Jeremiah 33:14-16, Luke 21:25-36

Jeremiah 33:14-16

Luke 21:25-36

There’s Light In The Darkness

Advent 1

November 29, 2009

You know — late November and December can truly be dark times.

It’s dark by 5:00. For many of us it’s dark by the time we get home from work — too dark and for that matter too cold to do anything outside — and the trouble is we know it won’t get much better until March.

Not only can it be dark – it can also be depressing. At times darkness may seem to hover around us like a shroud. For many of us, our spirits are just a dark as the darkest night.

Maybe the problem is that we get so rushed – and so pushed.

Christmas is coming — there is so much to prepare for.

So many packages to wrap.

So many presents to buy.

So many places to be.

So much to do.

Too much to do.

It can be depressing — can’t it?

Then — for many — December can be a very sad month.

More people suffer from depression in December than in any other month of the year.

The joys of the Holiday season may turn to depression as family gatherings don’t turn out to be as “happy” as they had been planned to be. Even the thought of family gatherings can be depressing for some as they remember loved ones who have died or for some other reason may not be able to gather with them — or are not willing to gather with them.

The “happiest” time of the year can also be the saddest.

Then there is the concern many have for their jobs – how they are going to pay for food to eat and a place to shelter themselves and their families – much less have Christmas gifts to give.

And, of course, there is the concern that many have for peace in the midst of violence – whether they live in war zones or communities where violence affects them directly or whether they just read about it in the paper or hear it on the evening news.

It can be a depressing time.

Maybe it’s a depressing time for you.

Maybe you feel overwhelmed and are wondering what you are going to do – how you can make a living and provide for your family – or how you are going to cope with the darkness you might feel in your life.

Maybe you came to Church today to get a dose of “good cheer” in the midst of the dark times. We are moving towards Christmas so maybe you came today expecting to hear about the sweet baby Jesus and the peace He can bring.

Well – I’m sorry – because if that’s what you expected then you might be surprised – or maybe disappointed – to come face to face with Advent and scripture passages from Jeremiah and a Gospel passage that does not promise peace, but conflict.

Maybe you’re thinking: “What’s going on here?”

Maybe you’re thinking: “Wait a minute! Christmas is coming. What about:

Silent night, Holy night, All is calm, All is bright?”

Instead of Silent Night we get:

“…nations will be in anguish…the roaring and tossing of the sea…People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world…the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”

Ho, ho, ho indeed! Where is Santa when we need him?

Why read from a Gospel lesson such as this to begin Advent and our preparation for the coming of the Christ child?

Well, I believe that there is a good reason for it.

The sad truth that all of us who are old enough know is that we do not live in a “Santa Claus world” – and not many of us live “Santa Claus lives”.

We need to know how to live in our world – cope with the problems that we experience – and see what God has to say to our world and our lives – instead of trying to “sugar coat” the reality of our world and our lives.

We do live in an uncertain world – or maybe it would better to say that we live in a certain world – a world where we can be certain that there will be violence  and danger and economic hardship.

Nine years ago there were headlines out of the Holy Land:

“Violence forces Bethlehem to cancel Christmas plans.”

Bethlehem’s city fathers called off ambitious plans to celebrate Christmas 2000 – the 2000^th anniversary of the birth of Christ in that town. They said that a time of Palestinian-Israeli conflict was no time for merrymaking. The town of Jesus’ birth was dark and deserted that Christmas – without festive street lights, craft fairs and choirs in Manger Square that had been planned. In the months before Christmas seven Palestinians from the Bethlehem area were killed in rock-throwing clashes and gun battles with Israeli soldiers.

Indeed, we live in a world where there seems to be little “peace on earth and mercy mild…”

The fear and foreboding Jesus speaks of in our Luke 21 passage for today greet us at every turn.

So – what’s the answer?

That’s the question we wrestle with – but we are not the first to have wrestled with this question.

The prophet Jeremiah in our Old Testament lesson for today certainly knew what dark and depressing days were. Jeremiah lived in Judah in some very dark days for the country. For almost 100 years the Babylonians threatened Judah. The people, however, were sure that God would save them — then, in 587 BC , the Babylonians conquered Judah and ten years later Jerusalem lay in ruins.

These were dark times for the people who trusted God.

Why had this happened?

Where was God?

Dark and depressing days indeed.

Then – at the time our Gospel passage was written the people in Israel knew what dark and depressing days could be like, too. They, too were under the authority of a foreign government — this time it was the Romans. They prayed for God to come and change things. They prayed for God to send the Messiah to free them — but — they had prayed for so long — and with no answer.

Had God finally given up on His people?

So – what was the answer for Jeremiah – and for the folks in Jesus’ day?

Where was the hope for them?

Indeed – where is the hope for us today in today’s world?

More specifically – where is the hope for you and the things you deal with in your life?

The hope for Jeremiah was in God.

Jeremiah instructed the captives in Babylon to look past the destruction and the problems they saw and experienced in life – and look to the fact that God was with them – even in their struggle and their despair.

In the midst of their struggle and despair Jeremiah had the audacity to believe that God was with them – and that the light of God shone – no matter how dark their lives became.

Did you get that?

In the midst of their struggle and despair Jeremiah had the audacity to believe that God was with them – and that the light of God shone – no matter how dark their lives became.

In the midst of our struggle and despair – in the midst of a world where we can be certain that there will be violence and dangers and economic hardships – in the midst of our darkness and fear – God is with us – and the light of God shines – regardless of how dark our lives become.

In the midst of your struggle and despair – in the midst of a world where you can be certain that there will be violence and dangers and economic hardships – in the midst of your darkness and fear – God is with you – and the light of God shines – regardless of how dark your life becomes.

There is light in the darkness.

It’s the light of God.

It’s the light of Christ.

So – why choose this text from Luke where we read that:

“…nations will be in anguish…the roaring and tossing of the sea…People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world…the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”

Because it reminds us that even in our darkness – there is the light of God.

Right smack in the middles of what seems to be a very depressing Gospel text where Jesus is saying that terrible things are in store – there are a few words that jump out as if they were printed in flashing neon:

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Jesus is telling His disciples that disappointment, despair, disease, even death do not have the final word. Jesus is telling them that when they face these things that they need to not focus on them – but to focus on God.  Jesus is telling them to look up and see the light of God in the midst of the darkness of the world.

There is light in the darkness.

That’s Jesus’ message to us, also.

In a world where we can be certain that there will be violence and dangers and economic hardships –we need to look up and see the light of God.

There is light in the darkness.

In your life where you may be experiencing dark and depressing things you   need to look up and see the light of God.

There is light in the darkness.

Some years ago, the comedians Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks  did a series of comedy sketches called the “2000-Year-Old Man” . The premise was that Reiner interviewed Brooks – who was playing a man 2,000 years old.

At one point, Reiner asks Brooks: “Did you always worship God?”

Brooks replies: “No. We had a guy in our village named Phil, and for a time we worshiped him.”
Reiner asks: “You worshiped a guy named Phil? Why?” and Brooks replied:      ”Because he was big, and mean, and he could break you in two with his bare hands!”
Reiner then asks: “Did you have prayers?”
Brooks answers: “Yes, would you like to hear one? O Phil, please don’t be mean, and hurt us, or break us in two with your bare hands.”
Reiner then asks: “So when did you start worshiping God?”
And then Brooks gave this wonderful answer: “Well, one day a big thunderstorm came up, and a lightning bolt hit Phil. We gathered around and saw that he was dead. Then we said to one another, “There’s somthin’ bigger than Phil!”                                                                                                                                                                                                    Did you catch that?  “There’s somthin’ bigger than Phil!”  Great comedy – and a great truth.

We live in a world where we can be certain that there will be violence and dangers and economic hardships – but we can also be sure that there is “somthin’ bigger”. You can be sure that your life will be filled dark and depressing times – but you can also be sure that “there is “somthin’ bugger”.  There is “somthin’ bigger” than the violence – the dangers – the economic hardships – and the dark and depressing things of our world and our lives. That “somthin’ bigger” is the light God shines in our lives and our world – the light of Christ – the light of hope – and the light of love.

Some years ago the community of Spencer, South Dakota was devastated by a tornado. Among the many losses, including six victims, was St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. The day after the tornado the pastor of St. Matthew’s walked through the devastation. She writes that it was an unbelievable sight – a grain elevator twisted and fallen, a water tower toppled, vehicles and other heavy items strewn around like toys, whole buildings gone from their foundations.

When she got near the site of the Church someone called out:  “Look! There He is! There’s Jesus!”

Sure enough, there was the statue of Jesus that had stood at the altar of the Church. There it – or He was — a beacon to what had been the site of a 100-year-old congregation’s place of worship. The pastor later wrote that it was so fitting to look up from the chaos around her and see Jesus — arms outstretched, welcoming, and loving His people. She wondered how the statue had survived the devastation – and later learned that two young girls, helping clean up for a family member in a nearby home had taken time to come over to where the Church had been and found the statue in the rubble. They decided that everyone in Spencer needed to see that Jesus was still there, so they stood him up for all to see.

Yes, we live in a world where we can be certain that there will be violence  and dangers and economic hardships — you can be sure that your life will be filled dark and depressing times – but you can also be sure that Jesus is with you – and that there is the light God that shines in our lives and our world – the light of Christ – the light of hope – and the light of love – in spite of the darkness.

There is light in the darkness.

The message for today may not be sugar coated – but then again neither are our lives.

The message for today is that – no matter how dark or desperate things become – there is light — God’s light that shines in the world through Christ.

The message is that in the midst of the December darkness – and the darkness of our lives – there is the light of Christ.

The message is that “there is somthin’ bigger” than our world filled with violence and our lives filled with darkness – and that is the light of Christ.

Because of what God has done for us, there is light in the darkness.

However dark your life may be or may become – know that God’s light shines.

There is indeed light in the darkness.

Amen.

Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37

Revelation 1:4b-8

John 18:33-37

Is Christ Your King?

November 22, 2009

(Christ The King Sunday)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega”, says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

Very powerful words, are they not?

Very powerful words – and a perfect text for this last Sunday of the liturgical year, the one designated by the Church around the world as Christ The King Sunday. Of course, the idea that Christ Is King came long before the church incorporated it on the liturgical calendar. Go back to the gospels and you find all four of them recounting the confrontation we read about a moment ago between Jesus and Pilate.

The Jewish religions authorities had dragged Jesus before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, in hopes he would be found guilty of treason – and Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” To which Jesus banters back, “Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?”

Pilate replies, “Am I a Jew? It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

And Jesus answers:

“My kingdom is not of this world.”

Of course, Jesus is right. How could His kingdom be “of this world” when the title “King of the Jews” was the inscription posted over Jesus’ head as He was nailed to a cross — not above a throne that kings of this world would sit upon?

Still, we know the kingdom is real. After all, why have we ever heard of Pontius Pilate? Or the high priests, Annas and Caiaphas? The only reason we know those names is because they were once part of the story of Jesus. Or what about Pilate’s great Roman Empire, or all the others of the past 2000 years? They have risen and fallen — their kings and kingdoms have come and gone. Presidents and Prime ministers, despots and dictators have had their moments of glory. But through them all, millions upon millions all over the world have humbled themselves at the foot of that cross and bowed their heads in homage and honor at the name of Jesus.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

“The Alpha and the Omega.” Some of you may know that those are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet – so to say something or someone is “the Alpha and the Omega” is to affirm completeness – to affirm that they are the beginning and the end — the A to Z — and everything in between.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

While this is a true statement, it is an interesting choice of words for the writer of Revelation to write down.  When he wrote these words, John was living in a time of vicious persecution. To make a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ was to put your life in danger of, at the least, becoming a social and commercial leper or, at worst, being legally murdered as an enemy of the Roman empire. John himself was on the prison island of Patmos as he wrote and prison islands were not simply places of incarceration – they were holding cells for those awaiting execution. John pictured the awful conditions as they existed in his day. He noted how human beings could become monsters and destroy a society from within; he saw the disastrous results of violent conflict. But with eyes of faith, John gazed into the future and saw a better day — a day in a world ruled by King Jesus – the Alpha and the Omega, the one who was and is and is to come, the Almighty.

Others have seen that “better day” as well.

This Thursday we will join some of those as we sit around our Thanksgiving tables. We will remember the Pilgrims’ journey that had begun so full of hope for a new life of religious freedom in a warm and welcoming land called Virginia. Then things began to happen. Instead of the land called Virginia they landed at Plymouth Rock – in what is Massachusetts — on December 21, 1620 — not the best time of year in Massachusetts. Until they could build houses and establish themselves on the land, they made their home on board the Mayflower, the vessel in which they had sailed. The men went ashore every morning to work, returning to the little ship at night. They built a “common house” to which the sick and dying were transferred, placed their four little cannon in a fort, which they built on a hill close by, built two rows of houses with a wide street between and finally landed their stores and provisions. Then the whole company came ashore toward the last of March, and in April the Mayflower sailed away. The ensuing winter was hard and bitter. At one time all but six or seven of the pilgrims were sick. Eighteen women denied themselves food so that their children could eat. Thirteen of them died. Half of the 102 pilgrims died of malnourishment, disease, and exposure. Only about 30 of those who survived were over the age of 16. Those who died were buried in unmarked graves because the pilgrims did not want the natives to know how small their numbers had become. In the spring they planted three crops; English Peas, Barley, and Indian Corn. The peas were planted too late – though they came up beautifully, the hot sun parched the blossoms and the plants died. One of the settlers described their barley crops as “indifferent;” apparently the barley was not worth harvesting either. Only the corn survived. Of course, not the corn we are used to with big, plump yellow kernels — this was “Indian Corn” with ears only two to three inches long and kernels of different colors. The pilgrims harvested only twenty acres. And to top it all off, a second shipload of thirty-five settlers arrived without any provisions because they expected to live off the crops the first settlers had raised. By the end of their second winter in Plymouth, food had to be rationed again: five kernels of corn for each person per day.   A hard life. In fact, some proposed a Day of Mourning to honor all those who had perished. But others said no, a Day of Thanksgiving would be more appropriate. After all, even though half had died, half had not. They saw this as reason to give thanks to the God who had seen them through. The eyes of their faith were the same as those of John so many centuries before. They saw their world in the loving care and control of “the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Christ is King!

Regardless of whatever else may happen – the world is in the loving care and control of “the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Regardless of what may happen in your life – your life is in the loving care and control of “the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Even when Jesus hung on the cross and the title “King of the Jews” was hung over his head in what the Jewish leaders and Pilate thought to be a cruel joke –  He was still “the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Christ is King!

What this means is that Christ is not only is King over all creation – He is also King over your life! He not only rules over everything – He rules over your things!

The question is – do you serve Him?

The question is – do you serve Him and acknowledge that He is King over your life – or do you let other things rule and govern you?

Is Christ your King?

You know – you can make all kinds things king over your life. You can give all kinds of things control over your life.  You can let all kinds of things rule your life.

You can let your life be controlled by money. You can let your life be controlled by power.  You can let other people rule and control your life. You can let your desire for things like the best cars – the best computers – the best houses – or whatever else is the “latest and greatest” according to society – control your life. You can let these things control you – but you are not living out the truth that we know as Christians.

As Christians, we know that Christ is King! As Christians, we know that only Christ is “the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

As Christians, we know that all the things of the world will fade away – and only Christ will last.

As Christians, we know that Christ is King!

You can let the bad things and bad situations in your life rule your life also. You can look at the bad things going on in the world and let fear rule your life – and  it could be said that you would have good reason for that. You can look the trials you may be going through in your life — whether they be health issues or fear of losing your job or trying to get the health coverage you and your family need or getting out of debt or family problems or so many other things that may be happening and let fear rule your life – and again it could be said that you would have good reason for that also.

You can let the things of the world rule your life or situations rule your life – or you can be like the Apostle John and the Pilgrims. They saw the bad things – the terrible things – the devastating things – but they would not bow down to these things or give homage to them or give them control over their lives. They saw all these things – but they had eyes of faith – and realized that only Christ is “the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Christ is King!

So – is Christ your King?

Do you serve Him?

Or – do you just like to say that Christ is your King – but live as if your serve other things?

Is Christ really your King – or do you just like to play like He is?

In 1957 the Board of the Ideal Toy Company thought they had come up with a surefire marker hit: a Jesus doll! The majority of kids in America were Christian, so they figured parents would jump at the opportunity to make playtime a religious experience. After a lot of research, they introduced their product to great fanfare and sparing no expense in the marketing campaign. Unfortunately, they did not consult any parents, who probably would have told him the idea was a loser  – which is exactly what it turned out to be. In fact, very few sold because parents were horrified at the idea of undressing the Jesus doll, dragging it around, sticking it in the bathtub, and the like. Jesus dolls – packaged in a box that looked like the Bible – were probably the biggest doll flop in American toy history. Why? Because even though people of faith celebrate the fact that Jesus was truly human – walked, talked, ate, drank, suffered, and even died – we know there is more to His story: He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” That is not doll house stuff!

But – here’s the thing.

Too many times we like to “play like” Christ is our Lord and King — “the Alpha and the Omega” of our lives – the “beginning and the end” for us – “the A to Z and everything in between” – but we don’t really live like it.  We might want to have Jesus like a doll or a toy we can pull out when we need Him – play with Him a bit – then put Him back in the box or throw Him down until we need Him again.

The truth is that Christ is King.

Christ is King over all creation.

Christ is King over you.

Do you live like Christ is your King?

Regardless of how you live – Christ is your King – and wants you to live like He is your King. The things of the world – whether it be things others say should rule your life like money or possessions or whatever else it might be – or the devastating things that can control you and bring you to despair –  do not have to control your life.  Christ is King – and wants to have control over your life.

Is Christ your King?

Is Christ “the Alpha and the Omega” of your life – the “beginning and the end” for you – “the A to Z and everything in between”?

Christ was  not simply some ancient itinerant rabbi who taught timeless truths – He was not simply some helpful Hebrew healer who had remarkable power over disease and even death – He was not simply a compassionate, caring friend who reached out to those whom society rejected — but He was God of all creation come to earth – “the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty”.

Christ the King.

Do you believe it?  Do you?

Then how do you show it?

How do you live like Christ is your King?

A good start would be by taking your King’s orders seriously – and living as His servant. If you want a quick manual on how He wants His servants to live, take a look at Matthew 5-7 what we call the Sermon on the Mount. If Christ is truly your King, your sexual behavior will be in control. You will be honest in your business dealings. You will go above and beyond the call of duty in response to appeals for help. You will care for the welfare of, not only your neighbor, but your enemy as well. You will be religious, but not showy about it. Possessions will have their rightful place in your life, not the be-all and end-all of existence. You will not be judgmental, but you will use good judgment. You will trust God to meet your needs. The things of the world will neither rule you nor terrify you.

Is Christ your King?

If so, you will do your level best to do what He says.

Piece of cake?

Of course not.  But you have the promise of His abiding presence to help you on your journey of serving Him. He is, after all, our living Lord. This is the one who is ultimately in charge, and that, my friend, is a wonderful word of hope for you or me or anyone who has ever been drenched in the storms of life.

True, He wrote no books, composed no songs, drew no pictures, carved no statues, amassed no fortune, commanded no army, ruled no nation on this world —   And yet, He who never wrote a line has been made the hero of unnumbered volumes. He who never wrote a song has put music into the hearts of nameless multitudes. He who refused the kingdoms of this earth has become the Lord of millions. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Christ the King.

Is Christ your King?

Live like it!

Follow Him.

Serve Him.

Amen

Mark 13:1-13

Mark 13:1-13

“Rules For Thrival”

November 15, 2009

Have you ever had one of those days when it just seemed that life was too much for you to handle?

Have you even felt that life was just too much for you – that there was just too much for you to handle?

Maybe things and people you thought you could trust suddenly become untrustworthy – or may you feel that people are turning against you – or maybe at almost every direction you turn things seem to be “caving in” around you.

Ever had days like that?

I would dare say that we all can identify with days like I have just described.

Maybe you find out that you have lost your job.

Maybe you find that there are no jobs that you are qualified for and will give you the income you need to support your family.

Maybe you find out that your employer is cutting your health insurance – or your salary – and you wonder how you are going to “make it” – how you are going to pay your bills and provide your family with meals and a place to live and needed medications – let alone things like TVs with Cable or Dish, cell phones, computers with internet access and all the other things that you have become accustomed to.

Maybe a doctor gives you a dire health report.

Maybe you and your spouse are not getting along – or your spouse tells you they want a divorce.

Maybe you and your kids just can’t seem to get along.

Things like these – and many other things – can happen in our lives – and cause us to wonder how we are going to live – much less live in a way that can be described as thriving or doing well.

Sometimes these bleak and dark days can turn into weeks – and even months – and even years. There are indeed times in our lives when things happen so fast and hardly anything makes sense.

In a very real way, military personnel – especially those who have gone through the armies Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School – called SERE School for short – know what it’s like to have days when things happen quickly and very little makes sense.

Their day might start with their falling out of a helicopter — but – falling out of a hovering helicopter is the easy part of the day. Once they have roped down to the ground, they might find themselves 25 miles from civilization and equipped with only a knife, a compass, a sleeping bag and a canteen. No tent — despite snow in the forecast — and no food. Their last meal might have been the day before — and they’ll be in the wilderness for days. They have no flashlight or night vision goggles – and it’s pitch-black dark. To top it off, they are in groups of six — and hostile natives are roaming the countryside looking for them.

They definitely don’t want to be found.

Their goal is survival.
But this is no reality show.

There are no “tribes,” no immunity challenges, and no million dollar prize at the end like you would find on “Survivor”.  The only reward in this special school is the experience itself — learning how to live under the most extreme of worst case scenarios. Learning to get by on next to nothing. Learning to make do with what you’ve got and understanding that things often get worse before they get better.

That’s SERE School – the final stage of training for candidates attempting to earn the green beret of the elite U.S. Army Special Forces. It’s some of the toughest training the military has to offer, but the lessons learned are absolutely essential for those who are getting ready to move into harm’s way. For SERE School students getting ready to go to battle – to be flown in behind enemy lines – sent on expeditions of extreme danger – tactics for survival – just simple survival – are vital.

As I read the passage for today – Mark 13:1-13 – I thought that it read like a SERE manual for Christians, with Jesus as the primary instructor. Jesus warns the disciples that the days of comfort and security for those who will follow Him are numbered — that very soon they would be dropped – as it were — into a dark world deep in conflict and confusion. They will experience hunger and thirst, war and betrayal. They’d be hunted down. They’d be beaten and tossed into prison. They’d be in shock and awe, fearing for their lives while the enemy made thunder runs on their position.

Like a battle-hardened instructor in the SERE School, Jesus seems to be preparing His disciples for survival in the midst of tough times. It was a lesson they had to learn – for Jesus knew that – before long – simple survival would be the order of the day for His followers.

You know — some people look at our text for today as being about the “end of the world,” but Jesus probably had a more immediate context in mind.

The temple, you see, was going to be destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 AD during a period of fierce war and revolution. The new Christian communities would be in constant danger of persecution. The disciples themselves would experience life on the run and often be on the edge of survival as they took the gospel into the world.

The point is – this is not just “end times” things Jesus is talking about here   because — whatever the time and place — the world is a dangerous environment for the followers of Christ. It is not easy to be a Christian and take and try to live out your faith in a serious manner.

Do we Christians need to worry about survival issues like the SERE school teaches – or like Jesus knew the disciples would face?

Probably not —

Yet many of us feel the pressure of trying to live the Christian life – or just plain living in today’s world.

At home, in the workplace, in the world — it may seem that our lives and our  faith — and sometimes our sanity – are at stake.

Maybe we are not close to being students in a SERE school, but we all could use some help in learning how — not just to survive — but to thrive in our lives and our faith when things begin to look threatening or different or new or scary.  When we are not sure of what is going on or what will happen – when it seems the rugs we are standing on in our lives are being pulled out from under us – when it seems that our lives are out of control due to circumstances we have no control over — we could use some help with how to thrive in our lives and our faith – despite how scary, unpredictable, or unsure our lives might be.

To use another military analogy – we don’t want to live in a bunker in a bunker-buster world, but it can be frightening to come out.

Wouldn’t it be great if we knew how to not only survive as Christians in today’s world – but thrive –

Wouldn’t it be great if we could be Christians that others could look at and want to know what is we have they don’t? Wouldn’t it be great if others who knew what we were going through could look at the way we seem to be thriving – despite these things – and wonder what we have that they don’t?

The key for us is not so much surviving  –– but thriving – being excited about our faith – and letting that excitement carry us through whatever else may be happening in our lives.

But – how can be surviving and thriving?

The army’s SERE school has 5 rules for survival that they teach. Follow the rules, and you are much more likely to survive. I think we can learn from their rules – put a Christian spin on them – and have some rules to remember – not to survive in the world — but to thrive and live a life where our faith is important to us and others can see how important our faith is to us.

I don’t call these “Rules For Survival” — but “Rules For Thrival,” — because God is not interested in Christians who merely survive — God wants Christians to thrive – regardless of what is going on in their lives.

So – what are these “rules for thrival”?

Rule 1: Follow your leader.

In SERE school, students are encouraged to elect a leader from among their group – and to follow what the leader says. That’s their first rule for survival.

To survive and thrive as Christians, we have to follow our leader –

and who is that?

Jesus.

To survive and thrive as Christians, we have to follow Christ.

We need to follow Christ

We need to follow Christ’s lead.

We need to let Christ lead us and give us what we need to thrive as Christians in this world.

To thrive as Christians, we have to know our leader –  we have to know Christ.

We have to trust Christ.

We have to trust Christ with our lives.

We have to be willing to follow Christ – no matter where He is leading.

Which brings us to a question:

How are you and Jesus getting along – right now?

Are you following Him?

To thrive as a Christian in the toughest times of life you have to make Jesus your leader – and follow Him. Without a strong — personal relationship with Christ it doesn’t matter what other relationships you may have — you are not going to be able to “endure to the end and be saved” as Jesus promised those who followed Him  would be able to do.  Unless you are following Christ, you have no chance for salvation — and no chance for survival – much less thrival — in the hard times of life.  You need to have a personal, life-changing relationship with Christ and feel His power in your life – and follow Him.

To thrive as a Christian – to cope and triumph in this world and in the world to come — a personal relationship with Christ is needed – and you need to follow Christ.

When you think you are at the “end of your rope” — come to Christ.

When your ways and your solutions for problems in your life lead you to a dead end – come to Christ.

In times of hardships, come to Christ – and follow Christ.

Establish a relationship with Christ.

Follow Christ.

In army SERE training the first rule is to follow you leader.

The first rule to thrive as a Christian in the hard times of life is to make Christ your leader – and follow your leader.

Rule 2: Keep the lines of communication open

In SERE training, soldiers are taught how to communicate with each other – and with their leader — even in the worst of circumstances.

To thrive as a Christian in the worst of life’s circumstances, you have to keep the lines of communication with Christ – your leader – open.

You can only do this through prayer

Prayer is that vital link between us and Christ.

You have to know how to communicate with God – and you have to do it.

Keep that communication between you and Christ – your leader – open.

Pray

Also – communicate with your fellow Christians – members of the Church and others. Stay in touch – and support each other.

So – follow Christ – your leader.

Keep the lines of communication open with Christ through prayer.

Rule 3:  Don’t try to “do it alone”

Students in SERE School are taught to work together as a team – each one doing what they can to make the team function and to assist in everyone’s survival.

That is what the Church is all about – supporting each other – loving each other – helping each other.

In the SERE team, everyone participates and has a vital role to play.  If one person does not do his or her part, the whole group is at risk. In the Church, everyone needs to participate – everyone needs to take part in the life of the Church. Be active in the Church, so that when you run into hard times in your life you won’t have to do it alone.  You’ll have a community of friends – a group of folks who will love you and pray for you and help you.

In SERE School it’s also important that everyone does what they can for the good of the team.

You need to do what you can for the good of the team – the Church.

You have a gift – a talent – that the Church can bless and use.

Do what you can for the good of Church.

Not only should you do things like sharing your gifts and talents in teaching or leading – or taking part in the life of the Church – but you need to share your financial blessings with the Church also.  This is stewardship season. Think about doing all you can – sharing gifts and talents – attending – and sharing financial blessings – with the Church – - for the good of the Church.

Don’t try to “do it alone” – be an active part of the Church – and give what you can. In that way, the Church will be there when you need it – and you can thrive as a Christian.

Three “rules for thrival” – for thriving in life – even in the hardest of times:  follow Christ – your leader – keep the lines of communication open – and don’t try to “do it alone”.

Rule 4: Don’t stop hoping.

One of the secrets to SERE school is that every achievement is celebrated – thus keeping hope alive.

For Christians, it takes hope to thrive – especially in the hardest times of life.

Hope in God

Hope in your fellow Christians

Hold on to hope – and don’t give up.

So now we have 4 “rules for thrival” — for thriving in life – even in the hardest of times:  follow Christ – your leader – keep the lines of communication open – don’t  try to “do it alone” – and hold on to hope.

Rule 5 – Reach out to others

In SERE School, soldiers are taught to help each other – help keep each others spirits up – help each other when help is needed.  Jesus calls us to reach out to each other and others with His love – and show His love to others.  This makes you a living example of the God who calls you to thrive in your faith, as well as taking your mind off the problems you may have – no matter how big they may be.

So – there are 5 rules taught for survival in SERE school but that we can use for thriving as Christians in the hardest of times:

1. Follow your leader
2. Keep the  lines of communication open
3. Don’t try to “do it alone”
4. Don’t stop hoping
5. Reach out to others

5 rules from SERE school that we can use. Follow these steps – and they will help you not only survive in your faith — but thrive. They will help you overcome those times when it seems that life is too much for you to handle. These are indeed some of our “rules for thrival”. Amen.

Matthew 23:1-12

Matthew 23:1-12

“What Do They See?”

November 1, 2009

Read Scripture

I am sure most of you were aware that last night was Halloween — a night we usually associate with ghosts and goblins — with trick or treaters and witches and vampires – and maybe churches might have carnivals or festivals – but we usually associate Halloween with things that are not “churchy”.

So – if yesterday was Halloween – what does that make today?

The day after Halloween for sure – but it is really a special day in the Church year.

Last night was the night for ghosts and goblins — trick or treaters and witches and vampires – but today is the day for saints.

Yea — that’s right — saints.

Today is All Saints Day.

And without All Saints Day there would be no Halloween.

You see — it all began when the church instituted the day of November 1 as the Feast Day Of All Saints.  This was a day to honor all the saints who did not have their own Feast Days — and it became a day to remember and lift up prayers for friends and family who had died.  In keeping with the tradition of remembering departed friends and loved ones, people used November 1 as a good day to visit the graves and possibly put flowers on graves.

Well — people being like they are — some decided that if saints – or Godly people — could have their day — then not so saintly or not so Godly things should have theirs, also.  And if All Saints Day was going to be a time to visit the graves of loved ones, then the other graves needed some attention also. The tradition began of making the night before November 1 — All Saints Day Eve –  All Hallowed’s Eve — a night for the opposite of All Saints Day – with mischievous things in cemeteries instead of Godly things.   And — people being as they are — the All Hallowed’s Eve — or Halloween — focus soon became more important than the All Saints Day focus.

Maybe we need to recapture that All Saints Day focus.

When you think of a Saint — what do you think of?

Someone who is so good that no one can ever be as good as they are?

Someone we all want to be like — but can’t ever do it?

Someone who prays for hours every day?

What do you think of when you hear the word “Saint”?

Someone that you are not?

The pianist at a Church I used to serve and I were discussing plans for the Church music around this time of year when I mentioned that the first Sunday in November was All Saints Day.  She laughed and said:

“That’s not a day for me – I’m no saint!”

Is that what you think of when you think of “saint” – and All Saints Day?

I want to offer you a thought on this All Saints Day.

A Saint is a person who tries to serve God in the very best way they can.

Not perfect.

Not constantly praying.

Just doing the best they can.

And maybe that’s something we all can strive to be.

A young girl was visiting a church one Sunday and was impressed with the stained glass windows of the Saints that were along the walls of the church.  The windows were particularly beautiful that day as the sun shone brightly through them — making their colors brilliant.  She asked about who these people were in these beautiful windows — and was told these were some of the Saints of the church. That morning in Sunday School she was asked if she knew what a Saint was.  Thinking back on the bright, colorful windows that had impressed her so — and the fact that she was told these were of the Saints –  she replied:

“A Saint is someone who lets the light shine through.”

Maybe not a dictionary definition of a saint, but a good one none the less — someone who lets God’s light shine through them.

Do you do that?

Do you let the light of God shine through you?

Do people see the light of God shining through you when they look at you – or is it something  else they see – something not very Godly – something that seems to shine through when you least expect it or when you are trying to hide it?

You may be familiar with the story of the Emperors New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson.  The emperor thought that he was important — and ordered that a special suit of clothes be made for him that would match his importance.  The tailor, however, saw through the emperor’s self-importance — and made it possible for everyone to see the emperor as he really was!  He presented the “new clothes” to the emperor — but actually there were no clothes at all.  The emperor was too proud to ask the tailor why there were no clothes — and he paraded around town thinking that he was so grand in his new clothes — not stopping to think that people were seeing that he actually had no clothes at all — and that what they were seeing him as he really was — naked — not as important as he thought he was — not as important as he wanted others to think he was.

That’s the thing about self-importance — isn’t it?  It usually leads to the revealing of no importance at all.

It is a truth that — sooner of later — people will be able to see through what you do and see why it is that you do it.  Many times you are like a window — people can see through you to see your true motives — why you do what you do — regardless of how well you try to hide our motives or why we do things.

When people look through your window —

when they look past what you do to why you do it —

What do they see?

When they look past your actions and see your true motives — what do they see?

What do they see?

What do they see?

Do they see a false self-importance and pride — like the emperor — or are they able to see God’s love and compassion that gives your life meaning and that inspires you to live as you do?

Do they see your true self — like the emperor — or do they see the light of God — like the stain glass windows that impressed the girl on her first visit to the church?

People can see your motives — they can see what motivates us to do what we do.  What do they see when they look through your “window”?

In our scripture passage for today, Jesus has just been in a heated debate with some of the Scribes and the Pharisees.  Now He wants to warn His disciples against becoming like some of them were.

They loved to force people into obeying the minutest parts of the law — but when it came to their own obedience to them — well, that was a different story all together.

They loved to be considered pious and religious — showing off how pious they were with their large phylacteries — pouches that devout Jews used to strap parts of scripture to their bodies so they could carry it with them — and long fringes on their prayer shawls — so people could see just how pious and holy they were to have such large phylacteries and long prayer shawls — but actually it was all for show.  And they loved to be treated with honor – but again – it was all for show.

Now — not all Scribes and Pharisees were like this — but some were.  They did what they did — they lived as they lived — for show — not out of a real commitment to God.  And many — including Jesus — saw through their actions to their attitudes.  Their piety was something like the emperors new clothes — there was nothing to it at all.  Their “window” showed false purpose — no real sense of love for God or others — but only for themselves.

Before we are too quick to condemn these folks — we can’t afford to say: “How terrible these people were!”  without looking at ourselves. You know the problem with pointing fingers at others is that when you do it you have several fingers pointing back at you!

So — what do others see in you when you do all the “good” and “right” things that you do?  You are like a window – and you reflect what is in you to the world.  Are you a window of love for self — bringing attention to yourself — or a window that let God’s love and compassion shines through you?

This is a hard question — but we all need to consdier.

Do you do what you do to truly be a servant of God — and to bring glory to God — and to bring God’s love into the world — or to bring glory to yourself?

For example — when you come to Church — do you come to truly worship God or to be seen by others?

Or — why do you reach out to others — to show God’s love and compassion or to bring credit to yourself?

These are hard questions — but questions that need to be answered.

You can be a window of self-service — reflecting your own will to the world — or you can be a window of God’s love and compassion — reflecting God and God’s will to the world.

The attitude you have when you do things is important.

Is your attitude one of serving Christ – and showing Christ to others – or is it one of serving yourself and making yourself look good?

When others look at you — what you do and why you do it —

What do they see?

What do they see?

Jesus calls you to be a window of God’s love and compassion — to reflect God’s love that is in you to the world.

Jesus calls you to show His love to the world because you are committed to Him — not because you want others to see how “good” or “holy” you are.

Jesus wants you to be a window of God’s compassion and love.

Jesus wants you to reflect God’s love and compassion to the world.

Let it be God’s love and compassion others see when they look at you.

When others look at you and what you do – - what do they see?

Let it be God’s love and compassion — and not your own pious self-importance and pride.

But – here’s another question — how can you reflect God’s love and compassion — and not your own self-importance and pride — to the world?

It takes developing your relationship with God through worship — prayer — fellowship — and service — and letting that relationship change your life.

Let God change you to such an extent that God’s compassion shines through you — and you are truly a “window” of God’s compassion to the world.  Let God guide you into true service to God and others.  Let God develop such a relationship with you that God can truly be seen through what you do — and God’s compassion can truly shine through you.  Let it be God’s love and compassion others see when they look at you — not your own will or your own self-importance.

Ask yourself – every day –

“How are Jesus and I doing – right now?”

“What is my relationship with Christ like?”

“Am I showing Christ to others?”

“Is Christ shining though me?”

Be a window of God’s compassion.

During World War II the town of Coventry, England was leveled by German bombers.  The centuries-old Cathedral was destroyed.  Some years later, a new Cathedral was built around the ruins of the old.  A remarkable statement is made in the hallway that leads to the courtyard where the ruins of the old Cathedral now lie.  On one end of the hallway is a giant tapestry the size of a Tennis Court of Christ ruling the universe.  On the other end of the hallway the entire wall is clear glass — with pictures of the Saints etched into the glass.  On the other side of this glass wall is the courtyard with the ruins of the bombed Cathedral.  The Tapestry of Christ shines through the Saints etched into the glass into the bombed-out ruins of the original Coventry Cathedral.

What a powerful statement indeed.

When others see your true motives –

What do they see?

What do they see?

As Christians, we are to let Christ shine through us to the world — so others can see Christ — just as the tapestry of Christ in Coventry Cathedral shines through the Saints etched into the glass wall to the ruins of what the world has done to the old Cathedral.

You can be so formed in Christ that — like the Saints etched into that glass wall – you reflect Christ to those in need and hurting in the Church and the community. You can be a “window” of the compassion of Christ – letting the love of Christ shine through what you say and what you do.

When others see you —

What do they see?

What do they see?

Let others see God shining in what you say and what you do — like the stain glass windows of the Saints that impressed the young girl as the light shone through them — or the glass wall at Coventry — and not your own sense of self importance or false piety — like some of the Pharisees — or the Emperor with the new clothes.

If you truly let God work in your life, we can reflect His love and compassion to the world — so that is what others see when they see what we do.

Let’s all strive to be saints – folks who let God’s light shine through.

Folks who may not be perfect – but who strive to show God to the world in the best way they can.

I believe that is what it means to be a saint.

Happy All Saints Day. Amen.