2021 Archived

Sermon, March 7, 2021

Are you called to work for God?

1st Samuel 

The story today from the book of Samuel should give each of us comfort.  Many Christian people do not feel they are worthy to serve God, to work for God.  But if you are one who feels that way, let me say in very straightforward terms...you are wrong.  Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who has any love in his or her heart is already chosen by God to love and serve God, self, and others. 

In our reading 7 strong, healthy, mature sons of Jesse were presented to the prophet Samuel.  From this family Samuel was to select the new King, the second king of the Israelites.  As each son was presented, Samuel said “The Lord has not chosen any of these.  So, do you have any other sons?” 

Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest who is tending our sheep.” 

Samuel said, “Send for him.” 

So the youngest came.  He had been overlooked by his father and brothers because he was young, he was a shepherd, and often considered unclean because in the hilly pastures there was no way to stay pure, to wash, to adequately prepare for festivals or worship.  But, when he appeared in front of Samuel, Samuel said, “There, anoint him.  He is the one.”  From that day on the Spirit rushed upon David and years later he did become King. 

What is important for us to remember is this:  God chooses you not for the things you have done, nor for your talents, but simply because God loves you.  In that manner, each one of us is important, is anointed, and has something to contribute:  A smile.  A visit.  A letter or card written to someone who needs to hear from you.  A voice of forgiveness to someone from whom you have distanced yourself. A few clothes to put in the back porch for others to have and use.  A few cents or dollars in the dove. A hand placed on the arm or back of someone who is hurting.  A burst of laughter in a tense room.  A prayer for healing for a sick friend or family member.  A straight forward answer if someone asks if you worship the God of love.  Or, any act at all that seems to say “I want to be like Christ for you.” 

Everyone of those things we can do and we must do.  For it is not our words that last or always matter, it is what we do, how we act, and how loving we are to self and others. 

So just last week, one of you asked me this vital question:  “How can I more effectively work for God?” 

This are my 5 responses: 1. Our Christian faith is God’s story first and foremost.  God offers us the opportunity to participate in his story and to add our own stories to his.  The more of ourselves we freely and willingly give in service, the more joy, peace, and fulfillment we will experience. 

2.  God has a plan for you regardless of your environment, regardless of yous status, regardless of your possessions, regardless of your past sins.  Ask God, “What is your plan for me?”  The answer will come when you act more lovingly to all the people you encounter in any given day. 

3.  Stop belittling yourself and telling yourself you can’t do something you know you must do, or want to do.  When you lower yourself in your own eyes, you are calling God a liar.  Because God will never ever see you as lower than anyone else. 

4.  When you arise in the morning, focus on at least one thing you can do that day that will bless someone else, then go do it.  Don’t hesitate, don’t make excuses, and don’t ignore the inner urging to go and to do. 

5.  Talk to God like you would your best friend, because in your life you will never have a better friend, a more caring friend, a more generous and loving friend than our God...shown to us through the risen Spirit of Jesus the Christ. 

Those are 5 easy, at-hand, and rewarding ways to work for God. 

In the days ahead, there will be times of uncertainty, anxiety, doubt, and sorrow.  But there is one thing of which you can be certain:  It is the unconditional love our God has for you.  You know him as a loving and faithful God who has chosen you, called you to himself.  He will never let you go.  In his own often mysterious ways he has prepared and continues to prepare you to be an effective, vital part in the accomplishment of his purposes in your world. 

So today is the day you can know full well that God anoints you to be his partner in creating a better world for us all.  Honor that calling and cheerfully work for God who chose you to serve and love God’s people. 

Amen  

Sermon, March 14, 2021 

Have you ever been thirsty?  I mean, really thirsty?  Like in the hot summer when mowing your lawn you feel if you don’t get a drink of water in just a minute you might faint?  You are so parched all you can think of is where can I get a glass of water?   Yes, like that kind of thirsty? 

If you have ever been that thirsty you know it sapped your energy.  It may have given you a headache.  It may have even caused you to be confused or unsteady.  Thirst must be quenched for good health. 

Thirsting for the sacred also can cause those same discomforts, and if not quenched might cause dis-ease, unpleasantness, disappointment in our selves. 

All of us humans thirst for something more than water.  We thirst for affection from family and friends.  We thirst for materiel possessions and fun times.  We thirst for money to pay bills. We thirst for recognition and we thirst for love.  All of us thirst for those things and more.  God put in every human who has ever lived five basic needs.  We all have them. These needs are:  to be safe, to live with a sense of security, a need to love and be loved, a need to belong to someone or some group, a need to be recognized as a person of value and worth, and a need to be self-actualized...that is to be who you are meant to be.  We can understand each other because our lives are bent toward satisfying those human needs.  However, how we satisfy them, or in what ways we satisfy them, can vary in thousands of ways.  It is the way in which we satisfy those needs that we differ.  And because these needs are so intense in each of us we will do what we can to meet them...however, if we can’t meet those needs in positive ways, we will meet them in negative or harmful ways,  ways with negative, harmful results.  

Considering there are nearly 8 billion people on this earth, the world, generally speaking,  works fairly well...it does so because most people still try to meet needs in healthy, prescribed ways by following laws, by respecting other people and their ways.  But look at the people who do cause problems for the rest of us...clearly, they have been unable or unwilling to satisfy those needs in positive ways...so they wreck havoc on themselves, their families, their communities...and sometimes the world at large. 

The five basic needs are the human aspect of every human who exists.  Having said, that, there is a spiritual...that is beyond human...solution to help us meet our needs in positive, healthy ways.  Spirituality quenches our thirsts in a primary way.  Spirituality involves the recognition of a sense or belief that there is something greater than ourselves, something more to being human than  sensory experience, and that the greater whole of which we are a part  is cosmic or divine in nature.   

As people who choose to honor the way of Christ, we thirst for a healthy, close relationship with our God.   

We are often more aware of our thirst for God when we cause  trouble for ourselves, such as the element of  past or present sins, placing lesser things as gods before the Great God, moving away  from our motivation to love one another or to be patient and gentle with each other.  Whatever the cause of spiritual thirst,  there is a readily available solution.   We look to the one who is the great quencher of all that troubles us, our living, loving God. 

When we experience angst, fear, or guilt we need or want to be free from the discomfort of those actions...therefore we look for redemption, or for someone to rescue us from this sense of unworthiness that often fills us.  The answer is always God and God’s ways.  Love yourself, forgive yourself, then forget yourself and serve others who are in need.  What ever the case, whatever issue or shortcoming we have, there is always a place, a person, to go to.  That place, that person is Jesus, the Christ. 

Hear again the words of Psalm 63:  “You, God, are my God.  I earnestly thirst for you in a dry and parched land.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Your right hand upholds me. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods, with singing my mouth will praise you.”  Trust those words and your God.   

God through the Christ spirit is the one who truly satisfies.  Do you base your life on that spiritual truth?  If not yet, do so.  You will live fully.  Put your faith in the power of your God to heal, to forgive, and to guide.  God within sets you free to meet your needs in healthy and positive ways to God’s glory and to your good mental health! 

Be grateful, God is near.  His help is not only now, it is eternal.  Trust and obey...there is really no other way.

Amen 

Sermon, March 28, 2021 

What we call Palm Sunday was the beginning of Holy Week when Jerusalem would swell from a population of 50,000 to 200,000 or more. It was the celebration of Passover, the holiest of all celebrations for the Jewish people.  Rome, the nation which ruled Jerusalem and surrounding areas, was fearful of a revolution.  So a parade of thousands of Roman soldiers were ordered to go to Jerusalem to keep the peace.  The soldiers had come with pageantry, pomp, polish, and protest.  They had come to show the Jewish people who the real people of power and presence were...Rome, Rome, Rome.  These soldiers with their colorful armor and plumed helmets wanted to show the Jewish people that they were nothing compared to Rome and its elegance and power.  Rome’s show of force was meant to condemn and laugh at all that Judaism held sacred. 

Across town, there was another parade.  Jesus, his family, his disciples and few other people were also going into Jerusalem. All the people with Jesus knew of Zecharia’s prophecy that the savior of the Jews would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey.   Jesus asked two men to go to a certain place and find a donkey and its colt.  They returned, and Jesus rode the donkey, a symbol of peace, to the top of the hill that overlooked Jerusalem.  Jesus knew he was fulfilling the prophecy by Zechariah which had been written years ago.  The prophecy stated, “Daughter Zion, meaning Jerusalem, see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”  The followers who had accompanied  Jesus from Galilee and Bethany put their cloaks on the ground as a way to honor Jesus.  They waved palm branches and greenery and shouted Hosanna...which means “help us, save us.”  Perhaps a few a few more people had joined the little parade the Bible calls Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem.’  What exactly was triumphant about that small, unpretentious gathering, following Jesus into the city?  Where Rome promoted power and pageantry, Jesus’ group promoted peace, patience, and knowing God’s presence. 

Jesus had spent his 30 years on earth answering his God’s call to service.  To teach the Jewish nation and its people to worship only the true God and not the idols or other made up gods.  He encouraged healing, prayerful living, giving of one’s self for others, and most of all he taught love.  In these priorities of his, he was a revelation of our Almighty God. 

Jesus was a passionate man.  He hungered for peace for his people.  He desired freedom for his people...no more oppression.  He begged his disciples to be examples of love, service, compassion, and forgiveness and to pass those traits on to all the ones that would teach.   

From this hilltop, as Jesus looked down on his people, God’s people, he must have been in a meditative state.  He felt alone.  Misunderstood.  Disappointed.  Sad.  Perhaps to comfort and encourage himself, he thought of some of the Psalms the Jewish people sang and chanted as they walked together to the temple and up the temple steps.  He might have thought of what we know as the 23rd Psalm.  He might have whispered to himself, “The Lord is my shepherd.”  Maybe he stopped there on the hilltop, looked again on his city and in his mind he asked the people there, as he asks us every day, “Who is your shepherd?  Who do you follow?  Who or what restores your soul?  Who encourages you to walk by still waters and rest in the lush green grass of God’s earth?  Who strengthens you when you are faced by enemies?  Who blesses you with grace and forgiveness, especially when you feel you don’t deserve either, and who fills your cup to overflowing with love, peace, trust, faith, and hope? 

Jesus knew this week would not end well for him. He had been dodging death for the most part of his 30 years.  Now he was finally to be the sacrifice so that others...all the others he loved… might not be killed. Maybe his cruel death would be enough.  He must have prayed that if he died, so others could live, then perhaps those people might come to decide who is truly their shepherd.  Jesus’ death saved his people.  His death and his spiritual resurrection saves us as well. Then, our response is for us, you and me and all who love the risen Christ, to become his living, acting, loving body.  He blessed us to become his body, living and loving for and through him. 

Does he save you?  Who is your shepherd?  Who do you follow? 

My hope as you live this coming holy week is that you will seriously ask and answer these questions for yourself and your life:  Do your prefer pageantry and power or peace and joy?   

Once you answer that question, answer these two: Is Jesus, the risen Christ Spirit, your shepherd, and do you truly follow his spiritual path? 

Amen

Sermon, April 4, 2021

Easter Sunday

1st Corinthians 3: 16-17 

Today is Easter Sunday.  In our faith tradition, Easter is the holiest day of the year.  It is the day we celebrate the rebirth of Christ as a living spirit.   The word “Easter” has many origins.  One states that the celebration known as Easter goes back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England named Eostre.  She was celebrated at the beginning of spring when the plants of the earth come back to life.   Another theory is that the word “Easter” comes from an older German word for east, which comes from an even older Latin word for dawn.  In spring dawn marks the beginning of days that will outlast the nights, and those dawns appear first in the east.  The word “Easter” meaning a celebration of new life, or the rising of the Christ spirit,  was not used as we know it today until the year 900.   

According to the Biblical Gospel of Mark, the first thing Jesus did when he left the tomb and resumed life, was to take a walk with two friends who did not recognize him.  His first words were “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”  He didn’t say TaDa, here I am….he didn’t say, “hey what happened, I’m supposed to be dead.”  No, what he did and said was to show an interest in two friends.  Isn’t that so like the Christ we have come to know and love...he was and is always more interested in others than self. 

The Bible tells us that at Easter dawn no one was at the tomb to welcome Jesus back from the dead. Three women went to the tomb early on Sunday morning, but their purpose was to anoint Jesus' dead body with burial spices, not to greet him as the Risen Lord. 

Not any of the disciples were expecting Jesus to be raised from the dead. Mark's Gospel makes a point of telling us of the unbelief of the disciples. 

Why is that important? Because it lets us know that the disciples who lived and traveled with Jesus and were close to him were not so different from us. Most of us don't automatically have a resurrection faith just because Easter has become a tradition, in church and in families.  In fact, most of us know details of Easter egg and Easter bunny stories better than we know the true resurrection stories. 

The belief and knowledge that Jesus Christ is alive today, risen from the dead, is the most powerful belief in the world. When we believe in the Risen Christ we have a hope that withstands every disappointment and overcomes every fear. Whenever we are disappointed  or fearful we tend to diminish our belief in the resurrection. We may say that we believe  Jesus rose from the dead, but it may be a belief that is an idea in our heads and not a conviction that dwells in our hearts or in our actions. 

We don’t usually condemn nor criticize people if they don't have a resurrection faith dwelling in their hearts. The disciples didn't start off believing in Easter either. They got to resurrection faith in stages. 

Belief is a journey….it grows from a seed into full flowering, motivating belief.  It first must stay for a while in your mind as a possibility.  As you ponder and consider belief, you realize you can’t describe it, sometimes you can’t even identify it.  But somewhere along the way you know that belief comes through experiences, one after another.  

Everyone’s god is a bit different.  Everyone’s concept of Jesus, especially the risen spirit of Jesus, is a bit different.  You have to experience  and build your own relationship with that inner spirit...the spirit that impacts so much of what you think and say and do. 

Spirit is the same word as breath...our breath keeps us physically alive.  The spirit within us keeps us spiritually alive and aware of ideas, thoughts, experiences beyond the physical, beyond our five physical senses.  Ideas and concepts like love, forgiveness, compassion, and freedom all add meaning and purpose to our lives. Those are spiritual experiences. 

Once he died physically he was no longer limited to one place and time.  His spirit rose and still lives everywhere at any time.  He is not in a tomb, and he is not just and only up in the air somewhere, wherever we think God may be.  So where does that powerful, loving spirit live?  It lives in us.  We, individually and as a church, are the temple where the spirit resides...we are the home of the spirit of the living Christ. 

All the stories about his death and resurrection are mystical, spiritual...for those are what lasts through out time...those are eternal...those are what makes us, our spirits, eternal as well. 

With all the doubts, the questions, the realizations that some things told in the bible are not literal, we can at least put all our faith and hope in the fact that the very spirit that energized Jesus to live and be who he was and is also lives in us.  To deny that is to deny life...your own life.  To believe it and live it is to enrich and energize your life to have a loving and lasting impact on those you love, and even those you don’t love.  It is the greatest gift ever given and it is ours to nourish and share. 

Where did Jesus go when he rose from the dark tomb?  He came to live with you and he gives you light and life and love.  That is Easter...not a one time event but an every day event for those who choose to follow his way of living and loving.

Amen 

Sermon, April 11, 2021

Sunday After Easter

Luke 24 

On Easter Sunday two disciples left Jerusalem walking toward their home in Emmaus...about 7 miles from Jerusalem.  A stranger approached them and asked what they were discussing as they walked along.  They were amazed that the stranger apparently did not know what had taken place in Jerusalem...the murder of their leader.   As this stranger walked with them, he taught them scripture….which means the Old Testament because the New Testament had neither happened nor been written about. 

At supper time, the two disciples invited the stranger to dine with them.  In the breaking of the bread and the blessing, their eyes were open and they recognized him as Jesus, then Jesus vanished.  The disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem to tell the others what had happened to them.  Their eyes were opened and they “saw” Jesus, they understood who the stranger was. 

According to scripture, Jesus seems to have appeared in two different places at the same time.  While he was speaking with the disciples on the road to Emmaus he was also appearing to Peter in Jerusalem. 

So our spirit, or as the bible calls it our glorified body, will not be subject to the limitations of our earthly body.  We will not be limited by time and space.  We will not suffer from illness or death.  Even our emotions will be purified.  Our love will never be tinged by jealousy or confusion.  We will be able to love as God loves. 

What do we make of these appearance stories.  We  might consider semantics.  When you finally understand something, what do you say?  Usually, you say, “Oh, I see!”  That’s insight.  That’s a clear picture of what you were trying to understand. You see.  You see. 

So the men on the road to Emmaus saw, had insight, into who Jesus was in the breaking of the bread and the blessing.  Later, in the upper room, Jesus appeared to the other disciples by walking through a closed door and showing them his scars.  They understood, or saw, what had happened to his body, yet his spirit was vitally alive to them.  Years later, Paul recognized Jesus in a vision he had on the road to Damascus.  On and on people through the centuries have seen, understood, and communed with Jesus through some sort of seeing, or recognition.  An awareness of the Christ presence is a gift to us to help us grow in spirit and in truth. 

How do we today see or understand Jesus?    

Some of you are not fans of country music, but I find some of the older songs are poetic and deeply spiritual.  Listen to the lyrics of Johnny Cash’s song “Would Your Recognize Jesus?”   “If you’ve never fed the hungry, or given clothes to the poor; if you’ve never helped the stranger who came knocking at your door; if you forgot to send some flowers to a sick and shut-in friend; well if you ain’t helping none of these, then you ain’t helping Him.  Now if you’ve ever seen some children playing ball behind a school; if you’ve ever watched an old man plowing ground behind a mule; if you’ve ever stopped and listened when you could not hear a sound; then Friend you have met Him, ‘cause Jesus gets around.  Would you recognize Jesus if you met Him face to face? Or would you wonder if He’s just another man you can not place?  You may not find him coming in a chariot of the Lord.  Jesus could be riding in a ‘49 Ford. 

You may find Him in your mama’s eyes, or in your daddy’s face; you may find he’s always there to help you win the Human race; you may find him in the mountains, downtown, or by the sea, and here’s hoping someone can find Him in you and me. Would you recognize Jesus if you met him face to face?  Or would you wonder if He’s just another one you could not place?” 

I like that song because the lyrics tell us we see Jesus in the ordinary events and  hours of any day doing any kind of helpful, caring work.  To Johnny Cash, in this song, Jesus is everywhere all the time. 

Are you willing to see or recognize His amazing, loving presence? 

In my life I do sometimes see, feel or experience the transforming Jesus spirit.  I see the scared in purple sunsets over our own gulf.  I see Jesus in a new born grand baby so pure and full of hope.  I see the love of Jesus in the kindness each of you spread around.  I see Him in bible stories that tell us who we are as part of all that is holy.  I sense Jesus in the homeless who come here for love, and I see Him in the night hours when I sleep with pleasant dreams.   I’ve seen Him in snow capped mountains and in clear mountain lakes. I see him in dolphins that swim out front.  I see him in the flowers that bloom throughout springtime.  I see Him in this church when we hug and sing and pray.  These experiences, and many others, are transforming for me as I engage transcendence...that is, when I experience something beyond the normal or the physical.   I want to recognize Jesus, the holiest of loving spirits, and because I want to see, to understand, I sometimes do. 

So where do you recognize Jesus?  When have you known you were in the presence of absolute love?  Where were you when you knew there was more to life than your physical body?  I hope you will spend some time this week thinking of all the many ways you have encountered the Jesus spirit and perhaps did not recognize His presence.  And today, where would you recognize Him? 

Remember this: the more we desire to be part of that transforming presence, the more we shall be. 

Amen 

Sermon April 18, 2021

What Did Jesus Do For You?

Romans 12:1 

What did Jesus do for you?  For us?  If you accept the substitutionary atonement, then you accept the story that Jesus died for your sins.  That’s what most of us have been taught throughout the years.  Even if this is your primary belief, there are other important ways to consider the life and death of Jesus. 

One consideration may be that  he died not for our sins but because of the sins of humans who chose power over love….such as the Roman Government being threatened by any one who seemed to gain popularity or power.  The same for the Jewish leadership at the time.  They did not want to change anything that would make them have to share power and decision making for the Jewish people. 

There is another consideration as well.  Perhaps Jesus’ life, including his death, was a prime way to have humans evolve into higher levels of being.  If you look at geological and archaeological histories we see that from one celled life we have steadily gained in physical and mental acuity and strength.  Periodically, through the eons, one type of creature was the prime one at a given time.  For example, dinosaurs had to die out so that mammals could have their day in the sun.  Then their power was taken over by the hominids, who later became us...homo sapien, thinking human.  But now, we must do more than just think!  That is crucial if we want to survive and grow steadily toward our next level of evolution, whatever that may be. 

To me, and it is only an opinion, I think Jesus raised the bar in an enormous way.  He taught and he lived love in ways most of us would find impossible or offensive.  He loved the outcasts in society such as lepers, prostitutes, men doing evil for fun.  When others ridiculed him or threatened to kill him, he loved them anyway.  He went the extra way always to give a helping hand, to forgive, to serve, and to encourage.   

If we learned to love like that, and to do so in practice, we would be so free from internal strife and burdens we probably would not recognize ourselves.  That kind of love is the ultimate freedom...for then we need have no fear, nor guilt, nor insecurity...we would trust completely and therefore our minds and hearts would be free to pursue local and even global problems that can only be solved through harmonious relationships.   

I hear you thinking...pie in the sky!  Is it?  If one man could do it with unshakable faith and a firm commitment to the God he knew, and that one man told us we can do it, why can’t we?  We choose not to do so because we are too comfortable in our mediocre humanity.  We can’t even see the extraordinary lives available to us because we limit our thoughts, which limit our actions, which keep us mired in mediocrity. I want more.  I think more is indeed possible, and probable. If so, then we must decide to be serious about human life and committed to the concept of continuing to raise the bar of thought and behavior for humanity, beginning with each one of us. 

What would it take? What would it take for you to truly put priorities first?  What would it take to do away with the negative language you use nearly every day?  What would it take to stop doing the things that are not healthy for you?  What would it take to change your attitudes, to see the potential in every moment and every relationship?  What would it take to love like Jesus loved? 

I think that’s what Jesus’ life did for us. He showed us, he lived it for us.   And I’ll go one step further.  Yes, Jesus had a bodily resurrection.  If in fact we are his body, his whole body, then we are his resurrected body able to do all that he did and then some.  Why do we limit our own human prospects? Perhaps because our God is too small, our faith is too weak, our knowledge and wisdom too narrow, and our outlook for the future too discouraging? 

I believe now is the time to take seriously the advantages we have when we become positive thinkers, extraordinary lovers, and fearless actors in this thing we call life.  If we believe in all that Christ taught us and fail to act on his designs for us, then who will?  And if no one will, humanity will go the way of other great experiments that ultimately failed because of apathy, weakness, or a choice to not see the way life should and can be lived. 

Think about it.  Pray about it.  And ask yourself the deep, deep questions you avoid and seek the right answers. 

Tall order?  Maybe.  But God has more faith in us than we have in God.  Let’s together change that. 

So the question I asked at the beginning was what did Jesus do for you?  Because of the way he lived and loved he imagined for us a future where love is the power, where forgiveness is the way, and where compassion is the motivator, and where we absolutely become Christs to each other in word and deed. 

Don’t sell your self or others short.  Be all God, through the life and death and resurrection of Christ in us, has ordained us to be...what future do you want for those you love and for those who come after us? 

Amen 

Sermon, April 25, 2021

Colossians 3:12, Ephesians  4:22-24 

One of the earliest Bible verses I ever had to memorize was this one:  “Be ye kind, one to another.”  I thought that was a biblical way of saying, “be nice to each other.”  However, later, when I read that “kindness” is a fruit of the spirit, I learned a bit more about kindness.  The root word for “kindness” is “kind.”  And the root word for “kind” is “kin.”  Therefore, to be kind to someone is to be aware of and act on the fact that you are kin to that a person...as we are all kin to one another.  We, as believers see each other as our kind of people.  And when we meet one another a flame might kindle an emotional reaction of love, or togetherness.  In other words, kindness means unity, harmony, a oneness not found in any other way than a oneness with each other through the spirit of God within each of us.  And if indeed we have the spirit of God in us, then that spirit will produce kindness always...just like an apple tree can only produce apples, and a fig tree can only produce figs, then Christians who acknowledge having the spirit within can and should only produce kindness and the other fruits of the spirit such as love, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control, compassion, and patience.  

This morning, when you woke up and realized it is Sunday, you probably got out of bed and thought, “what am I going to wear today?”  You probably pushed through your clothes in your closet until you found something that was comfortable and looked clean, or at least seemed ok.  That decision of what to wear is an everyday event.  And, it is an important decision.  But be reminded of something even more important than your clothing. When the disciple Paul wrote those words in Ephesians which said, “put on,” it really means when you wake up each day you must put on, or dress, spiritually and emotionally as well as physically.  You have the power to select which attitude you are going to wear that day, which fruit of the spirit you will produce that day.  Make sure it is a fruit and an attitude that will impact in a positive way those you meet that day. 

If in word and deed you choose to follow the teachings of Jesus, and you live according to his precepts, then you will choose to produce kindness always, and in every way.   

Kindness has a been described as love in action.  It is practical and visible. It is not just a thought or an intention.  There is a meme going around that says, “if you can’t find a kind person, be one.” 

Think for a minute about the country, the world, we are living in.  People are angry, hurt, scared, vindictive, hostile,  brutal, violent, sad, on and on.  That’s what all the news seems to focus on without adding what can change all of that negativity.  One solution is for each one of us to choose our emotions and attitudes and not be chosen by an emotion or an attitude.  When someone is unkind to us, return kindness.  That is what is needed.  Kindness starts when we can get our minds off ourselves and our problems and notice what other people are experiencing.  Some of us have become hardened.  We have stopped listening to each other.  We don’t want to know what is bothering our friends, or even some of our family members. 

We need to use kind words.  We need to do kind acts.  We need to make kindness to others a priority in our own lives.  We need to do these things not because it might help someone else; we do these things because they are good for us.   A kind heart is close to godliness. In Timothy 2:24 we read, “one of the qualities of someone who is the Lord’s servant is that they are kind to all people.”  This statement means that people who are spiritual take time for those who are hurting or struggling.   

We realize kindness has an enemies.  They are busyness, shyness, laziness.  For your own sake, and for the sake of promoting God’s love in the world, do not let any one of those three be an excuse to be unkind or to by pass being kind.  In fact, God’s grace comes through us to others when we focus on being kind, especially to people who are asking for kindness by the way they live, the way they dress, the way they talk, and the way they waste the time of their lives.  These are the outcasts that Jesus loved so much and asks us to love through kindness and service as well. 

Are you up to the task to make kindness a priority in your life today?   We have two scholarship winners with us today.  They will enter college and begin to experience a lot of firsts in their lives. So to you two, as you plan your studies and work out your days, make kindness to all the first thing you put on each morning.  You will please God.  You will please yourself. And you may even please others. 

That’s good advice to each one of us here today.  To repeat one of today’s verses, “So as those who have been chosen of God, which we all are, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  These are the paths to living a successful, meaningful, and joyous life.  May we all follow the prescriptions of Jesus the holiest of us all.  Kindness blesses his work and our lives. 

Amen 

Sermon, May 2, 2021

The God Within 

I want to start this morning with questions:  If you were the only experience of God that someone might encounter, what kind of God would that person see in you? Would your God be one of manners?  Morals? Courtesy? Peace? Or, would God be anxious, frustrated, or unkind?   

If that person encountered you several times, and you were still the only experience of God for that person, what words would that person hear God saying?  What actions would that person see God doing?   

Think about it.  What is it that the God within us says and does...when we act on God’s behalf? 

And we always do.  What you say and do is absolutely a reflection of the God you have chosen to worship, follow, and emulate. 

In your mind what is your God’s presence like? 

For a minute let’s look at some of the characteristics of God that we find in biblical stories: 

God is strong, steadfast, faithful and reliable to do as he has said he would do, giving, peaceful, encouraging, inspiring, hopeful, forgiving, compassionate, comforting, uplifting, and omnipresent, meaning with us always. 

How many of those God-like traits do you experience and share with others everyday?  One or two?  Three or four?  None or all? 

Actually, not a one of those characteristics are difficult.  They are basically decisions as to how to behave at any given time in our lives.  What makes them seem difficult or impossible is our own stubborn ways of wanting to have a spiritual coup, oust God from our thinking and being, and become a god ourselves making our own decisions even if they are flawed. 

Does that sound harsh?  Wrong?  I don’t think so.  The concept can be brought down to human size in an example like this:  You have a friend who is in need of real help.  That friend humbly asks you for help...maybe even asks if you could give or loan that friend $200.  What would your immediate reaction be? 

Would it be: “Oh, Gosh, how do I get out of this?”  Or is it more, “Thank you for asking.  Let me see if there is a way I can help if I don’t have the $200 to give you.”  Or, if you have the funds, do you immediately find your check book and write a check...not counting the cost to you?  Which answer is yours most likely to be? 

Now having said that, it is important to know that most people’s need are not necessarily money.  Most people in need want to be listened to, they want to be acknowledged as worthy, they want some of your time to share their problems. They want less anxiety.  They need encouragement. In other words, they need friendship. However, even that is something we often with-hold due to our disinterest in people who are not like us. 

So on this journey toward wholeness, toward holiness, when will we learn that the God within us is patient, is kind, is compassionate, and finds time to give, finds alms to give, finds experiences to share, and most of all offers love to all people.  God does not do prejudice.  God is not biased.  God finds even the outcasts among us worthy of his time and efforts.  You and I are the hearts, minds, voices, hands and feet of God’s love and compassion.  Those traits are what we are to offer the world every time we do anything at all. 

Today, the world over, needs to see and experience God in us in action.  It is not all the externals we are so enthralled with that create joy, peace, and long-lasting happiness.  It is our internal life that we live with 24 hours a day every day that makes us who we are. 

So, you have chosen to worship God and God’s righteousness.  In that case, you are God’s representative to every single person you encounter in a day. What kind of God do people see in you?   

What does the God within you ask you to do?  What challenge are you being asked to face? 

It is the God within you that gives you to power to live a day.  It is the God in you that encourages you to love more freely.  It is the God in you that urges you to be less self enthralled and more God enthralled, because when we are God enthralled everyone around us benefits...then there is more peace, less stress, more joy and laughter, less worry.   Isn't that what we all want anyway? 

As believers, we know how to produce those desired outcomes...it is through living for the God within. 

Amen 

Sermon, May 9, 2021

Mothers’ Day

Psalm 34: 1-8 

Everyone has or had a mother.  And most everyone knows motherhood is difficult.  In fact, one pop psychologist wrote and said, “Motherhood is difficult.  If it was easy fathers would do it!” 

Well, I think that is not fair.  Let’s look at what the word “mother” originally meant.  The word “mother” is similar to such words in other languages.  In Spain the word is “madre.”  In German it is “mutter.”  In China the words is “mama” and in Korea it is “um ma.”  But originally, the word was “modor.”  It was nor is a noun, a person.  it is a verb.  That word for “mother” does not indicate gender at all.  It is neither male nor female.  It is an action word meaning “to take care of, or to tend.”  In that case we all “mother” because we all care. 

Most of us associate mother with female, so we often lose the true value of the word. All of us know and understand that mothering, taking care of children, is a real joy and job for both fathers and mothers.  In addition to caring for children, mothering has another important meaning for both men and women.  It means to nourish, feed, and encourage a spiritual and moral dimension to a child’s development.  That development is served best when both a mother and father raise the child together in a marriage and family setting that is based on respect and love for one another. 

Where do we find that today?  My fear is it is found less and less in every society which leads to a downfall of humanity’s most secure and safe environment---parental love.  In fact, there is a powerful African proverb that states “the downfall of a nation begins in the homes of its people.” We are there. 

When families stop being a child’s secure center, that child has a more difficult road ahead, because its basic yardstick, by which to measure love and acceptance, does not exist.  Therefore, anything goes.  Behavior becomes more easily corruptible.  Hurtful addictions become more prevalent. Violence may become the norm.  So, yes children, all children need to be fed, dressed, and housed appropriately.  But the more permanent foundation is the development of a spiritual and moral core based on both being loved and giving love.  That must be taught, preferably by parents.  But then also by teachers, then friends, then through extra-activities.  Where are morals being taught today?  Where is spiritual development being nurtured? 

I think families, meaning both parents, must take a broader view of what it means to raise a child.  And that broader view must include nurturing a spirit of love, confidence, and hope.  When all of us join together, parents, schools, civic activities, and focus on nurturing the fledgling spirit within a child (because all children are born with spirit, it just needs to be encouraged) amazing things happen.  Discouraged children cheer up. Dishonest children “fess up.”  Fearful children open up and more easily communicate.  Angry children learn to make up.  Moody, grumpy children lighten up.  All of us should attempt to see these traits are corrected or shaped into appropriate behaviors beginning at very early ages.  Yes, education needs to add values and morals to their curriculum.  Parents need to focus on the development of these traits more than ever before or we will lose this current upcoming generation to a life that is less, far less, than they deserve. 

When children are raised with love, if they are educated with love and respect, in they receive discipline that is corrective and appropriate, then whatever befalls them they will have a firm enough foundation to face hardships and disappointments with courage, faith, hope, peace, and forgiveness.  These actions are powerful.  They not only shape people they shape outcomes and results of relationships. It is no longer enough to send children to school.  Parents, both father and mother, need to step up.  They are always the first teachers...their way of raising their children either opens up a life of meaning for their children, or a life of misery and loss.  We are far far too cavalier about Sunday School, Monday through Friday school, and parental on-going schooling in values, morals, and spirit.  Shaping a child with the ability to enjoy life and be productive in life is almost 100 percent up to the parents until a child is about 7 years old.  Then other people also are in positions of authority to help shape a child. 

All of this means some of us need to change our priorities and attitudes.  Those changes mean growth, even as adults, in all the ways that matter.  Enhancing traits that make life better, richer, more fun, more productive, more joyous, and more meaningful are traits our Lord and our God chooses for us to have and to use.   He has placed those as potentials and possibilities in each human life.  It is up to us to grab them and make them real.  That requires time, commitment, and caring, not just for parents but for all of us who live in families, in extended families, and in communities.  It takes us all to do it right. 

We as a church need to seriously recruit young families and provide spiritual activities for children in the community.  We are as a church are helping children learn to read.  But we need to do more.  We need to know these children outside of their school building and get to know them and other family members on a more personal caring basis ….then invite them to church.  Become friends with those who really do need friends.  There are way too many single moms with lots of children...and so many fathers are absent.  Let’s talk about these issues and see if there is any possibility to create more positive changes in this area. All of us would rest better in our older ages if we knew the children of today were learning to be loving, caring, working people.  Think about it and let’s see what we can do and how. 

Happy parents and grandparents day and happy day for all of us...all we do in the name of the Lord is to God’s glory...but it is also to our own happiness. 

Amen 

Sermon, May 16, 2021

Matthew 4: 17  

The scripture stated the following, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  Some scholars agree that is perhaps the single most influential, life-changing statement Jesus ever made.  So, what does it mean?  To repent, or repentance,  means to change your mind!  It means you change your mind.  You change you behavior.  You admit you are not the center of the universe;  but you are an important part of how the world works.  You change your mind about your behavior;  you are responsible for your actions...past hurts do not excuse your present offenses.  You change your mind about who God is in your life; God is your path, your only path to an abundant life of goodness. 

Then there is the phrase “kingdom of heaven.is near.”  The meaning of that statement is:  the powerful presence and passionate love of God is in the very midst of his people in the eternal now.”  God is always now.  God is always as near as your heart, brain, words, and actions.  God is in our midst therefore, we are to live each moment willing to stop behavior that is not good or healthy and make a change.  Repentance requires change. 

Repentance is not just regret.  Repentance is not just embarrassment.  Repentance is not just an apology.  Though repentance may involve these, it is different.  And it is often difficult.  Repentance always means changing your behavior, your actions, your aims in life.  It requires choice, efforts, and usually a struggle with yourself and your God.  Because we are human, to admit we are wrong about something is hard...we feel it diminishes us in our own eyes and in the eyes of others.  But, it really does not diminish us, it strengthens us, it builds us up, it encourages us, and it ultimately comforts us for doing what is right! 

My son Jamie and I were talking about these two statements:  the presence of God and repentance.  He asked me what all that meant to me.   

As best I can recall, this is what she said.  “I believe there is a bit of God in all creation, that is in all that is naturally created, supernaturally created, or created by us humans as creations of God.  Artists put part of themselves in their paintings or their sculptures.  Builders put a bit of themselves in their designs.  Musicians put themselves into their compositions and playing.  We put a bit of God in everything we do or have.   

Then I gave him a personal example...it is a trivial one, but one that is important to me.  I have a small red blanket that Max gave me.  I sleep with it.  It gives me warmth and comfort.  If I get up at night it serves as a shawl or robe.  I treasure that red blanket, so much so that every morning one of the first things I do is carefully fold up the blanket and place it on my bedside table then give it a loving pat.  I’ve done that for years.   But, one day, I woke up, grabbed the blanket and as I started to fold it, I instead just dumped it in a pile on the floor.  I thought, ‘I’ll use it again tonight, so why bother folding it.’  So I left it on the floor. 

Throughout that day, no matter what I was doing, working on a sermon or Bible Study, doing laundry, cooking, or grocery shopping, an image of that little red blanket dumped on the floor kept entering my consciousness.  I couldn’t get that image to leave me alone.  Finally, late in the afternoon, I stopped what I was doing.  I thought about how much I enjoyed and used that blanket.  So I did something about it.  I went, took the blanket off the floor, carefully folded it and held it close to my heart.  I said to the blanket “I’m sorry I mistreated you.” Then I placed the blanket on the table and gave it a loving pat.  

I repented.  I changed my mind, which made me change my behavior.  I thought seriously about how I had mistreated something I really treasured. I remembered one of my own mother’s favorite teachings, “how you treat the little things in life is indicative of how you will deal with the important things in life.  Never shirk your loving duty to less fortunate people or the seemingly insignificant things in your life.”  Wow, those early teachings really do stay with us if we take time to re-think them. 

Max and Jamie had listened intently to my story.  We sat silently for just a moment, then Jamie asked Max, “What about that?  Do you agree with Mom?  I mean the blanket is an inanimate object.  It doesn’t have a life like ours.  But she treated it like it does have life.” 

After a few moments of reflection, Max asked me,  “Well, Jane, so you value that red blanket because it has a bit of God in it?  Right?   I said, “Yes, that’s right.”  Then Max asked, “Well, what about that very much alive  roach that was scurrying around on the kitchen floor.  You stepped on it and smashed it.  Did it have a bit of God in it?  And if so, why did you kill it? 

Long pause. 

There is an answer.  What do you think? 

Amen 

Sermon, May 23, 2021

Jesus’ Sense of Humor 

Since we are known as Christians, we are to believe in Jesus...but more importantly we are to follow Jesus, live like Jesus did, laugh like Jesus did, celebrate, go to parties, and weddings, and feasts and enjoy fellowship, tell funny stories, act like we love life and love the living of it. 

All too often people go to church with an attitude of sorrow, like at a funeral instead of a worship service.  Perhaps those people don’t really know the real Jesus… they have inherited in institutional Jesus that the early church thought up to control the behavior of the masses.  If they had told the truth about who Jesus was, they would not have had to control behavior, people would have been willing to love, forgive, and enjoy one another. 

One of my old Bibles has a quote in the front of it that states:  Jesus never wrote anything...not a poem, not a proverb, not a book.  He never held an office either in the synagogue or in a town or region.  He did not hang outwith Jewish leaders such as the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Rather, he sought out  common people, outcasts, the sick and wounded, those who were without any power or influence at all.  He brought joy to them by paying attention to them, by going to their weddings, their parties, their banquets which may have consisted of bread and grapes and nothing else.  He was such a party, fun loving person, his critics called him a wine imbiber and a glutton.  Jesus did not fast and neither did his disciples.  He was a fun loving man and enjoyed being with people who were rejoicing because they were being fed the truth with doses of love in it;  they were being healed and blessed, and hugged, and encouraged, and above all forgiven and loved.  Laughter does bring healing to heavy hearts and can easily change a person’s mood and attitude. We all need to laugh more! 

The idea of laughter begins in Genesis:  If you read the story of Adam and Eve, you remember God told them to go forth and populate the earth.  Adam was ecstatic.  However, after a week or two you can almost hear a worn out Adam going to God to ask “What’s a headache?” 

We learned laughter when God told 99 year old Abraham and ancient Sara they would have a son, Sarah laughed so hard that when she did give birth she named the son Isaac, which means laughter! 

We learn laughter from Jesus’ parables:  can you imagine not laughing when Jesus told the story of the powerful Pharisees who abhorred the small sins common people were committing yet  overlooking their own horrible sins of murder and mayhem.   He scolded the Pharisees saying, “You blind guides;  you choke on a gnat and swallow a camel (Mattahaew 2324).  Jesus’ listeners would have hooted and laughed out loud at this comment...they got it.  They also laughed at the absurdity of the man who put his lamp under the bed instead of on the lamp stand:  he was saying how stupid can some people be!  Or, the people laughed again when he told them one man could not come to the banquet because he had a married wife!  The people would have seen the humor here and buy into it.  Jesus knew people who laugh cope with hardships more easily. 

Just like some of Jesus’ stories, our English language is actually quite funny:  like there is no egg in eggplant, no ham in a hamburger, and there is neither apple nor pine in a pineapple.  Also, English muffins were not invented in England;  French fries were not invented in France;  a boxing ring is square; and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.   

If writers write, why aren’t people who live called livers?  If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of a phone booth called a phone beeth?  If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what in the world does a humanitarian eat?   

A few more:  Why do people recite at a play, yet play at a recital?   Or when a house burns down we say it burned up?  And when you fill in a form you say you filled it out.   

When I wind up my watch it starts.  When I wind up my sermon, it ends. 

So let’s end it:   This is an important scripture. I hope you will remember it.  I hope it will add to the quality of your life.  I pray it will save your life over and over again...it might stop your anger, it might increase your patience, it might save you from embarrassing moments, and it might just might make your life more fun, your self more likable.  Here is the verse: “A cheerful heart is good medicine;  but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.”  Proverbs 17:22  Please, rejoice always and laugh as often as you can. 

Amen 

Sermon, May 30, 2021

Memorial Day 

In the beginning when God told the mythological people we call Adam and Eve to go forth and populate the earth, God made the birth of another human to involve two different people...a man and a woman.  God did that purposefully so that the new human would have two basic needs met:  to be nurtured by the woman, to be protected by the man, and to be guided by both. 

That was the reason to have families.  Primarily women were the nurturers and men the protectors.  That concept existed for thousands and thousands of years.  It was during WWII when women had to leave the home to work in the industries in support of the war that the idea of the ideal family...married mother and father…began to disintegrate.  And now there are many different kinds of families. 

But let’s look historically for a minute.  In the early days of humanity’s development, as more and more humans were being born, families became clans, and clans became tribes, and tribes became nations.  The unifying ingredient, whether family or nation, relied on a common language...a language everyone could speak thereby everyone could understand others of their nation.  In many ways that is still true today.  Language unifies people, but so do shared memories. 

Every family has its on family lore, its stories told generation to generation, which becomes family history.  So it is with a nation.  We in America, up until recently, had a common history.  We knew who our founding fathers were, what they stood for, what kind of government they envisioned and the steps they took to assure its growth and stability.  One way they did this was to tell the stories, write documents, build structures, have celebrations to remember and honor how we got here and what it takes to preserve our common values.   

In our country today is there seems to be very few true common memories or even common values that are held by most of the people in America.  Diversity is good, always has been.  But for a family or a nation to survive, what we would call outsiders must be willing to at least know our common history and values and be willing to participate in them.  When those things do not happen, when there is no common shared history or memory, our society and civilization breaks down. When that happens, hope is diminished because we don’t have a common future.  And when that happens, we end up back at the beginning, where our only common, unifying experience is the family.  But, even that has been by and large diminished in our nation.  The traditional family is no longer the norm. 

So where does this leave us as humans?  I think it will take an effort by people who still live the values that have served us for generations to increase its emphasis on recognizing what has gone before and honoring it...like this Memorial Day.  America was built for freedom.  And through our history of 3 to 4 hundred years men and women have been willing to fight in wars to save freedom and millions have died for that cause.  Look at what those wars have cost in human life.  In WWI 116,516 died and their families suffered.  In WWII 405,399 died, leaving families back home without sons, dads, brothers, husbands.  In the Korean War 36,516 died and in VietNam 58,209 again leaving families destroyed!  These men and women  are worthy of honor, worthy of remembering, worthy of a moment or a day of saying “thank you!”  We are here today because of you, your willingness to die to let us live with the idea of freedom and peace.  Those concepts can begin to be realities again, when we stand  up for what is right, and good,  for all our people...every race, every religion, every  ethnic group who strive together to make our country full of common values again. Those values are respect for one another even in our differences, love and acceptance of each other, a positive education for all children to be able to be successful in school and in all of life, an ability to serve others even when it might cost us something, and the desire to be free people...not in bondage to either our government or a foreign one. 

So on this day, and so many others like it, we must willingly  remember our nation’s history, our nation’s values, our nation’s common hope and possible future...and our own family’s as well.   

We all need and want unity, good unity, unity for the sake of freedom and peace for all people.  This current young generation is crucial as to whether we have a future and a hope for unity, for peace, for freedom. 

So what are we doing to insure that our young people know and understand the power of memory and how it shapes who we are and who we will become?  Our voices in schools and colleges must be heard...they insure action.  We must be proactive not reactive! 

I pray each one of us will take a moment today and thank our God and members of our military past and present for the sacrifices which have been made to keep America safe and to have a promise of peace.  Through 4000 years of our Judeo-Christian faith memorials have been made world wide to give praise to God for the concepts of freedom and peace, and for the people who have bought into those concepts.  We must be willing to stand up for them regardless of the cost. 

Some of you have done so through the military...some have done so through teaching history,some have shared biblical stories, some have done so through prayers and conversations about peace and the cost thereof. 

We all must do our part, however small it might seem, for there is nothing small about desiring to pass the possibility of a future on to the next generations.  To this end, today must be about great gratitude to all who have given their lives for freedom, and to the families who lost loved ones in this eternal cause of love...love for God, for family, and for nation.  We must care enough to put our caring into action now, through prayers and through civil/civic participation.  Let’s do this for ourselves and even more importantly for the youth in our nation today. 

Amen 

Sermon, June 6, 2021 

A little five year old boy had a role to play in his church’s Easter Service.  He was to recite just one verse from the Bible, but an important one.  The verse he was to speak was from the gospel of Luke about the resurrection of Jesus.  His verse was,  “He is not here; he is risen.”  Unfortunately, the little boy could not remember what to say.  From behind the curtain, his mother whispered the line to him.  Thinking he heard her correctly, the little boy grabbed the microphone and triumphantly shouted, “He is not here.  He is in prison.” 

I think that child spoke volumes to us a Christians.  Realistically, we sometimes do keep Jesus in prison...that is imprisoned in the back of our minds, in the back of our actions, closed off from participating in our day to day actions.  Of course, on Sundays or in other church functions, we bring Jesus out of his dark cell and into the light...then we give lip service to him.  A sad yet true part of this imprisonment of Jesus within us is that it keeps us in prison as well.   

Without Jesus’s ever present, everlasting Spirit as our focus, we are imprisoned by our anger, guilt, mistreatment of our own bodies, our lack of personal esteem, and the other negatives of our lives.  We are too often comfortable in our weaknesses, fearing to move beyond them into something unknown even with the promise that the unknown might bring amazing joy, peace, real comfort, and trust. 

In Matthew’s gospel, there is a story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem.  All the city was moved, asking, “Who is this?”  And his friends replied, “He is Jesus, the rabbi from Nazareth.”  Just hearing abut Jesus offered hope.  That day, the blind went to him in the temple and Jesus healed them. 

Sometimes I think we too are blinded by the wooing of the world rather than being healed through our Spiritual inheritance.  We too are lame because we feel we are weak with no real power or influence.  We don’t seem to have enough faith to stand for what the Christ Spirit offers us, such as hope, faith, or  strength in difficult times.  No wonder the world is suffering from violence, illness and depravity.  Human beings listen to the world and not to God.  We listen to the talking heads on tv about the state of our country or the world instead of being assured that God is still a God of power and might who would like to be the primary guide and force for our thoughts and actions.  The God we worship is ever present and does offer us strength, faith, and power to live as we are intended to live...that is with love...love that embraces all people as kindred, as family members who are co-heirs to the kingdom of God possible in the here and now. 

Many believe Jesus as a human was the most precise reflection of God’s moving power of love.  The alluring Spirit that Jesus still exudes reforms human hearts as nothing else can.  Reformed hearts lead to better lives, better families, communities and nations.  And, of course, to a better world.  Isn’t that what we all want?  All of us?  To live in peace?  To have joy? To understand we too are to represent our God in all that we think, say, and do?  We do desire these states of being, but maybe we look for them in the wrong and weak places.  To live into being the people we...all of us...have been created to be, we need to know, must know, a truth that is livable today. 

All too often, people learn their religious ideas from false-teachings, or teachings based on myth yet taught as truth...for example: Adam and Eve were not two original people;  rather they are representatives of all humanity...created to be intelligent, able to guide and build and govern self.  Their mythological children Cain, Abel, and Seth represent us. Cain is the part of humanity that still does wrong and creates havoc;  Abel represents us as creatures able to forgive and care.  And Seth is our spiritual selves who seek eternal optimism resulting the idea of the powerful God within each of us. 

Or, look at original sin….we humans are not fallen...there is no truth in original sin as a foundational law...rather there is only original blessings which we have inherited from our Creator in hopes each generation would continue the ideas of blessings.  Yet we refute this truth because of misrepresentations.  Or because of the misrepresented idea that every word or story in the Bible is literal.  Not so.  The Bible is full of parables that tell about rightness through stories that are made up for the enlightenment and entertainment of the listeners.   Or they are stories found in the Old Testament which are retold and reworked in the New Testament for the new Jewish Christians.  The biblical words are semi-historical, poetic, spiritual, ethereal, and powerful but not necessarily literal.  Some of the greatest acts by Biblical heroes are great exaggerations to capture the imagination of listeners.  Remember only oral stories and oral history were available at that early era of humanity.  And the more exciting and exaggerated the stories  were the more people would remember them.  Facts are not necessarily interesting.  But stories are because by and large they are about us.  And we are infinitely preoccupied and interested in ourselves!!! 

The Spirit of a loving Jesus never leaves us in an unchanged position. The stories don’t.  Truth is best told in and through human experiences.   If we look to the teachings that according to the Bible Jesus taught his disciples, and if we see them in the light and as the light toward a truth and not in some dark cell of our hearts and minds, we too are healed. We too begin to love beyond our barriers. We accept empowerment to live as loving, forgiving, compassionate people. 

Our scripture today ended with this verse:  Love is the fulfillment of the law.  Therefore, if we as humans love, truly love beyond our self protected concepts, then we too are the law...the Spiritual law that makes life good, healthy, and safe. 

Today, each of us must with intention begin to more often and more fully take Jesus and his awesome Spirit out of the prison we sometimes keep him in and let him enjoy his life and living through us. 

Amen

Sermon, June 13, 2021

Grace 

Ephesians 1: 3-14 

Today I want to address the important topic of grace.  By definition grace means “unmerited assistance, or unearned mercy (favor). God offers us grace for our regeneration or spiritual growth. 

Many of us know the story of John Newton, a slave trader.  With a full ship of slaves from the African Continent, Captain Newton’s ship was caught in a terrible hurricane like storm and almost capsized.  The ship was off the coast of Ireland at this time.  Needless to say, fear was the predominate emotion of the captain, the crew, and the slaves.  Years later Captain Newton told friends that near death experience was the reason he converted to Christianity.  Here is the conundrum.  Even after this conversion he still maintained a slave trade for 6 or 7 more years.  Then another 7 years went by and at that time he became ordained in the Church of England.  He completely renounced slavery as a corruption and a sin.  That was when he wrote these words: “I once was lost, but now am found.  Was blind but now I see.” 

So my question this morning is, was Captain John Newton’s life a success or a failure?  We might ponder that question for a moment. While Newton was a slave trader he enslaved and sold people for years...many of whom died en-route to the new world.  He was solely responsible for those actions.  Yet in later years, he was so remorseful he wrote a powerful hymn that has touched thousands and thousands of lives, encouraging others to turn away from sin and into a life of grace...goodness. 

Which one of Captain Newton’s legacy is more prominent, more lasting, and more effective? 

How would you respond?  Do you condemn him or forgive him? 

There is a Biblical person who lived a similar life to Captain Newton’s.  That was Saul of Tarsus who became Paul, a Christian evangelist.  As Saul, he committed hundreds of murders, horrible acts of cruelty, and as a Pharisaic soldier he participated in the crucifixion of Jesus.  Yet after his conversion he became a completely dedicated man reaching as many people as he could to tell them about the redemption Christ offers to all believers.  He gathered people into groups who became churches and he preached the gospel of love, forgiveness, and compassion. 

So I ask you the same question:  which legacy of Saul/Paul is more prominent, more lasting, and more effective ? Do you condemn him or forgive him? 

And if you forgive him, why is it easier to forgive him than to forgive Captain Newton? 

These are important questions for all of us because each and every one of us has failed is some way to live into the life of love, forgiveness, and compassion Jesus exemplifies. I have failed in huge ways and small ways. I know God forgive me when I ask for forgiveness.  However, the difficult part is forgiving myself, not dwelling on the bad experiences, but moving on in faith, redemption, and God’s gracious grace. 

As sinners, we all deserve punishment for our sins.  But God doesn’t punish us...our choices punish us.  God forgives easily and in that grace God hopes we learn the lesson to not repeat sinful ways, but go along the path of rightness for his sake and ours.  I have experienced God’s grace and I am utterly and completely thankful for it.   And what about your own legacy?  How many of you still live with regrets instead of grace and forgiveness?  How many still cling to the wrong you have done instead of accepting God’s grace and forgiveness?  And how many of you have truly forgiven yourselves so that your path forward is clear? 

I think those questions I asked have two answers.  One answer would be the way we as humans would answer them.  And they are probably not the answers we hope they would be.  People do cling to the wrong that was done; they do want revenge; they do want all wrongs made right in their favor.  However, God would answer those questions in a different way.  According to scripture God looks at each of us with grace, with unmerited, unearned favor.  Grace is everywhere if we choose to see it, acknowledge it and use it in all of our relationships.  Because we are believers, we are children of this gracious God, and we are forgiven, enabling us to live lives of purity, harmony, peace, and goodwill to all people...even those who have hurt us the most! 

Hard lessons?  Yes.  Necessary lessons?  Yes...that is yes if we truly desire to be instruments of God’s love and grace on this planet and during our time here.  I pray we all seek this way to be: believers in the grace of God.

Amen 

Sermon, June 20, 2021

Fathers’ Day          

People of an early monotheistic faith have referred to God as “Father” for over 4000 years.  The very first passage where God presents himself as the father of Israel is Exodus, 4: 22-23.  It happens after God calls Moses and commissions him to deliver the Israelite people.  However, after that the term “father” for God in the Old Testament is used only 15 times. 

When Christianity was born, God was addressed as “Father” because that was Jesus’ favorite term for him.  In Matthew, Mark and Luke Jesus calls God “Father” 65 times.  In the gospel of John, Jesus refers to God as “Father” over 100 times.    Many times, Jesus used the word “Abba”, an Aramaic term for father.  We should also remember, God is “Father” because of his active interest in human affairs...the way a caring father takes an interest in his children who are dependent on him.  As a father he responds to humanity, acting in our best interest. 

How many of us often think of our fathers whether living or dead?  Many times a deceased father will appear in a dream, or in a fleeting thought, or we will see our father in our own selves and offspring.  Those images and memories don’t die.   Therefore, there is a continuity of connections that have flowed through us and on to the next generation.   

I think that is the idea why people of faith called God “Father.”  We are truly all connected. 

According to scripture humans were the last of the creatures to be called into being...and God gave us dominion over the earth. He thought we would take care of it as he had done when he created the universe and all the planets.  We are his chosen representatives on this planet earth, and therefore we are a main component of the heart of God.  The hearts and minds of humans are where the Spirit of the Father God reside, urging us on to act in loving, compassionate ways to one another. 

I think one of the most remarkable aspects of our Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is that the Bible tells the story of our entire human history through father to father to father to father down through the ages.  God as Father, created us, gave birth to humanity, and he did so in his own image.  He used human fathers and mothers to bring other humans to live on this amazing planet.  Even though we inherently know we are important as God’s people and family, we continually reject God.  Perhaps this is how we can tell that we are indeed a huge part of the heart of God, because even after we reject God over and over again, he goes to every extreme to encourage and enable us to return to him in a healthy relationship.   

If we carefully read and study our holy scriptures, we begin to see Jesus as the closest reflection of God we have available to us.  Jesus, knowing he was so special to his God that he was comfortable talking to God and about God as his father, and ours as well.  On earth, Jesus spent time with sinners, losers, the diseased and the dishonest.  Story after story affirm that he sought out those who needed love and acceptance the most.  He told a story about a shepherd who left 99 sheep to go find the one that was lost.  Jesus does that also.  Jesus reached out to the ostracized Zacceus, the hated tax collect, and told him he was coming to his house to have dinner with him.  Jesus touched and cured the lepers,  those no one else would go near.  He healed a sick woman, healed a blind man, raised from the dead one of his best earthly friends.  He forgave the woman who was living with men who were not her husbands.  We read again and again Jesus loved, cared for, identified and socialized with the lost, the wounded, the not-too bright ones, and he even made some of them his disciples.  

How can we not see God’s passionate love for us, for you and me, even when we are battered, guilty, and feeling like we are not worth his time.  God’s powerful love rescues every one of us and raises us up from the depths of our own created hell into an existence with the God of Love that is what we need...because that is what fathers do.  Those of us fortunate enough to have or did have a caring father, we are blessed because we then see and understand God as Father even better.  Those who had difficult or abusive relationships with a father might have a hard time calling God Father or Abba.  But, guess what.  Whatever you call him doesn’t matter, just talk to him and maybe you will find the kind of Father you always hoped you would have. 

As believers in our God we both hear and sense the very heartbeat of God in our own bodies.  His pulse is still in us from the beginning of time.  Just touch your chest, feel the beat of it, experience the rise and fall of it, and you will feel the heart of God in your own body.  We are God’s offspring, and He is our Father. 

Claim him as Father and it will be easier to see all human beings as your brothers and sisters, co-heirs with Jesus to the kingdom of God.   

May the family of Christians, acknowledging Jesus as brother and God as Father, grow in spirit and in grace, loving each other more and more every day. 

To the Fathers present, have a blessed Fathers’ Day.

Amen 

Sermon, June 27, 2021

Gaining Life 

I have a few questions this morning.  Please consider them, then answer to yourself as honestly as you can.  Here is the first one:  have you ever thought or said aloud, “If I was God I would change that person who irritates me?”   Or, have you thought or said, “If I was God I would make our country safer and people would have the values I honor?”  Another one.  Have you ever thought or said, “If I was God I would change my situation and not have this stress?” 

Perhaps we have all said or thought similar things through the years...but I don’t think I’ve heard someone say, “If I was God I would change me.  Or, if I was God I would change my behavior.”   

The answers you give will tell you what the crux and cause of your frustrations are.  We want other people, other relationships, other situations to change so we don’t have to do so.  We want what we want when we want it and that makes us the very center of our own reckless universe.  When that occurs the results are more frustration, guilt, discontentment, and depression or despair.  If God is not the very center of our universe y\we are off-kilter, unbalanced, and usually unhappy. 

The questions I asked were prefaced with the words, “If I was God.”  Of course we are not God, but God is within us offering each of us some of his awesome power and wisdom.  But do we ever ask for those things?  “Ask and ye shall receive” so says our scripture.  How often have your said to your God, I want some of your power to accept the person I am, the situation I am in, and the wisdom to know how to effectively relate to others?  Have you ever thought to say to your Lord something like this:  “God, I want others to see you in me?”  I want others to know you live within me and guide my decisions, shape my behavior, and mold my words.  Have you ever asked specifically for this reality? 

Truth be told, God is in each of us depending on the room inside we offer God.  We can be very like God in our behavior if we forget ourselves, our egocentric selves, and live for the purpose of loving and serving others?  When we act in selfish or in selfcentered ways, our whole world shrinks into a tiny ball of stress where we are the center of our own self-created universe.  In this case we matter more than anything or any other person.  Within those tiny, shrunken walls, we must compulsively and constantly seek affirmation in order to make ourselves seem normal and lovable. Yet the result is that we become even less content not more content, not happier.  When we seek to get our way no matter what, to focus on only on ourselves, our needs, our wants, we become miserable people, causing distress in those who do love us. 

God created a broad universe for all of us.  But, too often we want to shrink that universe into a tiny sphere where we have control.  That little universe becomes toxic.  Then others don’t really want to be with us.  They don’t seek out a relationship with us.  To truly find the kind of exuberance, abundance, and joy that God says is available, we need to make a swap with God….replace God’s way to live with our little pitiful ways to live.   Only by allowing God’s plan to work in us, can we experience healthy relationships based on mutual respect and shared service.  When we follow God’s plan we will be the blossoming, life-fulfilling humans God has planned us to be.   

We wonder why people are leaving churches today...maybe its because the Christians, or believers, who do attend church don’t act like the Christ image we are made in.  Maybe it is because we do not willingly put others first, leave our comfort zones to serve those less fortunate than we are.  Maybe Christians are too self serving, self loving, self centered which  might turn others away.   

I’m just asking. 

I think Christianity has lost some of its power to attract because we either refuse to see or are afraid to see the very radical nature of our faith...to forget our self-centered ways and to live abundantly in, for, and through God Almighty by spending our days in service to one another.  No person is ever taller than when he stoops to help another.   

Let this day be one in which we commit to asking God to exist in and through us to the extent that love is visible, knowable, and contagious!  God is gracious enough to give us this opportunity to swap our little lives for God’s enormous life of love.  So today, I will end with another question or two. 

Will you choose to live for God or for yourself?  And, will you invite and allow God to be visible in you and in your words and actions?  And the last one.  If you were God whose behavior would you change today? 

Amen 

Sermon, July 4, 2021 

Today, as we celebrate our nation’s independence from England and the right for self-governance, I would like us to think about freedom.   The words of the First Amendment to our Constitution establishes six rights or freedoms that every American citizen should cherish.  Here are those six freedoms:  1. The right to be free from governmental establishment of religion.  2.  The right to be free from governmental interference with the practice of religion.  3.  The right to free speech.  4.  The right to freedom of the press.  5.  The right to assemble peacefully which includes the right to associate freely with whomever one chooses.  6. The right to petition the government for redress of grievances.    

These six freedoms are basic freedoms all Americans have.  Yet, there is a caveat.  We have the freedoms but along with those, for thinking caring people, there is a counterpart to those freedoms, and that is personal responsibility.  You have a right to exercise those freedoms, but along with those rights goes the necessity of utilizing those rights in positive, non-harmful ways, and ways which enhance your own and the greater good. 

We are fully responsible for ourselves...and it seems today, if we listen to media, that most of us want these freedoms without the responsibilities that go along with them.  You have the right to say what you want to whomever you want, yet for peaceful co-existence you say only those things which are kind, helpful, forgiving, or to express concern and compassion...not to be used to belittle, to anger, or to hurt another person or people.  Some of us still want the freedoms without the responsibility to use them in favorable ways. 

Let me give you an example:  when our nation is at war, we send the military to fight for us, to save us and our country….we give the total responsibility to the military as we sit back and live life as usual without much thought to what the military is doing...except maybe offering a prayer for them if we remember.  We often give our responsibility to others rather than acting responsibly ourselves.  We cannot and must not abdicate our responsibility for the way we choose to live!  Even during war, when the military is on the front lines, we can be helpful such as checking on and assisting families who have sons and husbands who are away, we can be helpful by being frugal, compassionate, and prayerful. Not hard, but necessary, ways to be. 

So those six named freedoms we have require responsibility all the time, always. 

Many of those freedoms cause us stress because we do misuse them...we do speak ugly hurtful words, we do try to control other’s movements and actions to please ourselves; we do think thoughts that might cause guilt or anger.  The misuse of freedoms causes internal stress.  They can disrupt our sleep patterns.  They can cause us to seek crutches to help us through the days and nights in a fog instead of feeling responsible.  How do you personally respond to those freedoms.  Responsibly or in a cavalier fashion?  

Think about it. 

Now while we are on the subject let us consider another freedom...one that will not cause us stress, that will not force us to use crutches to get by, but will give peace and comfort no matter what is happening to us.  That is the ultimate freedom we gain when we learn to trust and act on that trust of our holy, strong, competent, gracious God.  He chooses no wrong for any of us.  He always chooses love for each of us.  If we don’t experience that love, God did not move away from us, we moved away from God. 

If you trusted God you would know what ever happened ultimately would be in your best interest as well as the in the best interest of those you love.  That is an ultimate truth, yet many reject it because we judge God based on our own desires, and our own perceptions of what is good and what is bad.  When you put your total trust in the God who created you and the universe, you have no safer, caring, loving place to rest securely than in God’s embrace. 

Our problem is we judge the world and other people in basically one way….what happens is either in my favor or it is not.  That is a limited and limiting way to think.  We must broaden our perceptions, expand our minds and hearts, be open to a consciousness that is God first always, then we will know peace and comfort in what we might call even the worst of all possible circumstances. 

We all want peace. We all want freedom.  We all want to feel loved and accepted.  Too often we look for those in places that can not and will not give us what we need or want.  There is only one place to find peace and comfort always and in all ways and that is to give up our lives and those we love to the care of our great and gracious God.   

You might ask, “How do I learn to trust God?”  Scripture answers that.  Our Bible is full of scriptures about trusting God.  As our Creator and Redeemer, we need to submit to his plan for us.  He is all knowing and all powerful.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways look to God and he will direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:4-5.  So, stop doubting God’s ability, power, and love. Talk with him and go with him on his path for you.  What have you got to lose? 

Amen 

Sermon, July 11, 2021

Our Life-Our Story

Romans 8: 15-17 

Many people ask, “Is the Bible true?” Another often asked question is, “If the Bible is not literal why do we follow its teachings?” There are hundreds or more books written by biblical scholars that answer those questions in great detail.  So what we say here today is brief and not in great detail.  But perhaps a beginning discussion might be a start. 

The Old Testament is almost 4000 years old.  The New Testament is about 2000 years old.  The entire Bible is one story from beginning in Genesis to ending in Revelation.  It relates for us how one tribe then nation of people tried to answer questions that concern us all. 

So, let us start with a story.  Mary fell down.  That is a story.  However, most people want to know when did she fall, where did she fall, how did she fall, why did she fall, and finally what is the result of her falling?  If those questions are answered then one version of the story is developed.  Depending on who is telling the story, the details change, therefore the versions of the story change.  They especially change if the story is re-told for many years and centuries.  Nonetheless, the base story remains the same. 

That is an outline of how the Bible was written.  It is a story, from beginning to end, told by many different people, for many different groups, at many different times, and in many different locales. 

For the New Testament, the base story is Jesus lived, was crucified, and several people declared they experienced him even after he died.  Depending on who adds the  what, when, where, how, and results of that life, the base story is added to.  The shape of the story is  influenced by the many authors’  beliefs, knowledge, interpretations, and target audiences. 

Human beings, from the very beginning of time, have relied on stories to provide information about life.  We have always told stories.  We tell stories to those who are willing to listen.  We tell historical stories of where we have been and what humans have done.  We have stories of heroes and heroines, inspiring us to be more than we think we can be.  We have mythological stories to teach us to listen to and learn beneath the facts of the story, to the why the story is being told, or why that story is important.  We have religious stories telling us of the varied ways humans have visualized gods and goddesses and what divine beings want from us.  We, as Christians, have our own story of human life united with the divine life in each and every one of us. 

To understand humanity and society, we must first know and understand ourselves.  We need to set aside preconceived notions about ourselves, our nature, our divine spirits so that we can, not be more religious or holier, but we can become more human and much more humane. 

In our society, and in our selected faith, we read what we call The Bible.  It is a story from Genesis to Revelation.  It is a story that has been told first for centuries in an oral tradition.  Then eventually it was written down by many different authors at many different times, who had many different interpretations, and many different target audiences. Because it is a lengthy story that is filled with basic truths, legends, exaggerations, laws and commands, poetry, songs, philosophy, and theology regarding a theistic God, most of us pick and choose the parts of the Bible that give us particular meaning, then we overlook the rest of it.  Sometimes we choose to focus on the easiest parts of the Bible...these parts are usually what guides us in our daily walks.   Because of our desire to live according to Biblical dictates, and because we all pick and choose what parts we want to follow, the result is there are thousands of denominations in the Christian tradition.  If one denomination teaches us to believe something we don’t believe then we can usually find a denomination that leaves those parts out and focuses on others.  There is something for everyone in our faith tradition. 

Stories make our lives worth living.  Shared stories unite us.  Stories connect us. Stories often elicit powerful emotional responses in us. They teach us about our selves and what we value.  Stories also expand our horizons and our thoughts.  Through stories we can see the world through other peoples’ eyes and experiences.  Stories are perhaps the very best way to communicate.  Facts are important, but usually facts are not enough for us.  We want them fleshed out.  We find them hard to remember compared to stories which are often hard to forget.  Why is it when you gather with friends and family you tell the same stories over and over again?  They continue to enrich our lives and strengthen the common bonds between us. 

Another important thing stories do for us is they move us to forward thinking.  We are curious about what is coming next, certainly for ourselves but also for our country, our community, our extended family.  What happens next is always a vital question.  Also, stories usually make a claim that some part of our lives has meaning.  As Fredrick Beuchner says, “Stories tell us that life adds up somehow, that life itself is like a story and this grips us and fascinates us because of the feeling it gives us that if there is meaning in any life, then there is meaning also in our own lives.”   

Because so much of our social, political, and personal lives are written in story form based on some parts of our Holy Bible, it behooves us to know it better even with the knowledge that some of what is written has been purposefully exaggerated for emphasis.   

As a people of faith, we can gain insight, knowledge, wisdom, and even more balanced emotions by reading and relating to biblical stories...because the stories about God are ultimately stories about you. 

Stories in the Bible show us that life, through God and through your own cognizance, is leading you not just anywhere but somewhere...that in itself provides comfort, assurance, and hope...traits all of us need and live by. 

So even realizing the Biblical story changes through time, it still relates to us the very best way for humans to live in safety with one another.  What is better and more powerful than love, forgiveness, and compassion? 

Pray about your story and what it is telling those you love, those you know, and those you don’t know but who watch your behavior and your words.   Today and everyday, you have opportunities to tell you story or edit it to increase you faith and your ability to love beyond boundaries. 

Think on these things and be blessed.

Amen 

Sermon, July 18, 2021 

The society we live in is full of institutions.  Institutions of government, education, religions, professional sports, and assorted clubs and societies of special interests.  Institutions are a way of living with the intention that most people might have laws, learning, faith, and activities in common. The principal behind the idea is safety, better understanding of each other, and general guidelines for all residents.  However, institutions, though needed, sometimes change the very reason they were initiated in the first place. 

Let’s focus on religion...our faith in particular.  Christianity has its basic origins in Judaism, a religion which worships only one God.  Judaism has an identity associated with the ten commandments and a history of heroes, leaders, judges, priests, and kings, plus over 600 specific laws that must be obeyed. 

About 2000 years ago a young Jewish man in Israel became convinced the religious people of his day had become so embroiled in having to specifically follow The Law, that life became a drudgery.  All the laws they had did not seem to change their behavior to make life more loving, or more forgiving, for themselves and others.  This man thought something had to be done. 

The man, we call Jesus, whose Jewish name was Joshua, began to try to free his family and community from the strictness in which they lived.  He felt people needed freedom to express love, to freely offer forgiveness, and to be compassionate.  Jesus walked from village to village teaching people there was real freedom in the authentic love of God.  He taught about being humane and kind.  He asked people to love one another in practicality, not just in words.  He taught the opposite of  self centered-ness.  He proclaimed all people are equally important in the eyes of our Creator.  People were drawn to Jesus so much so that a faith centered in love, not The Law, began to develop.  His followers were called People of the Way..the way of Jesus, the way of love.  About 300 years later Constantine, a Roman Emperor, liked the fact that Christians seemed to be loyal to their God.  He wanted people to be loyal to him.  Toward his desire, he made this fledgling faith the official faith of his empire...and the institutionalization of Christianity began.  A Pope was selected to be like the emperor, having control of the hierarchy and the masses of people.  Archbishops, bishops, priests, friars, nuns, preachers, teachers, church buildings, and printed bibles all became a part of upholding this institutionalized religion...and the simple loving grace-filled faith OF Jesus slowly developed into a faith ABOUT Jesus.  Stories had to be written to make Jesus more like Rome and  Greek gods so Rome could militarily compete with powerful pagan societies and religions of the time. 

Today, we as Christians, sometimes elevate the institution of Christianity over the simple loving lives Jesus asked us to live every day.  Through the institutionalization of Jesus, we have become less personal, less committed to each other. We have diminished the original meaning of Jesus’ faith.  Yes, we have gorgeous churches and cathedrals, organs and pianos with moving music, hymns and singers, we have creeds, dogma and doctrines, tenets and isms; we have all the trimmings to make us like Jesus, our founder, yet we refuse to love people who do not love us or think or look like we do.  The simple out-reach of love Jesus taught asks us to be full do-ers of the faith all week long and not just Sunday morning.  All the creeds, prayers, and ministerial work that were to help us become more loving have not produced more love or forgiveness.  Instead, under the umbrella of Christianity as an institution, we are a people and a nation who say and do terrible things to each other. 

Sin, hurt, wrong doings are prevalent among people who claim to be Christian.  All the writings, buildings, and creeds do not come alive, are not filled with enthusiasm and spirit, unless people who profess to follow the simple faith of Jesus take his teachings and act on them every day.  Jesus’ faith was about putting kindness out into the world.  It was about loving even our enemies, praying for them; giving ourselves away in service to others instead of hording possessions and time. Jesus asked us to stop giving lip service to God, and do what we know to be spiritual...forgive, love, and reach out to those in need in our community.  Be a real Christian meaning emulate Jesus in the simple ways he loved and cared for other human beings.  Be someone for Christ. Stand with him always.  Throw love around like nothing else matters, because in truth, that is the truth. 

We can and must enjoy and relish the trimmings of our faith like churches, cathedrals, rites, hymns, on and on.  But, our first priority is to be and act as a Christian, willing to leave our comfort zones everyday to serve our Lord, to love all others.  If we as Christians don’t do these acts, who will?  And if no one speaks out and stands for the faith of Jesus, we may just be the last truly believing and acting group of Christians in this country.  Each of us must think about it...what are your priorities?  What is your faith really about?  How often do you practice your simple loving Christianity?   

Maybe today is the day we decide to make Jesus and his ethics as our priorities and actually do the word and work of our Lord.  I pray so.

Amen 

Sermon, July 25, 2021 

Love is the most important theme in our holy scriptures. I believe we can say the entire Good News of Jesus the Christ is love. 

The word “love” occurs 319 times in our Old Testament and 232 times in the New Testament.  We know Jesus told us there is really only one commandment that includes all the others; and that is “to love the Lord you God with all your heart, mind, soul, and body, and to love your neighbor as yourself.”  I was curious this week about how Jesus imagined love, how he experienced love.  I turned to the language of Jesus which was Aramaic.  The word “love” in Aramaic is “Khuba” pronounced “Hoo-ba.”  That word to Jesus was an active verb;  love meant to do something, put a thought or feeling into action.  In regard to the commandment Jesus gave us, when we were taught to love the Lord our God it meant do something for God. Obey God.  Live for God.  Teach others about God’s grace...on and on.  Love is an action. 

The same goes for the rest of the commandment to love your neighbor, as yourself. To Jesus that meant to do something for your neighbor.  Act in kindness and goodness to your neighbor and to yourself.  Just how do you show love to strangers and friends alike?  And just how kind are you to yourself? What healthy decisions do you make and act on to produce a healthier, happier, saner you that also benefits others?  It’s all about what you do, how you act, in any given circumstance...and Jesus shows us how. 

Jesus knew what he was talking about.  He understood human beings.  He was one.  And he was a human who had been ridiculed as a child.  Whatever else you think about the birth of Jesus and his early years you include in that thought no one knew who Jesus’s biological father was. If there was one.  Some people considered him to be a mamzer, or in our language “an illegitimate child.” He was low class.  He was poor with no social our political clout.  He was an outcast.  Children didn’t play with him. They made fun of him and called him names.  Later when Mary did have “legitimate” children like James, Jude, Simon, Joses, and her daughters, they resented Jesus being favored. Therefore, as scripture tells us, most of his family did not approve of him or follow him until after his death and resurrection. 

Through the stories of Jesus we know he focused his attention on the under-dog, the oppressed, the outcasts and the marginalized.  Now we know why...he could relate to them on a very personal level. 

As an outcast, a marginalized person, where did Jesus learn the power of loving and the importance of loving all people including our enemies?  Most people will say, “God, taught him how to love.”  And yes that’s a good answer….but don’t forget God used and still uses people to be his hands, feet, and voice. He guides people to provide instruction, and to indicate what is of value in life.  Who taught Jesus to love? 

That might beg the question, of who taught you to respect and love yourself?  Maybe your parents, Sunday School teachers, school teachers, neighborhood friends?  Or did you learn the hard way through your own mistakes and stubbornness?  Or, maybe from all the above?   Think back on your childhood...who made you feel special?  Important?  Worthy? And, once having those healthy feelings how did you sustain them...or did you? 

All too often we read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and think that’s all there is to know about Jesus and that would be a wrong and limiting thought.  None of us live truly alone;  we are constantly receiving influence for good or ill all the hours and days of our lives.  And Jesus did too.  He was obviously a real student of life;  he was curious;  he was often mischievous, and in later years angry.  But underneath those outward outbursts and behaviors there was an abiding reality that if he of all people, an outcast himself, could be used by his God in wondrous ways then everyone could...and that means us as well.  That’s why Jesus was a freedom teacher, a teacher of love, forgiveness, compassion….because first of all he desired those things himself. And, second he knew from experience life is not good without those primary characteristics of love, forgiveness, and compassion that as humans we must learn and practice above all others!    

Love God, self, and others is not just a command, rather it is the very best, most meaningful and powerful way to live every day. The way of Jesus is better than any other life that that has been tired through the centuries.  In the way of Jesus everyone has a chance to be worthy, respected, and of course loved. 

This week as you think about love and what Jesus taught, ask yourself this question:  “what do I do about love?’ 

Amen 

Sermon, August 1, 2021

Matthew 15: 22-28 

Years ago I began to follow a well-known Canadian theologian named Richard Fairchild.  He taught one way to make scripture come alive is to read a brief story in the gospels then flesh it out as though you were there.  Use your imagination.  Develop the characters.  Bring them and the story to life. 

This morning we read a brief story in the gospel of Matthew that only told us a few facts.  A desperate woman wanted Jesus to heal her child.  Two of the disciples wanted her to go away.  Jesus spoke in a cavalier rather than caring way. And in the end she got the best of him. 

Listen now to how Rev. Fairchild told that story to his congregation. He pretended he was present at this occurrence.  So the story is told in first person. He calls this story “Crumbs from the Table.”   

“The woman did not belong there. I knew it and the rest of us knew it.  We were just sitting down to dinner when she barged in!  The dogs under the table began barking and the children cried aloud, afraid.  The frantic woman looked around the room.  I stood up and could feel myself getting angry at this dirty, disheveled woman.  Two of the disciples, James and John, who had been sitting near the door surrounded the woman and tried to hustle her out the door.  They, like me, did not want this awful woman to interrupt our meal together.  We should not let her or anyone else interfere with the time Jesus had set apart to teach us more about the Kingdom of God. 

James and John were struggling to get the woman out side but she ran straight for Jesus crying aloud, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me.  My daughter is sick; she is suffering terribly from demon possession!” 

The Master must have heard her over the noise of the dogs, but he never said a word.  He didn’t even look up from his place.  One of the children who had been frightened just sat at Jesus’ side, ignoring the hullabaloo. She was quiet and happy letting Jesus feed her bits of bread. 

John, James, I, and three others tried together to get this vile woman out the door.  We had no intention of allowing her to disrupt our togetherness.  She struggled, but she didn’t have a chance.  But let me tell you she caused as much noise and trouble as a drunken man does.  She was loud, insistent.  She tried to get by us to get to Jesus.  She kept yelling that she had to see he miracle worker; that her daughter was in terrible shape.  The daughter needed help, but this woman was a pain.  We just wanted to get her out so we could go enjoy our meal and some Jesus time. 

James tried to reason with the woman.  “You have no right to be here.  Your are a foreigner; you don’t believe in anything we believe in. Your people are gentiles; they are heathens and your behavior shows you are too.  Our master will not help you.  Go away!” 

The woman would not listen. The others in the room shouted, “Go away.  You are not wanted here.” 

But, you know what she did?  “That wretched woman just shook her head and said, “I know he will help me!” 

She was crazy.  She did not know her place. I thought maybe if Jesus spoke to her and told her to go away, she would go.  So I mentioned it to the others and they agreed.  I went to Jesus and said, “Please tell that woman to go away.  She is bothering all of us.”  Jesus just sat calmly breaking off bits of bread and handing them to the child who earlier had cried with fright. 

Jesus looked at me and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 

Sometimes Jesus was so frustrating. He never gave a straight answer to a simple question! 

Just at that moment, the crazy woman slipped by the guys guarding her and fell on her knees in front of Jesus.  Jesus looked down at her at his feet.  He looked around the room.  The only noise were the flies, the sniffling dogs, and the child chewing her bread.  Other than that the room was quiet.  We were all waiting to see if Jesus would send her away. 

Jesus looked at the woman and said to her, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and give it to their dogs.” 

A couple of the disciples smiled, as I did.  What a great turn of phrase...the kind only Jesus can give without thinking about it.  Then the woman herself smiled, looked at Jesus and said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 

We were all stunned.  No one talked to the Master like that! 

But Jesus smiled at her and said, “Woman you have great faith. Your request is granted.  Go home.  Your daughter is healed.” 

I could not believe it.  I could not understand.  This woman was a Canaanite.  She did not belong with us.  I do not understand Jesus.  That’s the end of the story as Rev. Fairchild told it. 

Now, having heard the story I have an important question for you to answer.  Which of the characters in that story are you most like?  Are you like the desperate woman who is willing to seek a different faith to try to heal her daughter?    

Or, are you like the disciples who tried to turn away someone they felt was less than them and not worthy of Jesus’ attention?  Maybe they didn’t want Jesus to favor her over them. 

Or were you like the child who ignored the hustle and hullabaloo to be content sitting beside Jesus and letting him feed her?   

Or were you most like Jesus...who simply stated what his job and role was but went out of that prescribed barrier and limit to help someone in need.   

Which one of those characters are you most like? 

Amen  

Sermon, August 8, 2021

The Gospel of Mark 12:41-44 

Most people who read these verses probably think this is a message about money.  Actually, it is not about money;  rather it is about trust in God’s way of living.  His way often seems in contrast to our own desires.  Let’s see what the story really tells us. 

According to the story, Jesus and friends were near the Women’s Court.  The Women’s Court was the outer forecourt of the Temple in Jerusalem.  This area was the only one in which women could enter.    Jesus and his men were probably leaning up against the walls of the court resting for a while from their journey to Jerusalem. While resting, they watched people, mostly men, tossing money into one of the 13 receptacles that were placed throughout this court.  The wealthy people who came through that court usually made a show of depositing the coins in some loud manner, like throwing them heavily into the receptacles.  They wanted to be noticed so they made their coins noticeable. In this story, though, a poor indigent woman, a widow, had only two of the smallest coins made and together they were worth just one penny.  Carefully, she put both coins in a receptacle.  They made not a sound.   

Apparently this widow was in need of charity herself.  Yet she had a giving heart and willingly gave all she had to God.  She did not fear losing all she had. She did not fear where her next meal would come from.  She had nothing, yet she trusted her God with all she had. 

Now listen to this tale.  A few years ago a Sunday School teacher had a class of 9 and 10 year old boys.  She wanted them to understand that life is about obeying God, trusting God, and giving aid to those in need.  She wanted the boys to be generous.  Excitably she asked the class, “If you had a million dollars would you be willing to give most of it, or a lot of it, to people in need?”  Equally excited, all the boys shouted, “Yes!”  Then she asked,  If you had a hundred thousand dollars would you give most of it or a lot of it to those in need?”  The boys all shouted “Yes!”  Then she said, if you had just one dollar, a one dollar bill, would you give most of it or a lot of it to those in need.  The class shouted “Yes!”, except for one boy.  He shouted, “No!”   The teacher asked him, “Why did you say ‘no’?”  He answered, “Because I have a dollar.” 

Think about it.  Generosity and altruism...that is helping, being generous with time, energy, and your resources...are wonderful ideas to contemplate, nice to consider.  But actually doing the giving, the altruistic acts at your own cost are all together different.   We want to keep most of what we have even though our faith says we actually own nothing.  Our faith, our scriptures, tell us it all belongs to God. Everything is God’s, even us.  God encourages us to work, labor, toil to gain money and possessions but first and foremost to give basic support to our own families then to be used to assist his people in need. 

Most of us don’t really like to think about offering what we have to God’s work for fear we might lose what we have.  But let me remind you of something important.  Sixteen years ago, some of you in this room lost every possession you had...houses, cars, jewelry, photos, lifetime memories to a storm named Katrina. But look at you now.  Some of you have more than you ever had before.  Some have had those important things replaced.  God did not leave you alone...he sent hundreds of people from all around our nation and the world to help you.  They came forward with funds, materials, and their own labor to  tarp your roof, rebuild part of your house, purchase appliances for you, on and on.  God put on the hearts of people everywhere to come and help resurrect our community.  Interesting, today, those who lost the most seem the most willing to share, to give away, to help rebuild for others, or to patiently sit and listen with an understanding ear and a loving heart.  We are never alone.  The most often thing Jesus ever said was, “Fear not, for I am with you always.” 

Our scripture story of the widow and her two coins that were all she had is a life lesson of faith, hope, and morality we all might need to hear again and again. She trusted God with all she had.  Through that trust, she was fearless. 

The moral of these stories is we must never, ever allow fear, our fear of loss, be the reason we refuse to obey God’s call to give yourself away in caring and compassion in whatever way it comes to you, and at what ever the cost.  No matter how much you give, you will never out-give God. 

Isn’t that what we are asked to do as Christians?  To follow Jesus on his terms not our own which is often so different from his.  Isn’t obeying God’s laws the only true way to security now and eternally? 

All of us have an bit of extra energy every day.  All of us have an hour or two a week to give away.  All of us have a dollar or two to give away.  So, what do you do with your energy? Your time?  Your dollars?   

Amen 

Sermon, August 15, 2021

Perhaps there is no sentient person who is not aware we are living in the midst of a pandemic.  The word pandemic means a wide spread occurrence of an infectious disease over a whole country or world at the same time.   

We in Gulfport are surrounded by a disease, a virus...an entity that can not be seen nor killed. A virus adapts, it changes, it widens its harm….and we don’t like it.  We especially don’t like it because the virus is having a detrimental effect on our economy, our educational opportunities, our travel plans, on church participation, and on our chosen lifestyles.  In fact this pandemic is having a negative effect on nearly every aspect of human life.   

Life for us is changing so quickly we can hardly keep up.  Some problems for us are government mandated restrictions, business closings, school children having to wear masks or schools closing, limited items in grocery stores, and increase in prices of gas and food items.  These changes change us as well. Our frustrations grow large.  Our anxiety can be at an all time high.  When our wanted and necessary needs are not met our faith seems to diminish.  Yet, and it is a big yet, if we are Christians, and choose to act like Christians, then we must re-acknowledge that God is our strength, our help, and our hope...we must depend upon him to see us through whatever calamities this virus sends us.  We must be careful and protective of ourselves and others;  but we must not live in fear...to do so denies and defies our faith in God and his mission on earth. 

It seems to me, after talking to some people who are in an area that affects public thought, the people who have the most wealth, possessions, and status seem to be the most fearful, not just of the virus but of its disruption of familial and societal life.  Have those people put their trust in what they own rather in the God they worship?  Now, in difficulties, is the time to reconsider which God you worship, the one you can trust or the one you doubt? 

I have also talked to people who have no influence in life, not many possessions, and certainly not any prestige and they are the ones who seem to be reaching out to others to offer help...to come in contact with people in real need.  These people have nothing to rescue or save therefore they are free to turn to their God and trust that God is their ever present help in times of trouble. 

These observations are not to find fault with anyone at all, for all persons in this country have the right to live as they choose and to protect themselves in the best way possible.  What is not right is to forget who our God is and what our mission is, for we are his hands, feet, and voices; we are the ones to carry out his unconditional love, even in the midst of a pandemic.   

God through his spokespeople never lied to us.  He told us we would have hardships in this life;  we would experience suffering and loss.  But at the same time God has assured us his vital life-giving spirit will be with us through these times and will still offer his grace, sustenance, and love to any who still seek it and rely on it. 

Viruses and their resulting problems must not ever keep us from living prayerfully, faithfully, and actively;  they must never be the reason we stop supporting one another;  they must not gain control over our feelings or actions. We must know our Creator God can and will be with us with harmony, hope, and courage on this day and every day that follows.  In the hardest most difficult of times are the very times we need to illustrate our faith, live our compassion, and provide an unselfish approach to our neighbors, especially those in need. 

I commend all of you who are here today or who are worshiping with us from afar by way of our broadcast.  I commend you because, this ministry is still thriving in the midst of the pandemic.  Many churches, many ministries are in difficulties, having financial losses, and losing congregants. But all of you, the church, are continuing to pray for our outreach, supporting our giving efforts, offering assistance even when you may be hurting yourself.  I commend you because that is how true Christians are...in deep relationships with God who is merciful, kind, caring, full of wisdom, and overflowing with love and blessings. 

So let’s stop right now and thank our Gracious God for who and what he is and for the fact that he loves and supports us in whatever state of being we are in.  Let us pray: 

Father, God of all.  May we recognize your strength and wisdom throughout the centuries who have maintained loving relationships with your creations no matter the state of the world or universe.  You are still in control and we can accept that when we willingly admit your ways are not our ways and your thoughts are not ours.  Throught it all make us wise enough to trust you, patient enough to serve you, and caring enough to love you and put your requests first. 

Amen

Sermon, August 22, 2021

2nd Chronicles 7:14 

Perhaps there is no sentient person who is not aware we are living in the midst of a pandemic.  The word pandemic means a wide spread occurrence of an infectious disease over a whole country or world at the same time.   

We in Gulfport are surrounded by a disease, a virus...an entity that can not be seen nor killed. A virus adapts, it changes, it widens its harm….and we don’t like it.  We especially don’t like it because the virus is having a detrimental effect on our economy, our educational opportunities, our travel plans, on church participation, and on our chosen lifestyles.  In fact this pandemic is having a negative effect on nearly every aspect of human life.   

Life for us is changing so quickly we can hardly keep up.  Some problems for us are government mandated restrictions, business closings, school children having to wear masks or schools closing, limited items in grocery stores, and increase in prices of gas and food items.  These changes change us as well. Our frustrations grow large.  Our anxiety can be at an all time high.  When our wanted and necessary needs are not met our faith seems to diminish.  Yet, and it is a big yet, if we are Christians, and choose to act like Christians, then we must re-acknowledge that God is our strength, our help, and our hope...we must depend upon him to see us through whatever calamities this virus sends us.  We must be careful and protective of ourselves and others;  but we must not live in fear...to do so denies and defies our faith in God and his mission on earth. 

It seems to me, after talking to some people who are in an area that affects public thought, the people who have the most possessions, and status seem to be the most fearful, not just of the virus but of its disruption of familial and societal life.  Have those people put their trust in what they own rather in the God they worship?  Now, in difficulties, is the time to reconsider which God you worship, the one you can trust or the one you doubt? 

I have also talked to people who have no influence in life, not many possessions, and certainly not any prestige and they are the ones who seem to be reaching out to others to offer help...to come in contact with people in real need.  These people have nothing to rescue or save therefore they are free to turn to their God and trust that God is their ever present help in times of trouble. 

These observations are not to find fault with anyone at all, for all persons in this country have the right to live as they choose and to protect themselves in the best way possible.  What is not right is to forget who our God is and what our mission is, for we are his hands, feet, and voices; we are the ones to carry out his unconditional love, even in the midst of a pandemic.   

God through his spokespeople never lied to us.  He told us we would have hardships in this life;  we would experience suffering and loss.  But at the same time God has assured us his vital life-giving spirit will be with us through these times and will still offer his grace, sustenance, and love to any who still seek it and rely on it. 

Viruses and their resulting problems must not ever keep us from living prayerfully, faithfully, and actively;  they must never be the reason we stop supporting one another;  they must not gain control over our feelings or actions. We must know our Creator God can and will be with us with harmony, hope, and courage on this day and every day that follows.  In the hardest most difficult of times are the very times we need to illustrate our faith, live our compassion, and provide an unselfish approach to our neighbors, especially those in need. 

I commend all of you who are here today or who are worshiping with us from afar by way of our broadcast.  I commend you because, this ministry is still thriving in the midst of the pandemic.  Many churches, many ministries are in difficulties, having financial losses, and losing congregants. But all of you, the church, are continuing to pray for our outreach, supporting our giving efforts, offering assistance even when you may be hurting yourself.  I commend you because that is how true Christians are...in deep relationships with God who is merciful, kind, caring, full of wisdom, and overflowing with love and blessings. 

So let’s stop right now and thank our Gracious God for who and what he is and for the fact that he loves and supports us in whatever state of being we are in.  Let us pray: 

Father, God of all.  May we recognize your strength and wisdom throughout the centuries who have maintained loving relationships with your creations no matter the state of the world or universe.  You are still in control and we can accept that when we willingly admit your ways are not our ways and your thoughts are not ours.  Through it all make us wise enough to trust you, patient enough to serve you, and caring enough to love you and put your requests first.

Amen 

Sermon, August 29, 2021

Chapter 9 of John’s Gospel 

The scripture today is a long one, but it is also an amazing story.  It really needs no explanation.  However, I do want to make just one or two comments on this story. 

As Christians, each of us should recognize our God is a loving God.  Each one of us is a precious creation that he made for special times and special reasons.   What we most need to know or remember is that our God created us to live lives of love, compassion, and spiritual, mental, and physical health.  Yet we humans have been given free will by our God. We can choose to live his way and receive the blessings therein, or live our own self-centered ways and discover one day we have missed some of those blessings that help us know we are loved and cherished. 

The way God designed his creations was to have a natural order of the universe which allows all life to occur in all of its fullness and all of its aspects.  However, within that plan is also, hardships, sufferings, and loss. Scripture says of it:  rain falls on the just and the unjust. 

Our continuing tasks as Christians is to acknowledge God in all things and trust him, especially during the terrible times of our humanity.  That is not an easy challenge, yet God created us to be capable of meeting whatever challenges befall us. Facing, coping, and overcoming challenges are how we grow.  We learn to live fully by accepting the joys and sufferings of life as all part of the godliness of each one of us. 

In our scripture story today, Jesus spit on the ground and made clay to put on the blind man’s eyes.  In the Jewish faith spit or saliva was a first cousin to blood.  And mud was where we came from in a spiritual context.  In other words, humans came from the earth...even the word Adamah or Adam, a symbol of the first human beings, means earth or dust.  In the story Jesus was reminding all of us that He, us, and the earth are all one...one throbbing mass of energy reflecting the power of the Almighty Mystery we call God. 

This story might also indicate that what the earth contains has the potential to heal us.  What the earth contains and our faith in a healing spirit can heal emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical distress. 

In the story, when the Pharisees continued to try to get the blind man or is parents to accept blame for his blindness, the man made one of the most profound statements found in the Bible.  He said in truth, “I can not explain it. I don’t know who this man is.  But this I can say.   "I was blind, now I see.”   

Which ones of us can say the same thing, “I was blind, but now I see!” 

What Amazing Grace! 

Amen 

Sermon, September 5, 2021

Matthew 18: 1-4 

In today’s reading there are two areas of thought:  one is “What is the kingdom of Heaven?.” The second one is “Who is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” 

Let’s look first at what is the kingdom of Heaven?  Every kingdom has a king...so heaven, as a kingdom, has a king known as God.  God is known as the Great Creator...creator of all things, and then naming all things as good.  Most biblical scholars seem to think the kingdom of heaven means God’s spiritual reign/power in the life of believers that results in moral, ethical, and spiritual standards.  The kingdom of Heaven is not so much a place as it is a state of being and a way of acting. It is a conscious awareness that God is all.  When God is perceived as all then the human soul has infinite value, love becomes the predominant act of all humans toward all living things, and God is known as universal.  When humans recognize God as such then human acts will be those that show humility, not pride;  will indicate all people regardless of status are vital to God, and one more...in the eyes of our Creator we are loved and cherished equally by God and should therefore treat each other as equal human beings in all things that matter.  These are the main characteristics of humilty. 

Humility keeps us on the path of righteousness because it prevents us from looking down on any other person.  The humble person recognizes all others are the same as he or she.  We have no right to feel that someone else is less than we are, or inferior to us.  What we believe about God...another word for Heaven...determines our thoughts which determine our actions.  It is imperative if we want peace and joy in our lives we must know our thoughts and beliefs, resulting in actions, are our closest access to the Kingdom of Heaven. 

The second question our reading today asked was “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 

Jesus’ answer to this question is “children” are the greatest.  Have you ever thought why that is?  Children seem to be naturally curious, humble, and teachable.  Jesus tells us to be child-like, not childish!  There is a huge difference in those two descriptions.  The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, like children, are those who willingly learn from scripture, or from people of great faith, and from their own life experiences.  They are willing to serve God by serving people regardless of the personal cost.  Then,  humble people do not think so highly of themselves they act in prideful ways.  God does not and can not fill a person with His Spirit if that person is already full of himself. 

Our spiritual task for this week is to get in the habit of being keenly aware of people you pass on the street or in a store, or in church. Look at them as God sees them...as important as you are.  Look at them with love and respect.  We must not judge but we must accept one another as people of a loving God, joint heirs with Christ to all God offers.   

When we genuinely ask for it, God gives us inner peace, all consuming love for one another, and encouragement to live moral, humble, spiritual lives.  These are great prescriptions for healthy, joyous, successful living.  Can we together make a commitment to try to do these acts?  What have we got to lose except ourselves. 

Amen 

Sermon, September 12, 2021 

Matthew 18: 1-4 

In today’s reading there are two areas of thought:  one is “What is the kingdom of Heaven?” It’s important for you to know the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are one and the same. 

The second area of thought in today’s reading is: “Who is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” 

Let’s look at the Kingdom of Heaven first. The kingdom of Heaven is probably the main content of Jesus’s preaching in Matthew.  The Kingdom of Heaven can be described as a process, a course of events, when God begins to govern or to act as king or Lord.  This is an action by which God manifests his being-God in the world of humans. 

Most biblical scholars seem to think the Kingdom of Heaven means God’s spiritual reign or power in the life of believers resulting in moral, ethical, and spiritual standards. We have an opportunity every moment of life to be good citizens in the Kingdom of Heaven.  But sometimes we rebel and choose a much less meaningful kingdom...the kingdom of Self where Ego is king.  That kingdom is small, endorses behavior that is not good for us, and often creates discord among other citizens of both the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of self. 

The Kingdom of Heaven/God is not small and it is meaningful.  It is not so much a place as it is a state of being and knowing.  It is a conscious awareness that God is ALL.  When God is perceived as ALL, then every human soul has infinite value, love becomes the predominant act of humans toward all living things, and God is known as universal.  When humans recognize God as such then human acts will be those that show humility, not pride;  will indicate all people regardless of status are vital to God, and in the eyes of our Creator we are loved and cherished equally.  Therefore, we must treat each other as equal human beings in all things that matter.  

In other words, humility is a main characteristics of knowing you are already experiencing a bit of heaven here and now. 

Humility keeps us on the path of righteousness because it prevents us from looking down on any other person.  The humble person recognizes all others are the same as he or she.  We have no right to feel that someone else is less than we are, or inferior to us.  When we choose to live in the Kingdom of Heaven and know that God is our ruler and guide, then we shall be humble people enjoying peace that only God can give. 

The second question our reading today asked was “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 

Jesus’ answer to this question is “children” are the greatest.  Have you ever thought why that is?  Children seem to be naturally curious, naturally humble, and usually teachable.  Jesus tells us to be child-like, not childish!  There is a huge difference in those two descriptions.  The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, like children, are those who learn from scripture, or from people of great faith, and from their own on-going life experiences.  They are willing to serve God by serving others regardless of the personal cost.  Humble people do not think so highly of themselves that they act in prideful ways.  God does not and can not fill a person with His Spirit if that person is already full of himself. 

Our spiritual task for this week is to get in the habit of being keenly aware of people you pass on the street or in a store, or in church. Look at them as God sees them...as important as you are.  Look at them with love and respect.  We must not judge but we must accept one another as people of a loving God, joint heirs with Christ to all God offers.   

When we genuinely ask for it, God gives us inner peace, all consuming love for one another, and encouragement to live moral, humble, spiritual lives.  These are great prescriptions for healthy, joyous, successful living.  Can we together make a commitment to try to do these acts thereby live in God’s kingdom?  Or, too often, do we choose to live in the kingdom of Self guided by ego? 

One choice leads to peace and fulfillment the other to frustration.   

God or ego?  Which do you choose most often? 

Amen

Sermon September 19, 2021

Wisdom

James 3:17 

I think most of us would agree that our country and world needs  many good things to happen today and beyond.  Among the things I think we could agree on that are needed nationwide are:  love, peace, and mercy.  The main way to achieve and meet those needs is through the use of wisdom...not societal or political wisdom (if there are such things), but godly wisdom.  So what is godly wisdom? 

The dictionary defines wisdom as the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.    However, in our Bible that teaches us how to live every day with wisdom, a few other items are added to the list of what helps us be wise.  Here they are from the book of James, who is the blood brother of Jesus. 

James teaches the wisdom comes to you from God (God is the source of wisdom).  Wisdom is first of all pure meaning genuine or true;  then peace-loving toward all people, being considerate of others who may be quite different from yourself; being submissive to God’s word which indicates you must know what God’s word is. Acting with mercy in every circumstance, and living each day doing good deeds.  God’s wisdom is also impartial and sincere. 

To recap:  godly wisdom is pure, peaceful, considerate, submissive to God’s word, merciful, doing good deeds and being impartial and sincere. 

That list is fairly extensive and often seems like pie in the sky for many of us...how can we ever live those characteristics as our main path toward rightness, wholeness, and freedom? 

The answer for us is we have a role model who lived with these primary traits everyday of his life...he did so my putting a desire to live according to his God’s plan as his primary reason for being.  His name was Joshua whom we call Jesus.  He himself taught us when you put God first, truly put God and his way first, you will willingly and joyfully live those characteristics.  You will want to be genuinely wise;  you will want to be considerate of all others; you will glory in doing good deeds all the time; and you will be merciful and forgiving of those who betray or hurt you. What an amazing, wise, thrilling, adventuresome, loving way to live.   

Further in the book of James he talks about the trouble we bring upon ourselves when we live without godly wisdom.  We get angry when we don’t receive what we want or think we deserve...we may even kill and covet but still not get what we want.  So resist sin, resist evil, come near to God and God will come near to you...in fact, God is already as near to you as your breath, the beating of your heart, and the workings of your mind.   

The Book of James is a book about practical spiritual living.  It defines what is good and healthy and rich in joy.  It also warns us about the harm we do to ourselves, those we love, and our communities when we choose to veer away from those wise paths God has chosen for us….all of them lead to life abundant here and now, and life eternal forever.   

So do you persist in hurting yourself and those you love?  If so you probably do because of fear.  It is easier to control people with fear and intimidation than love and peace.  Why do you think tyrants and tyrannical governments use fear tactics so often?  People cave into them.  People with little faith and no God to support that faith fall victim to cruel enterprises wherever they are found.  But you do not have to give in to fear, ever.  Jesus says always, “Fear not, for I am with you in the eternal now.” 

So, here is the bottom line.  If you have ever asked yourself what can I do to make my family, or our nation or world a better place and you come away from that question thinking there is absolutely nothing I can do.  Well you are wrong.  You are totally wrong.  There is something you can do, there is something your loved ones can do, there is something your church can do, and there is something your community can do….that is as an individual and as a group we can live wisely every day in every activity and God will multiply those wise actions across the world in ways we will never know about or understand.  But it works, it works effectively, and it works all the time. 

So get up in the morning and before you leave your cot, or bed, or chair, or couch or the floor, make a decision to act wisely today by caring about your God and knowing he will support you in your efforts for him.  Be peaceful; be kind to everyone you encounter; be humble; submit to God’s words of love, forgiveness, and compassion.  Make good healthy decisions for yourself and rid yourself of the decisions you make every day that are not healthy and that do not add quality of life to those you love.  In other words, live sacrificially. God will replace those sacrifices you offer with joy, with grace, and with an unmistakable feeling of truly liking yourself no matter who you are or what you have done in your life that causes shame. 

Living with godly wisdom is the healthiest, most rewarding life you can live...and not just for yourself but for those around you as well. 

Amen

September 26, 2021 

The Mind of Christ 

Mich 6:8 

The topic today is the Mind of Christ.  What is that?  I think it means to see life from God’s point of view...as Jesus did.  Jesus had God’s values and desires in the forefront of his mind..his thoughts.  It means to think God’s thoughts and not the weary world’s thoughts.  Jesus learned this from scripture, from prophets, and from experience.  We can do so as well. 

I believer our God is creative, brilliant and a master of all good things.  Sometimes, God depends on one of us special creations to carry out his plans of goodness.  Those special creations are humans like you and me. We, as humans, are often frail, faulty, sinful, uncaring people, yet our God trusts us to know what he is doing...he is wiser than all of us put together.   

At one point in time, God sent a young man, Jesus, who was familiar with the prophets of old.  Jesus would have known these prophets by name, when and where they lived, and what they taught us about God and God’s will.  Especially from the prophets Micah and Hosea Jesus learned what God expects of him...which was NOT burnt sacrifices but goodness.  “From Micah “Here is what God requires of you:  to do justice, to be merciful, and to walk humbly with your Lord.”  Jesus not only practiced daily those aspects but he also taught his own disciples to the same...and us as well. 

So what does it mean to do justice?  Throughout history it seems people expected God’s justice to include punishment.  However, if you carefully read scripture you see where God’s justice is fair and righteous.  In the book of Job, it tells us “The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power, yet in his justice and righteousness he does not oppress or hurt.”  From the Psalms we read, “God is full of unfailing love.”  God is upright and good; he is fair and equitable.  He does not show preference to some over others, for his love is abundantly available to all people in the same portion. 

As followers of Jesus we must care for one another without prejudice.  We must stand up for what is right for all people, especially the marginalized, the outsider, and the poverty-stricken.  We need to imitate the all-encompassing compassion that Jesus showed. 

The second thing Jesus learned from the prophets was mercy.  God’s mercy means that when we deserve punishment God does not punish us, rather we reap the consequences of our own choices. In every circumstance God is eager to bless us.  When others betray us, harm our feelings, seem to ridicule us or speak ill of us, we must bless them instead of giving back in-kind.  Two wrongs never make a right. 

The third aspect of what Jesus learned was to walk humbly with his Lord. For us, that means we choose to walk side by side with God, for his breath, his life, is within us.  We seek a close friendship with God, flavored with adoration for his majesty and gifts to us...recognizing all good things come from God often through us. 

As Christians we are to have the same characteristics Jesus had while he was on earth.  That means we have his mind as well as his spirit.  Having the mind of Christ means intentionally sharing the plan and purpose of Christ...that is the plan for all people to recognize and accept the love of God for all people.  The purpose is to be personally involved in living your life with the intentions to follow the way of Jesus and to use the faith he gives us. 

When we choose to live as Jesus did, loving all, forgiving all, and serving all without bias, then we will love and like ourselves in a new light.  We will know we are doing what we were put here to do.  We will reap the benefits of joy and fearlessness.  Isn’t that way of living at least worth the effort to try? 

Gandhi once said “I thought Christianity was the best of all possible religions, until I met a Christian...then I realized the way of Christ has not really been tried!” 

Is that a condemnation, or an urging to try it, do it, live it?  We can not possibly go wrong!  Perhaps today each of us can consciously decide to think about God’s ways before we act...we will be better, more loving people, if we do so.

Amen 

Sermon, October 3, 2021

Compassion

Colossians 3: 12 

Today’s topic is compassion.  Compassion has many definitions.  Some definitions are: sympathetic concerns for the misfortunes of others;  act with intentional enthusiasm;  understanding another's pain and wanting to help alleviate that pain.  You might have another definition of compassion depending on how you think about other people.  Well, I wrote a sermon on compassion.  But I tore it up, because I would rather share with you something that happened to me this week.   

First,  I want to remind you that preachers, ministers, teachers and others who are supposed to always be upbeat, happy, and enthusiastic sometimes have down days.  Not very often, but on occasion we experience some fairly significant feelings of being down, sad, lonely. 

I experienced those feelings this week.  This past Wednesday I woke up feeling tired.  Through out that early morning time I realized I was l was full of self-doubt.  The evening before, right after Bible Study,  I began to feel I was not as effective as a teacher of scripture as I wanted to be.  I felt out of sorts.  I went to bed asking myself, “What am I doing?”  “Why am I even here?”  I slept restlessly, with frustrating dreams.   

In the morning I felt a bit sad, depressed. Max always encourages me, but that morning I couldn’t shake the funk I was in.  I thought it might help if I got busy doing errands I had put off doing for days.  I pulled on some clothes, put shoes on, and went first to the grocery store.  I hoped I would not see anyone I knew because even though I was feeling very much alone I did not want to talk to anyone.  I remember as I drove to the store I asked God to help lift my spirits...I didn’t like the way I was feeling and actually I was embarrassed that I was having those thoughts of worthlessness.  I was having a pity-party.  Even after talking to God, my self-doubt persisted. 

I was in a hurry because I had a lot of things I felt were important to accomplish that day. I rushed into  the store and stopped at the aisle looking at Roma tomatoes.  I had a hand full of tomatoes when someone touched my arm.  It startled me so I dropped the tomatoes, turned around, and saw a woman, a very short woman, a bit unkempt, talking to me.  It seemed she started her conversation with me in the middle of another one.  She was saying in one run-on sentence after another, ‘Well, he did die and left me and my son moved away so he took his car, well it was his car, and so I had to move to my neighbors and now I’m living with a neighbor in two rooms with shoes to walk to work and then to….All of a sudden I said, “Stop, please stop!  I don’t need to hear all this, just tell me what you need and I’ll see if we can help.” I started backing away from her.  She moved closer to me and said, “Oh, no. No, No. I don’t want anything from you.  I don’t need anything. I work. I work mostly on weekends ‘cause I get paid more and I don’t want to ask for anything I just want to tell you something.”  I looked at her.  She was smiling.  I really didn’t want to hear any more of her sob story, but I heard myself say, “Ok, but let’s move out of the aisle.  We are blocking other carts.”  I moved toward the back of the store and she followed me.  I was irritated with myself and her, but I invited her to continue her story.  She repeated, “I don’t want you to get me anything. I just want to tell you something.”   

“Ok,” I said rather briskly, I’m listening to you.”  I felt sure I was in for more of the tale of woes she had been speaking about earlier.  But instead, she said, “I went to The Nourishing Place a while back and you were talking.  I listened to you. I sang along with the music. It made me feel good.  But what I want to tell you is people there, well there weren’t many there that day, but those that were there were kind to me.  They said ‘hello,’ some of them shook my hand, and the lady I sat next to patted me on my knee and told me she was glad I was there and she held the songbook for us to sing.  I just want you to know I was blessed by going to that church that day.  I would come some more but like I told you I have to work Sundays and Saturdays too so I get paid a bit more. So, all I want to tell you is don’t quit what you’re doing because I remember you telling us that no matter how bad things get, Jesus loves me just the same and all the time.  And that blessed me.  But, this is what I really want to tell you. I saw you walk in the store and I came in after you to tell you to tell those people that worship there to stay tender towards folks like me.  When we know somebody out there cares and prays for us, we will be ok. So, I gotta run but just wanted to thank you.  Y’alls got tender hearts.” 

She immediately turned and began walking away.  I caught up to her and said, “Wait, wait.  Please come again.  If you ever have a Sunday off call me and I’ll come pick you up and bring you to church.  I would like to do that.”  She nodded her head, and said, “Yes, ma’am.  If ever, I’ll sure do that.” 

I left my cart in the back of the store, went to my car and cried tears of painful embarrassment.  I had the gall to let my feelings and my time be more important than she was.  I prayed for forgiveness and what I got in return was a fresh reminder of what compassion really is.  It’s not just helping others.  It’s not just donating so we can provide for others. Absolutely those are important.  But, a key ingredient in compassion is being tender to those who are obviously less fortunate than I, but in the eyes of God they are equal.  All she wanted was a few minutes of my time and attention so she could thank us for acting towards her as Christians should act towards everyone, all the time.   

Christ’s message to us from the lady in the store is: Be tender.  Be kind.  There is no one so important, or so wealthy, or so busy that he or she can not find a few minutes to offer some patience and a listening ear to a fellow human being.  That is God’s compassion and grace coming through us. 

Yes, let’s make a commitment to expand our tender feelings and actions to others. 

The question is, will we?  

Amen  

Sermon, October 10, 2021

Gardens

Genesis 2: 8-12 

God’s earth is a garden...it is a place of growth.  The first garden mentioned in the Bible is the Garden of Eden.  The word “Eden” means delight.  The earth was created as a place of delight. 

When God created humans beings, he placed us in this garden, a place of beauty and growth.  Then our Creator gave us all a job to do.  He told Adam and all people since that time to cultivate and care for the earth, and for each other. 

God gave this earth every thing needed for us to grow into healthy beings.  He provided sunlight and rain, fresh and salt water, hills and valleys, rivers and streams, good soil, fruits and vegetables and herbs.  These gifts from God benefit every living thing.  For us humans, who are God’s magnificent creations, He planned something intriguing.  He gave permission for humans to eat the fruit of every tree in the garden except one, we could not eat  fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Of course, the first earthlings like Adam did so, against God’s will.  Because of their disobedience they had to move east of Eden and no longer enjoyed the rich goodness of God’s garden. 

God limited what humans beings are capable of doing in two ways. One way we are limited is in our ability to judge people and events in a spiritual context. God’s thoughts and wisdom judge both people and events in a spiritual context which ultimately lead to goodness.  We can not do that. 

He forbids us judging because we are not capable of seeing the long range, far reaching impacts certain acts might have on individuals and groups. For example, we might consider an event or happening as being good for us which in time may prove not to be good, in fact might be harmful to us.  Or, we might consider a person evil, when in fact God may be using that person for reasons unknown to us but is actually for our benefit.  God alone is be ultimate judge of people and events because of His superiority in all things.  We should admit judging people and happenings is not a healthy action for any of us to take.  

A second way in which we are limited by God is this:  we are not to know the future.  We can not with any surety know what will happen in the next minute, hour, week, or eon.  If we had a way to know the future we would not need God.  And God wants us to need him, relate to Him, and depend on Him.  Therefore, rather than knowing what the future may bring, God gave us faith instead.  By having faith in God we are in a relationship with God and we depend on God. We trust God and his judgments. Faith to live each moment in God’s grace is far, far better for all of us than trying to anticipate what might or might not happen next. 

To trust God’s judgment and to use faith are two of the most important aspects of being Godly people.  Within these two human limitations, we are to cultivate and encourage life and to care for one another. 

The sad part of this enterprise is that many of us stopped cultivating ourselves a long time ago.  We don’t grow spiritually because we don’t cultivate our spirituality.  Some people say “I pray a few minutes every day and go to church on Sunday.  Isn't that enough?”  We each answer that for ourselves.  However, when we stop growing spiritually, or when we quit living the way God asks us to do,  we often become depressed, hopeless, fearful and live lack-luster lives.   

Faith and non-judgmental love create for us abundant, peaceful, joyful living...because we depend on God’s wisdom to do for us what in both the short term and long term are best for each and everyone of us. 

The message we take from this Genesis story is this: 

If you do not eat the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you will grow in faith and you will stop judging other people (or yourself).  When you grow in those ways you are more able to love and serve God. Then you will love and respect yourself in healthier ways, which enables you to reach out in compassion and grace to others.  When you do so, you will blossom and bloom, and become a more colorful contributor to God’s garden!  Something we all need to do and to be! 

My question is:  will you pray to work toward being non-judgmental and faithful to God’s loving ways.  Will you do so? 

Amen 

Sermon, October 17, 2021

The Presence of God 

Genesis 32:22-31               

This story of Jacob tells us something important about ourselves.  In fact, one of the most compelling aspects of Biblical stories is how God constantly works through imperfect people to do remarkable things.  All humans are flawed but seeing how God uses flawed people to accomplish his ways helps us make a personal connection to the Scripture...we ourselves are always in need of inspiration and mercy!  The story illustrates that God’s presence is in us even when we are not aware of it. 

So what is the presence of God?  It is the ongoing creation of our earth and skies, plants and animals.  Also it is the breath we breathe, the flow of blood in our veins, the rhythmic beating of our hearts, and the ideas that flow in and out of our brains.  We must not forget our lives, inner and outer, are completely surrounded by God’s presence at all times and everywhere.  However, we often allow our earthly interests, busyness, fun, working hard, and raising a family to be barriers to our awareness of God’s presence.  No matter what barriers we build, God is still a presence in each of us.   

Usually, like in today’s story, we are more abundantly aware of a holy presence when we are alone with no other people around. 

To understand this story and to appreciate its meaning we have look at who Jacob was.  He was Isaac’s and Rebekah’s son and Esau’s twin brother.  The boys were different.  Scripture tells us Esau was strong, a hunter, and a tiller of the soil, while Jacob stayed home and lived in tents. In other words Jacob was weak.  However, with the help of his mother Rachel, Jacob stole the birthright from Esau, who threatened to find Jacob and kill him.  In fear, Jacob ran away to his Uncle Laban, who was his mother’s brother.  Jacob’ family life was filled with hostilities and hatreds.  He was ruthless, a liar, and a master manipulator.  The Hebrew name “Jacob” means deceiver or grabber.  He was aptly named. 

Early on,  God promised Jacob that many great nations would come from him.  But even knowing that, Jacob was a man filled with fear and longing. 

In our story today, after 15, years, Laban exiled Jacob back to his own country, Canaan.  In that trip home Jacob knew he would encounter Esau.  He feared Esau and his army would kill him.  Being deceitful himself, Jacob thought if he sent Esau some gifts, perhaps Esau would save his life.  So he sent his two wives, two maidservants, his eleven sons and all his possessions across the stream hoping his family would encounter Esau first and pave the way for Jacobs own safety.  Did he care more for himself than his entire family?  Obviously, at this point he did. He had no assurance that Esau would not kill all of his family and take his possessions as well. 

Jacob was left totally alone, exhausted, and fearful for his own life.  He fell into a deep sleep knowing he could no longer struggle.  Fate awaited him. 

Genesis tells us that night a man wrestled with Jacob all night long.  The man could not over-power Jacob.  So he did the next best thing.  He wrenched Jacob’s hip, making him limp with every step.  The man he wrestled with said “It’s day break.  Let me go.”  But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 

The man asked, “What is your name?”  “Jacob” he answered.   The man then said, “You are no longer Jacob.  You are Israel.  You have struggled with God and with men and you have overcome.” 

Even to this day the orthodox Jewish people do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip because the tendon and socket of Jacob’s hip was touched by God. 

What should we learn from this story?  Do you see a similarity with Jacob?  We too struggle, we fear.  We are sometimes lonely and vulnerable.  And often we might feel powerless, tired, and hurting with inner and outer pain.  Those feelings and experiences make us uncomfortable because we have been taught that life should be easy, fun, uplifting, and pain free.  The truth is life is often difficult, and perhaps it should be.  For it is in those dark moments we do wrestle with God.  We wonder and ask,  “Why me?  Why now?  Do I have to?  Where are you God when I need you?  Why can’t you make our country and world safer and more loving?  What good are you, God?”   

It is then, in spite of these trials, troubles, and doubts, that we become aware God is near and we have his blessings.  Real growth involves struggle and pain...but if we look for them blessings, too. Every problem might also be a possibility.  People the world over, ancient people, people of different countries and different religions, are basically the same.  We desire to know and be aware of God’s presence, but we are not taught how to be aware of it.  Awareness comes from facing and admitting the truth that God is always in control whether we like it or not or recognize it or not..and as soon as we submit to his will, joy and grace will be ours. Here then we trade our limited knowledge and experience for God’s infinite wisdom, knowledge, strength, and love. 

We know Jacob was not an altogether nice man.  But God used him to procreate 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel...which are still important in their own unique ways today. 

 As you think about these things this week see if you can remember a time when God rescued from you from making a mistake, or guiding you to do what was important to do...then think and know God is near.  Listen to your breathing, feel the beating of your heart and thank God for being that close...always.  God’s  presence and peace can not be separated.   

So, like Jacob, you may feel weak, sad, fearful, or unimportant.  But to God you are available for his purposes as you are.   He made you in his image and he nudges you to help co-create goodness and kindness in his universe by using the skills, knowledge, and willingness you already have.   

Never, ever sell yourself short.  God is in you! 

Amen 

Sermon, October 24, 2021

Proverbs 3: 5-6 

This morning our topic is obedience...everyone’s favorite topic!! Right?  Let me start by asking you this question:  do you always obey stop signs or red lights?  If you do, why?  What is it that compels you to obey a traffic signal?  Maybe you obey them, and a multitude of other laws, for several reasons:  to keep yourself safe (meaning healthy), to let others know you care enough about them to obey our laws, and to indicate some laws and the obeying them are necessary if we are to live in a civilized society.  We also obey laws so we won’t get caught and suffer negative consequences.  We know when laws are not obeyed, we are not safe.  You obey traffic signals, some of the ten commandments, and a few community regulations because you may be primarily concerned about your physical safety, and the physical safety of others.   

What about keeping your soul safe? Again safe meaning healthy. Do you obey the laws laid out in scripture to not only keep your soul safe but to grow in spirit, wisdom, and faith?  I think most of us do want our souls to be safe, we just don’t take the time to give soul the attention it might need. 

Most scholars who think about these things philosophically or theologically agree there are three aspects to being human.  1. we have a physical body which scripture calls a temple where God lives. It is akin to other phsyical bodies such as plants, flowers, trees, and shrubs.   2.  We host a spirit, that part of our existence which is God’s everlasting spirit within us.  3. We have a soul.  A soul is that part of us that is the humanistic touch to our existence.  It is our feelings or emotions, our mental thoughts, our connection to others, our interests, our abilities, and our desires.  Soul is all things that make us human. 

We are usually aware of how to keep our bodies safe and healthy...we don’t do death-defying, daring things, we eat right, we exercise, we sleep, and we work.  But, how  do we  make or keep our souls safe,  healthy?”  It’s the same answer as keeping your physical being safe.  You obey laws.  You obey laws! In this case you obey the spiritual laws God has given us through scripture and through the living example of Jesus.  An important step in obedience to spiritual laws you must fully understand who you are as a person designed by the Creator of the Universe and loved by that same entity.  If you acknowledge that fact by living into it, you will do on a continuing basis the activities that keep your soul safe, healthy, energized.  You love, honor and respect your God.  You love, respect and share with your neighbor.  You love yourself simply as an expression of our great God.  Those are the three cornerstones of the triangle of life.  God at the top point, you and others connected across the bottom line. 

When you acknowledge your desire to love your neighbor and yourself you will speak only truth about self and others, you will give willingly and often to those in need without constantly counting the cost to yourself.  You acknowledge that joy comes more from giving than receiving thus you live into that truth more often.   

Added to obedience, as an important trait in making or keeping your soul safe, is to trust God in every aspect of your daily life.  Many humans trust themselves, their jobs, their money, their family and friends far more than they trust God, and then they wonder why they are often depressed, discouraged, disappointed, and fearful.  Why do we have a problem trusting the only thing in our universe that is trustworthy in all things?  Why do we have a problem trusting our Creator?  Is it because we think we can’t see him?  Can’t talk to him?  Can’t hear from him?   If you ever think those things get out at night and see a full moon in all its radiance.  Look at the live oak trees that grow for hundreds of years along our gulf coast.  Look at the birds and gulf creatures, the plants and flowers, the amazing holy land on which we live.  Yes, you see God every minute of every day if you are willing to see with both your eyes and your mind.  You also hear God through nature, through loving exchanges with other humans, when you hear hymns or inspiring music, through scripture, devotions, prayers, and on occasion a sermon. 

One thing you must consider is that at some point your physical body will die.  What won’t die is God’s spirit in you.  It will live forever.  You can’t be sure how your soul will transcend this life, but it is comforting to trust God to make that decision...because you can and must trust God.  What you do know is how you use your soul in the here and now may help determine the unknown future.  If you pay attention to soul now and work toward not only its safety and health but its use, then in the next life the part of you that exists will be an energized source for good throughout the universe.   

Our bible is filled with people, whether we consider them good or bad, who answered God’s call to keep their bodies and souls safe, healthy and strong through obedience to God’s laws so they might help others do the same. 

What you think, say, and do today has a lasting impact on eternity...yours and other people’s.  Choose wisely, live kindly, and be energized to obey both our civil laws and God’s laws.  When obeyed together life is harmonious and productive.  Let’s all live with that harmonious intention. 

Trust and obey for there is no other way to live lovingly and expansively. 

Amen 

Sermon, October 31, 2021 

All Hallows Eve 

Today is our celebration of Halloween, when children and some adults dress up in scary costumes and trick or treat in their neighborhood.  That tradition of Halloween came from the Celtic Celebration of (Samhain pronounced) sow-in.  That was a Celtic celebration marking the end of harvest and beginning of winter or the “darker-half” of the year. During this festival the people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward-off ghosts who might come out from their graves that night and damage crops that had just been harvested. Years later, in the 8th century Pope Gregory II designated November 1 as All Saints Day, a time to honor the Catholic saints.  He also named the evening before All Saints Day as All Hallows Eve.  All Hallows Eve in time became our Halloween.  

Up until the 1500’s the European world was in what is called the dark ages.  There was little or no education and the one and only church, the Catholic church, had become political as much as it was spiritual.  Only men educated in seminaries and monasteries were taught to read.  The only literature available was hand-written Bibles.  If a Bible was written on dried skin of cattle, it sometimes took killing and drying 6 calves to have enough material to write down the verses of the Bible. Bibles were rare and expensive. The common people learned about God and Christ only through sermons that were spoken in Latin, a language none of the common people could speak.  There was little in terms of new creativity in art, science, and or philosophy.  It was the dark ages. 

However, this day of October 31 in Christian history has nothing at all to do with Halloween.  It is a special day of recognition in our evolving and developing Christianity.  It was October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther, a German professor of Theology,  posted 95 theses on the door of the cathedral in Wittingburg.  The statements were what he believed to be the purpose of the Christian church.  He disputed the Pope’s laws of having to pay for indulgences.  In other words, people had to pay money to be forgiven of their sins.  The greater the sin, the heavier the fine.  Luther believed this paying of indulgences was wrong and hurtful to common people who were trying to know their God.  He, like others, believed there were three main aspects to being a Christian, which were:  the priesthood of all believers, faith in God as the only way of salvation, and the bible as the only true spiritual authority.  Once these theses were made public a great controversy arose about whether what Luther stated was accurate or not.  Suddenly, believers around the European countries sided with Luther. Ultimately, this action on the part of Martin Luther and others initiated the Protestant Revolution...making churches and scripture available to the common people.  You as a protestant means your beliefs are a result of the great protest against the catholic church’s actions started by Luther. 

The single step of courage on October 31, 1517,  brought the light of the true Gospel of Jesus to common people everywhere.  It freed humans from the dark ages.  That should be a lesson to us...the current believers in a holy and loving Christ. We must not allow the truth or power of God’s Word to be taken from us ever again.  The Bible and its teachings should be available to people of all ages so that both children and adults can understand.  Which leads to the awareness that all children need to receive a quality education where they are taught how to think not what to think. 

Being aware of the hardships that have occurred throughout history to keep the Word of God hidden from common people helps us realize we, today, must not fall into a Christianity of mere morality and religious obligation.  As the current group of people who know the power of Christ-love, we must commit to living the grace of God.   God’s Spirit can empower us to overcome sin, deep spiritual hurt, and evil acts.  There are still millions of true believers who are faithfully serving God as well as serving one another through acts of kindness, integrity, and service.  Yet these willing acts of mercy and grace are foundational elements in being who God has created us to be.  Which means we are to be knowledgeable about scripture and excited about its teachings.  We need to spread the word that the major answer to any problem is found in the wisdom of God through Christ.  We should encourage Bible Study.  Find out what Scripture truly says not what we read in Hallmark Cards and see painted on the ceilings of ancients cathedrals and museums.  These are hints, not the whole truth. 

Be willing to struggle with some of the words in scripture...struggle produces faith and faith produces peace, and peace produces joy, and joy produces an abundance of the good life.  If you truly desire to be a stronger, wiser Christian, develop a relationship with your bible.  Learn from it.  Live by it. 

In some ways, our society is re-entering the dark ages when education is being de-spiritualized and de-humanized,  where the Bible has become a book to place on your coffee table, and church and Bible Study are just activities that are barriers to all the other things you want to do on Sundays.  We can do better.  And if you care about the present time and the foreseeable future, we as believers must live our faith in stronger ways than ever before!   

May God forgive us for our lack of interest in Him and his quest for love to spread abroad. 

Have mercy Lord and help us.

Amen   

Sermon, November 7,2021 

This morning I want to start with a question.  Have any of you ever experienced shame?  Real shame. 

Shame you feel when you know you have said or done something mean, hurtful, or untrue.  The kind of shame that settles in your gut and you can’t seem to shake it.  Have you ever felt that way? 

I think many of us have felt shame at some time in our lives. That feeling is almost like a force pulling us down, causing us to think “bad” thoughts about ourselves. Shame seems to linger and it distracts us. We sometimes try to avoid those ongoing feelings of shame or embarrassment by blaming someone else or some circumstance that “made” us act in these shameful ways.  We think blame helps and frees us from self-condemnation. Actually, just the opposite occurs.  When we resort to blaming others, we hurt ourselves further, and relationships become damaged, unhealthy, or they may just go away. 

Now if you had a practical approach to faith, the kind Jesus illustrated through his life, you might ask the living spirit of Jesus to forgive you and to help you cope in a positive way.  Jesus’ answer to you may be to say, “Hey, you are living in the wrong kingdom...you are living in the kingdom of the world. The world likes for you to feel bad about yourself.  So, come home.  Come join me and live in the kingdom of God.  In this kingdom you are forgiven, made like a new person, and the space that shame and blame held in you will be filled with peace, joy, and a sense of purpose.  That sounds good to us and it is an option...but do we respond appropriately as Christians, or do we cling to the emotional blackmail we are accustomed to having by living in the kingdom of the world? 

God tells us all through scripture and from one prophet to another and then to Jesus and Paul and few others that the kingdom of God is the sanest place on this earth you will find. 

What is this kingdom of God that sounds too good to be true?  Scripture teaches the kingdom of God is the same thing as the kingdom of heaven.  This kingdom is not a place, it is not a matter of eating or drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.  In reality, the kingdom of God is not really religious because religion focuses on an afterlife in heaven while the kingdom of God focuses on earth and us as God’s creation.  Religion reaches up to Go, but in the kingdom of God, God comes down to humans.  Religion wants to escape earth, while the kingdom of God impacts, influences, and changes earth. Religion seeks to take earth to heaven.  The kingdom of God seeks to bring heaven to earth.   

We pray for that kingdom on earth in the Lord’s prayer:  “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Or, as it is in God. 

Shame and blame, or any other destructive emotion you may feel, consumes many of your thoughts on a daily basis, whether it is a past mistake or something that was done to you.  You may be thinking you deserve to be unhappy, miserable, depressed because of past acts or situations.  However, in the kingdom of God you are set free, for there is no condemnation in Christ.  His forgiveness is free.  You are no longer condemned.  His forgiveness is full and complete, thus making it easier for you to forgive yourself.  You are no longer a slave to your past...you are redeemed and made new. 

In the kingdom of God the poor will be blessed, the hungry fed, and those who weep will laugh.  And that’s now, present tense, for those who choose to live in the kingdom of God.  It is a choice, a clear choice.  One kingdom, the kingdom of world, is not a compassionate place, it has many systems of domination that hurt the public or common interest.  In the kingdom of the world you are subject to laws and regulations that even God would dislike.  The loving kingdom, the kingdom of God, is good, healthy, sane, secure, peaceful, joyful and abundant.  It is a mind-set...in your mind and heart where the Spirit of God through Christ lives in you 

Looking at God’s kingdom in this way is a practical way to live on earth.  All too often we put such lofty, sacred, don’t touch attitudes regarding the bible and the teachings of Jesus that we don’t think about them to the point where we allow them to direct our thoughts, words, and actions.  We can live in kingdom of God on earth, today, tomorrow and all the days we may have.  To do so we must not  allow the “don’t discuss, don’t doubt, its all too holy to try to live by” attitude to rob us of the glorious experience of life lived every day in the kingdom of God. 

Like any other kingdom there are certain requirements to be part of it.  There are three:  you regret your harmful actions, you take responsibility for your own actions, and you repent.  Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 4:17)  Repent means to turn around, stop doing hurtful things to yourself or others.  Be compassionate with all others.  Love love love with patience and kindness...and live a grateful life. Be thankful you have a choice of life now with the Christ Spirit as leader and redeemer, or live in the kingdom of the world and suffer with lasting recompense. 

There is a biblical story about the Pharisees asking Jesus when the Kingdom of God was coming.  Jesus answered them saying, “The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, “Look, here it is or there it is, for behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”. (Luke 17: 20-21) 

Later in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he told them “The kingdom of God does not consist of words but of power!  Power for you to make healthy, sane, good decisions every day.  Decisions that do impact the greater good, the common good for others. 

So today I ask you to look carefully at your attitude about God’s kingdom and you.  What do you think of it?  How do you think about it?  Do you actually see a difference in what is offered to you today...gracious, loving, forgiving God or the chaotic, unjust world that enjoys your shame and encourages blame?   

You won’t lose anything by choosing wisely and lovingly….because your needs will be met, and inner peace and joy will overflow.  The kingdom of God is the only antidote to the world we inhabit today.  Be willing to make a change by changing your thoughts, changing your attitudes, and allowing your words and actions to follow.  Lord, help us all. 

Amen 

Sermon November 14, 2021

Commitment 

In today’s world that we inhabit, life sometimes seems willy-nilly, anything goes, where trust or commitment do not seem as important today as in the past.  for a few minutes I want us to think about commitment.  What it means.  How to authenticate it. 

Commitment is a promise or an agreement to do something….do, act, not just think or say.  Commitment is authentic if you stick with with the agreement you made.  It means not giving up even it things get hard or tough.  It means following though on your promise, agreement, or pledge regardless of the reasons that tell you not to do so. 

When you commit to someone or some ideal, you set out to complete what you started.   In everyday practical language commitment means the courage to change.  It is being loyal. It is devoutness and reliability.  Commitment is not quitting when it gets boring, challenging, or discouraging. 

When I think of people who live by their commitments I often think of military people.  Three days ago we celebrated Veterans Day.  Do you realize that in the 300 years American has been a country, over  46 million men and women have served or are serving in our military?  All military personnel make a commitment to freedom, to their families, friends, communities, churches, schools and leaders.  They care enough to give up some of their own freedoms to favor us, our lifestyles, and our safety at the risk of their own.  Commitments, whether military or otherwise, usually come at a some personal cost.  Life is sometimes difficult for people who make commitments to serve in any capacity...military, police, firemen, doctors and nurses, EMTs, teachers and administrators, civic leaders, and volunteers all trade some of their personal desires, wants, time and opportunities to make the lives of the rest of us better, healthier, safer, and more meaningful.  Military personnel and other community service people are to be honored, respected, and praised for their unselfish acts on behalf of us all! 

In our lives we may commit to many things like marriage, child-rearing, completing our formal education, following the laws of our country and state, and working hard to accomplish any goal we pursue.  As Christians, we are asked to make a commitment to God and his earthly representative Jesus the Christ.  That commitment is a spiritual one and for that reason one of the wisest commitments we can make because it is eternal. 

Part of our spiritual commitment is emulating the way Jesus lived every day, the way he treated all other people, and the honor he showed his God, so strongly Jesus called him Father, or Abba, meaning parent.  A spiritual commitment reflects a personal depth of faith that is shown in both our attitudes and behaviors.  Apparently, one of the reasons we choose to be Christians is we love Jesus, his teachings, and his way of life.  If we do believe these things about our Christ then there are certain behaviors we live by.  Here are some questions to consider which might help you determine how important your commitment to Godly things really are. 

1.  Do you pray often giving thanks more than you ask for something that will favor you and your loved ones? 

2.  Do you look forward to attending church services and enjoy being with people who are also committed to God through Christ? 

3.  Are you involved in doing for others and sering others in ways that are considered doing God’s work? 

4.  Do you invite others to come to church with you, or do you talk with others about God in your life? 

How you answer those questions tells you how important being Christian truly is to you. 

Perhaps for us as Christians the outstanding commitment Jesus made to love the Lord with all his heart and to love all others cost him his earthly life.  Yet he lived the way he did intentionally, willingly, lovingly, without complaint, without trying to find an excuse to quit.  He followed through on a promise he made at his baptism. 

How many of us who have been baptized live into the spiritual promise we made by claiming to love first and foremost our God, our redeemer Jesus, and then all others through unselfish acts of compassion and giving of ourselves?  If this statement does not describe you, maybe its time to re-evaluate just how essential God is to you, and how important it is to you to live according to the teachings of Jesus, who shows us how to live and love. 

Life is an on-going journey where growth should never stop...it is what keeps us alive and vital to God, to those who love us, and to ourselves.  Living into our commitment to follow God’s loving way is life changing...in all meaningful ways. 

I pray this journey of living into the love of God will be more exciting to you day by day...if you so desire. 

Amen 

Sermon, November 21, 2021

Thanksgiving 

We live in a land of plenty...yet some people do not have plenty.  There seems to be a paucity of richness in some areas and with some populations in this magnificent nation.  However, what each and every one of us has, regardless of economic status, are gifts from our Creator.  There is a quote from Thomas Merton that expresses what we have in an eloquent way: 

“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything he has given us...and he has given us everything...every breath is a gift of his love, every moment of existence is a grace because it brings immense graces from God.  Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and the goodness of God.”  This quote illustrates the vital importance of being grateful.  It is a spiritual gift available to us all to use in order to enhance the richness of the experience of being alive. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful, and helpful, if everyday we were bombarded with reminders of how fortunate we are to experience aliveness, how happy we could be if we chose to participate in sharing God’s goodness to those we meet on a daily basis, how strong we could be if we actually used the faith given to us.  However, we live in a capitalist society which bases its richness on commerce and commercialism.  And yes, business is a good thing.  However, an over emphasis on spending money, especially on things we really don’t need or want, can be detrimental to families. 

Recently I read a report from a marketing specialist.  In his research he found the average American sees and/or hears over 3000 advertisements every day.  They come in many forms:  on television, radio, in newspapers and magazines, media ads like on facebook or google, and brand labels.  The hidden message in nearly all of these daily adds is this:  you are not whole, you are not happy, you are not well liked unless you purchase this particular item being advertised.  By the end of the day we have been told many times that we are inadequate, don’t have what we need, and we will never be ok unless we buy most of what is presented to us. If you think about it, we are really a captive audience if we want to hear news, or watch a fun tv show, or read the paper, or go on-line.  Maybe these ads would not have such negative effects on us if we saw and heard good, upbeat, hopeful messages surrounding us at every opportunity. 

Think about this:  Thursday most of us will recognize Thanksgiving Day and either eat with family or friends, or if alone, we will acknowledge Thanksgiving in some way.  One day set aside to give thanks. Yet the very next day, and the one we hear most about, is Black Friday where thanks are forgotten in the mad rush to malls and stores to buy more and more and more.  Is it any wonder our society is a bit sick for striving for things instead of experiences?  

Are we ungrateful?  Do we have too much stuff already?  Are we compelled to buy more, bigger, better, newer?  Does it ever end?  What’s wrong with our egos when we buy stuff to make ourselves feel important, rather than innately knowing we are loved and honored for being expressions of our God. 

Where can we turn to be uplifted?  Where can we go to be told how wonderful we are?  Where can we be with others who care for us and act like it?  Is there any island in the madness we are experiencing around the world today to find a truly peaceful moment, a joyful experience, a learning opportunity?  My prayer is that this church family can and will be the place where you do feel special, awesome, loved by God and each other.   If we are not that now, let us commit to being so every day from now on.  We as humans thrive on love...love of God, love between each other.  Love must be utmost in our actions and decision making.  There are people we know and care about who do feel unloved, who do think they are not as good as you, who want to hide and do so.  Seek these people out and pay attention to them...you may just save a life! 

If Thanksgiving is to mean anything at all we must act thankful every hour of every day because God is always ever present, ever powerful, ever loving and we would know that if we could stop long enough to feel it, experience it, and share it. 

My heart aches for some people in this community, some adults, some children, who have little, who feel bad about themselves, who desperately need encouragement, a kind word, a hug.  Those cost nothing.  We can not buy those.  And those are not advertised in our media...so we have to be the ones who talk about thanks, and goodness, and kindness, and that every human is loved and cherished by Almighty God.  We must do those acts often every day.  The most exciting thing that can happen in a day is to make someone feel accepted, loved, and respected….that is our challenge, but that is our mission in life. 

I pray this coming week we will be sensible about where our responsibilities are in terms of caring about and for each other.  This week may we create a habit to show love, be kind, and offer real thanksgiving in the way we live every day.  Please, let us do so. 

Amen 

Sermon, November 28, 2021

First Sunday of Advent 

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus” which means “coming.”  In the Christian church calendar Advent is the period of Preparations for the coming of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas time.  Depending on what you believe, Advent is also the preparation of the Second Coming of Christ either at the end of the world or in your heart when you begin to make your belief a way of life, every day.  In present day, Advent lasts for four Sundays, and each Sunday is represented by a gift from God to us.  The four gifts are hope, peace, love, and joy.  Today we celebrate the gift of hope that has been given to each of us at our birth.  However, our gracious God trusts us and he asks us to take that infant gift of hope and grow it in our lives so that we can help brighten every day for ourselves, those we love, and for  people in need of love and encouragement.   

Have you ever noticed  how many people decorate the outside of their homes for Christmas?  Lights everywhere, Christmas scenes of the Magi, camels and kings?  Lights.  People like lights. 

What is interesting to me is that even people who do not worship the Christ, people who do not attend church, people who are not Christian often still decorate their homes for Christmas.  Why do you think that is? 

I think there may be several reasons:  perhaps they hope for a Christmas like they had as a child full of toys and wonder; 

Maybe they hope for a world of magic like that which Santa Claus represents; 

Maybe they hope for a family time before there was divorce, anger, or an untimely death; 

Perhaps they hope  for a time of no pressure, no problems, even just for one day. 

Or, maybe they hope that joy can be increased by the number of lights they hang around their house. 

All of those may be valid reasons for Christmas for some people, but if so those reasons are temporary and seldom satisfy those worldly wishes. 

However, for us who celebrate Christmas as the birth of goodness, kindness, and holiness into the earthly world by way of Jesus know that hope is lasting.  That is the kind of hope that helps us understand there can still be peace in our hearts and minds when the whole world is in chaos;  that is the kind of hope which you and I can count on to face the world as it is and still make a difference to it and be at peace in it. 

In Jesus, the light of the world has come and God has given us an enduring hope...one which cannot disappoint us or mislead us. Even for those of us who are broken hearted, failing in health, reeling with known and unknown challenges, or feel depressed by the darkness of the world, we can rejoice, we can love, we can share, we can laugh, we can make our place in the world better...all because we have seen and know the Light that shines forth even today in the life of Jesus, the Christ.  That’s why we celebrate Christmas.  That is why we hang lights to remind us of the light of love.  That is why we give Christmas gifts to one another to remind us of the undying gift of Jesus and his risen Spirit to help make us whole and holy. 

Let us be ever mindful that the Almighty God, expressed in human form, is our hope, a very present help in trouble, and one who has granted to each of us a new and abundant life through passionate love, forgiveness, and grace.   

The light of the world has come, will at some time come again in the hearts and minds of believers.  So let his light shine from your hearts and your homes this Advent season and in all the seasons of your days. 

Amen  

Sermon, December 5, 2021 

2nd Sunday of Advent - Peace 

Peace.  What is it?  There seems to be many different meanings for the word “peace.”  The dictionary defines peace as a stress free state of security and calmness that comes when everything coexists in harmony and freedom.  Wow.  Do any of us have this kind of peace all the time?  Anytime? 

There is also a definition of biblical peace.  Biblical peace is more than just an absence of conflict;  it is taking action to restore  a broken situation.  It is more than a state of inner tranquility;  it is a state of wholeness and completeness. Biblical peace is not something we create on our own;  it is a fruit of the Spirit. 

Then there is spiritual peace.  Spiritual peace is your inner satisfaction and healthy growth.  This kind of peace can only be found through God, our creator.  In this definition the “lord lifts up his countenance and gives you peace.”  Through God’s mercy and grace, peace is given to those who pray to God and follow his teachings as shown through Jesus.   Another definition of Spiritual peace is to relinquish control and hand matters over to God. 

All definitions indicate that once you have inner peace, you are more equipped to let it flow into the outer world. 

Peace can become a daily practice when you choose how to best live it in your own life.  Peace  deals with the interconnectedness of our inner thoughts and outer actions.   

I think we all have our own definitions of peace and what that quality means to us.  In the world we inhabit today, peace seems elusive, hard to hang on to, or absent all together.  But, in actuality, we all desire peace and need peace...otherwise we have mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical problems sometimes beyond our control. 

So if peace is that essential to our well being, why don’t we talk about it more often?  Why don’t we seek it more often?  And, when we feel we do have it, why is it difficult to share? 

Peace, like faith, hope, and love, is something we can know about from a corporate meaning group perspective, but to experience it, it must be personal.  I can talk hours to someone who comes to me with anxiety and a stress producing problem. That person hears my words, but the words do not become real unless that person begins to experience them on a personal basis, strong enough to act on  in an on-going manner.  However, sometimes I find people are far more interested in the drama or trauma of their lives than they are in finding peace.  That speaks volumes to how we are raised, how our core family chose to live, and if we had any type of religious, spiritual, or philosophical aspects to our upbringing. 

When was the last time you initiated a conversation about peace...not the lack of war or hostilities, but the positive aspects of peace being a goal or aim for each of us as we live every day?   

 And when you think about the peace you either do or do not have within you, just remember.  We are happy when we find a bit of peace.  We are sad we don’t experience peace more often...and also sad when those we love have none or little peace. 

As we progress through this season of Advent, please, let us think more often about peace, when and how we experience it, and how we can share it more fully, especially to those who are still struggling with their involvement in the life of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.   

In closing listen to the words of wisdom from Jimi Hendrix:  “When the power of love over rules the love of power, the world will know peace.  Perhaps the same is true for our own inner peace.  Perhaps that awareness is worth hoping for.

Amen 

Sermon, December 12, 2021

3rd Sunday of Advent, Love

1st Corinthians 13 

Sermon on love.    God teaches us to love all people, all the time.  Can we do that?  Is that truly what God expects?  Well, our sacred scripture seems to teach that concept so it must be possible and it must be doable.  Sometimes its hard to love, to put ourselves second, third or twentieth.  Sometimes its even hard to love our own family members.  I heard about one man telling his wife if she really loved him she would have married someone else.   It seems to get harder when we read 1 Corinthians  13:3..  “If I give all my goods to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I am nothing.” How do we live up to those godly expectations?    From Matthew 22: 37-39 we hear “Love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, then love your neighbor as yourself.”  We know those words but do we or can we put them in action every day, every hour?  Isn’t that what God expects of us?   Love, to show and teach love, was the reason Jesus came when he did and how he did.
How do we even attempt to live into these commands...First of all I think we must realize fully the impact Jesus’ love had on people of his day.  He specifically set out to find the down trodden, the sick, the outcasts...he spent time with them.  He gave them attention.  And he gave them a hope that they, too, were lovable, cared for.  That is the basic message of Christ love.  Tend to others with love, especially those others who don’t seem to have much of it.  And how do we do that?  Well, we start by realizing and putting into practice this concept?   The only voices, hands and feet Jesus has today are ours.  When we serve others with Christ love it makes a difference.  That is love incarnated;  love personified.  Love is necessary and we are the ones chosen to show it, live it, share it, and grow it.  That’s the starting point.
There are hundreds of definitions of love, acts of love, on and on.  But in our faith walk, we have a distinguishable love...that is our love acts for the well being of others.
Let’s look at biblical history for a minute.  Our story begins when God told Abraham to leave his comfortable home and friendly environment and go to an unknown place….and while in that unknown place begin to build a family that will continue throughout eternity.  Abraham did what God asked him to do but he did not know how to build a family based on love.   So, he built it based on laws, prophets, kings, and triumphs.  Then after nearly 2000 years, the Israelites heard nothing else from God for 400 hears….no prophet, no new laws, no word from God.  But then a child was born of love...and he changed the world.  He was born of love because his mother Mary was pregnant and Joseph her betrothed was not the father.  By every law, Joseph could have set her aside to fend for herself and he would be rid of her and the hurt she caused him.  But Joseph chose to go another way….just like Abraham.  He went into unknown territory...meaning he based his actions on love, forgiveness and compassion and not law, nor prophet.   Jesus was born surrounded by the love of a mother and a father….that was rare, so rare it seemed the skies themselves were filled with music and people of outcast status like shepherds were drawn toward acts of love.
What an incredible moment in time. When one man chose to defy the laws of his land, faith, and family and try something new, something much stronger and longer lasting….love.  We are heirs to that generous spirit of forgiveness.  We are heirs to the power of unselfish love.  We are heirs to the power that service to God and others brings.  We are blessed beyond measure….but only if we too follow the way of love...which involves forgiveness and compassion.
Christ kind of love is a solution to most of humanity’s problems.  But we look to force, military, civic laws, weapons to uphold our laws, and punishable consequences.  None of which are as strong as unconditional love.  Love is about the only impetus we have to obey laws that help everyone...not just a few elite.
So our starting point...to learn to live and act on unconditional love... is to look at your own hands every day and know God needs them to serve someone else.  Look at your feet and know God needs you to go somewhere you may not have been before and serve those people.  Hear you own voice and know the words that come from your mouth can change a life, but only if they are words of love, forgiveness or compassion.
Don’t you think today, December 12, in the year 2021, is the day each and every one of us in this room, and those watching from afar, make a commit to try, to attempt, to do what God expects us to do as his ambassadors to the world today...are you willing to personify God’s love in the choices you make today?  Choices about your time, your energy, your resources, and your treatment of others.
I pray we all answer the call.  Let’s try.  And let’s try together as a group of loving Christians, willing and able to be Christ to one another. 

Amen 

Sermon, December 19, 2021

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Joy

The spiritual life is a life of mystique and mystery. Some things that happen to us humans are not easy to explain. So we tend to discount them, or just try not to think about them.
Like today's reading. Both Elizabeth and Mary are having babies...miraculous babies. Elizabeth was an old and barren woman ... who eventually gave birth to a baby named John… who became John the Baptizer of Jesus. Her kinswoman was a teenager named Mary, who was with child. Her conception is clothed in confusion and mystery.
The story tells us that somehow, young pregnant Mary, went 70 miles away to visit Elizabeth. How did Mary get there? We don't know. Did Joseph go with her? We don't know. Did she have an escort or walk by herself for 7 to 10 days sleeping alone on the side of the road? We don't know. 

What we do know, at least from the story, is the two women rejoiced with each other for being favored by God ... kinship, friendship are two of the best ways to share our spirituality. But, do we?

Did these two almost mothers know their sons would serve the Lord together? Did Elizabeth know her son would  baptize Mary's baby. I can't imagine they knew the answers, or the questions. However, both knew something miraculous was happening to them. They inspired renewed faith in one another which I am sure helped to dispel any fear they were experiencing.
The story says Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months... until John was born. Where were Mary's own parents, and Joseph her betrothed… and why did they allow her to be away so long when she needed the comfort of her own home? Again, we don't know. We can't answer those questions… so we either discount the story, or we interpret it to find meaning in it. There must be something important about the story or it may not have been selected to be in our holy scriptures. 

What can we take from the story that might bless us and increase our faith? 

I think the underlying message in this passage, as in many others in the Bible, is to remind us that God lives within each of us regardless of our circumstances or situations, or how far we have to go in this life before we recognize the reality that God is in us. 

Elizabeth was an old woman, no longer physically able to conceive a child. Yet, she was pregnant. God did not allow her physical condition or her age to prevent a child from being born. It is a mystery. And Mary. She was a very young woman whose own pregnancy is charged with confusion and true mystery. But God did not allow her age or circumstances to prevent another special child from being born. When God is present the 70 miles between these two women was a short way to go to share this good news.

Both of these women knew that God had favored them in miraculous and mysterious ways. They knew his holy spirit was firmly implanted in them. 

When we, you and I, become aware, and accept the awareness, that God's spiritual presence is indeed within each one of us, life changes, attitudes are altered, we experience a state of blessedness that we just can't wait to share. 

What this story is telling us is that each one of us, male and female, are spiritually pregnant with the holy Christ spirit within us...and that spirit is waiting for us to agree to give it a full birth in our lives. A birth of the spirit within us is always a virgin birth … it is only between God and us… and what God wants is what the story of Mary and Elizabeth gives us. For us to rejoice. In spite of our circumstances, who we are what we have done, time, age or location, we are favored by God because God  allows each of us to carry his holy spirit within us and to display to the people around us, through our words and actions. 

That means we stop being mean. We stop being critical. We stop wanting others to be perfect so they won't bother us or interfere in our lives. It means we stop using negatives to get us through the day. It means we show joy on our faces and in our words regardless of our circumstances. 

Big order? No, not when we are willing to be agents to birth the spirit and bring it out into the open for all to witness. 

Can we participate fully in this miraculous and mysterious event by allowing God full access to our thoughts, our feelings and our actions, our full spiritual selves? If we say yes, Lord, we too will be so blessed we can't wait to share our joy. That truth is the real meaning of Christmas… the one in which we are all Marys and Elizabeths because we are all barren spiritually until we let God in. 

Amen

Sermon, December 24, 2021

Christmas Eve

The ancient people were star gazers.  They knew the sky and could read the changing of the seasons by the location of the stars.  They planned their days and their seasons around what was appearing in the sky at any given time. 

These wise humans also knew when the days would shorten and the light of the sun would be somewhat diminished.  Astronomers called this period of time the Winter Solstice. The word solstice is a combination of two words:  “Sol” meaning sun, and “sistere” meaning to stand still.  December 22  then and now is the shortest day of year.  The Winter Solstice. 

The winter solstice was an important occurrence to early humans.  They survived only because of the sun bringing light to their crops, animals...and themselves.  They literally lived by light. Therefore, all throughout history, gods, goddesses, heroes, and religious icons had their birthdays celebrated on or near the Winter Solstice.  That’s why we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25, even though we know he was actually born in springtime. Some of the early Roman emperors celebrated the day after the winter solstice as the day of Sol Invictus, meaning the day of the unconquered sun.  Throughout Roman history many of the emperors called themselves Sol Invictus...and claimed themselves as ruler of the world and bringer of light.  Many early societies worshiped sun gods for this very reason….and yet, in spite of the emphasis on sun and light, the people lived in darkness.   

The Jewish people were especially and had been for nearly 700 years. They were continually defeated by more powerful nations.  The people were tired of living in dark, depressed situations. However, the Jewish people had a prophecy for their nation.  The prophets promised a coming Messiah, an anointed one, who would bring peace and dispel their darkness.  Centuries later, after the Jewish people had experienced 4 centuries of not hearing from their God at all...no prophecies of any kind, a mystical event occurred. 

A child was born.  Sometimes it just takes just one person who lives into his purpose to change the world, as Jesus did.  The stories about this child named Jesus were varied, spiritual, mystical, and powerful.  In John 1:4 light is defined as life.  “In Jesus was life;  and his life was the light of all people.”  This inner life, this inner light, is the everlasting gift Jesus brought from God into a dark and dying world.  In a similar verse from the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas, he wrote:  There is light within a man of light, and he lights up the whole world.  If he does not shine, he is darkness.”  A great message for us to hear today.  We must shine!  Because of today’s chaotic, often confusing world, we have a great need for the Light our Christian faith gives us...but we must accept the light as a gift and use it to light the hours and days of our lives.  We too must be the light in thought, word, and actions.   

In closing hear the words of Jesus:  “I am the light of the world;  the person who follows my teachings will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”  May we all endeavor to keep the light of Christ burning in our lives..more so every  day.  We are the keepers and sharers of the Light of Life and light of love.  May it be so. 

Let there be light!

Amen

Sermon, December 26, 2021 

While Jesus was in the temple listening to the religious rulers debate, I think he came to some conclusions that influenced the way he began to think about his people, his tribe, these Israelites. His people were the chosen ones to teach the rest of the world how to live together safely and in meaningful ways.  However, being exposed to a broader world than the backwoods Nazareth where he lived, he realized people with wealth and position did not seem to really care about people like his family and friends. 

He began to realize the ruling class did not seem grateful for their position of power...rather they seemed to misuse it.  He understood the ruling class of priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Roman royalty held all the power, positions of influence, and wealth...those people called their way of life as being holy. In essence they felt they were special because God had made them so. 

But Jesus saw the way they treated folks with no power or influence or wealth.  These people, his people, were considered of no worth at all to those in power.  His family and friends were treated as impure, unholy and were marginalized in nearly every aspect of life. 

Jesus experienced this prejudice and resulting divisiveness in his own life and he wanted a more understanding dynamic.  I  believe that is when he began to formulate and realize there was a better way to be as a society.  Instead of living based on purity laws and holiness for a few, he would establish a community based on compassion for all.  To him, it was a new social order, with compassion being the main core value for living in community. 

Jesus knew a lot about the Torah.  He also knew the laws therein were often misinterpreted in favor of one group over another.  He thought perhaps that inequity was caused by people living from the outside in, when his ideal was to live from the inside out.  People who live from the outside in react to what they see and want and try to manipulate a way to achieve their desires, rather than being pro-active to live with love.  When large groups of people live from the outside in,  a prejudicial system of community living comes into existence. 

When people live from the inside out, they are more likely to to take the inner gifts of love, hope, tolerance, forgiveness, peace and joy to give these gifts to the outside of us, especially to those people who struggle, who do have less, but also to the community at large.  Giving of yourself is the foundation of our humanity.  We know this when we come to realize God is within us and not some distant being.  God is within us, us, his people, therefore we have an even greater reason to live from the inside out.  We live for God, through God, and by God’s grace.  Know this as the first truth of your own life 

We must live compassionately.  Shatter borders.  Don’t limit God’s goodness by hoarding your love.  Compassion unites us into a healthy, ever-expanding community of love, service, and peace.   

Sometimes when I stand up here and look out at all of you with smiling, hopeful faces, I imagine what Jesus would say to you if he was standing here instead of me.  Today, I think his message to all of us would be this:  “Good morning, my friends and co-servants of our God.  Let’s encourage each other to act on the five duties in every persons’ life that lead to  meaningful, loving, powerful lives:  live: to learn, to serve, to earn, to set one’s house in order, and to befriend God’s people...all of them.” 

In our own way let’s assure Jesus we will do what we can to  expand our efforts to live from the inside out. 

Amen