ at the Second Coming, when Christ will return to earth and establish his church as the only relevant gathering. The idea is to expect a time when people living or dead will be united. Those who served others while on this earth will be part of that new kingdom, those who did not will be cast off.
To me, this can be interpreted as what happens to us even today. Once we learn about the love of God as shown through Christ during his life on this planet, and decide to live the way of Christ then Christ has come into our lives by our decision. That union with Christ is the first coming. The second coming may well be as Revelation describes it with Jesus returning to earth with power anad with an army to claim the earth as his kingdom. To me, there is another way to look at the second coming and still hold in abeyance the possibility discussed in Revelation. This is just my opinion: a second coming is when we fully accept the Christ Spirit within us and live it every day in every encounter. Christ comes again in every act of love, every act of generosity, every act of compassion, and every act of forgiveness. When we do live in this loving way, without counting the cost, then we are already living in God’s kingdom of love and peace, now and forever.
However, it is up to every individual to read these words in scripture and decide for themselves what and when the second coming may be.
In today’s reading, we understand the words to be a parable about the final judgment. Jesus uses the image of a shepherd to make his point about separating those who lived for Christ and those who did or do not. However in our reading the animals were changed to fit a local southern community.
The King James version talks of separating the sheep from the goats, but the Cotton Patch Gospel says he separates the hogs from the cows. In either case, judgment is not based on how well one person or one nation kept the laws written in the Bible. That kind of activity wold have been considered to be the measure of the righteousness of Jewish people by the Pharisees. Jesus has a different set of criteria. He judges people according to how well they treated their family, their friends and neighbors. If they treated them with love and charity, then they were to be welcomed into his kingdom. If not, they would be kept out by their own decisions.
So, how should we treat others? (As Buddha says, there are no others, we are all just one.) The scripture says feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, and give clothing to those in need.
All through the New Testament there are teachings concerning charity toward our neighbor. We hear in the Letter of James that the person who says he has faith but does not help his neighbor is not ready to live in the kingdom nor relish the goodness therein. That person’s faith is an illusion that has no real substance.
In a similar way, the First Letter of John speaks of loving God and loving each other. Its author asks how we can say we love God if we do not love God’s people. He counsels his community to love in words and deeds.
It is important to remember when we do works of love and charity we make sure our actions do not make us feel superior to others. Love and charity are simply expressions of who and what we are. Therefore, we should feel gratitude toward those for whom we do things, because they gave us the opportunity to express our love.
So on this First Day of Advent, let us make a commitment to wait for the birth of Jesus on Christmas by not only hoping the love of Christ will be spread around our community in any and every way, but that we make sure it does through our own hope and loving actions.
Why bother to celebrate Advent and Christmas if we don’t live into their meanings?
Amen
Sermon, December 6, 2020
Second Sunday of Advent
Matthew 3: 1-12
What do you want? You probably have on hand a list of all the things you would like to have and/or to do. Many people have bucket lists of places they want to see; or furniture they might want to purchase, or jewelry to have as heirlooms….on and on we know what we want.
The interesting thing is, even if we were to get all that we want, and see all that we want, and own all that we want, if we don’t have inner peace first these things will never get it for us. They might temporarily give us pleasure, but usually not lasting peace.
I think to some degree we all want peace...inner peace and national peace and world peace. But when we turn on the news or read a paper we see there is very little peace anywhere...except perhaps in the hearts and minds of true, committed believers in a Christ who offers it to us like no other.
“Perhaps part of the problem is that people see and experience peace in different ways. I read recently an article by two archaeologists who asked what is the literal translation of the ancient Sanskrit word for war. One answered war means disagreement. The other answered the meaning of war is a desire for more cows.” (P. Raube) World peace is definitely on everyone’s general wish list; however it is hard to come by when one group wants more cows and the other group disagrees. How do we find peace then?
Good question! Our reading today focuses on John the Baptist...however he did not talk much about peace. He did encourage those who came for him to baptize to come for the proper reason...that being repentance. To turn from their sins and to turn back to God. However, not all who came to him came for that holy reason. In fact he called the Pharisees and Sadducees, the leaders of the Jewish people, a brood of vipers, meaning serpents. The serpent is a symbol for the power of the evil, so John is suggesting their presence is not one of conversion and preparation for the Kingdom of God, but rather to do the work of hatred and harm. In many cases they did just that.
Reading between the lines we gather that when one converts, that is admits wrong doings and desires to go a straighter path, he or she will be able to have peace more so than when they were being disobedient to the word of God. John assures all who come to him that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. We surely know by now that the words “the Kingdom of Heaven” is a euphemism. Jewish people were never allowed to speak, write, or use the word “God”. They had to have word substitutes. Heaven and God are one and the same. When God is in you so is heaven….therefore it all starts now, present tense. We don’t wait for God to come to us; he is already within us. Therefore we do not need to wait for heaven, or to go to heaven, for heaven is already within us...in our minds, our words, our actions. The more love we give away, the bigger and more peaceful our heaven becomes.
From Jesus’ point of view, one person’s peace might be different from another person’s...just like the word “war” was different for the early people who wrote Sanskrit. But in Jesus’ teachings he did make it clear that inner peace can come only through a relationship with his own risen spirit as the primary reflection of our God. Peace is a gift from God through his grace and it is available all the time for each one of us.
So how do we get the inner peace that may be different from world peace? Yes,it comes from God, but in what way? There is an old saying that might answer that for you: “If you want peace for an hour, take a nap. If you want peace for a day, go fishing. If you want peace for a year, inherit a fortune. You want a lifetime of peace, get up and help someone, serve someone, reach out to someone who needs your smile, your touch, you care, and your compassion, and maybe one or two of your dollars.
Peace is elusive. If you set out to find it, it escapes you. But when you forget about it for awhile and try to offer peace or joy to someone else, peace will come to you in abundance….like St. Francis of Assisi said, “It is in giving that we receive.”
We can find peace. We can have inner peace. And we can do so by pursuing it with all our hearts and energy for someone other than ourselves, or especially for one another. Get the peace you want and need and that in itself will lead us one more step forward toward world peace.
Amen
Sermon, December 13, 2020
Third Sunday of Advent: Joy
It’s December, the last month of the year 2020. Aren’t we glad! It has been year of darkness for many people who have lost jobs, whose children are not in school or not effectively learning at home. It’s been difficult to wear masks and to be isolated. These are dark days. And to add to that darkness it’s December. The days are short, therefore it gets dark very early, even as early as 5:00 in the afternoon. Dark days often influence dark moods. In early darkness we sometimes feel lonely, we become distracted, we are eager to see someone, or welcome someone into our home. We are antsy and want things to change, or for Christmas eve and Christmas day to hurry up and arrive. And for the New Year to hurry here and make life better.
All at that same time, we are to be thinking about and planning for the biggest celebration of the year, Christmas. Christmas with festive lights, lots of beautifully wrapped gifts, candles waiting to be lighted. Huge feasts to be prepared and enjoyed with family and friends. We anticipate the gifts we give and receive will make us and others happy...but then bills come in January and we wonder if some other less costly gift might show love and affection just as much as a more costly one does.
Did any one of us grow up anticipating Christmas would be the best day of the year...we would receive gifts and toys and clothes and candy and all the good stuff we asked for. Did we feel Christmas was required to be that special day and get better every year, full of joy? But how many of us in our community, nation and around the world actually experienced that kind of perfect Christmas? I would venture actually very few people have had that magical experience. Most of us have experienced Christmases that fall somewhere between “it met my expectations and it was terribly disappointing.”
Those kind of perfect Christmases have by and large become monetary and time consuming burdens...and we have allowed that to happen.
Daily, we are faced with every store, every advertisement, encouraging us to spend money, buy expensive gifts, or we will not be thought of as kind and caring people. Our emphasis on Santa Claus instead of Jesus just adds to the confusion and the ensuing obligations that our culture says must accompany a good Christmas. And when we don’t try to follow through with some kind of grandeur, we fail and then we dislike ourselves. How very depressing!
Many people have stopped coming to church, have stopped bringing their children to church or Sunday School. Schools can’t teach Christmas carols any longer without getting written permission from the publishers. Christmas decorations that portray the holy family and the infant Jesus with shepherds and wise men are diminishing. But Santa is still seen nearly everywhere. The secular holiday is fast overtaking the holy day of Christmas when we celebrate the birth of love, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, and peace.
This is the Advent season when our focus should be on waiting for Christ to come. To come to earth in our hearts and minds and actions. This Third Sunday in Advent is to be about joy, about rejoicing always, and we seem not to notice or it has lost its meaning. In fact, in theological circles, scholars lament the fact that joy is the least expressed emotion we exhibit as we grow older and live longer and face Christmas time with near dread. Joy doesn’t seem to be an emotion or a fact that churches dwell on any more. Yet, our Lord and our God tell us to be joyful, to rejoice always.
So, what is joy anyway? The dictionary defines “joy” as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” The dictionary defines “rejoice” as “to show or illustrate delight, excitement, enthusiasm.” Those are good definitions. But the Bible, our basic handbook for living, defines it as “choosing to respond to external circumstances with inner contentment and satisfaction, because we know God will use these experiences to accomplish His work in and through our lives.” God is the originator of true joy. And when we choose joy it saves us from fretful times, bitter thoughts, too much busyness to stop and enjoy what we are doing. God’s plans for us are perfect plans, yet time and time again we think we know better than God, so we “are gonna do it all our own way.” And how does that work for us?
Yes, Christmas should be celebrated! Enjoyed! Should produce a sense of happiness, glee, gladness, good will toward others, and satisfaction when we use God’s good sense. We do feel joy when Christmas does focus on the gifts God gives us such as family and friends, churches and schools, healthy ways to live, good sleep habits, on and on. How blessed we are when we choose to use the gifts of balance, harmony, hope, and faith that come to us when we follow the teachings of Jesus. It is those teachings which lead us to live by Christ’s risen and sacred spirit.
So these words today are, I hope, a wake up call to each and every one of us. Bring back true Christmas. Bring back love and sharing what we have, especially to those in need. Bring back forgiveness for every wrong ever done to you..and forgive yourself for those wrongs you have shamefully done. Bring back tolerance and accept those people who look, think, talk, and act different from you. Bring back sanity and common sense.
And most of all bring back and welcome the living Christ into your home, your heart, your mind so that the true meaning of Christmas can live with us every day for the rest of our lives.
That kind of joy, that kind of inner peace, exists and it doesn’t rely on what our governments will or will not do for us; it doesn’t rely on technology; it doesn’t rely on how new your home or car or furniture or clothing are; it doesn’t rely on any thing outside of yourself. It does rely on your decisions to put God first...high above sleeping in on Sundays, partying on Saturday night, watching football if it interferes with church, deciding church isn’t that important any way because I can pray anytime, on and on. We are good at making excuses to God. Our time seems so much more important than God. Today, please thing about making your main decision be to put your devotion to your God Almighty first. He is the God of love, hope, peace, and abundant living. We seldom have those when God is not first. Please bring God back fully into our church, our community, our nation, and all our homes and schools. Please. We not only can do it, we must do it, and we must do it now.
Pray, then act. That might be the best, most joyous decision you ever make!
Amen
December 20, 2020
Advent, 4th Sunday
Sermon: Renewed Hope through Love
Luke 1: 39-45
Today’s Bible story about Mary and Elizabeth is important to us. The visitation of Mary to meet her pregnant relative is a bridge. The story is a bridge between the Old and New Testaments and the old and new ways of living. Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah are representative of Old Testament figures and beliefs, where laws and prophets ruled the world, and their God seemed sometimes to be vengeful. Mary is a model of New Testament teachings. Her God, and ours, is one of love, compassion, mercy and forgiveness. What is significant is the meeting of Elizabeth’s and Mary’s as yet unborn children, as we too are spiritually unborn until we meet the source of our faith, Jesus the Christ. Once we encounter that spiritual power, then we are compelled to live our faith with courage and optimism.
In this story, Mary understands God speaks to us through others. Elizabeth and her babe spoke to Mary. WE are told the babe in Elizabeth’s womb leapt when Mary came to see his mother. And Mary was comforted. We, too, come to know God and his grace through people in the Christian community. We need to be more inclined to know and act on our faith, rather than emotion. When we walk in faith, we use what faith we have. Then the mystery of Christ fills the rest of what we need at that time. We have a real partnership with the risen Christ Spirit in our day to day existence. We illustrate our faith when we act on it to show love where love is seldom shown, to offer compassion to those who seldom receive it, and to instill faith in others through the faith we live every day.
The mission in our church is to show Jesus as wisdom and power in each situation of human need. That is the foundational experience of a faith filled life. Jesus comes to us first as a human child, then as teacher or rabbi, then as a role model of love for the entire human race of all ages, and then, through his submission to his Father God, he becomes an Elevated Spirit, an ever-present, eternal guiding light and source of strength and love.
We have been given intelligence and a conscience by our Creator...we are asked to use both. Therefore, acts of love and faith are choices. To choose to live by acts of love and faith takes bravery, courage...because we become vulnerable when we love. And that’s ok...that’s the way God designed love to be. By choosing love no matter whether love is returned or not has its own reward of inner peace and joy.
Love is pervasive because we learn that God not only created love, God is love. And if God is love then there is no exception to love. Love can not be for just a few of us, or even a chosen group of us. Love must include all...family, friends, the marginalized, the lonely, the weak, the unkind, the ruthless, the violent. We can extend the love and prayers without accepting or agreeing with the bad or horrific behavior. Jesus did every day. We must learn to do so as well.
Just as baby John leapt in his mother’s womb when he came close to Jesus, so our hearts and minds must also leap with joy and courage when we come close to and acknowledge the nearness of Christ. That inner joy leads us down the paths of righteousness for Jesus...because today we are his body, his hands, his feet, his voices. These acts are always life-altering...for the better.
We can no longer stand on the side-lines and choose not to get involved in ugly or unkind happenings in our community and nation. We must decide. We must choose. We must choose love in action. In both very small and large ways we can help to create a kinder, more loving compassionate reality for all of us.
Today is the day to choose. And remember, when in doubt as to how to behave or act, always choose love.
Amen
Sermon, December 24, 2020
Christmas Eve
Tonight we celebrate the night baby Jesus came to earth. The story tells us he was a born in a stable, because there was no room at the inn. The story also tells us angels sang to shepherds out in their fields, and wise men came from the east bringing gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold. All good news...like all the news about Jesus is good news, because he is goodness personified.
The problem with Christmas eve services is that you hear the same thing every year, year after year. The lighted Christmas trees have been around since the 1500’s, the 4 Advent candles and the white Christ candle are the same ones believers have lighted for nearly 1700 years. The Christmas carols we sing are the same ones we sang as children and our parents and grandparents sang before us. So, why aren’t we bored with it all?
I think, we are not bored because each year we need to be reminded that no matter how evil our world has become, no matter how hateful some people act, no matter how much our enemies want to destroy us, we as believers are still here, still singing, still praying, because what we believe is good news...always has been and hopefully always will be.
Yes, we need good news. We need to know that no matter what God is with us. He has shown us how to love, how to forgive, how to use faith… all of which we need today, desperately need today. So maybe its not boring because it is still the best news we shall ever have...and it keeps on being good news.
So what can we learn or remember tonight that will make life better for us and those we know and love?
One thing that is important is the story of the inn keeper. We don’t want to be like him. We must not close our homes to those in need. We must be hospitable and welcome friends and strangers alike into our homes...to visit, to dine together even if we have to eat on our laps, to laugh with one another...God made laughter healing. It is very hard to dislike someone you can have a belly laugh with! Be hospitable, be inviting, be welcoming.
Another thing that we can be reminded of is the star in the sky was a bright light...God asks us to be the bright lights in every neighborhood. To shine love where not much love exists. To shine hope on folks who too often appear hopeless. And to offer faith to those who choose not to believe, perhaps because the churches have shunned them, or because we have shunned them. Let us rethink what every neighborhood in this community needs and let us, you and me and those we love, provide for light to be shone in the darkest areas.
Then there were the shepherds. They were basically homeless...they slept with there sheep in the meadows, sometimes with no shelter at all. Because they could not leave their sheep to attend feast days they were considered unclean. Unclean outcasts! Yet the story tells us they came to the stable with great joy! So joy does not depend on the externals of our lives. It comes from acknowledging that Christ in us is the source of joy, no matter what is happening around us, or what our governments are doing to us, or what our enemies wish for us. It is good, wonderful, powerful news that God is here in us and around us, showing us through the life of Jesus just how full of grace our lives can be.
So tonight, as we worship on this holy evening, let us recommit ourselves to live more like Jesus did...loving all, forgiving all, offering hope and peace to those we encounter. Let us agree to be the bearers of the good news of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection.
I pray we take that goodness to heart and share it tonight, tomorrow, and every day that we still live on this sacred planet with Christ as our Lord and Redeemer.
Amen
Sermon, December 27, 2020
It is two days since we celebrated Christmas day...I hope it was a pleasant day full of joy and peace. But now, many of us can’t wait to pull down the tree, put up the decorations, file the Christmas cards until next year, cleanup all the Christmas mess...and start looking forward to New Year’s Eve. This attitude is typical of Americans...we want everything to happen fast. We are the fast food, the fast computer, the fast deliveries, the fast everything population. We no longer have patience. We don’t celebrate quiet times. We rush through life then we wonder why we are not as happy as we thought we should be.
That is sad. Because the true idea of Christmas is that it begins on Christmas eve, the 24 of December, and lasts 12 days, that is until January 6. That date is when Christians celebrate the Epiphany and recognize the visit of the Magi to the Baby Jesus. We wait patiently for 12 full days, savoring what Jesus has done for us for 2000 years. At least that is the purpose of those 12 days. So here at church we will leave the tree up and lighted until the day after Epiphany. Ans hopefully and patiently savor each day.
Christmas is to be a time for us to re-evaluate who we are, as individuals and as followers of Jesus, the Messiah...the Christ.
My questions to you today are, who are you? What are your true priorities? How do you spend your time? On what do you spend your money? How do you treat the homeless in our community? How active are you in your church? How do you represent Jesus in your day to day life?
These are questions that might need to be answered fairly often to ensure we are on the path of righteousness...and the path of righteousness is the path our God created us to be on toward the goal of bringing the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of heaven to earth...and we are the ones to do so in our own families, neighborhoods, communities.
We as human beings are created in the likeness of God...not just once when we are born, but everyday as we live the gift of life God has given us. Because we are in God’s likeness, there are moral, spiritual, and motivational implications. Our motives should be evaluated. Then we must reflect God’s character...which is founded on truth, love, compassion, forgiveness. Our own character should be founded on these as well. We all must be expressions of the life of God as shown through Jesus, the anointed one.
Recently there was a Gallup Poll which revealed something that is disturbing. In the poll there was no behaviors in today’s society that distinguish Christians from non-Christians. It seems we have conformed to contemporary cultural standards rather than our faith-based standards. Acceptable behavior today is far different from behavior acceptable to God. And the tragedy is, the contemporary culture changes so drastically from one year to the next, or sometimes one month to the next. People across our nation are feeling rootless and all too often bewildered.
Our Christian standards need to be taught again and again so we don’t forget what they are, and so we can live into them and truly be the people God has made us to be...the bearers of good news, the people who live love, the people who stand up for what is right and good and acceptable to our Sacred Creator.
Today, what the world needs more than ever are followers of Jesus...people of Christian character who willingly exhibit behavior that strengthens, empowers, and enables others to know the Christ spirit. Once the spirit of Christ is acknowledged as part of us, then we will desire to serve and love one another. Today, tomorrow and beyond we need to be Christs to each other.
Amen
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