SERMONS

 

“THE GIFT THAT GIVES AND GIVES AND GIVES AND GIVES…”                   MARCH 7, 2010

ISAIAH 11:1-5             MICAH 5:1-5               JOHNN 12:37-41

Love that gives!  God would be justified in never giving us anything – God is God – and God is not indebted to us in any possible way.  But God is a God of love – and God’s love keeps giving and giving and giving in a multitude of ways.

Centuries ago – before the time of Jesus – God prophesied that he would send the Messiah.  It was the promise of the Messiah, the one who would right all wrongs, and lead his people victoriously – that gave God’s people comfort, strength, courage and hope in the darkest of hours.  God would send a deliverer – and those prophecies about Jesus are what we are reading about this month in our readings for “Into The Word”.

To fully understand who the Messiah would be, and what the Messiah would do, and how we should respond to the Messiah – we need to “get into the Word and let the Word get into us.”   If you and I want to experience and enjoy all of the benefits promised through the Messiah – we know his name is Jesus – then we best get to know what those promises are.  When I first began to study Hebrew in Seminary – it just didn’t click or make any sense to me.  I hate to admit this but it was about three days into that semester before I finally got it – Hebrew reads from right to left – not left to right like English.  It starts at what we would call the back of the book, and the right-hand page is read before the left-hand page.  Once I understood that – I still didn’t know Hebrew – but I could begin to follow what the professor was saying and learn enough to read some Hebrew.  Unless – or until – we understand the prophecies of Jesus we not only don’t know what we can expect from him – we also don’t understand some of the incidents of his earthly life which fulfilled those prophecies. 

Every Old Testament promise made concerning the Messiah – and there are over 300 – every single one was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  Every single one was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 

I have selected Micah 5:1-5 to consider today.

It was promised – the Messiah – ruler – would come from the tribe of Judah and be born in Bethlehem.  We know Jesus was born in Bethlehem – and if you look at the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 – he was a descendant of Judah.   This Messiah will be from “of olden times – of ancient times”.  Consider the Gospel of John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God”.  This refers to Jesus as the Living Word – who with God has existed for all of eternity.

This Messiah will be a great shepherd – caring for, defending, and leading his people.  Jesus described himself as The Good Shepherd – John 10:14 – “I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”  How many times in Scripture is humanity referred to as sheep – sheep who are lost and needy – and who quickly wander off – getting caught in thickets – and falling over cliffs – without a shepherd to guide them.  Jesus is THE Good Shepherd.

The Shepherd/Messiah will do this in the strength and majesty of God – the Almighty.  And over and over we read of Jesus deflecting the praise and glory to God the Father.  Even on the night he was betrayed and arrested – he went to the garden to pray.  He recognized that he needed the Father’s strength to endure what the next few hours would bring.  Though he asked to have that cup of suffering removed from him – still he submitted – “Nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done.”  That act of submission on the eve of his crucifixion – was giving God the glory by recognizing the Father was supreme over all.  It was a confession of faith – the power of God would prevail over all the evil in the world.

His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth – consider Acts 5:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men and women by which we must be saved.”  Jesus!  If that doesn’t qualify as “his greatness reaching to the ends of the earth” – I don’t know what would.

“And he will be their peace.”   Now the Israeli people have never had peace – and the State of Israel for the last 61 years has never known peace.  But the prophecy was not of a political peace – it was rather Shalom – a sense of inner peace in the midst of all things.  A knowledge that God is in control on my best day and on my worst day.  It is the confidence that God is able to make resurrections out of crucifixions, and that death for those trusting in Jesus for their salvation – is NEVER the last word.  Peace is knowing that I am secure in God – not because I have kept – or attempted to keep – the Ten Commandments, or attend church 52 Sundays out of 52 Sundays, or am a Presbyterian, or keep the Golden Rule – such peace comes from trusting in Jesus Christ alone for my salvation.  That peace cannot be taken away by violence, by economic hardship, by rejection by others, by government power, or any other thing you could name.  Romans 8:39 “For I am persuaded that neither….”  That is peace.  Are you realizing, accepting, and experiencing that gift from God – peace?  If you are not – the problem is not with the Giver but rather with the receiver.

Jesus said it so plainly in talking with his disciples – he assured them of peace.  In fact, these were some of his last words before calling the disciples to go with him to the Garden – where the horror of the next two days would begin.  “”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

I think some of my most intense spiritual experiences have been times of being with those ready to take their last breath and step into the very presence of God.  Without a trace of fear!  Thanks be to God.  I have mentioned before a grave stone in a little cemetery in the tiny town of Mosherville, southwest of Jackson, Michigan.  It is a double stone on the grave of an elderly couple and reads across the bottom: “Finished and Unafraid”.  That is but a by-product of their peace with God!

My friends, the Messiah came to give YOU peace – do you know that – are you enjoying it – are you drawing on the bank account of peace in your name daily – hourly – minute by minute.  It is a gift that gives and gives and gives…

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

 

“LOVE THAT GIVES”               MARCH 3, 2010

GENESIS 22:1-18

Love renewed in God’s love!  Love – for God, for others, and for ourselves IS renewed by focusing on God – for God is love.  We have a tendency to “grow weary in well-doing” and we need a constant infusion of God’s love for us – to enable us to be loving in return.

During March – the individual we are reading about in “Into The Word” is Jesus – or rather prophecies about Jesus.  One such passage is Genesis 22:1-18.  It is a difficult passage for it falls outside the realm of our concept of God?  What kind of a God would require the life of a child – the only heir of the promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as “numerous as the sands on the seashore”?  What kind of a God indeed?

What were/are the gifts of God’s love in Genesis 22:1-18?

I believe in this chapter we find these gifts of love:  forgiveness, faith, substitutionary atonement, and the gift of knowing God WILL provide.

The gift of forgiveness takes place on two levels.  Abraham had failed God on more than one occasion.  He made Sarah tell the kings of other lands that she was his sister, hiding the fact that she was his wife.  He had a child with Sarah’s maid, Hagar, when he thought God had forgotten his promises.  And, now, he finds himself facing the biggest and worst test of all.  Would he sacrifice Isaac – his beloved son, and heir apparent?   Would God have tried and trusted – again – a man who had not been forgiven?  I don’t believe so.  For lack of a better phrase – God’s forgiveness provides the way for God to offer “second chances”.

The other level on which forgiveness is evident is this – God’s love allowed Abraham to forgive himself.  As I mentioned – finding himself in tight spots – Abraham wasn’t above working things out “in his own way”.  Examples: Sarah’s half-truths to kings of other nations, and thinking he could provide his own heir through Hagar.  None of those failures could even begin to compare with the situation in which Abraham now found himself – his sacrifice of his son.   On other occasions when “push came to shove” – Abraham turned and ran.  Think about times you, personally, have failed God.  What was the guilt like? Was there, perhaps, some self-loathing?  Was there a sense of being a failure?  I have no doubt that Abraham experienced those same thoughts and feelings.  And when God gave him the greatest test of all he obeyed.  Was that enough to forgive himself and move on?  What about you – when we pray “forgive those who sin against us” do we forgive ourselves and our own failures – it is gift of God’s love?

There was a gift of faith.  When God first called Abram to leave everything and go he was given a promise of a great nation that would bless all the peoples of the world.  Now – would he have enough faith in God – to give up everything he had longed for?  Evidently Abraham did!  He had such faith in God’s love – that he knew God would make a way.  We sang a little song on Ash Wednesday; the number is 704, “God Will Make A Way”.  It took faith to start on that journey to the mountain, to cut the wood, to tell Isaac, “God himself will provide the lamb”, to bind up his son, place him n the altar and raise his knife.  Only God’s love could inspire, and give, such faith.  Does your growing knowledge of God’s love inspire and give faith to you?

God will provide in the splendor of his love.  What words Abraham spoke to his son, when Isaac asked about the lamb for the sacrifice!  “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”  Love – provided the substitute for all of us – his name is Jesus – and his sacrificial altar was a hill outside Jerusalem – called Golgotha.  God’s love continues to provide in ways we cannot see – in times when there seems to be no way.  HIs provision sets us free!  Let’s sing 704 again.

There is nothing – nothing – you and I can do to earn, merit, or deserve salvation.  We are as helpless and hopeless as we could possibly be – when it comes to procuring our own salvation.  God who provides a way – provided the perfect substitute lamb – The Ultimate Passover Lamb – who literally became sin for us – though he himself was sinless. 

My friends the love of God continues to give without measure!  What gift is God’s love – offering to you this day?  Forgiveness?  Faith?  A way when there is no way?  Something totally different?

God’s love is a love which does NOT stop giving – the problem is – we sometimes refuse to receive.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

“A SONG TO SING”                            FEBRUARY 28, 2010

EXODUS 15:1-21                                                                     JOHN 11:11-16, 38-44

“Love Renewed By God’s Love” is our overall theme for the season of Lent.  And our theme for this week is “Love That Beckons” – which is also the title of our Lenten devotional book.

The Holy Spirit, sometimes referred to as “The Hound of Heaven” is relentless in his pursuit of humanity – beckoning the human spirit to live in response to God’s great love and grace.  THE greatest tragedy in the human story is humanities’ refusal to love the God who loves them eternally.  I heard on the news Thursday that a lawyer, from a group called “Freedom From Religion”, was going after the Detroit City Council because of prayer at its meetings.  If anyone or anything stands in need of prayer – it is the once great City of Detroit.  Anyone who cared two cents for the City of Detroit would welcome any prayer offered.  But then it is not about Detroit – it is about the continuing refusal of the human spirit to accept God’s love.

We have been reading about Moses – man of God.  The story of Moses is the story of the Children of Israel.  It is the story of humanity.  It is my story and it is your story.  Hiding in the desert of sin and guilt – offering every conceivable excuse not to obey God – getting angry when things didn’t go his way – need more be said?  Yet Moses – and the Children of Israel – and all of humanity including you and me – are never beyond the pursuit of God’s Spirit – often in spite of our best efforts.  The love of God calls to us – sometimes like a faint whisper – and sometimes like a massive brass band. 

Pharaoh and his cohorts in the land of Egypt were merciless in their treatment of the Hebrews.  Paranoid at the population growth among the Hebrews – they slaughtered male infants.  Angry when Moses and Aaron asked to take the Hebrews out of Egypt they no longer provided the straw for making bricks – while at the same time demanding the Hebrews still make the same number of bricks day after day after day.  They were certainly not above beating and killing the Children of Israel – without thought or guilt.  The Children of Israel were nothing – but slaves. 

But God working through Moses and his brother, Aaron, got the attention of Pharaoh and all of Egypt – and secured their release from slavery.  A series of plagues humiliated and mocked the gods of Egypt – until finally at Midnight – on what has become known as Passover – God passed over the land of Egypt – and in EVERY home – where the blood of the lamb had not been sprinkled on the sides and top of the doorframe – death struck the first born of both man and beast.

Refusing to respond to the loving mercy of God – the Egyptians were visited by God’s wrath – and – at last – said to Moses – “Take your people and go!”

Be sure to note that: “refusing” to respond to God’s love, the Egyptians incurred God’s wrath.  God loved the Egyptians – he did not hate them – but they refused the love of God.  If I saw the extent to which God would go to redeem the Children of Israel – I hope I would be wise enough to say – “I want your God on my side.”  Obviously the Egyptians didn’t.
Changing his mind – Pharaoh and his army pursued the Israelites to the banks of the Red Sea.  Isn’t it interesting that Moses could lead these thousands, and thousands, and thousands of people – on foot – and still make it to the Red Sea ahead of Pharaoh’s horses and chariots? 

Still refusing to believe in the goodness of God’s love – and still refusing to respond to the beckoning of God’s love – the children of Israel were terrified.  They whined:  “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the desert to die?  Moses, what have YOU done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?  Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?’ It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.”

Let me get this straight – the God who defied, mocked and annihilated the gods of the Egyptians – the God who convinced Pharaoh to let his work force go – the God who put it into the hearts of the Egyptians to send the Israelites off with gold, and jewelry and clothing – was the same God the Children of Israel were now doubting?  Doubting God’s love and goodness? 

It sounds/seems so absurd to read that about the Hebrews – when unfortunately the very same thing is true of us.  Et tu Brute – you too, Brutus?  Looking ahead to Good Friday how can we doubt God’s love for us?

Once again the love of God designed a way of escape.  The wind blew and the waters of the Red Sea piled up on either side of a new roadway – so dry the Israelites passed through on dry ground – without even any mud – one, two, three – four hundred thousand – everyone with dry feet on the other side of the Red Sea.  And when the pursuing Egyptians tried the same pathway – the winds blew in the opposite direction and the water returned to their normal course – and the Egyptians – horse and rider – drowned in the sea.

How would we respond to that?  What would be our response to the beckoning love of God?  Would we get sidetracked: “What kind of a God would kill all those people?  Do you call that love?  I mean so they killed infants and made us slaves – it wasn’t really so bad back there.  So maybe Pharaoh wasn’t the nicest person – maybe he was even a bad guy – but to kill all of those “innocent” soldiers – I just don’t get it – maybe it is better not to even read the Old Testament…”

The love of God was wooing the Children of Israel – and they were blinded to God’s plans for them – plans for good and not for evil.  The love of God was wooing them – relentlessly – and yet they whined more than once, “Moses, did you bring us out here to kill us off?  You know we were better off in Egypt.”

What is the song we sing in response to the beckoning love of God?  A song of rejection – of lament – of procrastination – of – of – of….?  The human mind is so proficient at sidestepping God’s beckoning love and focusing on peripheral issues.  What about you?  We NEED people to help us sing a song in praise of God’s love – love for us.

Miriam, the sister of Moses, was just such a person; she took up a tambourine and sang the “Song of Moses”:

            The Lord is my strength and song,

            And he has become my salvation,

He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation

My father’s God and I will exalt him.

 

He hath triumphed gloriously,

I will sing unto the Lord.

He hath triumphed gloriously,

            The horse and his rider hath he thrown in the sea.

           

            The Lord is my strength and song…

 

            Who is like unto Thee,

            O Lord, among the gods?

            Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness,

            Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

 

            The Lord is my strength and song…

Years later when the Ark of the Covenant was returned home – David King of Egypt – danced with abandon at the mercy of God’s love.  There was no limit to his exuberance – the presence of the Lord Almighty had returned to Israel.  What love of God – to be present with his people.  Such love beckoned them – and David responded:

            Oh, the Holy Ghost will set your feet a-dancing

            The Holy Ghost will fill you through and through

            The Holy Ghost will set your feet a-dancing

            And set your heart a-dancing too

           

            David danced before the Lord

            He danced with all his might

            His heart was filled with holy joy

            His spirit was so light

           

            Oh, the Holy Ghost will set your feet a-dancing…

           

            Now many saints are cold and bound by unbelief today

They want the blessings of the Lord, But worry what men say

O Let the Lord have full control From dead traditions part

And He will set you free within You’ll have a-dancing heart

 

Oh, the Holy Ghost will set your feet a-dancing…

(Dancing Heart by unknown artist)

Here is the truth – God’s love IS beckoning you!  How are you responding this day?  What IS the song you sing in response to God’s beckoning love?  Is it a song of joy and gladness?

My friends, I am not saying there isn’t a place for songs of lament, grief, longing, guilt, repentance, weariness – those songs are certainly a part of life as we know it?  But our singing should never exclude songs of response to God’s beckoning love.  Do you know that God loves you?  And that God’s Spirit is pursuing you – relentlessly?  What is your song of response?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

  

“LOVE?  RENEWED?”                                                 FEBRUARY 21, 2010

Exodus 1:8-14, 3:1-6             Luke 1:43-51

Can love be renewed?   “Love Renewed In God’s Love” is the theme chosen by the Lenten Task Force for this year.  But love – once spent, strained, broken, weary, tried to the breaking point – can it be renewed?  I can renew my Speedway gas card by simply paying a bit of money. But  can one renew love?  Real love?

I used to have a couple of books – which I can’t seem to find any longer.  They were a set and the main book was simply titled, “Rekindled”, and the companion book was a devotional, titled “Kindling”.  It was written by Pat and Jill Williams.  Pat was the coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, I believe.  His life was basketball, and he immersed himself in basketball to the exclusion of his wife and children.  His wife, Jill, finally said, “Enough is enough” – she no longer loved him, but….

A year ago a Christian movie was a big hit in secular theaters – “Fireproof”.  He was a fireman, and she worked in a hospital – and well – she no longer loved him.  He set out to renew that love.  He did it!  Many have followed a forty day renewal pattern and have seen their love renewed as well.

But, yes, human love for another human can be renewed.

Can the same thing be said of our love for God?  What of God’s love for us?  What happens when a human being wearies God’s love over and over and over and over and over and over?   Honestly, we cannot say that God’s love for us can be renewed – because that would imply that God’s love wavers and wanes – it doesn’t.  It is a constant in the drama of human history.

If love can be renewed – does love actually have the power to renew a person – perhaps even make them more than they previously were?  That seems like kind of a dumb question.  But is it?  Do we restrict or limit the capacity of God’s love to transform us – because of our past – because of a failure – because of guilt – because – well just because…

In our readings we have moved from Joseph to Moses.  Moses was born a Jew – at a time when the Egyptians both feared and hated the Jews.  What if the Jews sided with the Egyptian’s enemies?  What if the Jews rose up in revolt?  Paranoia quickly takes on a life of its own.  To prevent the Jewish people from increasing any more in number – Pharaoh decreed that male Jewish infants should be euthanized at birth.  You remember how Moses’ mother hid him in a basket in the bulrushes.  When Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river to bathe – she saw the basket, discovered the baby, and decided to keep it as her own. 

She had Moses’ own mother nurse him, and after he was weaned, he was raised in the palace as a grandchild of Pharaoh himself. 

After he was grown – Moses saw an Egyptian slave master mistreating a Jew – and Moses killed the Egyptian.  The next day he saw two Jews fighting and when he tried to stop them – they asked if he would kill them as he had killed the Egyptian.  Realizing that others knew of his act, and fearing for his life – Moses fled to Midian.

During what is described in Scripture as a “long period of time” – Moses married, and tended the sheep for his father-in-law, Jethro.  One day, on the far side of the desert, Moses came to Mount Horeb.  There he saw a bush which was on fire – but was not consumed by the flames.  Moses moved closer to see this strange sight – and there he encountered God, the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, the judge of all souls, and the great lover of humanity.

He found himself standing on holy ground – and was instructed to remove his sandals.  Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. But God had a plan for Moses – a plan that involved confronting Pharaoh, and getting Pharaoh to allow the Jews to leave Egypt – as free people.

“Who me?  Did you forget I am a murderer?  Did you forget that I ran for my life – I am a fugitive?  Did you forget that I married a foreigner?  Did you forget that I am but a tender of sheep – I who once lived in a palace the child of the Pharaoh of Egypt?  Did you forget that I don’t talk too well?  Meaning no disrespect – you picked the wrong man, God.”

Could Moses – fugitive killer be the right man for God to use?  Was Moses shackled – unalterably – by his past?

What was the difference between the fugitive in the wilderness – and the man who stood fearlessly in Pharaoh’s court?  What was the difference between Moses the man who stuttered and Moses who declared – “Let my people go”?  What was the difference between a solitary man tending sheep – and the man who tended millions of people in the wilderness – for forty years?  What was the difference between the man who protested God’s will and leading – and the man who went?  I believe the difference was more than just respect for God.  I believe the difference was more than fear of God.  I believe the love of God renewed in Moses something that couldn’t have been found as a solitary shepherd in the desert.

What excuses do you bring to God?  What arguments do you give to God – rather than saying, “Here am I, use/send me?”  Do you focus on your limitations – like Moses focused on his stuttering?  Do you hide behind guilt?  Do you suggest someone who might – in your opinion in – do a better job?  Do you use the excuse of age – or lack thereof?  Do you look at the power of Pharaoh and the size of his court – or do you look at the matchless power and majesty of God and the legions of angels that do his bidding?

To tell you the truth – God sometimes makes me laugh.  I mean who would create a man with a stutter – who you already knew would stand before the most powerful man on the face of the earth (at that time) and present his case?  Who chooses a murderer to liberate his people – to give them life?  Who builds character and strength in a man’s being – using lonely years in the desert – with no one but sheep to talk to?  The God whose love can transform the most hardened heart – that’s who!

Generations later – the angel Gabriel was sent to a virgin in Nazareth of Galilee.  She was a humble, modest young woman – and the message was unbelievable.  For years women had hoped and prayed to become the mother of the Messiah – THE MOTHER OF THE MESSIAH – BUT Mary?  

“Now God, perhaps you have forgotten something – maybe a few somethings?  I don’t have a husband.  I…uhhh…God, did you know they stone people here for having a baby outside of marriage?  God there are women who are much higher on the social scale, and some even well educated.  There are some more worthy and deserving than I am.  There are….”

But the love of God caused that young woman to rejoice in God her savior, to acquiesce to his will, and to submit to God’s plan.  The love of God renewed the most unlikely of people.

AND – the love of God is still renewing people today.  The most unlikely of people to be sure.  Those with limitations akin to stuttering?  Those with “a past” – and with guilt that strangles. 

God is not interested in your past, or your abilities, or your lack of abilities, or your education or lack thereof.  God is not interested in whether you got a flu shot or not –or where you have ten million in your 401K, or have hidden your assets in the laundry basket.  God is interested in your declaration – “here I am God – use me!”

The bank stops your checks, or your charging, when you have run out of cash or gone beyond your credit limit.  There is no limitation to God’s love – and to its renewing power.  We frequently use II Corinthians 5:17 as our assurance of pardon “If anyone is in Christ, that one is a new person altogether, the past is finished and gone, everything is fresh and new.”  What amazing power – this love of God for mere humans like you and me.

What do you need to do – this day – to allow the love of God to renew you far beyond whatever you have been, and whatever, otherwise, you would be?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

 

“A REAL LOVE STORY”                                               FEBRUARY 14, 2010

GENESIS 45:4-11                                 JOHN 3:16-221

It is a love story – a story of real love.  This is not the love of a man for a woman, or a woman for a man.  It is the story of a man’s love for his father, and his father’s love for him.  It is the story of a man’s love for his brothers – even though their love for him was doubtful at best.  It is the story of a man’s love for God – in response to the love of God for mankind.  It is a love story that can be applied to all relationships.

We find ourselves nearing the end of our readings about Joseph.

He was his father’s favorite, and he was loathed by ten of his brothers.  They intended to kill him, but changed their mind and sold him to a caravan of merchants headed for Egypt.  There Joseph was sold as a slave, to a man named Potiphar – captain of Pharaoh’s guard.  Because of Joseph, God blessed Potiphar in every way.  Unfortunately, his wife wanted Joseph, and when he rebuffed her advances – she falsely accused him.  He was jailed immediately.  In prison he found favor with the jailer and was given a position of responsibility.  While there he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker – which came to be exactly as Joseph said.  When the cupbearer was returned to Pharaoh’s court – he forgot about Joseph.  That is – until Pharaoh had a dream he couldn’t understand.  Joseph was summoned – he, giving God the glory, interpreted the dream – and was made second in command in all of Egypt.

During seven years of plenty, Joseph’s organizational and administrative skills enabled Pharaoh to accumulate an unbelievable amount of grain.  During seven years of famine Joseph saved Egypt from certain starvation – at the cost of their money, their livestock, their land and even their freedom.   But the famine was not restricted to Egypt and soon Joseph’s father and brothers and sister and their families were in need in Canaan.  Hearing of Joseph’s grain program in Egypt, but not knowing it was Joseph; they went to Egypt to buy grain.

Joseph recognized his brothers – they did not recognize him.  He not only gave them grain – he secretly had their silver returned to them.  His younger brother Benjamin was not with the other ten – and Joseph said they could not return for more grain without him.  When they returned, Joseph ordered everyone out of the room except his brothers – he revealed to them who he really was.  Then he wept – wept years of longing and loneliness – and he wept so loudly those outside the room heard him, and it was reported to Pharaoh’s household.  Their response to his love was fear.  Joseph truly held them in his hand and could have ordered their execution, or at least their imprisonment, without question.

But their fear was unfounded.  At this point Joseph’s love for God – and for his father – and for Benjamin – and yes – even for the ten who sold him into slavery – radiated like a brilliant star on a night of deep darkness.

Listen to his words:  “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So then, it is not you who sent me here, but God.  Come to Egypt and do not delay.  You may live in the land of Goshen near me – you and your children, and grandchildren, your flocks and herds – and my father.  I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come.”

Love that forgives – forgets – and is open to see God at work in the most trying of situations.  This love is not based on sentiment, romance or physical desire, and this love is not restricted by the response of the object of that love.  This is love that one does not “fall into or out of”.  Such love – is not a soap opera tale – but a strong commitment to the other’s best – regardless…

Joseph’s love was – unfortunately not the norm for humanity – not then and not now.  Love dictates that “we bear with one another’s burdens” – could that include idiosyncrasies, and faults, and failures?  Could it be long term?

Joseph’s love was greater than his brothers’ resentment, meanness, rejection and abandonment.  Joseph’s love was strengthened and purified – not hardened and destroyed – by evil, slavery, false accusation, being forgotten – and forced separation from his father and beloved brother Benjamin.  In the midst of all that – his love became purified like silver in a refiner’s fire.  It triumphed over any need for vengeance, or retaliation.  In fact, it even enabled him to want their best interests to be met – at his own hand.

What is your pattern for love?  Movies and romance novels?  “One Life to live”, “General Hospital”, and the like?  Stories of betrayal, separation, and abuse splashed over the evening news or the newspaper?  Is it shaped by men like Joseph who could have found it so easy and natural, not to love – but chose the higher road?  Is it a response to God’s great love in Jesus Christ – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” – so we might be forgiven of our own sin?

Before anyone heads on a guilt trip – yes, there are marriages that should never have been, and yes there are marriage relationships which are irreparably broken – that is a reality in a world of human sin.  But they should NEVER be the norm!  And, yes, there is a place for “tough love”.  This sermon is not about guilt trips – it is about reshaping our concept and expression of love based on the example of Joseph – and certainly of Jesus, who gave his life that we might live. God’s love ought to be our goal, our aim, and our model in a world of strained and broken relationships.  What is the pattern for your love?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

“PORTRAITS OF JOSEPH:  A COLLAGE”                    FEBRUARY 7, 2010

GENESIS 37-41                        MATTHEW 5:1-12

One thing you can say about Joseph is that everyone can find something to relate to in his life.  In some ways he was a riches to rags to riches guy.  One of the younger children of his father – he had 11 brothers and a sister – he was clearly daddy’s favorite.  Unfortunately being the favored one – created in him the problems one would expect from such a standing.  To make matters worse – dad would send him out to check on his brothers – who were tending the flocks away from home – and then he would report back to dad.  It would be an understatement to say he was treated harshly and unfairly by his older brothers.  They sold him to a caravan of merchants headed to Egypt.   A slave in Egypt, he did well, and rose to a position of power and honor in the home of a man who was captain of the guard in Pharaoh’s court.  Accused of something – of which he was entirely innocent – he was sent to prison – where he was forgotten.  Finally remembered – he rose to become second only to Pharaoh in all of Egypt.  When the opportunity presented itself – he came to the aid of those (his brothers) who had sold him into slavery years before.  And – he was in a position to exact every ounce of revenge – had he wanted to do so.   What areas of Joseph’s life speak to you in your life experiences?

We are going to be reading about Joseph for another week and a half.  It is good reading.  By the way – if you aren’t sharing in “Into The Word” – a daily Bible reading program being developed by Bob Nicholas – a list of readings for February is available on the table in the narthex this morning.

What do we have to learn from the readings of the last seven days?

Genesis 37:1-11 – we need to be careful how we treat others – even our own children.  Yes, Joseph was dad’s favorite – but as a result he was hated by his brothers.  What can we do to foster good relationships in our families?  Are we aware of the extent favoritism can hurt others and harm families?   Do your gifts ever cause division – hurt p in your family or circle of acquaintances?

Genesis 37:26-27  When nine brothers conspired to do away with rat-fink Joseph – it was older (oldest) brother Reuben who campaigned to save his life.  Don’t shed his blood – don’t take his life.  We can almost hear Reuben say – “Guys, he is our own flesh and blood.”  What do you do to protect the family of God?  Most Sunday mornings we say “The Apostles’ Creed” – which states we believe in the Holy catholic Church – which is – the entire body of believers in Jesus Christ.  We are a part of one another?  What responsibility do we feel to protect/care for the church we know as St. Andrew’s?  And the Holy catholic Church?  What do you do to protect your own flesh and blood family – even children from today’s changing mores?

Genesis 39:1-6a  Interesting!  The blessing of the Lord was upon Potiphar and his household – because of Joseph.  The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had – both at home and in the field.  Who is blessed because of you?  Who is blessed in home, family, company, etc – because God is blessing you?

Genesis 39:20-23 Joseph was falsely accused of trying to attack Potiphar’s wife and without trial or ceremony – cast into prison.  Wait – Potiphar was blessed because of Joseph, and Joseph was resolute in rebuffing Potiphar’s wife’s advances – and he gets thrown into prison.  Yet in prison God was with him, God showed him kindness, and he found favor with the prison warden.   How well do you and I rely on God’s presence and goodness – even on the darkest of days? 

Let us sing together hymn number 704.

Genesis 40:8 two fellow prisoners – Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker had – dreams.  They were perplexed as to their meaning.  Joseph, in a classic statement – asked “Do not interpretations belong to God?”  How many people rely on horoscopes, etc. for direction – rather than relying on God?  And you?

Genesis 40:23 Raises a similar issue.  The dreams came true as Joseph, relying on God, had interpreted them.  The cupbearer was freed, and returned to servant hood in Pharaoh’s court.   Now Joseph had requested when the cupbearer was released that he would remember Joseph and show him kindness.  The cupbearer forgot!  Who do we choose to rely on when times are tough?   Is it God?  Have we “forgotten” a debt of gratitude we owe someone?  God?

Genesis 41:8  This verse switches exclusively to Pharaoh.  He, too, had dreams – and he, too, was very troubled.  Immediately he sent for the magicians and wise men of Egypt.  They didn’t understand the dreams any more than Pharaoh.  Where do you turn when life is perplexing?  Do you turn to the Word – which contains the wisdom, of God?  I know that our three previous years “in the Word” has enabled many at St. Andrew’s to feel much more comfortable “turning to the Word” and having the ability to find the answers they seek.

Genesis 41:16  When Joseph was summoned – from prison – as an interpreter of dreams – he said immediately – “I cannot do it – but God can”.  Do we acknowledge God’s sovereignty over our lives?  Do we readily accept the credit – or do we deflect the praise back to God where it belongs?

Genesis 41:46  Joseph was thirty years old – when he was placed in control over all of Egypt.  It had been thirteen long years – since that day when his brothers – filled with hatred and jealousy and resentment – has sold him into slavery.  Thirteen years!  From age 17 to age 30 – spent in the classroom of God’s sculpturing.   From a young “punk” who loved to tell of his dreams – where his brothers and even his father bowed down to him.  From a highly indulged favored son – who loved to swagger around in his glorious coat of many colors.  From slavery to power to imprisonment to being forgotten to power – he was enrolled in the school of God’s refining – and obviously he was a good student.  From self-centered and self-possessed – he became God-focused and God-possessed.  From dependence on his father’s wealth to a knowledge of the true riches of life – God’s riches.  From gain to loss – seemingly as sudden as today’s stock market.  Thirteen years in the classroom of God’s mercy and discipline – created a man who understood God and who was willing to be used of God – even as the number two man to Pharaoh – without becoming corrupt.  How patient and persevering are we as students in God’s classroom of faith and life?  Are we willing to invest thirteen years to allow God to shape us into the person he needs – in this place and at this time?

Let us sing, again, hymn number 704.

Genesis 41:51-52  This record of the naming, by Joseph, of his two sons is most interesting.  The first one’s name meant: It is because God has made me forget all my troubles and all my father’s household.”  Two questions – what do we allow God to enable us to forget?  He forget all his troubles!  He also forgot his father’s household.  No longer was he the “favorite child of an indulgent father” – now he was God’s statesman – freed from all that would have prevented him from being the man of the hour – who would save Egypt – his family – and that area of the world – when a severe famine could have been catastrophic.

The name of the second son meant “because God has made me fruitful in my land of suffering”.  How well – how willingly – do you see God’s fruitfulness in your land/time of suffering?

It was a fairly brief obituary – (Genesis 56:26)  “So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten.  And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt”.  Let those who have ears to hear, and eyes to see – take note of what God was doing in a man’s life throughout 110 years.

What is God doing in YOUR life?  Whatever you are facing on this day – February 7^th in the year of our Lord two thousand and ten – do you believe that God is able – and that God will – make a way?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

 

“HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD?”                        JANUARY 31, 2010                                              GENESIS 31:48-50; 32:22-32; 35:6-7                                             JOHN 1:1-3, 10-16

How much do YOU trust God?

For what kind of things do you trust God?  Salvation?  Eternal life?  Health?  Safe journeys?  Finances?  Children?  For how long do you trust God – i.e. how long do you continue to pray for something?  What makes you stop trusting God – no answer – answer of “no” – disappointment – weariness?

I don’t know about you – but I am really enjoying the opportunity this year to look at individuals in the Bible.  Who are the people who are recorded in Scripture?  Why are they included?  Were they all “spiritual giants”?  Were any of them “spiritual giants”?  What can we learn from them that is applicable to “here” and “now”?

We are indebted, already, to Bob Nicholas for this gift of his time and creativity!  The list of readings for February is in the narthex this morning.  Tomorrow we begin to look at Joseph – even if you didn’t participate in January there is no reason you can’t start in February.  I keep hearing from those who attend the Wednesday morning Roundtable Discussion, how much fun they are having.  And, to be very honest, I am thoroughly enjoying the Second Hour Discussions on our readings – and those who attend are also.

We read about thirteen people during the month of January – with the exception of Jesus – none of them was perfect.  All of them had trouble trusting God.  Abraham left everything to follow God’s call – but then felt he had to mislead the king to spare his own neck.  He didn’t think God would actually provide an heir through Sarah – so he had one with Hagar – the consequences of which are still part of our world today.  Yet, he was willing to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, when it seemed that was what God was requiring.

Monday through yesterday we have been reading about Jacob – Jacob was the younger twin of Isaac and Rebekah.  He cheated his brother, Esau, out of the blessing reserved for the first born son.  Once Isaac gave it – it could not be rescinded nor given again.  Jacob fled for his life.

He went to his Uncle Laban’s – and worked hard – God blessed him with the development of a large flock – later he worked for seven years for Rachel’s hand in marriage – but Uncle Laban tricked him and gave him Leah – and then he worked for another seven years for Rachel.  Feeling the winds of change in Uncle Laban’s attitude toward him – Jacob decided it was time to head home.  Maybe brother Esau’s thirst for revenge had been assuaged.  Laban pursued Jacob and his family and flocks and overtook them.  When they parted, at Mizpah, they pronounced a blessing on each other – called the Mizpah Benediction.  I have known groups that ended their monthly meetings reciting together the Mizpah Benediction – “May the Lord watch between you and me, while we are away from each other.”

But was the “blessing” a blessing – or a statement of their faith in God?  Basically what the Mizpah Benediction says is “Since I cannot trust you out of my sight – I am asking God to watch you and to hold you accountable.”  I do not trust you – but I trust God to do all things right.  I wonder do we – you and I – trust God enough – to trust God with our enemies – with their actions – with their accountability?  What blessed relief from stress there would be – if we let go of grudges, bitterness, thoughts of revenge – and simply trusted God – to watch over those who have hurt – been dishonest – or treated us shabbily. 

Gathering his large family, and his large flock – and all he owned – he set out for home.  Before he reached home, however, Esau heard that he was coming – and went out to meet him with four hundred men.  Jacob was afraid – and divided his family – he put the maidservants and their children at the front of the line – next came Leah and her children – and finally Rachel and Joseph.  Esau ran to meet him – embraced and kissed him – and they wept together.

Do you trust God enough to face the past – and allow God to use our past?  Can we trust God enough for us to face those we have wronged – and attempt to make things right?  Can we walk into the proverbial “hornet’s nest” and believe that God will keep us safe – physically – mentally – emotionally?  To trust that God’s grace is and will be sufficient?  What a gift we can give to ourselves – if we trust God to deal with the past!  Of course, like Jacob, that requires some vulnerability.

Do we trust God enough to believe that God will do what God has promised – and that God will complete what God has done?  Do we believe it enough to take action on it?

Jacob returned to the spot where he had encountered God while fleeing for his life from Esau.  In Reformed churches we do not have altars.  The need for an altar was forever removed when Jesus died on the altar of Calvary.  There sin was atoned for – and no more payment for sin would be required.  Hence no altars in Reformed Churches.  I am not going to ask you to build an altar, nor am I suggesting you go around renaming places as Jacob did, i.e. Luz became El Bethel.  But I am going to ask – what do you do to mark significant encounters with God?  What do you do to remind yourself of something committed to God for all time?  I have suggested this before – sometimes we have trouble accepting forgiveness – that is, believing that God HAS forgiven us of some particular sin or situation.  We need to confess that sin – remind ourselves of a verse like I John 1:9 – “If we confess or sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  If you believe God, I have suggested you place a nail in a beam, a tree, in the back of your closet or wherever – and any time you are tempted to think that God has not, or will not, forgive you – go look at the nail – touch it – say – “This nail represents the moment God forgave me of this sin.”  Maybe it represents – “I forgave myself.”

 After Jacob and Esau had reconciled – Esau returned home and Jacob went to Shechem where he built altar.   He gave the place a name – which means – “Mighty is the God of Israel”.  How do you mark the occasions when a particular name of God becomes very real and personal for you?  We certainly would have the Psalms – nor much else in the Bible – if the people of God had not taken time to note their encounters with God.  Do we trust God enough to believe that what God did yesterday – God is able to do tomorrow?  Are we afraid if we make an issue about something pertaining to God that we might be disappointed in the future?  Further, we need “concrete” things to remind us of what God has done – in our lives – so we can trust God in other situations.

 How much do you trust God?

Before turning our thoughts to Joseph – who certainly represents Jesus for us – our reading for today was John 1:1-18.

Do you trust God enough to believe that your relationship with God is secure – is viable – and that you already possess eternal life?  Are you willing to step our from the doubts of your faith and declare – “I believe”.  In John 1:11-13 we read: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”  When someone has a baby – when does that baby become your child?  At conception?  When you become aware of the pregnancy?  At the end of the first or second trimester?  At birth?  After you have counted the fingers and toes?  After you have changed the first diaper?  That one becomes your child at the moment of conception – which is why some suffer for decades over an abortion, or a miscarriage, or a stillbirth – that growing, developing fetus was/is their child!

It is important to understand that – for in John 1 we read – “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name – those individuals ARE born of God – God’s children here and now?”   Do you believe that those who believe are ALREADY children of God?  Do you believe him enough to say – “Because I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior I already possess eternal life”?

Sometimes we need – something – visible and tangible – to remind us of the goodness of God – and of God’s activity in our lives.  We are a forgetful people!  What do you do – to remind yourself of God’s activity – intervention – revelation in your life?  What do you do to remind yourself of God’s activity in your life – to enable you to trust in God whatever happens?

How much do YOU trust God?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

“ONE TIME!  WHAT COULD IT HURT?”                                   JANUARY 24, 2010                                        Genesis 24:6-9                                     MATTHEW 13:44-46

This year we are considering people in the Bible!  The list of January readings for “Into The Word” are available on the table in the narthex this morning.

“Aw! Come on!  Just one time – what could it hurt?”  How many times have you heard, or even said that?

Mitch Albom has a new book, which was one of the books I read on the cruise.  It is the story of two men – one Mtch’s lifelong rabbi from New Jersey, the other a black man who pastors a small, non-denominational church, and also runs a homeless shelter, in the old Trumball Avenue Presbyterian Church in Detroit.

The pastor, from Detroit, was once a “very prosperous” drug dealer in New York.  Let me read a paragraph about him.   “He began by selling a small amount of drugs, then a larger amount, then an even larger amount.  The money came in fast.  Soon, he was acting like a kingpin, glorifying himself.  He bought fancy clothes.  He styled his hair.  He actually made people bow down when they wanted something.  At one point in the mid-1980’s, Henry was making tens of thousands of dollars per month.  He sold drugs at fancy parties, often to “respectable” types like judges, lawyers, even an off-duty cop.  Henry smirked at their weakness and his momentary power.  But one night, he made a common and fatal error:  he decided to try some of his own product.”

One time – what could it hurt?  How many who gather faithfully for AA on Tuesday evenings have said repeatedly – “If only I had never taken that first drink?”

Isaac, the heir-apparent” of the promises made by God to Abraham was of the age to be married.  None of the “local-girls” would even be considered.   His wife must come from the family – Abraham and Sarah had left behind years ago.  Abraham dispatched his servant – with camels loaded with all kinds of good things.  Abraham was emphatic – “Whatever you do, even if you are not successful –DO NOT take my son, Isaac, back to the country from which I came.”  “Do not even think about it!”, we can almost hear Abraham saying – just for emphasis.

“But Abraham – they are family.  It is the old homestead.  There are aunts, and uncles, and cousins for Isaac to get to know.   What harm could there be in one, short visit back to the place from whence you came?”

What did Abraham know that demanded Isaac never return to the land of his father and mother?  Did he suspect Isaac would be tempted to stay with family and not return?  Did he think that his nephew, Laban, who lied to, and cheated, and tricked, Jacob a few years later – had learned his treachery from his dad, Nahor, Abraham’s brother?  Did he think that – at least at that time in Isaac’s life – he would easily lose sight of the vision God had given to Abraham?

“But, Master, just one short visit home”, the servant pleaded.  “Do NOT take my son, Isaac, to the land of my fathers.  Ever!”

Since we do not have the ability to see into the future – we need to rely on past experiences, and wisdom from the Word.  When we are tempted to reason “What could one time hurt?” – we had best stop and consider, wisely, our decision.  A very wise lesson for parents – not just of Noah, but all parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents present in this room.  When you are asked, “Aw, come on!  Just one time!  What could it hurt?” – think of Abraham.  Think of the Reverend Henry Covington?

What about when you plead – or try to justify your actions – with God – “One time!  What could it hurt?”

What could it hurt?  It is essentials that you and I – get into the Word and let the Word get into us – lest “one time” becomes our undoing.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

“STOP!  GO!”                          JANUARY 10, 2010

GENESIS 8:6-19, 9:1-4                                    MATTHEW 26:35-44

As children, many of us played Red Light!  Green Light!  If you didn’t do well at stopping and starting – you would quickly be out of the game.  We are all familiar with the saying, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread!”  Some people live by the philosophy – “Better to just do it and then ask questions later”.  It is deeply ingrained in our culture, at least, to wait with eager anticipation for the day “I can do what I want, and nobody can tell me I can’t.” 

As children we learned – “Stop and listen before you cross the street”.  You learned to stop – so you could actually listen and look – listen for traffic and look for traffic.  We had to learn to stop – before entering the street – not after.  Stopping in the middle of the lane to look for traffic – is definitely not a good idea.  Before you could get to the other side of the street – safely – you had to stop what you were doing – stop talking – listen carefully – look both ways – and if the traffic was clear – you were good to go. 

I was telling some of you the other day about a funeral I had, in Bucyrus, a number of years ago, for a ninety year old man, who had driven up to his last year when a stroke ended his days behind the wheel.  At his funeral – rather at the committal service – the funeral director had driven a new car – so new he had never locked it – or even tried out the alarm system.  As I started that service at the grave the vault men removed all of the flags from the cars, and put them in the backseat of the funeral director’s car.  Inadvertently they locked it and set off the alarm.  The horn started to honk and didn’t stop – I just stopped the service until they could get the horn to stop.  Of course, the funeral director was mortified.  The family on the other hand was delighted.  Seems that dad had been one of those individuals who started to honk his horn at the car in front of him as soon as the light turned green.  What could have been more perfect than a twenty-one horn salute?  When Mr. Watts was ready to “GO!” nobody better keep him stopped.

We are spending this year reading about people in the Bible.  We call the program “Into the Word” and we will get a look at some of the nearly three thousand people mentioned in the Bible.  The individuals we have considered since last Sunday are: Cain and Abel, Enoch (had you remembered that Enoch did not die but was taken by God directly to heaven – bypassing death), Noah and Abraham.  It is certainly not too late to join in the readings. There is a list of the readings for January on the table in the narthex – and we offer two weekly opportunities to discuss those passages – one Sundays and one Wednesday morning.

Obviously there is much to say about each of these individuals – especially Abraham and Noah – and I would like us to think about Noah for a few minutes.  The world had become very evil in God’s sight.  And, the only reason the world doesn’t receive the same punishment Noah’s contemporaries did – is simply that God promised he would never again destroy the world with a flood – and the rainbow is the sign of that promise.

God’s patience had been severely tried and he would start over again with Noah and his family.  Salvation for the family of Noah would be by means of an ark – whatever that was.  There had never been a flood before – and there had not been boats – and this ark – whatever that was – would probably be the largest structure ever constructed to that date.

“Noah, I am going to destroy the world and all of its inhabitants – human and animal and reptile and fowl by means of a flood.  You will build an ark and save yourself and some of every kind of animal – and your family, too!”

“You are going to do what, God?  I have to build a what?  When?  Where?  How?  Why?  What if my neighbors laugh at me?  And, by the way – what is a flood?”

“Noah, stop!  Stop asking questions?  Stop talking!  I will tell you everything you need to know – everything – but Noah, you have to stop and listen.  And, Noah, stop making suggestions – I know what I am doing.  And another thing, Noah – stop arguing with me.  I know what I am doing.”

Now I know that the vast majority of Christian people – do NOT – hear God speaking audibly as Noah did.  Not on a regular basis – anyway.  But I believe that EVERY Christian hears God speaking – through the Word, through sermons, through group studies, through music and great Christian writing – to name a few ways.  The problem is – we have to stop and listen.  Stop!  Listen!

Will you hear God telling you to build an ark?  Unlikely!  But you will hear God giving you direction and instruction.  You will hear God raising objections to things in your life which are displeasing to him.  You will find God answering your questions?

Every single time?  No – but normally you will.  His voice may not be audible – but it will be unmistakable.  But the thing is – you have to stop!  And listen!

What do I have to stop doing?  Racing around – demanding that God explain himself – asking relentless questions (when I didn’t even listen to yesterday’s answers) – wondering why God isn’t telling that very same thing to such and such – telling God how to do something a little better – you get the idea.

Early in December I challenged you to stop whining – griping –when you had to wait in line for anything and everything.  The challenge was – to pray – Philippians 1:9-11  “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.”   I know that some of you took the challenge.  What did you learn when you stopped – whining – griping – complaining or sharing a piece of your mind – and prayed for yourself – those around you – the receptionist in the impatient waiting room? 

What happened when you stopped?  What did you hear God saying – that you would have missed with your usual approach to waiting?

Noah stopped – and listened and when God said “GO!” he built the ark and gathered the supplies and animals as God had said. 

So Noah built the ark, and the rains came, and the earth was flooded.  It rained for forty days and forty nights.  And the water was on the earth another one hundred fifty days.  The way Noah would know it was safe to leave the ark was by sending a dove out to retrieve a leaf from a tree.  The dove could not find a resting place and returned to the ark.  Noah waited seven days before trying it again.  The dove returned with a fresh olive leaf.  Noah waited seven more days and sent the dove out again.  The dove did not return.

When we want something to happen – we can barely stop and wait seven minutes – let alone seven days.  We just keep pushing and pushing and pushing – putting ourselves in stress God did not design us to bear.  We need to learn to stop and wait.

Then God said – “Noah, come out of the ark with your family, and with the birds and animals and reptiles.”  And – that is precisely what Noah did.  To be honest we do have trouble stopping – but sometimes we have even more trouble “going” – when God says move – we don’t.  When we hear God’s voice – whether in the Word or through some other avenue – how quickly do we respond?

What did God say – “Go, and be good stewards of all creation.”  That command has not changed – what kind of stewards are we of the blessings of Almighty God?

The passage from Matthew tells of the night of Jesus’ betrayal.  After sharing the meal in the Upper Room – Jesus and his followers minus Judas Iscariot – went out to the garden to pray.  Jesus asked his followers to stop – a little ways from him – and to pray.  They mistook “stopping” for sleeping.  While Jesus prayed that agonizing and submissive prayer to the Father – the disciples fell sound asleep.  “Could you not wait with me one hour?”

How well do you wait – or when you stop do you fall asleep – assuming God will speak to you by osmosis?  Do you know how to actively wait – listening attentively for God’s voice?  Sleeping in Scripture is synonymous with sleeping – waiting is not!

Not too long ago I met with a mother whose son had died.  She kept saying: “I don’t remember.   I can’t think.”  She was right – there was too much going on in her mind to keep anything straight.  That is true with most of life for us.  We live in a rapidly changing world.  We must get into the practice of listening to the unchanging voice of God – which is spoken loudly in this book.  What we need to do – is to get into the Word and let the Word get into us.

But do we stop long enough to do just that?  And, once we listen do we go and do?

I pray that 2010 will be a stop and go year for you.  Stop and listen to God’s voice – go and do what God says.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

“MY PEOPLE….”                                   JANUARY 3, 2010 EARLY

HEBREWS 11:31-40

II Chronicles 7:14 is quoted often these days…it is the one which begins…”If my people, who are called by my name”.  Who are God’s people?  Who are those called by God’s name?

This year – and our study – “Into the Word” – will, I think, be our toughest year yet. People?!  We already know the “biggies” in Scripture, don’t we?  Some of the “lesser” ones there is barely a mention of their name.  What are we to learn?  What are we to look for in our readings?  On the other hand – I think it will be a fun study – as we learn to look at individuals from God’s point of view.

I have a book in my library – which I couldn’t lay my hands on yesterday – the title is, “There’s A Prostitute In The Family Tree”.  Mentioning that in worship is certainly a way to offend some.  Suggesting we might consider what we – each – have in common with a prostitute is well…  Aren’t all of the people in the Bible “good people”?  A prostitute in God’s family tree?  And, even if there is – shouldn’t we keep that quiet?  A prostitute in the family tree?

Actually we read about her just moments ago – Rahab the Harlot or prostitute was willing to risk her life to rescue/save the spies who had been sent, by Joshua, to scout out the Promised Land.  It was Rahab the prostitute who saved them from certain death at the hands of the king of Jericho.

It would seem that God might have covered up her profession when recording this incident in the sacred words of Scripture.  Obviously God didn’t!  So what might have we to learn from the inclusion of such a person in the Word of God?

The other day someone told me of an individual who didn’t come to church because they didn’t think they were good enough.  If being “good enough” is a requirement for attendance – none of us would be here, in fact, we might just as well lock up the building, and live in our misery.  You may have noticed the sign this morning.  Mary’s dad was given a book on church signs for Christmas – one that caught my attention – perhaps because of the beginning of our study was “A Hospital for Sinners”.  Nowhere did I see a sign that declared “A Gathering Place for the Good Enough”.

We are going to encounter some interesting individuals this year.  Some of them wouldn’t be on our Christmas dinner guest list – some of them wouldn’t even be on our Christmas card list.  Don’t get me wrong – there are individuals in Scripture whose example we must not follow.  There are individuals who refused the grace of God offered to them.  But others – like Rahab – we need to look beyond their sin to see the hand and purpose of God the Almighty.  We need to see how God can use us, too – often in spite of ourselves.  Scripture never excuses sin – to be sure.  But if God eliminated all sinners none would be left to do the work of God.

We need to look at the availability of individuals – how available to God are we?

We need to look at character qualities – what character qualities are we developing?

We need to come to an understanding of the way God chooses to use people’s weaknesses to display his glory and power.

We need to come to see the people in the Bible as men and women (and yes, even children and young people) as ordinary people who were utilized in the work of an Extraordinary God.

Thomas doubted and missed a whole week of believing.

Jeremiah suffered from great depression.

Peter was constantly tempted to “go back fishing”.

Paul and Barnabas went separate ways because of a disagreement over John Mark.

What excuse do you use to keep from being available from God?

What is the reason you think God could never use you?

Do you put more stock in the Extraordinary God than you do in ordinary you?

This year will be a fascinating journey.  I trust we will come to see ourselves as the people of God here and now.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

“CHRIST IS – YOU ARE”            JANUARY 3, 2010  10 AM                       

GENESIS 1:26-31                                               LUKE 2:25-40

When you have a tough decision to make – how do you do it?  Are you one of those individuals who make two (or more) lists the pros of making that decision on one side and the cons of making that decisions on the other.  Putting it down on paper seems to make it so much clearer as we make a decision.

A good practice for us to develop is to make a continual list – the question being “can I really do what God is asking me to do?”  Start with a clean piece of paper – the bigger the better.  Divide it into two columns – one a quarter of the width of the paper, the other three quarters of the width of the paper.  On the narrower side write you name – all lower case as tiny as you can.  On the wider side of the paper – write “GOD” in the biggest letters that will fit – all capitals.  Now how does the decision look?

As we spend the year 2010 in “Into The Word” – we are going to discover a number of needy, ragtag, less than able or adequate individuals who were used by God – simply because they were willing to look at situations with themselves in tiny, little letters and God in huge, bold colorful letters.  Do you think a teenage girl would ever be qualified enough to be the mother of Jesus?  I mean we are talking about God’s Son here.  BUT – Mary said to the angel – “Be it to me as you have spoken, I am the Lord’s servant”.  Here am I use me!  And in what is referred to as the magnificant – Mary’s words to Elizabeth – it is interesting to note that Mary referred to herself but three times, and she referred to God eleven times.  Mary knew it WAS about God it was not about her.  What about you?  How much of life is about you?  How much of life – your life – is about God?

According to Genesis we have been made in the image of God – and – like Adam of old – we have been given responsibility to live life in response to God’s creativity and gift of life.  Is your life a response to God’s goodness?  Do you see yourself as God’s creation?

Anna and Simeon were attune to God enough to recognize in a helpless infant, only eight days old – the child of pilgrims – the Messiah who would save God’s people from their sin.  In “Into The Word” this year I pray you will discover from a multitude of individuals how to be attuned to God’s voice and leading.  I trust you will see that even an aged Anna and Simeon could still be used by God.  Question what you read this year?  Compare it to your situation.  Ask what God is seeking to say to you? 

Ask what specific responsibilities God has gifted and prepared for you to fulfill?  Don’t be falsely modest and put off saying “YES” to God – I mean would anyone ever be qualified to be the human parents of Jesus – apart from God’s empowering?  This is a year for us at St. Andrew’s to discover God’s ability to use even the most unlikely of individuals, in the most unlikely of ways, and in the most unlikely of places.  God simply waits for us, with Isaiah to say, “Here am I, send me”. 

The thing that disqualifies you for service is simply your refusal.

Let us learn from the people of God – how to BE the people of God.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

WHAT’S YOUR HURRY?”       DECEMBER 27, 2009                                                         Luke 2:8-16                                                         Matthew 2:9-12

What’s your hurry?  Or, “for what do you hurry”?

Children of all ages couldn’t seem to hurry fast enough to open presents in the last few days.  And, they could barely tolerate “waiting” for those who did not hurry.  As with the day after Thanksgiving – some hurried off to the stores yesterday morning to snatch that perfect bargain.  It is not unusual to see Christmas trees – already by the curb – on Christmas night?  Sometimes especially at the holiday season we get into a “hurry” frenzy – hurry though this to get to that – hurry through that to get to something else – and so on.  At the end we marvel that we took time to enjoy much of anything because – well – we were in a hurry.

What’s your hurry?  Why do you hurry?  Some people hurry to get to a certain place at a certain time – because they always run behind, or just don’t plan enough time to get ready.  Some people hurry because they know the plane won’t wait for them.  Some people hurry because it is just their nature – to be perpetually in a hurry.

What’s your hurry?  When do you hurry?

Some people – without either Caller ID, or an answering machine, can hardly cope with a missed call – was it?  – Or maybe?  – Oh I hope I didn’t miss a call from…if only I had hurried a little faster.

A beautiful and comforting verse of Scripture is Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They will mount up on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not faint.”  Most of us have much to learn about the benefits of waiting.  We need to know when to wait.

But Scripture also admonishes us to “hurry”.  We need to learn when to hurry.

The story of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ – is not without instances of people hurrying.  Mary, upon learning that she was to be the mother of the Messiah “hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered the home of Zechariah, and his wife Elizabeth.”  Sometimes we fail to hurry to be with the people who will encourage and strengthen us.  And – by the way Mary did not hurry home – it says in Luke 2 that Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months.  Do we cheat ourselves of needed and necessary fellowship with God’s people?  Some of us find it hard to even stay for coffee hour.  We “hurry” ourselves to an early grave.

At other times – we procrastinate when we ought to hurry.

In the nativity story – we read of an angel who appeared to shepherds – keeping watch over their flocks in the field – and delivered good news.  If that wasn’t enough – the angel was surrounded by a great host of angels singing “Glory to God”.  The angel gave the shepherds a sign “You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

“Hey Bartholomew did you just see what I think I saw and heard?  Is that for real, or what?”  The instructions for finding this baby weren’t very specific.  “Most babies are wrapped in swaddling clothes.  And a manger – Do you have any idea how many mangers there are in Bethlehem.  Practically everybody has their own cow and maybe a donkey and…”  “Have you seen all those people in Bethlehem?  I sort of like the wide open spaces of the hillside.  I don’t do crowds.”  “Who is gonna watch the sheep?  Can’t we go after it is light and we have had breakfast?  Man!”

But Luke says they “hurried” off to find the babe in Bethlehem.  In how big of a hurry are we to do what God tells us to do?  When Gods says give – do we stop to count the cost – just in case God didn’t?  When God says go – do we have to work through all of the reasons NOT to go?  When God says hurry do we argue all of the reasons not to hurry?

The angel – God’s spokesperson – said it – and the shepherds hurried off to see that about which they had spoken.

The principle?  God said it.  They did it.  Now!

In Matthew 2 we do not read the word “hurry” – but the implication is strong.  Wise men had come from the east to find the child Jesus.  They made a stop in Jerusalem to ascertain where the King of the Jews – still a toddler – might be found.  They talked with Herod the King.  Lying – he asked them to come back and report what they had found so he too could go and worship the child.   Warned in a dream not to go back to Herod – but to return home by another route – they set out in obedience.  We don’t read they hurried – but then neither do we read that they hesitated.

They didn’t worry because they didn’t have a trip-tik for the alternate route.  They didn’t know what the weather would be if they took the high road instead of the low road – or even vice versa.  But what if Herod is mad at us?  Shouldn’t we obey the ruler of the land?  Can I trust a dream?  Shouldn’t we wait for the star to lead us?  But OUR plans have all been made.

What happened?  They returned to their own country by another route.

Here is the principle – God said it.  They did it!

Do questions?  Objections?  Rationalizations?  What if’s?  Get in your way of obeying God?  Do we always assume that tomorrow will be equally good in God’s sight?  Do we realize with Paul, in his letter to the Church at Ephesus, “we need to make use of the time for the times are evil”?   

“Hurrying” in God’s sight is NOT frenzy.  “Hurrying” in God’s sight is obedience without delay.

Why do you hurry?

When do you hurry?

Does your hurrying lead you closer to, or farther from, God?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

 

“SO, WHAT’S A BETHLEHEM?”       DECEMBER 20, 2009                                              MICAH 5:1-5                                    MATTHEW 1:16, 18-25

So, what’s a Bethlehem?

We are two thirds of the way through our Scripture readings, for December, on Advent – the celebration of Christ’s coming.  Joyfully we – the Church – celebrate his first coming some two thousand years ago.  Anxiously we await his Second Advent – for Jesus WILL come again.  Advent is a time of preparation – meaning we must be ready to welcome Jesus when he comes.

So, what’s a Bethlehem?

Geographically, Bethlehem is about six miles from Jerusalem.  It is southwest of Jerusalem near the main north-south road connecting Hebron to the southern part of Israel.  Being 2,300’ above sea level makes the city a city of strength, and indeed, at the time of David was occupied by a large garrison of Philistines.  The area around Bethlehem is quite fertile.  Because of the rich harvests the city of Ephrathah became Bethlehem – House of Bread – how fitting that the One called the Bread of Life should be born in the House of Bread.

Bethlehem was where Ruth, the God-fearing Moabitess lived with her second husband, Boaz.  It was the birthplace of David, who kept his father’s sheep on the surrounding hills, and where he was later anointed as the second king of Israel.  Because it was the birthplace of David – an ancestor of Joseph –Mary and Joseph were there to pay the Roman tax when the time came for Jesus to be born. 

So what is a Bethlehem?

Let’s sing about it – the hymn is 250 and we will remain seated as we sing.

Why Bethlehem? 

Micah describes it as “little” among the clans of Judah. 

Why Bethlehem?

Jerusalem was literally “right around the corner” – why not Jerusalem?  Jerusalem had long been the holy place of Israel – and, in fact, when the time came to present Jesus – at eight days old – Mary and Joseph took him to Jerusalem to the temple.  Why wasn’t he just born there?  That would have been the natural place for people to expect the Messiah to come.  But then the Messiah still comes to those who least expect him – and in the least likely of places.  People have thronged to Bethlehem on Christmas Eves.  Do they think Jesus will arrive again in Bethlehem?  Do they realize their heart is the new Bethlehem where Jesus comes today?

But Bethlehem?

What’s a Bethlehem?

Let us consider what happened two thousand years ago.  The Romans demanded that every person had to return to their ancestral home to be counted (a census) and taxed.  Obviously, the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau had not planned to have adequate housing available.  An event happened that day that has changed the course of history – and is changing it still – YET – the Mayor of Bethlehem was not informed.  The religious ranking official of the day was not on the announcement list either.  The Brass Band had been replaced by a mooing cow and a braying donkey.  The Holy One of God came – whether or not people were ready.  The Messiah came though people were pre-occupied with other things. They were busy with family reunions of those returning to the City of David.  “If one more relative shows up at our door, I’ll scream”.   They were scurrying to find the money to pay the tax – THE TAX!

Today we are busy – last minute shopping and baking.  Wrapping gifts galore.  Getting the house ready for company.  Writing that Christmas card – because – well – we got one from them.  Waiting for adult children to arrive.  Picking up family at the airport – couldn’t you get a flight directly into Flint?  Earning money to pay Caesar his due.  It is not that God does not come today – it is that many are too pre-occupied to notice.  The “trappings” of the season – and the “busyness” they create make us miss the One who comes to us as the Risen Christ.  What is that the hymn states – “But in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in”?

So what’s a Bethlehem?

It is a place where God finds a place to dwell – even if it is in a lowly stable/cave with a feeding trough for a bed.  It may not be the cleanest place/heart in the subdivision – but a place where he is welcome.  It may or may not be the biggest house on the block – but it is a place where he will be received.   It may or may not be a heart whose life has a large portfolio.  It may or may not be a person that anyone else views as important – but a heart that will receive Jesus as important.  It may or may not be a huge Cathedral or a simple church building –but it is a place that has “room” for Jesus.  It may or may not be the place with the best outdoor Christmas decorations – but it will be a heart that allows Jesus to decorate it with newness and forgiveness.

So – why Bethlehem?

Because Bethlehem was the city chosen by God for the birthplace of his son – Emmanuel – God with us.

What lessons for us?

God comes to even the most lowly of places – I.e. human hearts.  It is not our significance which attracts God – it is our need – it is our availability.  It is not our standing before others in the community – it is our kneeling before God.  It is not because we have made ourselves ready and respectable – but rather because the Spirit – the Hound of Heaven – has wooed us even when we weren’t aware.

Is your heart a stable where Christ is welcome?  Is your heart a stable where Jesus can bring others with him – even people as undesirable as shepherds?

Be sure of this – Jesus comes today as unexpectedly and as powerfully as he did to a stable a couple of thousand years ago.  Will your heart be an inn/stable where he is welcome?  I am not just talking about salvation – I am talking about our availability to still be challenged and changed as Jesus comes anew to us.

What’s a Bethlehem?  A place where Jesus is welcome.

A question – will your celebrations of Christmas during the next seven days – plus today, of course – attract others to Jesus – or distract them from Jesus?  Will they say –“There is room in my heart Lord Jesus” – or will they say – “Maybe after the holidays”?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

 CHRISTMAS EVE 2009  –

“MY SPACE….”                                                                                                                  

NINE LESSONS

If you were a child, living in an orphanage in Russia, what would be on your Christmas list?  Number one would obviously be a mom, a dad, a family.  Number two might be toys and clothes – or even enough food.  Near the top of the list would be – space – your own personal space.  A number of years ago, the daughter of friends adopted twins from Russia – they had never slept in a bed – their bed was a dresser drawer.  No room for even a bed…now that is crowded.  I can imagine asking for “space” would be quite normal.

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools.  I know, for a fact, that kind of thing did happen in the nineties.    They were invited to teach in prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and at a large orphanage.  About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage.  They relate the following story in their own words: 

It was nearing the holiday season, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the Christmas story.  We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem.  Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.

Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened.  Some sat on the edge of their stools, trying to grasp every word.  Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger.  Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me.  No colored paper was available in the city.

Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw.  Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing out as she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket.  A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.

The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help.  All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat.  He looked to be about six years old and had finished his project.  As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger.  Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the little boy why there were two babies in the manger.  Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at his completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.

For such a young boy, who had heard the Christmas story only once, he related the happenings accurately….until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.  Then Misha started to ad-lib.  He made up his own ending to the story as he said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.  I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have a place to stay.  Then Jesus told me I could stay with him.  But I told him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did.  But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift.  I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. 

So I asked Jesus, “If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?”

And Jesus told me, “If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.”

“So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him….for always.”

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks.  Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.

The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him….FOR ALWAYS.

I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in your life that counts, but who you have in your life that counts.

A little boy with no “space” of his own, was willing to share a manger with Jesus.  What are you willing to share with Jesus?  How much of “your space” are you willing to share with Jesus?

Jesus Will stay with you forever.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

 “JUST SUPPOSE…”                            

DECEMBER 13, 2009         ISAIAH 52:13-53:12             LUKE 2:25-40

Our theme for the month of December, in our Bible reading journey, is ADVENT.  Advent is a period of time beginning on the fourth Sunday preceding Christmas.  During Advent the Church joyfully remembers Christ’s first coming, and anxiously awaits his second coming.  It is a time of longing, and of preparation.   But let’s be honest – by the 13^th of December even committed Christians are ready to leave behind the anxious longing and preparation (preparation of our hearts, ouch) of Advent and move into the festival of Christmas.                                                  

Our Advent Task Force has chosen as its theme – “Gifts”, and the gift for the third week of Advent is the “Holy Spirit”.  Jesus was/is Emmanuel – God with us, and the Holy Spirit is “God in us”.                                                                                                                                                      Christmas is that magical time of the year when sugar plums dance in our heads, when even the most hardened adult is transported back to the awe and wonder of childhood, when all ills are healed, and when all wrongs are righted!  Don’t we wish!  We all want to discover the “Wonderful Life” as George Bailey did.  The proverbial fly in the ointment, or the “unnoticed elephant in the middle of the living room of which we never speak” is this:  George Bailey discovered the “Wonderful Life” in the despair of life.  The rainbow comes after the storm, and the silver lining is found only in the dark cloud.                                                                                        One of the problems with Christmas is – quite frankly – the people we encounter.  Some of whom are not very pretty, are not happy, and perhaps have created their own misery by bad choices.  The problem is – people are still sick at Christmas, people die even on Christmas Day, and many families celebrate on more than one day – to accommodate those who do not speak to someone else in the family.                                                                                                               Even the romantic sounding story of Jesus’ birth is marred by the fact Jesus was born in a barn.  The barn had not been cleaned in preparation for the holiday with festive lights and sprigs of holy adorning the wall.  The animals had not been sent away to keep them away from the holy baby.  The pungent smells of yesterday had only been replaced by the new smells of today.  We have two manger scenes at home – one a Precious Moments set, a gift from a former congregation, and the other a Willow Tree set, a gift from some of you in this congregation in the form of gift cards from Lemstone.  I love them both but let’s be real – I really appreciate they don’t have stables with the real dirt from a barn, nor are they bearers of the bitter aroma of a barn – such as we know.                                                                                                                      In the stench and dirt of the stable – came the ONE – who would redeem the world from sin – and reveal the grace and mercy of God, the Eternal Father.  From that barn came hope, joy and peace unrivaled to this very day.  The dirty, smelly barn became the nursery of the Prince of Peace – where he was adored by shepherds straight from the hills surrounding Bethlehem.         I wonder  would you and I have recognized the Son of God that day so long ago?  Would we have overlooked him because…well…the Holy One of Israel cradled in a barn?  Would we have recognized the Begotten of the Father, in a tiny baby – helpless and totally dependent on a young carpenter, named Joseph, and his betrothed – Mary?   A carpenter to train the Son of God?  A young woman, about to give birth, engaged to a man who had just brought her ninety miles on a donkey – his mother?  A donkey?  Would you and I have re cognized the Messiah – who at that moment did not “fit the picture”?  Didn’t fit the picture – AT ALL! – NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOKED AT IT.                                                                                                                                    All of that/this brings us to a passage from Isaiah – that is indeed – not one of our top ten favorite Scripture portions.  We found no comfort in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion” which more than visualized these words for us.  Some just closed their eyes and refused to look.  It was horribly disgusting.                                                                                                                             Reading from Isaiah 52 and 53:  “Just as there were many who were appalled at him, his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man. And his form marred beyond human likeness”, and “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”                                                                                                                           Jesus the beloved of the Father, was so beaten and disfigured at the hands of the Roman soldiers that he was totally repulsive.  One could look on his face and wonder if he was even human – so marred was his appearance.  The physical suffering for OUR sins was neither light, nor something to glamorize in the minds of mere mortals.  It was horrible!  So horrible men and women chose – refused – to look on him – as his life was being drained from him on the cross.  The pictures of a serene face staring down from Calvary’s cross – may make us comfortable but they are not accurate.                                                                                                                                    I wonder – would we have recognized the Son of God that day?  He just didn’t fit the picture of divinity.  He didn’t look like the King of Israel.  He certainly didn’t look like the one God described as “my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”.                                                                         This Advent season are you recognizing Jesus as he comes to us in the people we see around us?  In situations that are so “unpretty” – they are ugly?  Do we shut-out those who need God’s presence revealed in and through us – because – well – they make us uncomfortable?             Two weeks ago today – just before the Healing Service was to start – a man suddenly appeared in Calvin Hall.  It was not hard to tell that life had not been easy on him – and he had not been easy on life.  He was hungry and looking for gas money to get home.  When he discovered we were about to have a service he decided he would stay for it.  And, he did!                                       I believe he even went to the front to have the elders anoint him, and pray for him.  You can be sure I kept one eye on him as I lead the worship.  I know others did as well.  I am not suggesting throwing caution to the wind – but – I can imagine a scene in heaven: “Angel Matthew” “Yes God” – “How did they treat you at St. Andrew’s?”  - “Well – they didn’t treat me like an angel – I guess they weren’t looking for angels unaware last night”.  Are we open to God’s presence in totally unexpected people and places and events?

What an eternal difference for the one criminal, that when others found Jesus repulsive to look at – he asked Jesus for mercy.  Excuse me – recognize God dying on a cross?  But – what if he had not recognized Jesus in that situation.?                                                                                       How is Jesus coming to you this Advent season?  In ugly, repulsive ways?  Through tears and sores and repulsiveness?  When life is NOT perfect do you still recognize Jesus when he appears in the form of an unkempt, demanding person?  This season of Advent are you open to Jesus coming to you?  Just suppose…

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

“WHAT ARE YOU FULL OF?”       

DECEMBER 6, 2009                      ISAIAH 9:1-6                    ISAIAH 42:1-7             JOHN 1:1-18

How did you do this week in praying for others?   Did you begin immediately while waiting to leave the sanctuary?  Did you pray for the person behind you in the coffee line – or in front of you?  Did you forget about it part way through the week?  I have good news – there will be more opportunities to pray for people this week – because there will be more lines, more stop lights, more appointments with others waiting with you – you get the idea.  And Philippians 1:9-11 has not changed, nor has God’s ability to use you in the spiritual well-being of others. There are extra copies of the prayer in the narthex this morning.

Ah, ‘tis the season of creative wrapping and packaging.   How can I wrap something so that it looks like something else – just to throw the person off?  How can I wrap something so that it looks like a million bucks – even if it isn’t?  Even if we can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear – can we make it look like it is?  What has God wrapped in you?

The Jewish people, in particular, and the world in general were waiting – waiting for someone to come and set it/them free.  Free from foreign rule, free from poverty and from war, free from bondage to sin – which they might not have recognized but knew something was wrong.    Free from fear.  Free from purposelessness.  Free from insignificance. 

What would this redeemer look like?  Would he be born in a palace and reared in the lap of luxury?  Would he be a great military hero?  Would he be attentive to little, despairing voices calling out to him?  Especially during those difficult, trying times of history people would cry out – “Will he come, will he really come?”

Who would have suspected that God the Almighty would wrap that Messiah in the form of a helpless baby, born to a young couple, in a barn?  Who would have suspected that one with such an inauspicious beginning would change the world – forever?  God wraps amazing things in interesting packages. 

John declared that Jesus came “full of grace and truth”.

What about you?  Are you filled with the proverbial baloney?  Are you filled with yourself? 
Are you filled with Jesus?  Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?  Are you filled with grace and truth?

They had waited for ages for the Advent or coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah.   And their waiting was not in vain for the Messiah came two thousand years ago.  He came “full of grace and truth”.

What does that mean?  Jesus was filled with grace – he was a channel, an instrument of God’s divine riches.  He came to a woman caught in the very act of adultery – forgave her sin and told her to sin no more.  He came to a blind beggar and forgave his sin and then gave him sight.  He came to ten lepers – do you avoid the north end of Flint like the plague – that is how people regarded lepers in Jesus’ day – but JESUS cleansed their skin, and their sin, and sent them on. 

One day Jesus came upon a devastatingly sad funeral procession – on its way to bury the only child of a widow. And Jesus gave her back her son.  He came to the temple and honored the great faith of a poor, poor woman who gave her last little coin – who else would have recognized her gift?  He came to a man chained outside the city because of mental illness – it would be safe to describe the man as deranged – and he was strong – so strong he, at times, broke his chains – and Jesus literally gave that man his life back.  He came to a man paralyzed from birth – told him to get up, take his mat and go – and he did.

Even at the end – he gave pardon and hope to a convicted criminal – about to take his last breathe as he hung upon a cross.  And in his compassion Jesus commended his mother’s care to the disciple the John.  After the resurrection – he gave forgiveness to Peter and then commissioned him to serve in God’s great Kingdom.

Don’t miss this part – not one of those individuals deserved the intervention of Jesus, the Messiah, in their lives?  Not one of them was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of human sin.  Suddenly in the midst of their dilemma and need appears this Holy One of Israel.  Jesus the Living Word of God – who was with God from the beginning and, in fact, was God – the very one against who they had rebelled in sin.  Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – he who could have annihilated them with a nod of his head stood in their presence.  Jesus who never sinned, and who held the keys of eternity, was the Judge at the hearing in which they now found themselves. 

Not one of those individuals – not one – could have afforded, let alone found, a defense attorney, who could even present an adequate defense – let alone obtain an acquittal.  The only one who could judge sin – acting on the grace of God to save them from themselves, from their sin, from their great and urgent need.  The High King of Heaven became their defense attorney, at the same moment as he was their judge – and he pronounced grace upon them.

And this same Jesus comes into our lives – continually – and when he could pronounce judgment and eternal separation from God – instead hears our feeble pleas of forgiveness and grants us grace.  He has heard our simple and agonized pleas for forgiveness and mercy countless times.  He knows we made a sincere commitment to pray for those around us as we wait – and then forgot about it completely when the person in the car ahead of us – hesitated just long enough that we had the privilege of waiting for yet another red light – and in that somewhat defining moment – groused instead of praying.  And in the moment of our shameful admission to ourselves, says to us in grace, “I forgive you, and I will give you ample opportunity this coming week to prove your sincerity.  Because I still believe in you.”  That is grace – not just forgiving – but giving another chance. 

And the world is waiting to see if YOU – yes, I am mean you – are also filled with grace.  Has Jesus advent – coming – in your life filled you with grace?  Have you let him?

A lot of those same examples could be used to define the fact that Jesus was full of truth.  He was, and is, the perfect revelation of the Father.  He was God’s gift –the Living word – of whom we learn in this gift – the written Word.

Just consider how often when healing was granted he told the individual to go “and sin no more”.   Truth declares it does matter how we live.

Jesus never sugar-coated the truth – a man, a successful young man – a very successful young man – came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to gain eternal life.  He had acquired the good life here – and wanted to secure eternity as well.  Jesus told him to sell all he had and to give it to the poor.  The man went away sadly –and Jesus did NOT call him back and change what he needed to do.  Jesus was truth which did and does not change.

Two men hung on crosses next to Jesus that dark day in Jerusalem.  Both of them had the same opportunity to ask for mercy and grace – one of them did and received the promise of paradise.  One of them didn’t – and Jesus did NOT say – “Oh, come to heaven with me anyway.”  He knew the truth – repentance is a condition of salvation.

We live in a day of changing truth – there was no holocaust – our nation was not founded as a Christian nation on Christian principles – the constitutional Amendment was meant to protect the State for the Church.”  You get the idea.  We live in an age that believes – for the moment – “When it is convenient – reinvent history and truth.”  That, my friends – does not change the truth of God. 
Jesus offers us truth – which is simply why we need to – “Get into the Word, and let the Word get into us.”  Do others experience the truth in your presence? 

Are YOU filled with grace and truth this Advent Season?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.   Amen.