2 Chronicles 7:12-22, Galations 5:1, 13-25, Mark 12:13-17

II Chronicles 7: 12-22

Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Mark 12:13-17

“Praying For America”

July 4, 2010

Communion

God bless America

Land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with a light from above.

From the mountains – to the prairie —

To the ocean white with foam

God bless America – my home sweet home

God bless America – my home sweet home. .

So are the words of this familiar and popular patriotic song.

The sentiment of this popular song — written by Irving Berlin so many years ago — is still shared by us today.  I am sure that all of us here today — especially as we are celebrating the 234th birthday of our great nation — are proud to be citizens of America — and pray for God to bless America.   I know I am glad to live in this great country of ours — and I am sure all of you are, too!

But — today is not only July 4 – that great day of patriotism and fireworks and celebrating our great country — it is Sunday.

Sunday, July 4th.

Sunday — the day we gather together to worship and give praise to God.

Sunday — and on this particular Sunday we have gathered around the Lord’s Table to partake of the sacrament of Communion.

So – we have a question to consider today.

The question is – what will it take for God to bless America?

We sing and pray for God to bless America – but what exactly will we have to do for God to bless America?

Our Gospel, Epistle, and Old Testament Lessons for today give us no direct answers — but they give us some guidance to the question of what we must do –what must be done – for our prayers and the words of the song “God Bless America” to come true. There are some things we must do for God to bless America.

Let’s look at our Gospel passage from Mark 12.

“Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?

Should we pay them — or should we not?”

When Jesus was asked a “trick” question — a question intended to force Him to make a statement that would either make the Roman government or the Jews mad — what does He do?

He does a very wise thing. He asks for a denarius — the money used to pay the tax.  On it was a picture of Tiberius — the emperor — and an inscription bearing Tiberius’ name.  Clearly — the coin — with the picture and inscription of Tiberius — belonged to Tiberius.  So Jesus replies:

“Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s,”

but — then He adds —

“give to  God the things that are God’s.”

So – looking at this passage – we see that if it we want God to bless America – we need to give the emperor – or in our case the country – the things we owe it – but also give God the things we owe God.

Well, thanks for clearing that up for us, Jesus. It sounds pretty simple – does it not?

Yea – pretty simple — until you start thinking about it.

Once you really start thinking about it – you might start wondering —

But – what do we owe God – and what do we owe our country?

Sometimes we get a bit confused on this, don’t we?

At times we might be so supportive of America – of our country – that we feel everything we do as a country is perfect in every way – and that God will indeed bless us just because of who we are – regardless of what we do. And then again there are other times we might feel our country has slid so far down the slope to modernity and godlessness that there is no way God can ever want to bless us.

Friends – both feelings are wrong.

God desperately wants to bless us – but will not bless us unless we are living in His ways and doing His will.

Well – if God desperately wants to bless us — what will it take for that to happen?

What must happen for God to bless America?

Let’s look at our Old Testament lesson for an answer to this – because our Old Testament lesson for today can help us understand the true relationship between God and country – and what must happen for God to bless America.

Here in 2 Chronicles 7 we have King Solomon — King of Israel — a great king in his own right and son of King David. Solomon has completed the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem — the Temple that King David had wanted to build — but it had been left up to Solomon to build this magnificent Temple for the Hebrew people to assemble in and worship God.

God speaks to Solomon after the Temple is completed — and tells Solomon that He approves of what Solomon has done — and will bless Solomon and his country – but this blessing is not automatic and promised to them regardless of what they do. God promises Solomon that He will bless them if they will follow in God’s ways.  But — if they fail to follow in the way of the Lord – God will not bless them — but will curse them.

So — God promises to bless Solomon and the people of Israel if they will follow Him.

Listen again to what God says in 2 Chronicles 7:14:

“if My people who are called by My name

humble themselves, pray, seek My face,

and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

However, God also promises a curse upon Solomon and the people of Israel if they fail to follow His way.  Listen to what God says in 2 Chronicles 7:19:

“But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them,

then I will pluck you up from the land that I have given you;”

OK – now we are getting closer to the answer to our question.

What will it take for God to bless America?

The promises that God gave to Solomon centuries ago still hold true today.

We can sing “God, bless America” and pray for God to bless America all we want – but we have to ask ourselves —

What must happen for God to bless America?

Well, for God to bless America – Americans are going to have to follow God. If we really want God to bless America – then we as Americans are going to have to humble ourselves – pray – and seek God’s face.

If we really seek God’s blessings on America — if we truly want America to receive God’s blessings — then we need to – as Jesus says — give to God the things that are God’s.

What that means is we need to give our lives to God.

What that means is we need to follow God’s teachings and God’s ways.

Yea – we are going to have to humble ourselves – pray –seek God’s face – and follow God’s ways.

You know — the great words of the Declaration of Independence give us a description of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans:

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable rights
that among these are life and liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.

These are indeed great words.                                                                              But – the Apostle Paul reminds us in our Gospel lesson for today: For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.

Freedom is a gift from God. We might see freedom as being free to live as we want to live and do whatever we want to do — but  God sees freedom as the ability to live in the ways God has called us to live. To God, freedom means being free to live in God’s ways – or as Paul says by “the fruits of the Spirit” – as he writes here in Galatians 5:22:                                                                                                                                                              the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control

So – as Americans we truly can and do celebrate great freedoms.                                                     But – for God to bless America – we are going to have to celebrate God’s freedoms – and live by the fruits of the Spirit – the gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

As God told Solomon:

“if My people who are called by My name

humble themselves, pray, seek My face,

and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

But – as God also told Solomon:

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

Do we really want God to bless America?

Then we as Americans are going to have to live in God’s ways.

You know — many times we do not live in God’s ways – and we suffer – and America suffers. For God to bless America – we as Americans are going to have to repent – and begin following God. Humble ourselves – as God says – and pray.

Humble ourselves and pray for God to forgive us of the times we follow our ways instead of God’s ways.

Humble ourselves and pray for God to forgive us of our hard headed, sinful ways – as individuals and as a country — and commit ourselves to living in God’s ways instead of our own – and in God’s will instead of our wills.

This takes repentance.

This means confessing that we are wrong and that we need God in our lives and in our country.

Now — repentance is never easy. Confessing sins is never easy. But – it is necessary.

Repentance does not just mean saying we are sorry – it also means living in new ways. Repentance is not basically a religious word. It comes from a culture where people were essentially nomadic and lived in a world with no maps or street signs. It’s easy to get lost walking through the desert. You become aware that the countryside is strange. You finally say to yourself: “I’m going in the wrong direction” – and turn around.

That’s turning from the direction you are going is the first act of repentance.

The second act of repentance going in a different direction.

For God to bless us, we have to quit going the direction we are going – and start going in God’s new direction for our lives.

That’s what’s needed for God to bless us – and for God to bless America.

Friends — America has been called a great nation. This is very true — America is a very great nation. However, America is only truly great if Americans have a truly great faith in God — truly give to God the things due God and to our country the things due our county — and live in God’s ways – sharing God’s love with all people – and working for God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace on earth.      America is only as great as our faith in God.

America has been called a Christian nation.

Indeed, our country was founded upon Christian principles — but we must return to those principles — truly give to God the things due to God — and deepen our faith in God.  America is only a Christian nation as long as we — Americans — are a Christian people.  Once we stop following God and Christ, we can no longer be considered a Christian nation.  As a nation, America is only as Christian as we — it’s people — live out our Christian faith and let our Christian faith determine what we do as individuals — and as a country.

America has been called a strong nation.

Once again, this statement is only true if we — as Americans — have a strong faith in God – a strong commitment to giving to God the things due to God and to our country the things due our country. It’s only when we let our strong faith in God and our strong commitment to God determine what we do as individuals — as a community — as a Church — and as a nation that we can be considered a strong nation.

Only if we commit ourselves to acting on our faith – working for God’s love and God’s will for a world filled with God’s love, justice, and peace – can we be considered a great nation. America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon the depth of the faith of its people – and that means the depth of our commitment to give to God the things due to God.

America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon our ability to confess our sins – humble ourselves – and pray for God to forgive us – and find God’s new ways for us to live.

God, bless America.

Bless America with true blessings that come as we all work for God’s will for justice and peace for all people.

Bless America with true blessings that come when we are humble before God – confessing our wrongs — and rededicating ourselves to doing God’s will.

God will only bless America when we as Americans confess our sins and begin again living in God’s ways.

God, bless America.

Friends – for God to bless America – we will all have to pray. We will all have to pray that we can turn back to God — and do what we can to bring our country back to God.  We will all have to commit ourselves again to giving to God the things that are God’s — our love, our lives, our thoughts, our words,

our actions – our hearts.

Today – this July 4^th – I issue a challenge to each of you. The challenge is:

Commit yourself to doing what you can for God to bless America.

Commit yourself again to repenting of your sins – and living in God’s new ways.

Commit yourself to praying – and working – for God’s blessings to be upon you.

This prayer and action is what it will take for God to bless America.

Indeed —

God bless America – my home sweet home.

God bless America – my home sweet home.

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.

Mark 5:24b-34

Mark 5:24b-34

Am I Touching Jesus – Or Crowding Him?

First in fall 2009 series on touching Jesus

September 13, 2009

We certainly have a lot to celebrate on this Rally Day!

Our Christian Education program is growing – we are reaching more young people and adults as we branch out and do new things on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights.  We celebrated new Sunday School classes this morning — we are staring 2 new youth groups tonight – and Wednesday night begins our Wednesday night suppers and programs for the fall with a lot of opportunities for everyone to fellowship and learn.

We truly have a lot to celebrate today!  I am excited – and I pray that you are also and ready to join us in all the things we are doing!

In the midst of all this celebration and activity, though, I believe that there is a basic question we must ask ourselves –

Even though we have a lot to celebrate and are doing a lot of things — how are we doing – spiritually?

As we get involved in and get excited about doing more things it’s easy for us forget about the spiritual aspects of our lives.

The truth is that if we are going to grow as a Church – if we are going to grow as Christians – we are going to have to not just be busy “doing things” – we are going to have to grow spiritually also.

We are going to have to grow in our relationship with God.

Don’t get me wrong – “doing things” is not bad – in fact it is good – and we have to do things to be the Church God wants us to be – but if all we are doing is “doing things” – and if we are not growing in our relationship with God – then we are not really being the Church God wants us to be.

Too many times we get so excited about “doing things” and “looking for something else to be doing” that we forget about growing –we forget about growing in our relationships with God.

This fall we are not only going to be “doing things” here at Hopewell – even though we certainly will be doing a lot of things — we are also going to have opportunities for us to grow in our faith as well.

One opportunity to grow in our faith we will have is our new prayer groups.

Each member of the Session will be leading a group of congregation members in times of prayer for each other and others – and for the Church.  As these groups pray for the Church, God will bless us with a vision for how we can do His will at Hopewell.

Another opportunity is the study the adults will have on Wednesday nights. They will be  studying Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline.   For over 30 years Christians have used this book to help them grow in their relationships with God.

So – we will not only have opportunities to “do things” – we will have opportunities to learn about how to grow spiritually – and opportunities to practice the discipline of prayer that will help us grow spiritually.

“Doing things” is important – but only if we are also doing the things that help us grow as God’s people.

For the next few Sundays we are going to be looking at “touching Jesus” – coming into contact with Jesus – and letting Jesus change our lives.  We’re going to be looking at different ways we can “touch Jesus” – let Jesus touch us – and let Jesus change our lives.

We’re beginning today with the story of a woman who reached out from a crowd of folks and touched Jesus – and had her life changed by Him.

The question we need to ask ourselves today is:

Am I touching Jesus – or crowding Him?

Am I toughing Jesus – or crowding Him?

Keep that question in mind as we hear God’s word in Mark 5:24(b)-34

Read scripture

The passage we’re looking at today is really a “story within a story” – the bigger story being Mark 5:21-43.  In the “bigger story” Mark brings us face to face with two stories of God’s amazing healing power. We find a woman who had been sick with an incurable condition for 12 years, and a little girl who had been well for 12 years, but was dieing.  You know – everyone can come to Jesus with their needs – those with needs they have had for awhile and those with needs that are more urgent and pressing.  All can come – and receive the help Jesus gives

Today, we’re going to focus on the woman with the issue of blood – and as we look at her I want us to look at the different ways this passage shows us that people responded to the presence of Jesus.

Remember our question:

Am I touching Jesus – or crowding Him?

As we look at the people in this passage, we can see several responses the people made to Jesus – and several types of responses people still make to Jesus here and now.

The first response we see people make to Jesus is that some people crowded Jesus.

Some people crowded Him.

We get the picture of a very large crowd of people packed into a narrow street. It must have been bedlam! Folks from all backgrounds and of all ages bumping into Him and rubbing shoulders with the Him!

It’s quite amazing when you think of it – isn’t it?

The crowd jostling and bumping into Jesus – the Son of God – the Savior – the one who could change their lives and give them salvation!

Yet – in this crowd of folks — no one received a miracle or had their lives changed by Jesus – except this one woman.

Certainly many people touched Him and crowded Him – but only one was changed by Him.

Why is that?

I believe that no one else received a miracle – or had their lives changed by Jesus – in that great crowd of folks because no one else came expecting a miracle.

No one else expected a miracle – or asked for a miracle – so no one else was blessed with one in that crowd of folks around Jesus.

No one else expected to have their lives changed – or asked Jesus to change their lives – so no one else had their lives changed by Jesus in that crowd of folks around Jesus.

They were simply curious onlookers – a crowd of folks – but folks who were merely  crowding Jesus instead of letting Him really touch and change their lives.

They were crowding Jesus instead of touching Jesus.

Are you crowding Jesus – or touching Jesus?

Ask yourself –

Am I touching Jesus – or crowding Him?

I am afraid that many of us are “crowding Jesus” instead of “touching Him”.

On Sunday mornings – if we come to the Fellowship Time before Sunday School – we might enjoy drinking coffee and discussing sports, the weather, or the weeks events with our friends – but we don’t expect anything dramatic to happen.

I’m just as guilty of that as anyone!

We enjoy each other’s company – but don’t expect much more than that!

Then – if we come to Sunday School – we might expect to learn something about God – something we can “file away” in our minds so we can pull it out later if we need it – but we don’t really expect anything much more than that to happen.  We don’t come to Sunday School really expecting God to touch us and change us – so – like the crowd around Jesus in our passage for today – we miss an opportunity to be blessed because we don’t expect it or ask for it.

And what about Worship?

Too often we are only around Jesus but not really expecting Him to touch us or make a difference in our lives.  We might like to walk into church, sing a few hymns, pray – while all the while not really paying attention to what’s going on – not really participating in the service – not really listening that what God says to us as we gather in His name – and then when it’s over  we might shake hands with our friends and go out the door unchanged. Another ho-hum Sunday – nothing different – nothing changed.

“Crowding Jesus” – but not “touching Him” – and letting Him touch us and change us!

And what about the other opportunities we offer here at Hopewell?

Too many times we’re just “part of the crowd” – “crowding Jesus” — like those in our passage that “crowded Jesus” but got nothing from Him.

It amazes me that we can be in the very presence of Chris and be so unaware of His mighty power to change our lives! Too often we are too pre-occupied to notice that maybe God wants to speak to us or touch us or make a difference in our lives when we gather here!

So many times we can “crowd Jesus” – but not “touch Him” – or let Him touch us!

So — are you crowding Jesus – or touching Jesus?

Ask yourself –

Am I crowding Jesus – or touching Jesus?

A second response we see people making to Jesus in this passage is that some rushed Him.

“Come on Jesus! Got to get to Jairus’ house, fast!” some must have been saying.

Yes – it was an urgent visit He was making and time was of the essence!

In one sense it was an was an admirable thing to rush Jesus. Jairus’ daughter needed to be healed! At times like this, someone needs to get Jesus involved!
What the crowd didn’t know was that Jesus wanted to do something right here, right now, to any of them who asked – and do something for Jairus and his daughter.

Sometimes God puts our plans  and what we think He needs to do in a holding pattern while He focuses our attention on what He wants to do in our lives.

You can’t push God around — give Him directions — or a time limit on  God.

There is a great temptation to consider prayer as the art of bossing God around. The sooner we give up trying to fit God into our own agenda, placing Him where we think He should be or trying to convince Him of what is important and what is not, the better off we’ll be!

God will not be relegated to a program or a schedule.

The best we can do is be sensitive to what He is doing here and now – and let ourselves be blessed by His plan for us – whether it our plan or not. This is not easy – but it’s necessary – as we strive to be God’s people.

Don’t try to “crowd Jesus” – or “hurry Jesus “ – but reach out to Jesus – touch Jesus – let Jesus touch you – and change your life!

Are you crowding Jesus – or touching Jesus?

The third response we see people making to Jesus in this passage is one really touched Him.

One really touched Him.

Out from this crowd that was pushing – jostling – “crowding” – and rushing Jesus comes a hopeless, discouraged woman. She had been sick for 12 years – had tried everything to become well —  but her hard-earned money was wasted on the medical help available at the time. In fact, she became worse.

Her condition – this “flow of blood” – was common enough, but hard to deal with. Not only did this condition affect this woman’s health, it also made her “unclean”. According to the Law of Moses, she was to keep her distance and shout, “Unclean” whenever anyone came close. She was cut off from worship and fellowship with her friends. She probably felt hopeless and unworthy, lonely, isolated, hurt, angry and alienated from God.

When Jesus appeared on the scene, something began to well up within her. There was something about Him – He talked of God’s love — He seemed so kind and approachable! Although the Law said “Stay Back!”, this He seemed to say, “if you are weary, come to Me!” Perhaps this woman had listened to Him teach and wondered if this Teacher could help her in her hopeless situation.

So – what does she do?

She touches Him!

Yes – it was  just the fringe of His garment – but it was enough to make a difference – enough to change her – enough for a miracle to happen!

The difference between this woman and the rest of the crowd was that she came to Jesus hoping – praying – and asking for Him to make a difference in her life.

The rest of the crowd didn’t.  They were “just there”.

She realized that Jesus could make a difference in her life –  hoped that Jesus could make a difference in her life – touched Him – and yes – He made a difference!

Some of the rest of the crowd were just crowding Jesus – others were hurrying Jesus – but she was touching Jesus – and she was the one whose life was changed.

So — are you crowding Jesus – or touching Jesus?

Ask yourself –

Am I crowding Jesus – or touching Jesus?

Jesus wants to make a difference in this Church!

Jesus wants to make a difference in your life!

Jesus wants you to touch Him – and wants to change your life.

The question is – will you let Him?

He can’t do it if you’re just “crowding Him” – if you’re just “part of the crowd” – coming here on Sundays and other times but not really expecting anything to happen.

If you’re “crowding Jesus” – just being a part of the crowd that gathers here but not expecting anything different to happen or not expecting God to work in your life – I pray that you will change your attitude and change your mind.  We don’t need folks who are just “part of the crowd” – Jesus doesn’t need folks who are just “part of the crowd” – we need – and Jesus needs – folks who are willing to reach out Him – and have their lives changed by Him.

If you’re  trying to “rush Jesus” – trying to make Him fit your schedule or your plan for what you think He needs to be doing — I pray that you will change your attitude and change your mind. We don’t need folks with pre conceived notions of what God wants us to be doing – we need folks who are willing to be open to God’s leading and God’s direction.  Jesus doesn’t need folks who want to “tell Him what to do” – He needs folks who are willing to listen to what He tells them to do!

But – if you are “touching Jesus” – if you are coming to Him – expecting Him to change your life – expecting Him to make a difference in your life and through you make a difference in the Church and the world – then you who we need – and who Jesus needs.

Don’t “crowd Jesus” – but “touch Jesus”.

For the next few Sundays we’re going to be looking at some ways was can “touch Jesus” – ways we can let Jesus make a difference in our lives and the Church – ways that Jesus can change us. But – for today – I want you to ask yourself the question:

Am I crowding Jesus – or touching Jesus?

I’m very excited about all the things we have going on here at Hopewell – all the things we have to celebrate.  Let’s take advantage of all the opportunities we have before us – but not see them as “doing things” or “things to do” – but as opportunities to come to Jesus – touch Jesus – and have Him change us!

Let’s not “crowd Jesus” – let’s “touch Jesus”!    Amen.

Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27-38

Jesus Helps Us Give Of Ourselves

March 15, 2009

Part 3 of Lenten “Who Do You Say Jesus Is?” series

We are using the season of Lent this year to think about who Jesus is – and what Jesus means to us.

I’m asking you to focus on one basic question:

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Who is Jesus – for you?

Remember that in Mark 8:27-29 Jesus questions the disciples about who “people” said that He was. They came up with a list of things people said about Jesus – that He was Elijah, that He was John the Baptist, or that He was another of the Old Testament prophets who had risen from the dead.

Jesus then made the question more personal by asking who they said that He was.

That’s when Peter made His confession that Jesus was the Christ.

You know – it didn’t really matter what others said about Jesus – did it?

What mattered was who Jesus was to the disciples.

What mattered was who they said Jesus was.

What mattered was that Jesus was the Christ. – the Savior – the only way to salvation – for them.

What mattered was that they said Jesus was their Lord and Savior.

The same is true for you.

You can listen to me talk about who Jesus is – or listen to others tell who they think Jesus is – but what really matters is who you say that Jesus is – who is Jesus for you.

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Who is Jesus – for you?

We’re looking at several answers to that question during Lent.

2 weeks ago we saw that the most important answer you can give to this question is that Jesus is your Savior.

Until you can say that Jesus is your Savior it doesn’t matter what else we say about Him – but once we can say that Jesus is our Savior – we can say other things about Him – things like:

1. Jesus is the one who helps me resist temptation

2. Jesus is the one who gave of Himself for me

3. Jesus is the one who keeps me holy

4. Jesus is the one I want to tell others about

5. Jesus is the one I follow

Last week we saw how Jesus can help you fight temptation.

Today I want us to look at what happened immediately after Peter confessed Jesus as Christ – as Jesus began teaching the disciples that He was going to suffer and die – giving of Himself for the world – and calling the disciples – including those of us who follow Him here and now – to give of ourselves.

You see – one thing you need to be able to say about Jesus is that Jesus is the one who helps you give of yourself.

Listen to God’s word from Mark 8:27-38

Read Scripture

Maximilian Kolbe was a Catholic priest, who was put in a Nazi concentration camp for his faith. On May 28, 1941, he was transferred to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. During his time there, he would share his meager rations of food with those around him – who were hungry.

One day a man in Kolbe’s block escaped. All of the men from that block were brought out into the hot sun and made to stand there all day with no food or drink.
At the end of the day, the man that had escaped was not found and so the Nazi commandant told the prisoners that ten men would be selected to die in the starvation cell because one had escaped. The first to be selected begged to be spared because he was worried that his family would not be able to survive without him. As he was pleading with the commandant, Maximilian Kolbe silently stepped forward and said: “I am a Catholic priest. I have no wife or children. I would like to take the place of this man, because he has a wife and children.” The commandant stood silent in disbelief for a moment. He then allowed the first one chosen to go back to his place in the ranks and Kolbe took his place in the starvation bunker.
Each day when the guards checked the prisoners, instead being greeted by the usual sounds of screaming, all they would hear was the sounds of Kolbe and the others in the bunker singing hymns and praying. When Kolbe could no longer speak due to hunger and lack of energy, he would whisper his prayers. At the end of two weeks, the cell had to be cleared out for more prisoners. Only four prisoners were left alive and Kolbe was one of them. The guards came in and gave each a lethal injection and on August 14, 1941, Kolbe died.

Kolbe took his faith in Christ very seriously.

Kolbe was committed to living the life Jesus called him to live – giving of himself for Christ – the one who died for him – and called him to give of himself for others.

For Kolbe – Jesus was the one who called him – and strengthened him – to give of himself.

What about you?

Can you say:

“Jesus is the one who helps me give of myself”?

After you say that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, one of the things you should be able to say about Jesus is:

“Jesus is the one who helps me give of myself”

We are in the season of Lent and I think Lent is a good time to think about our commitment to following Jesus.
In this passage before us, we can see what Jesus himself had to say about discipleship – and giving of ourselves.

If anyone will follow me, let him take up his cross and follow me. (Mk. 8:34)
I doubt any of us will be ask to pay the ultimate price – as Maximilian Kolbe did in taking up our Cross –but I do wonder how “taking up one’s cross” might be relevant to us today. We live in a post Christian culture. Choosing to lead a Christian life is not easy. It runs contrary to our culture. Jesus recognized this when he said:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that All of us here today are Christians – so in some way or another we have chosen to follow the Christian way of life.
But – here’s a question for you to consider;
Having decided to follow Christ, what is the level of your commitment?
In other words, what does it mean to “take up your Cross and follow Him”

Can you say:

“Jesus is the one who helps me give of myself”?

Once you say;

“Jesus is my Lord and Savior”

One thing you need to be able to say is:

“Jesus helps me give of myself”

Can you say that?

To explore this a little further, I would like to suggest that you have three choices in your level of commitment to Christ – three choices for “giving of yourself “ as Christ calls you to give of yourself.

1. You can decide to give of yourself and follow Him some of the time
2. You can decide to give of yourself and follow Him most of the time
3. You can decide to give of yourself and follow Him all of the time.
Jesus says:

If anyone will follow me, let him take up his cross and follow me. (Mk. 8:34)

Can you say that you follow Jesus and give of yourself some of the time – most of the time – or all of the time?

You know – I believe that Peter made each of these choices at different stages of his Christian life.
1. The first choice is –

You can decide to give of ourselves and follow Him some of the time

In today’s Gospel reading Peter rebukes Jesus when Jesus told His disciples that He (Jesus) must suffer and die. At this point in his life, it seems that Peter wanted a comfortable Christianity to follow. He loved Jesus – but he wanted only the nice things associated with Christianity – for example he liked the miracles Jesus performed — Jesus’ beautiful teachings – and being around Jesus as his follower.
All these things were comfortable for Peter and did not ask much of him.

Believing that Jesus was going to pay the ultimate price and die for Peter’s sins – and called Peter to give of himself also – did not fit comfortably into Peter’s idea of who Christ was – and who Christ called him to be.

You know – you can be like St. Peter at this time of his life.

You can have two spheres of life – your Christian life and your life away from Christ.

Let me ask you –
How often do you fear that following Christ in all times of your life would make you look too fanatical by your friends and neighbors?
Are there times when you are ashamed of being Christians – that you don’t want to “stand out in the crowd” and be different – because you follow Christ?

Are there times you say:

“OK –Jesus – I’ll give of myself this much – but that’s my limit!” ?
But — Jesus says:

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Jesus says:

If anyone will follow me, let him take up his cross and follow me. (Mk. 8:34)

Once you say;

“Jesus is my Lord and Savior”

One thing you need to be able to say is:

“Jesus helps me give of myself”

Can you say that?

You have 3 choices here.

The first is you can choose to give of yourself and follow Him some of the time.

2. The second choice is you can decide to give of yourself and follow Him most of the time.
The Gospels tell of how Peter denied Christ 3 times between Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin and his trial before Pilate. Then, as Matthew records it:

“Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken; ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times’. And he went outside and wept bitterly” (Mt. 26:74&75)
I believe that Peter wanted to follow Jesus totally, but when it came to step up for Christ and claim Him in a hostile situation – he couldn’t do it.
Most of us would have the same problem Peter had.

Most of us have areas in our lives which we cannot completely give over.

How about it?

Can you say that you will follow Christ – give of yourself – and do what Jesus calls you to do – all the time – or just most of the time?

If you are like me, you probably want to be totally committed – and yet there are times you hold back.

But — Jesus says:

If anyone will follow me, let him take up his cross and follow me. (Mk. 8:34)

Once you say;

“Jesus is my Lord and Savior”

One thing you need to be able to say is:

“Jesus helps me give of myself”

Can you say that?

You have 3 choices here.

The first is you can choose to give of yourself and follow Him some of the time. The second choice is you can give of yourself most of the time.

Then – there’s the third choice:

3. You can decide to give of yourself and follow Him all of the time.
`Before the Crucifixion, Peter denied Christ before a servant girl of the High Priest. After the Resurrection and following the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, we see a totally different Peter. He was bold to preach the risen Lord, even before the High Priest and the Sanhedrin. When they threatened to beat him he replied:
“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have heard” (Acts 4:19)
Here we see a very different Peter. A strong Peter. A committed Peter. A Peter who now was willing to give of himself and follow Christ – all the time.

Jesus calls us to follow Him and give of ourselves.

You can decide to do this some of the time – most of the time – or all of the time.

Jesus calls us to do this – all of the time.

So – are you willing to say:

I want to give of myself for Jesus??

Are you willing to say:

“I want to give of myself for others – because Jesus calls me to do that”?

Are you willing to do this – and not some of the time – or most of the time – but all of the time?

Once you say;

“Jesus is my Lord and Savior”

One thing you need to be able to say is:

“Jesus helps me give of myself”

Can you say that – not some of the time – or most of the time – but all of the time?

I told the story of Maximilian Kolbe – a man who gave his life so that one man might live. But this wasn’t a momentary act of bravery. Kolbe’s life was exemplary . A doctor who treated the patients in Kolbe’s block had this to say about Kolbe:
“From my observations, the virtues in the Servant of God were no momentary impulse such as are often found in men. They sprang from a habitual practice, deeply woven into his personality.”
When you make a wholehearted commitment to God’s will in your life you –can – as did Peter — move from following Him and giving of yourself some of the time – to following Him and giving of yourself most of the time – to following Him and giving of yourself all of the time.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta is another example of what it means to follow give of yourself and follow Christ – all of the time. As a young woman, she heard Christ ask who He was for her – and she replied by giving of herself for His service.

She served the poor — just as Christ served!

She gave her life for the poor and needy — just as Christ did.

She heard Christ call — and followed in her own, special, loving way.

She didn’t give of herself some of the time – or most of the time – but all of the time.

Once she was asked who Christ was for her — and she said:

“He is my Savior and Lord –

He is the one I follow as I serve others.

He gave of Himself for me – so I give of myself for Him.”

Saying that Jesus is the one who helps you give of yourself – and give of yourself all the time – is pretty easy.

Living it is hard.

Peter found out through his life how hard it is.

You and I find it hard too.

But – once you take Jesus as your Lord and Savior – you need to also take Him as your example for living – and follow Him – all the time.

Mother Teresa understood how hard this is – but how necessary it is also.

If you go into my office – and look on the edge of the bookcase that I face when I am typing – you’ll find a quote from Mother Teresa that says:

People are often unreasonable,
illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,
People may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be Kind anyway.

If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and
some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,

the people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis.
it is between you and God;
It is never between you and them anyway.

Once you say that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you also need to be able to say that Jesus strengthens you to give of yourself – to forgive – be kind – be honest – build – be happy – do good – and give the world the best you’ve got. You can do this because Jesus gave for you – and can strengthen you to give – not some of the time – not most of the time – but all of the time. Amen.

Mark 1:4-11

Is It Real?

Mark 1:4-11

Baptism of The Lord

January 11, 2009

Some of you may know that Sally and I purchased a new – to us – vehicle – a 2004 Ford Explorer last month. It has a lot more “bells and whistles” than the Pathfinder Sally was driving – which had windows you had to manually roll up and down and doors you had to manually lock.

Remember cars like that?

The Explorer has touch button locks – windows – seat warmers – a moon roof – CD player – and a whole lot less miles than the Pathfinder – which was pushing 200,000 miles when we sold it.

Sally is enjoying the Explorer immensely!

Now – I say that Sally is enjoying it – – and she is. She loves driving it.

And me?

Well – I enjoy it too – I enjoy riding in it!

I was telling some of the guys down at Gregg’s Store one day after we bought it that I wasn’t sure Sally was going to let me drive it. One of them replied:

“Preacher – I’ve seen how many dents are in your Camry. I don’t blame her for not letting you drive it!”

But – I do enjoy the ride!

We enjoy having an SUV. Sally likes being able to see over other cars and feels safer in an SUV — and they’re great for transporting her pottery stuff. Our old Pathfinder even made it into a story our niece wrote about Sally when she was in elementary school (she’s now a Journalism major at USC) entitled “My Aunt”. On one page it read:

Some aunts drive economical cars – but my aunt drive a 4 wheel drive SUV!

Yea – she loves SUVs !

But – if you happen to turn on the TV – especially during sporting events like the College Bowl games of the past few weeks or now the NFL Playoffs – you’ll see commercials touting the “next generation” of SUV’s.

Each commercial looks about the same — attractive people load up their oversized 4×4 to head out over some terrain negotiable only by Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, throwing up dirt and gravel all the way. The automotive action is usually followed by an image of the same folks setting up camp or jumping into a kayak or dangling off a rock.

Looks like fun.

“Looks” being the operative word here.

Actually analysts say that only about 5 percent of SUVs are ever taken off-road, which means that you’re more likely to see a Range Rover at Starbucks, for example, than on a wilderness road. For some SUV owners the look and the possibility of one day actually locking in the four-wheel drive are worth the extra bucks in the purchase price. I think we used 4 wheel drive once (maybe) on the Pathfinder to get out of the drive one winter when the snow was piled up behind it where the road had been scraped – and Sally did go down a dirt road at Lee County Park not long ago and had to sue 4 wheel drive to get the Pathfinder out. But as for rugged camping – well – that same story our niece wrote about Sally included a page that read:

Some aunts like to go camping in the woods. My aunt camps at the Holiday Inn.

A lot of SUV owner prefer the Holiday Inn over the woods.

Of course, with the current debate about rising gas prices, oil shortages, environmental impacts and alternative energy, many SUV owners feel they have to explain themselves to their those who may object to their driving such a “gas guzzler” when they won’t even take it off the road. Why have four-wheel drive if the only dirt those four wheels will ever touch is at the fringe of the kids’ soccer field?

Well, I have discovered the perfect product for those who want to look like they take their SUV “off road” – even if they don’t! It’s called “Sprayonmud” – and it’s a spray on concoction that creates the illusion that an SUV has, on more than one occasion, been baptized in mud.

What will they think of next?

For a mere $14.50 per quart-sized bottle you can buy “fake mud”to spray on your vehicle in order to make it look as though you’ve just bumped back from a wild ride in the wilderness when, in fact, you’ve been merely hiking through the aisles at Target.

The promotional material says:

“If you’ve got a 4X4 or off-roader, Sprayonmud will send the message that you use your off-roader, off the road as well as on it.”

Inside each quart-sized plastic container is real dirt from the Britain (where the product originates), mixed with water and a “secret ingredient” which helps the mud stick to the vehicle’s body. A few strategic squirts on the fenders and you’ve got an Escalade that’s dirtier than a mudslide.

Real off-roaders, though, know that the best mud is free and generally available. Their vehicles wear that mud as a badge of honor, marking them as adventurers. Fake-mudders mark themselves as – well – fakes.

To be real you have to go where the dirt is.

You know — when Jesus burst on the scene in first- century Israel, one of his first actions was to mark his life and ministry with some real mud. He traveled way off-road, all the way out into the Judean wilderness, to see his cousin John, the quintessential rugged individualist. In the manner of other ancient Israelite prophets, John lived a solitary life amid sand and snakes but preached a message so compelling that people were willing to get their feet dirty to go find him.

Standing there in the notoriously muddy water of the Jordan River, John offered a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” Now –- first-century Jews were used to ceremonial washings, but the only one that involved immersion was for those converting to Judaism. But John called everyone, even ethnic Jews, to be baptized — or “marked” — as being in need of forgiveness and salvation. What John called for was that the mud and muck of human sin needed to be washed away and replaced with a real mark of repentance and confession. John’s baptism was, in a real sense, a great equalizer, declaring that — rich and poor, Jew and non-Jew, righteous or roustabout — all must turn toward God.

Now – I have learned through the years that you don’t wash dishes in dirty water. Yet John calls for people to be “washed,” marked, or cleansed in the dirty waters of the Jordan.

Baptized in dirty water?

When Jesus came to the edge of the water, John recognized that He was “the one” who “is more powerful than I … I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals”

If anyone needed to skip this particular mud bath it was Jesus. Yet Jesus willingly steps down into the brown water to take on the same muddy mark as others John is baptizing.

Yea — when we’re baptized we take on that same mark as Jesus did.

Jesus’ baptism is the prototype for those of us who would follow him.

But — what does our baptism say about us?

Well, we understand baptism as a mark of God’s favor.

Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. For him it was a form of anointing — not just with water but with the Spirit. Here we see the Trinity in action: the Son receiving the blessing, the Father expressing his love for the Son, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. Baptism marks Jesus as “the Beloved” in whom God’s own nature is revealed and with whom God is “well pleased.” It’s a powerful expression of the intimacy of God’s own relational nature.

For us, baptism is a sign of God’s favor as well, but it is favor that is unmerited.

We can’t fake out God and look like we are something that we’re not – so we “come clean” through repentance and confession and simply receive the love of God who created us and sees us as being “very good.”

But — there’s more.

The baptism of Jesus was a form of anointing by which the Messiah, the promised One, would save Israel and the whole world. Israelite kings were marked as a symbol of their office and their responsibility. For Jesus, and for us, baptism is preparation for ministry.

Baptism is a sign that we pledge allegiance to a different kingdom — the kingdom of God. And that allegiance is worked out in our love for God and our service to others.

Baptism marks us, sets us apart as different from the world’s idea of power. It’s not fake – like the “Sprayonmud” some people might spray on an SUV to make it look used. It’s the real thing.

When the great reformer Martin Luther was tempted, he would often put his hand on his head to remind himself that he was baptized — that he was different — that he could resist temptation because of his connection with Christ. Our baptism into Christ calls us to be a different, peculiar and passionate people who are called to love God and then sent out to follow Jesus in changing the world.

In other words, we’re called to “come” to worship, learn, and fellowship – and then “go” into the world and get dirty serving others. There’s no room for pretending or keeping to our own side of town. Our baptism is a commission and a call to go into the wilds of a hurting world.

Jesus, God in the flesh, lived and moved in the world but was not “of” the world. He was tempted like us, human like us, but recognized that His kingdom was beyond the human realm. Jesus didn’t merely call people to get straightened up so that they could fly off to heaven when they died. The real good news that He preached is that God’s kingdom, in the person of Jesus, had broken into the world — — a new reality was coming to the forefront

Our baptism means that what we do now matters. Our baptism means that we can be to be agents of kingdom of God in the community we live in. Our baptism means that we can experience the promises and purposes of God in our lives – then share it with others. Our baptism, then, invites us to live in that new reality — that heavenly, God-ordained reality where we can share God with the world – with the community – as we “come” to worship, fellowship,. and learn – then “go” to serve. It means that we can be a part of God’s work in the Church and the community — here and now.

Living as baptized followers of Christ is something we can’t fake. No amount of spray on religiosity can hide who we really are. As Jesus waded into the muddy water, he set the example for us.

The bottom line is this: If the Son of God is willing to get dirty changing the world, we who follow need to do the same.

So – how about it?

Is your commitment to Christ – who was willing to get Himself dirty – willing to go into the world and bring the Good News of Salvation to all people – real?

Are you willing to follow Jesus into the world – follow Him as He calls you to “come” and worship – serve – and fellowship – then “go” to serve — showing His love to all people – even if it means going “off the beaten path” at times – and even if it means really “getting dirty” for His work?

Is it real?

Friends – a “spray on commitment” won’t work. It has to be the real thing.

So – how about your commitment?

Is it real? Amen.

Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1-8

December 7, 2008

Advent 2

Getting Into The Christmas Spirit

Read Scripture

We are now well into our preparation for the day of Christmas.

You have probably finished decorating your house – much like the Church is decorated. A tree with ornaments – although you may not have Chrismons as are here – maybe you have a Poinsettia or two – maybe some bows and candles.

I hope you have begun your shopping – buying gifts for loved ones and friends. Some of you may be finished – but I doubt it!

Maybe you have already been to several parties and other event. You may even have several more you are planning on attending.

Maybe you have attended some special worship services that have focused on the seasons of Advent and Christmas. You may even have several more you are planning to attend — or if not may I suggest you consult the bulletin announcements of the newsletter and get inspired to attend several more!

It is indeed a busy time!

By now you may be wanting to slow down somewhat – but the month of December keeps rushing on – and maybe you feel like you are being drug around with too much to do!

In the Church we wait during Advent — and prepare for the coming of Christ — the coming of God — into our lives — touching us and changing us with God’s mysterious love –

a love so great that God breaks into our lives in surprising ways –

like a baby in a manger who becomes an adult on a cross — and invites us into deeper and more meaningful relationships with God and others.

In the Church year the season of Advent is a season of expectant hope — but in what we call “the real world” the weeks before Christmas are filled with hectic, frenzied activity — trying to get too many things done too quickly.

If we are not careful, it can be a depressing season — not a joyous season.

Did you ever notice that some people seem to have the Christmas spirit, but others just can’t seem to get in the mood?

Which one are you?

Are you the person that goes around singing Christmas carols, always feeling warm and fuzzy? Or, are you just aggravated that the Christmas season is just too overwhelming? Or are are you somewhere in between?

Why is it that some folks have the Christmas spirit and others don’t?

Maybe some don’t really understand what the true spirit of Christmas is really all about.

I believe that there is someone who can help us understand what the spirit of Christmas is all about – the Christmas spirit – indeed the Christian spirit that we need not only this time of year – but all the time.

This fellow in our passage for today – this man named John – may help us understand the Christmas spirit – and the Christian spirit. Yea — John the Baptist can help us discover what the true spirit of Christmas is – and get into the true Christmas spirit – and the true Christian spirit.

So – what is the Christmas spirit?

Well — John announced that the Christ would be coming soon.

“The one who is more powerful than I, is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals” he said.

John announced that Jesus was coming — but he also acknowledged that he was but a servant of God.

That’s part of the true Christmas spirit.

To understand – and get into – the true spirit of Christmas, we must be willing to humble ourselves. We must be willing to accept the fact that Jesus is greater than us – and that we are servants of God.

John was preaching to a people who were powerless because of an oppressive Roman government. They had no hope — no reason to believe that their lives had any meaning. When John announced that the Lord would be coming, he also said that his listeners would be baptized by the Holy Spirit. In other words, their lives would become filled with the spirit of God and they would be transformed from people without hope to people with hope – from people who were ordinary folk to people who were filled with God’s spirit – and excited about doing God’s will. But – first of all – they needed to be people who understood that God wanted to use them – and they needed to be humble before God and understand that they were servants of God. .

So do we.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – filled with God’s Spirit – and used by God.

Humility is not always an easy attribute to grasp. It requires emptying oneself, coming to grips with our humanness and our finitude.

I don’t know if you have ever watched the TV show “An Eye For An Eye” – I never have – but apparently it is one of those “People’s Court” shows that stars a Judge — called Extreme Judge Akim. In one case the defendant was a woman hockey coach who coached teenagers. One of the player’s father was giving her a hard time, harassing her during games and yelling at her from the stands. He was an obvious male chauvinist and didn’t believe women belonged in the game of hockey. He took the coach to The Extreme Judge Akim – his argument was that the coach didn’t play his son enough. If they did the team would have won more games. The judge, however ruled against him and said he had no case against the woman coach. Witnesses stated she was both experienced and committed to youth. For his punishment the man had to be a goalie and a player would take shots at him. After 31 scores and many hits to his body, the judge ruled the punishment was over. He then revealed that the hockey player taking the shots was none other than the woman coach. Now that he had eaten some “humble pie” the man had a different outlook on the woman coach.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – filled with God’s Spirit – and used by God.

The spirit of God cannot enter our souls until we are willing to humble ourselves and learn that we are mere mortals, in need of a powerful and eternal God. Hopefully we won’t have to go to the extreme of someone hitting us with hockey pucks before we understand that God wants to use us – wants us to be His servants – but we have to be humble before Him and willing to be used by Him.

Humility is the first step to understanding – and getting into – the Christmas spirit.

The second step is being ready.

John tells his listeners to get ready. Their lives could change; they become more faithful — more loving and more hopeful. The opportunity for change was close at hand. To take advantage of that opportunity they had to trust in John’s word. He was God’s messenger, “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.” In addition to humbling themselves they needed to listen to John – and be ready for God’s work in their lives and their world.

So do we.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – filled with God’s Spirit — used by God – and we need to be ready for God’s work in our lives and willing to listen to God.

Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist’s counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office. The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up — wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn’t heard any summons yet. They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified. Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, “Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled.” The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, “Wait a minute, I don’t understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That’s not fair!” The employer said, “I’m sorry, but all the time you’ve been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: ‘If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.’ None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his.”

We can assume that all of the applicants knew Morse Code – or else they would not have bothered applying for the job – but only one of them was alert enough to perceive the message being sent.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – filled with God’s Spirit — used by God – and we need to be ready for God’s work in our lives and willing to listen to God.

Friends — all of us know Christ – but we sometimes tune out God’s message to us — and completely miss it. We don’t see that God is at work – and calling us – here and now – be a part of His work in the Church – the community – and the world.

Being willing to be humble servants of God.

Listening to God – to God’s message to be filled with His Spirit and be about His work in the world.

2 steps to getting into the Christmas sprit.

There’s a third step that John explains.

Third — our lives need to be open to the spirit of God – and we have to be willing to change.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – people filled with God’s Spirit and used by God – ready for God’s work in our lives and willing to listen to God –and open to God’s Spirit and willing to change.

You see – John’s message was about repentance. Repentance means there is a change of direction.

Take, for example, Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. He was a stingy, grumpy, mean spirited man whose life was changed after being confronted by the ghosts of the past, present and future. When he saw how hopeless his life had turned out he was transformed — changed — and became generous and filled with a spirit of love.

A more contemporary story would probably be the story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. The Grinch was totally transformed — his heart growing 3 sizes bigger! He became, kind, warm and generous and returned Christmas to the Whos in Whoville.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – people filled with God’s Spirit and used by God – ready for God’s work in our lives and willing to listen to God – and open to God’s Spirit and willing to change.

Here’ the thing — I really believe that everyone wants to change – but that we are stuck.

Some of us may feel trapped by our sins of the past. Others may feel distant from God. Others may be too busy pursuing our own personal agenda to give time to worrying about God and the Church.

As a result we are never fulfilled or satisfied – never transformed or changed by God – never filled with the Christmas spirit – never filled with the Christian spirit. We allow our lives to become nothing more than a treadmill with no way of getting off.

The key that can unlock the door to a new life – a new relationship with God – and lead us not living in the Christmas spirit – or for that matter the Christian sprit – is forgiveness. John proclaimed a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Forgiveness enables us to move away from the past and embrace the present.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – people filled with God’s Spirit and used by God – ready for God’s work in our lives and willing to listen to God – and open to God’s Spirit and willing to change.

Do you want more of the Christmas sprit?

Do you want more of the Christian spirit?

Learn to be humble before God.

Learn to be a servant of God.

Let God fill you with His spirit and let yourself be sued by God.

Be ready for God’s work in your life and be willing to listen to God.

Be open to God’s Spirit in your life.

Be willing to let God change you.

Doing these things – and letting God do these things in your life – will not only help you get into the Christmas spirit – but it will also help you get into the Christian spirit!

Amen.

Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:32-37

Isaiah 64:1-9

I Corinthians 1:3-9

Mark 13:32-37

“What Are We Waiting For?”

Advent 1

November 30, 2008

Read Scripture

The poet Ann Weems hits the message of our lessons for today — and the meaning of the season of Advent — square on the head in her poem The Coming of God. She writes:

Our God is one who comes to us in a burning bush

in an angels song

in a newborn child.

Our God is one who can not be found

locked away in the church,

not even in the sanctuary.

Our God will be where our God will be,

with no constraints,

no predictability.

Our God lives where our God lives,

and destruction has no power

and not even death can stop

the living.

Our God will be born where our God will be born,

but there is no place to look for the one who will come to us.

When God is ready

God will come

even to a God-forsaken place

like a stable in Bethlehem.

Watch …

for you no not when God comes.

Watch, that you may be found

Whenever – wherever — God comes.

Ann Weems Kneeling in Bethlehem p.13

You know — Advent is a strange season.

It is a season of waiting — nothing but waiting – waiting for something to happen.

Well — what are we waiting for?

In our personal lives we prepare for the Christmas holiday – and wait for Christmas — during the month of December.

In the Church we call the month of December Advent.

As a Church we wait in Advent — we prepare for — the coming of Christ — the coming of God — into our lives. We prepare for God to come to us — touching us and changing us with God’s mysteriously powerful love — a love so great God breaks into our lives in surprising ways — like a baby in a manger who becomes an adult on a cross — and invites us into deeper and more meaningful relationships with Him and others.

But –

What are we waiting for?

We know that Christ has come — the baby has been born — the angels have sung — the shepherds and Wise Men have gathered — and yes — the man has even died on the cross and rose from the dead — returned to heaven — and promised to come to earth again.

So –

What are we waiting for?

Maybe we are waiting for God to come to us in a new way — and really make a difference in our lives.

Maybe that’s why Advent is so important — it forces us to pause – to pause as individuals in our rush towards Christmas and all its frantic pace – to pause as a Church before we rush to the manger and reflect on what God has actually done for us through the Christ child — and even reflect as individuals and as a Church on what the God we meet at the manger is doing for us even now — and how — even now — our lives and our world have been changed because the baby has been born — Christ has come — and continues to come — and will indeed come again — and make a difference in our lives and our world.

So –

What are we waiting for?

Waiting is a predominant theme in the 3 Scripture lessons we heard a few minutes ago.

Isaiah cries to God the pain and anguish of captives desperately waiting for God to do something — to

“Tear open the heavens and come down”

as He had done in years past — and free the people in exile in Babylon.

He and the people of Israel were waiting.

Desperately waiting.

What are we waiting for?

Paul writes in I Corinthians to a congregation getting impatient as they await Christ’s second coming.

Waiting.

Impatiently waiting.

What are we waiting for?

Mak has Jesus telling the disciples that He will return at an unknown time — but unitl that time they are like slaves entrusted with work to do until the return of their master.

Slaves — doing their masters work until their master returns.

Waiting.

Busily — expetantly — waiting.

What are we waiting for?

Do we know?

In all three lessons for this day the people knew what they were waiting for.

Isaiah could speak so boldly to God because he knew what God had done in the past. He was only waiting and praying for God to do it again.

What are we waiting for?

The Christians in Corinth knew they were waiting for the return of Christ in all His glory to come and change the world into God’s glorious kingdom.

What are we waiting for?

The disciples knew what Jesus expected them to do until He returned — all they had to do was do their jobs while waiting for their master to return.

But –

What are we waiting for?

Do we know?

What are we waiting for?

Maybe we are waiting for God to come into our lives and change our world in a powerfully new way. Maybe we are waiting for a new experience of God that will shake us up – shake up the world – awaken us from our complacency – and excite us for God’s work.

Well – if that’s the case —

What are we waiting for?

Hasn’t Christ already come?

Hasn’t God already come into our world — completely changed our world through Christ?

Hasn’t God already changed our lives?

Haven’t we already had our lives shaken up by God?

Haven’t we already been awakened from our complacency — and excited about doing God’s work?

What are we waiting for?

Friends — the truth is — we no longer have to wait.

Christ is born.

Christ has come.

Our lives have been changed.

Our world has been changed.

God has come.

All we have to do is realize it.

All you have to do is let it make a difference in how you live.

Sure — realizing that God has come — and letting God change your life — is a tall order — but God can fill it .

God can change you — God can make difference — regardless of what kind of change or difference has to be made.

Let God do it!

Like the disciples — we have the work of our master to do until He returns. Our work is realizing that God has come to us — and proclaiming the coming of God into our world every day in concrete and specific words and actions.

Yes.

Christ has come.

The baby has been born in Bethlehem.

Our lives — and our world — have been — and can continue to be – changed.

Every day — as we let God change our lives — God comes to us again and again.

Our job is realizing that and proclaiming that.

So –

What are we waiting for?

Indeed — Advent is a time for us to pause before we rush into Christmas — before we let the world get us so hurried — before we as a Church rush to see the baby in the manger – it’s a time for us to pause and remember what God has done for us through Christ — how God has come into our lives — changed us — continues to change us — and calls us to proclaim Him in all we say and do.

It has happened.

God has come.

It is up to you to respond – and to let Christ’s coming make a difference in your life.

What are we waiting for?

Indeed — as Weems writes:

When God is ready

God will come

even to a God-forsaken place

like a stable in Bethlehem.

Watch …

for you no not when God comes.

Watch, that you may be found

whenever

wherever

God comes.

What are we waiting for?

Amen.

Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1-8

“Open Your Ears And Hear God”

December 9, 2007 Advent 2

Part 2 of Advent Series “God has come – open your eyes to see Him, your ears to hear Him, your mouths to tell about Him, your heart to receive Him”

We are halfway through the Season of Advent!

The Sanctuary is beautifully decorated – the Chrismon tree is up and the Chrismons are in place – the garland and the wreaths are beautifully placed around the sanctuary and now two of the candles on the Advent Wreath has been lit.

Yes – we are halfway through the Season of Advent!

Halfway through aAdvent – and that can only mean one thing – Christmas is coming!

Christmas is coming!

Of course, all you have to do is look around you and you’ll know that Christmas is near. The beautiful Church decorations – the burning Advent candles — the parties we are having parties and making plans for — the fact that the Joy Gift program is next week — the fact that we are planning how to reach out to those in the community in need for Christmas – and all of the other activities that are taking place lets you know that Christmas is coming!

In the world outside the church you can also tell that Christmas is coming! Newspapers are stuffed with flyers from stores advertising special sales – stores are decorated for Christmas – the sound of Christmas music can be heard in the stores – stores are full of shoppers – and the lights downtown on the Christmas tree and around the mall are shining brightly . Television stations are showing Christmas specials – many that are heartwarming stories of love and laughter.

Yes – Christmas is coming!

When you add in everything else December brings – decorating, Christmas shopping, parties, family gatherings, etc., etc. etc., — well – there is very little doubt that Christmas is indeed coming!

Christmas is coming!

These words can make children’s eyes get big with anticipation and excitement – and adults eyes get big with fear over all they have to do and not much time to do it in!

Christmas is coming!

But – wait – it’s not Christmas yet.

Christmas is coming – but it is not here!

Christmas is still four weeks away – we are still in the Season of Advent!

Advent is a season we overlook so many times as we rush to Christmas.

Advent is not promoted by the world outside the church – the world that rushes to Christmas before Halloween is over – and so many times it is overlooked by churches also. But – even though it is overlooked many times – it is an important season for us.

Advent is a time for waiting for the coming of Christ – preparing our hearts and minds for Christ to come into our lives and change us.

Advent is important because it gives us an opportunity to realize that Christ is with us – that God has come into our lives and our world – has changed us – and can change our world.

Advent is important because it gives us an opportunity to see that God is active in our lives and in our world – an opportunity to hear God’s activity in our lives and in our world – an opportunity to proclaim the activity of God in our lives and in our world – and an opportunity to open our hearts and let God come again into our lives and change us.

Advent can be a time for:

Open eyes to see God

Open ears to hear God

Open mouths to tell about God

and Open hearts to accept God

We’re looking at these aspects of the Season of Advent as we go through this Season this month.

God has come!

Open your eyes to see God

Open your ears to hear God

Open mouths to tell about God

Open your hearts to accept God

Last week we looked at Mark 13:32-37 and discovered that we need to be vigilant – keeping our eyes open to see that God is at work in our world.

Today we are going to look at opening our ears to hear God’s Good News as we read Mark 1:1-8:

Listen to God’s word.

One way you can tell it’s Advent is in the music you hear here in Church. The Choir is singing special Christmas music, the Praise Choir is practicing some special music for the season to help lead us in worship at the Joy Gift program and in worship, the hymns we’re singing in worship proclaim the message of Christ’s coming, and the wonderful preludes, offertories, and postludes George is playing have a special feel about them.

Yea – Advent is a time for special music here in the Church.

But – of course – this is also a time for special music for the world outside the Church, too! “The songs of the season” are everywhere! You may already have found yourself walking through a supermarket or a department store humming a Christmas song, only to realize that the reason you were humming it is that it was being played as “background music” over the store’s PA system. The songs of the season are everywhere, in offices and elevators, shopping malls and beauty parlors, spilling out over the radio and in dozens of television specials … and even on commercials. But — have you noticed that it is possible for a radio station, for example, to go through a whole fifteen minutes of “holiday selections” that have absolutely nothing to do with Jesus Christ?

Frosty the Snowman

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Silver Bells

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (actually the name of the song is “The Christmas Song”)

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Jingle Bells

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas (those who know me well know I’m partial to the version The Drifters recorded)

Have A Holly Jolly Christmas (Doris Reynolds has told me that’s one of Tripp’s favorites – and that you can play it 3 times between their house and Cain’s Barbecue restaurant)

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (I’m partial to Bruce Springsteen’s version on this one)

I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Have Yourself Merry Little Christmas

Christmas In Dixie

I’ve named a dozen right there–popular, all of them, and frequently played–yet none of them really mention Jesus Christ, who is supposed to be what this holiday season is all about. You know – unless you listen to WMHK – as I do – and enjoy their contemporary versions of Christian Christmas music — you can go through the entire month of December without really hearing a lot on the radio or on TV about Christ. You can go through Christmas without hearing a lot about the good news that God has come into our world – has changed our lives – and continues to work in our world and in our lives – even here and now. I will give credit to one of my favorite Christmas Specials on TV — A Charlie Brown Christmas — the highlight of which is when Linus takes center stage and recites the Christmas story from Luke 2, to a hushed and attentive audience that listens and then takes the message to heart – but there are few others that specifically mention the reason for the holiday.

The reason for Christmas – indeed for all we do in the Church – is the fact that God has come into our world and lives through Jesus Christ – and our world and our lives can be changed. That’s good news – great news – the best news ever – but – I’m afraid that it isn’t heard very often – even in December. Even in December the news gets drowned out by all the hubbub we find ourselves in the midst of. God has come – and we need to open our ears and hear God.

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

Our scripture passage for today tells Mark’s account of the work and ministry and message of John the Baptist. It’s quite a compelling story about a man and a compelling message he proclaimed. John told the people that God was about to come into their world and into their lives – and that they needed to open their ears – hear God’s message – repent – and hear God.

This was quite a message for the Hebrew people – for the Hebrew people had prayed for centuries for God to come into their lives in a new way –and now that those still living in the land promised to their ancestors were under Roman domination some prayed for freedom more fervently — while others were leading open revolts for freedom. Into this volatile mix came this fanatic on the with his unkempt appearance and strong message.

GOD IS COMING!

REPENT!

BE BAPTISED!

PREPARE THE WAY!

It certainly struck a chord with the people. Many who heard him responded and were baptized. They heard John’s message that God was coming into their world – and they changed their lives so they could live in God’s ways.

These were desperate people — at the end of their rope — almost to the point of giving up. They may have wondered:

Why should God come and change their lives?

And fanatical John kept shouting:

GOD IS COMING!

REPENT!

BE BAPTISED!

PREPARE THE WAY!

And the people kept coming to him – - and kept listening — and kept repenting — and kept being baptized — and kept having their lives changed — and kept hoping for God to come and change their lives in a new, real way.

GOD IS COMING!

REPENT!

BE BAPTISED!

PREPARE THE WAY!

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

We might think we have a distinct advantage over the people who originally heard and responded to John.

We know what happened next.

We know Christ came.

We know that God entered the world.

We know that the world was changed forever.

We may feel this gives us an advantage — but — does it?

I wonder.

At least they let the coming of God make a difference to them.

At least they let the coming of God change their lives.

At least they made a response to the promises of God to come into their lives and change them. At least they let their lives be changed.

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

But — you know — God still comes.

John’s message is still the same.

GOD IS COMING!

REPENT!

BE BAPTISED!

PREPARE THE WAY!

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

The people who first heard John’s message felt lost and alone. To them — John’s message was good news – it was life changing news. The time of feeling lost was over. God was coming to make a difference.

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

You know – even though we know that God has come into our world – even though we know the good news – the great news – the best news ever – that in Jesus Christ God has come into our world and has changed it – and can come into our lives and can change us – there are still people today who feel lost and desperate –many who may be yearning for some message of hope.

In fact – maybe your world seems like shattered dreams.

Maybe your marriage — family — relationships — are not what you had hoped they would be.

Maybe your job doesn’t hold the potential you may want for your family or for yourself.

Or maybe your retirement years are not what you had planned on their being.

Maybe your health is a problem for you instead of an asset.

Or maybe a friend or loved one is sick –- or dying – or maybe has recently died and you are grieving the loss.

Or — maybe you just look at the poverty — drugs — disease — violence — and tragedy in the world around you and wonder if there is any reason – any reason at all — for holding out hope for anything better.

Or — then again — maybe just the celebration — the stress — the importance placed on the “perfect Christmas” that is impossible to achieve — is too much for you.

Well if any of these – or any combination of these — be the case – then I have good news for you today.

Listen up – because I am going to tell you something that can be the best news you have ever heard —

and not just those of you who are hurting in one way or another – but all of you – indeed all of us – need to hear this good news – the best news ever.

Are you listening?

Are you ready to hear it?

Here it is:

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

Sometimes “bad news” can persuade us that there will never be any “good news”.

When my nephew Robert was 3 he would ask my sister every morning in December – “Has Santa come yet”?

“No – Santa will come in a few days” would be my sister’s answer.

Robert must have become discouraged and may have believed that Santa would never come – for on Christmas morning my sister woke him with the words:

“Robert – Santa came!”

“No – Santa come in a few days” he responded.

We can’t let “bad news” of our lives and our world make us deaf to the good news that God has come!

To us – and to all who feel lost — lonely — desperate – this message that God has come into our world and into our lives to change our world and to change us is indeed good news!

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

Hear God’s message!

Rejoice in the good news!

God has come!

Our world does not have to be the same!

God has come!

Our lives do not have to be the same!

God has come!

We can respond as those who responded to John did – by repenting – letting God change us – and living in God’s ways!

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

Not only is it up to us to hear and respond to this good news – it’s also to us to us to tell this good news to others.

It’s up to us to reach out to others with God’s loving presence as we share God’s presence and God’s love with others.

It’s up to us to see the needs of those who are poor – who are sick – who are hurting – and to give them the message that God has come – and their lives and their world can be changed.

It’s up to us to tell them – in words and actions —

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

God has come.

That’s the good news.

That’s the greatest news in the world – the greatest news for the world!

Hear it!

Make sure others can hear it!

Hear God – and God’s good news – even through the pain and sickness and sorrow in the world – because even though the world is filled with these things:

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

God has come.

That’s the good news.

That’s the greatest news in the world – the greatest news for the world!

Hear it!

Make sure that others can hear it!

Hear God – and God’s good news – through all the others sounds of the season that make no mention of Christ. Even though some may not want to acknowledge it—

God has come

Open your ears and hear God.

Open your ears and hear God.

Mark 13:32-37

Mark 13:32-37

Open Your Eyes and See God

December 2, 2007 (Advent 1)

Part 1 of 2007 Advent series – Open your eyes, ears, mouths and hearts – God has come!

             The Season of Advent has arrived!

            The Sanctuary is beautifully decorated – the Chrismon tree is up and the Chrismons are in place – the garland and the wreaths are beautifully placed around the sanctuary and one of the candles on the Advent Wreath has been lit.

            Yes – the Season of Advent has arrived!

             The Season of Advent has arrived – and that can only mean one thing – Christmas is coming!

            Christmas is coming!

             Of course, all you have to do is look around you and you’ll know that Christmas is near. The beautiful Church decorations – the burning Advent candle —  the parties we are having parties and making plans for — the fact that we are practicing for the Joy Gift program – the fact that we are planning how to reach out to those in the community in need for Christmas – and all of the other activities that are taking place lets you know that Christmas is coming!

             In the world outside the church you can also tell that Christmas is coming! Newspapers are stuffed with flyers from stores advertising special sales – stores are decorated for Christmas – the sound of Christmas music can be heard in the stores – stores are full of shoppers – and the lights downtown on the Christmas tree and around the mall are shining brightly .  Television stations are showing Christmas specials – many that are heartwarming stories of love and laughter.

            Yes – Christmas is coming!  

             When you add in everything else December brings – decorating, Christmas shopping, parties, family gatherings, etc., etc. etc., — well – there is very little doubt that Christmas is indeed coming!

             Christmas is coming!

            These words can make children’s eyes get big with anticipation and excitement – and adults eyes get big with fear over all they have to do and not much time to do it in!

             Christmas is coming!

             But – wait – it’s not Christmas yet.

            Christmas is coming – but it is not here!

            Christmas is still four weeks away – but the Season of Advent starts today!

            Advent is a season we overlook so many times as we rush to Christmas.

             Advent is not promoted by the world outside the church – the world that rushes to Christmas before Halloween is over – and so many times it is overlooked by churches also. But – even though it is overlooked many times – it is an important season for us.

Advent is a time for waiting for the coming of Christ – preparing our hearts and minds for Christ to come into our lives and change us.

Advent is important because it gives us an opportunity to realize that Christ is with us – that God has come into our lives and our world – has changed us – and can change our world.

Advent is important because it gives us an opportunity to see that God is active in our lives and in our world – an opportunity to hear God’s activity in our lives and in our world – an opportunity to proclaim the activity of God in our lives and in our world – and an opportunity to open our hearts and let God come again into our lives and change us.

Advent can be a time for:

Open eyes to see God

Open ears to hear God

Open mouths to tell about God

and Open hearts to accept God

We’re going to look at these aspects of the Season of Advent as we go through this Season this month. 

God has come!

            Open your eyes to see God

            Open your ears to hear God

            Open mouths to tell about God

            Open your hearts to accept God

            Today we are going to look at opening our eyes to see God as we read Mark 13:32-37.

            Listen to God’s word.

                                    Our God is a God who comes

writes the Presbyterian poet Ann Weems in her book of poems Kneeling in Bethlehem. 

Our God is one who comes to us in a burning bush

in an angels song

in a newborn child.

Our God is one who can not be found

locked away in the church,

not even in the sanctuary.

 Our God will be where our God will be,

with no constraints,

no predictaility.

Our God lives where our God lives,

and destruction has no power

and not even death can stop

the living.

Our God will be born where our God will be born,

but there is no place to look for the one who will come to us.

When God is ready

God will come

even to a God-forsaken place

like a stable in Bethlehem.

Watch …

for you no not when God comes.

Watch, that you may be found

whenever

wherever

God comes.

Ann Weems    Kneeling in Bethlehem p.13

            Open your eyes and see God!

            Open your eyes and see God!

            God comes to us in the most surprising and unexpected ways – ways that we might overlook if we are not vigilant in our efforts to see and recognize the coming of God into our lives. If we do not make a concerted effort to open our eyes and see God, we might miss God altogether!

            God comes into our lives – and into our world! 

            Open your eyes and see God!

            Open your eyes and see God! 

         You know -- it is difficult to stay awake -- to stay alert -- when nothing is happening.  Sometimes it’s hard to keep our eyes open to the things going on around us – especially when it may appear that nothing all that important is going on.                   I have a friend who tells about his teenage son learning to drive.  He says that his son is so excited about learning to drive – he thinks that driving is the most exciting thing in the world.  My friend warned him, though, that the time would come when driving would seem routine.  He told him that, hard as it might be for him to imagine, the time would come when he would have to be careful not to fall asleep at the wheel.                  Even driving can become boring and routine after awhile.                 Have you ever been driving and found that you’ve gone miles without really paying attention to what was going on?                Have you ever been driving and suddenly realized that your car was bumping along the side of the road – or had someone honk their horn at you as you drifted into their lane? 

It’s a scary experience – although one many people have.  

       I almost had one of those experiences driving home from Camden Thanksgiving night. As I usually do at family Thanksgiving gatherings I had eaten way too much that day – and was drowsy.  Sally was already asleep in the passenger seat as we drove down I-20 heading to Florence.  About the time we approached the Bishopville exit I saw the blue of a Highway Patrol car flashing behind me.  Even though it was pulling another car, I suddenly found myself wide awake – eyes open – and alert.  I stayed that way the rest of the trip!

       Yea – it is difficult to stay awake -- to stay alert -- when it seems that nothing exciting is happening.  Sometimes it’s hard to keep our eyes open to the things going on around us.    And yet -- God comes to us in the most surprising and unexpected  ways – ways that we might overlook if we are not vigilant in our efforts to see and recognize the coming of God into our lives. If we do not make a concerted effort to open our eyes and see God, we might miss God altogether!

             God comes into our lives – and into our world!

           Open your eyes and see God!

            Open your eyes and see God! 

             Staying awake – staying focused – staying vigilant – especially when it seems that nothing is happening — is not easy.

                I’ve talked to Viet Nam vets who have told me that pulling guard duty at night in Vietnam was extremely difficult.  They would sit for long stretches of time --  trying to see into the darkness -- watching for an enemy that seldom came.  They had to stay awake -- to stay alert -- to watch -- but it was hard.  It wasn't that they wanted anything exciting to happen, because that could be deadly -- but the boredom was deadly too.

  God comes to us in the most surprising of ways – unexpected ways – ways that we might overlook if we are not vigilant in our efforts to see and recognize the coming of God into our lives. If we do not make a concerted effort to open our eyes and see God, we might miss God altogether! 

             God comes into our lives – and into our world!

             Open your eyes and see God!

            Open your eyes and see God! 

             In our scripture passage for today, Jesus calls on us to stay awake -- to stay

alert -- to keep watching.  He promises that He will return in glory – and then He says:  

34It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.   35"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "                The implication is that, if we are not vigilant – if we do not watch for the coming of God – we might miss God’s presence and miss the beautiful fact that God is with us and in our world. 

           God comes to us in the most surprising of ways and unexpected ways – ways that we might overlook if we are not vigilant in our efforts to see and recognize the coming of God into our lives. If we do not make a concerted effort to open our eyes and see God, we might miss God altogether!

            God comes into our lives – and into our world!

             Open your eyes and see God!

            Open your eyes and see God!

             It may have been easy for the first Christians to keep alert and watch for the return of Christ.  They thought He was coming back soon – so every day they could have kept alert and watched for signs of Jesus’ return and signs of God at work in their world. But – it may be much more difficult for us.  It’s been over 2,000 years since Jesus promised His return.  After that amount of time, do you think God still expects us to be vigilant – watchful – looking for signs that He is active in our world – here and now?  I believe so!  I believe that God still acts in the world – still does His will – and can still surprise us with His presence.

             I still believe that God comes to us in the most surprising of ways and unexpected ways – ways that we might overlook if we are not vigilant in our efforts to see and recognize the coming of God into our lives.

I still believe that — if we do not make a concerted effort to open our eyes and see God, we might miss God altogether!

            I believe that God comes into our lives – and into our world!

            I believe that – if we open our eyes – we can see God at work!

             Open your eyes and see God!

            Open your eyes and see God!

 Weems writes:

 When God is ready

God will come

even to a God-forsaken place

like a stable in Bethlehem.

            God comes to the strangest of places.

            God comes in the strangest and most unpredictable of ways.

            Can you see God’s presence in the world around you?

            Are your eyes open enough to see that God is with you – that God is with us – working His will in our world – here and now?

            Too many times we see only the bad in the world. We only see   the sin – the violence – the poverty – the problems.  We let these things blind us to the good – the love – the compassion – the solutions. Too many times we let the problems dull our senses and lull us to sleep – when Jesus has called us to be vigilant – to stay awake – and look for His presence in our world.  

God comes to us in the most surprising of ways and unexpected ways.

God comes to us in ways that we might overlook if we let the problems of the world keep us from being vigilant in our efforts to see how God comes into our lives.

God comes to us in ways that we might overlook if we do not make a concerted effort to open our eyes and see God at work.    

       God comes into our lives – and into our world!

      Open your eyes and see God!

            Open your eyes and see God!

             If we are not careful, we can miss God

                        in the smile of a friend

                        or the touch of a loved one

                        or the face of a child as they sing a Christmas Carol

                        or the excitement of children as they plan their Christmas program

                        or the excitement of giving things to others – not the mention the excitement of those we might be giving to –  

                        or the time a volunteer spends teaching someone  to read

                                    or mentoring a young person

                                    or doing something for someone who can’t do for themselves

                                    or helping people find peaceful solutions to their problems

                                    or giving a bag of groceries – or a hot meal – to someone in need – 

            In all these things, God is there!

            In all these things, God comes to us!

            We just have to open our eyes and see these things for what they are – for they are God’s activity in our world – they are God’s way of coming to us!

             God comes into our lives – and into our world!

             Open your eyes and see God!

            Open your eyes and see God!

            Not only do we need to see God at work in the world – but we need to be signs of God’s activity to the world.  We need to get involved in showing God and God’s love to others – so they can open their eyes and they can see that God is with them!  We need to get involved in the numerous things the Church is doing – from helping with the Christmas Workshop this afternoon to helping with the Joy Gift program practices to donating to our community outreach to helping shop for the families we are reaching out to – so many things that we are doing – all in God’s name – and God is using them all to work in our lives and in our world. See all these things as opportunities to see God at work and help others see God at work – see all these things as opportunities to:

             Open your eyes and see God!

            Open your eyes and see God!

 God comes to us in the most surprising of ways and unexpected ways.

God comes to us in ways that we might overlook if we let the problems of the world keep us from being vigilant in our efforts to see how God comes into our lives.

God comes to us in ways that we might overlook if we do not make a concerted effort to open our eyes and see God at work. 

 Sometimes we can find ourselves doubting that God is at work in our lives and in our world – but if we look around us with eyes of faith we will see that God is indeed active – God is indeed with us.

 I’m sure you’ve heard the story – but it needs to be told again and again.  It’s the story of a little girl named Virginia O’Hanlon whose friends told her that there was no Santa Claus.  She wrote the New York Sun Newspaper to see if they could tell her if there was or was not a Santa.

The famous response reads:        VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.           That’s how Santa is.           That’s also how God is. God comes to us in the most surprising of ways and unexpected ways. God comes to us in ways that we might overlook if we let the problems of the world keep us from being vigilant in our efforts to see how God comes into our lives.     God comes to us in ways that we might overlook if we do not make a concerted effort to open our eyes and see God at work.            Sometimes we can find ourselves doubting that God is at work in our lives and in our world – but if we look around us with eyes of faith we will see that God is indeed active – God is indeed with us.

2 Chronicles 7:11-22, Galations 5:1,13-25, Mark 12:13-17

2 Chronicles 7: 11-22

Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Mark 12:13-17

“Praying For America”

July 1, 2007

(Communion)

Read Scripture

 

My country ‘tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty,

of thee I sing:

 

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring!

 

            So are the words of the hymn we just sang.   

            The sentiment of this hymn is shared by most of us today.  I am sure that all of us here today — especially as we begin this glorious week when we will celebrate the 231^st birthday of our great nation — are proud to be citizens of America — pray for God to bless America – and pray for freedom to ring throughout  our land – indeed throughout the world. I know I am glad to live in this great country of ours — and I am sure all of you are, too!  As Lee Greenwood once sang – I am proud to be an American – and I feel confident that you are, too.

            I love history – and I can get overly sentimental about things like this – but it gives me chill bumps to be standing in the pulpit of this Church – so rich in history. This Church – which stood in this place – or across the street – before there was a United States of America.  This Church – which has made such a contribution to our community, state, and country. 

            Yes – I am proud to be an American – and proud to be a part of the life of this Church. 

            But – as proud as I am to be an American – as proud as I am to be a part of this Church that is so rich in history – as proud as I am of my country and as carried away as I can get about July 4^th – I also have to remind myself – and I want to remind you in case you’re getting too wrapped up in patriotic ferver — that today  is not just July 1 —      

            No —  today is not only July 1 — it is Sunday, July 1.

            Sunday — the day we gather together to worship and give praise to God.

            Sunday — and on this particular Sunday we have gathered around the Lord’s Table to partake of the sacrament of Communion.

            So — how do we combine our love for God – and commitment to God – with our love for our country?

            How do we combine the two?

God, bless America.

Irving Berlin wrote.

God, bless America.

 A great sentiment – one I hold – and I am sure one all of you hold.

God, bless America – our country – it’s people – us!  

            Yea – God bless us!

            But – we have some questions we have to answer today:

            How do we combine our love for God – and commitment to God – with our love for our country?

            What does our relationship and loyalty to God ask of us?

            What does our relationship and loyalty to our country ask of us?

            How can we ask God to bless America?

            Most importantly — what will Americans have to do for God to bless America?

            I believe the real question is – what will we have to do for God to bless America?

            What will you and I have to do for God to bless this great country of ours?

           

God, bless America.

The Scripture passages we looked at a few minutes ago give us no direct answers to these questions — but they give us some guidelines to follow – some ideas — of what we must do –what must be done – for God to bless America.

 

God, bless America.

            “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

            When asked a “trick” question — a question intended to force Him to make a statement that would either make the Roman government or the Jews mad — what does Jesus do?

            Jesus does a very wise thing.

            He asks for a denarius — the money used to pay the tax. 

            On it was a picture of Tiberius — the emperor — and an inscription bearing Tiberius’ name.  Clearly — the coin — with the picture and inscription of Tiberius — belonged to Tiberius.  So Jesus replies:

“ Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s,”

but — then He adds —

            “give to  God the things that are God’s.”

           

God, bless America.

            But – we might wonder — what do we owe God – and what do we owe Caesar – or the country?

            Sometimes we get a bit confused on this.

            At times we might be so supportive of America – of our country – that we feel everything we do as a country is perfect in every way – and that God will indeed bless us just because of who we are – just because we are Americans — regardless of what we do.

 

God, bless America.

            What will it take for God to bless America?

            What must happen for God to bless America?

            The passage from 2 Chronicles can help us understand the true relationship between God and country – and what must happen for God to bless America.

            Here is King Solomon — King of Israel — a great king in his own right and son of King David – completing the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem.  This was the Temple that King David had wanted to build — but it had been left up to Solomon to build this magnificent Temple for the Hebrew people to assemble in and worship God. 

            God speaks to Solomon after the Temple is completed — and tells Solomon that He approves of what Solomon has done — and will bless Solomon and his country – if they will follow in God’s ways.

             But – here’s the catch — if they fail to follow in the way of the Lord — He will not bless them — but will curse them.

 

God, bless America.

            God promises to bless Solomon and the people of Israel – but not just because of who they are.  God promises to bless them if they remember who He is – and if they will follow Him.

 

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

 

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

 

But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.

 

            God, bless America.

The promises that God gave to Solomon centuries ago still hold true today. 

            God, bless America.

            These are indeed great words — and the thought behind them extremely commendable — but — we have to ask ourselves –

            What must happen for God to bless America?

            What must Americans do for God to bless America?

            What must we do for God to bless America?

            What must you do – what must I do – for God to bless America?

            Well, for God to bless America – Americans are going to have to follow God.

            For God to bless America, we are going to have to follow God.

            You want God to bless America?

            Then you are going to have to follow God!

 

            Listen again to what God says to Solomon:

 

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

 

            God, bless America.

            If we want God to bless America – then we as Americans are going to have to humble ourselves – pray – and seek God’s face.

            If you and I want God to bless America, you and I are going to have to humble ourselves – pray – and seek God’s face.

            If we seek for God to bless America — if we truly want America to receive God’s blessings — then we need to – as Jesus says — give to God the things that are God’s.  That means that you and I are going to have to give our lives to God. This means you and I are going to have to follow God’s teachings and God’s ways.

 

            God, bless America.

The great words of the Declaration of Independence give us a description of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans:   

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable rights
that among these are life and liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.

Great words.

But – the Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:13:

You, my brothers, were called to be free.

But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  

Freedom is a gift from God – but instead of meaning that we are free to live in any way we please – freedom means that we are free to live in the ways God has called us to live. It means being free to live in God’s ways – or as Paul says by “the fruits of the Spirit” —

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

As Americans, we have and we celebrate great freedoms.  But – for God to bless America – we have to celebrate God’s freedoms – and live by the fruits of the Spirit – living in

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control

            God, bless America.

For that to happen – we as Americans must live in God’s ways.

For that to happen – you and I must live in God’s ways.

 

            As God told Solomon:

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

 

But – as God also told Solomon:

But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.

 

            God, bless America.

Many times we do not live in God’s ways – and when that happens we suffer – and America suffers. For God to bless America – we as Americans are going to have to repent – and begin following God.  For God to bless America – you and I as Americans are going to have to repent – and begin following God.

            Humble ourselves – as God tells Solomon 

Humble ourselves — and pray.

            Pray for God to forgive us of the times we follow our ways instead of God’s ways.  Pray for God to forgive us for our hard headed, sinful ways – as individuals and as a country — and commit ourselves to living in God’s ways instead of our own – in God’s will instead of our wills.

            This takes repentance.

            This means confessing that we are wrong and that we need God in our lives and in our country.

            God, bless America.

            Repentance is never easy.  Confessing sins is never easy. But – it is necessary. 

            But — repentance does not just mean saying we are sorry – it – also means living in new ways. You know — repentance is not basically a religious word. It comes from a culture where people were essentially nomadic and lived in a world with no maps or street signs. It’s easy to get lost walking through the desert. You become aware that the countryside is strange. You finally say to yourself, I’m going in the wrong direction.

That’s the first act of repentance.

The second act of repentance is to go in an alternate direction.

 

God, bless America.

This is going to take repentance.

Repentance on our part.

This is also going to take our finding new ways to live.

That’s what’s needed for God to bless us – for God to bless you – for God to bless me.

That’s what’s needed for God to bless America.

God, bless America.

America has been called a great nation. This is very true — America is a very great nation. However, America is only truly great if Americans have a truly great faith in God — truly give to God the things due God and to our country the things due our county — and live in God’s ways – sharing God’s love with all people – and working for God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace on earth. This means that I am going to have to have a truly great faith in God — that I am  going to have to truly give to God the things due God and to my country the things due my county — and live in God’s ways – sharing God’s love with all people – and working for God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace on earth. This means that you are going to have to have a truly great faith in God — that you are going to have to truly give to God the things due God and to your country the things due your county — and live in God’s ways – sharing God’s love with all people – and working for God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace on earth

            America is only as great as our faith in God – my faith in God – your faith in God.

           

God, bless America.

America has been called a Christian nation.

            Indeed, our country was founded upon Christian principles — but we must return to those principles — truly give to God the things due to God — and deepen our faith in God. 

America is only a Christian nation as long as we — Americans — are a Christian people.  America is only a Christian nation as long as I am committed to following Christian ways – and as long as you are committed to living in Christian ways. Once we stop following God and Christ, we can no longer be considered a Christian nation.  As a nation, America is only as Christian as we – you and I — it’s people — live out our faith and let our faith determine what we do as individuals — and as a country. 

            God, bless America.

            America has been called a strong nation. 

            Once again, this statement is only true if we — as Americans — have a strong faith in God – a strong commitment to giving to God the things due to God and to our country the things due our country

            Only if I am willing to let my faith in God be strong and my commitment to God be strong – and let my strong commitment to God determine what I do as an individual – can America be considered a strong nation.

Only if you are willing to let your faith in God be strong and your  commitment to God be strong – and let your strong commitment to God determine what you do as an individual – can America be considered a strong nation.

Only if  we are willing to let our faith in God be strong and our  commitment to God be strong – and let our strong commitment to God determine what we do as individuals –  as a community — as a Church — and as a nation — can America be considered a strong nation.

            Only if we commit ourselves to acting on our faith – and working for God’s love and God’s will for a world filled with God’s love, justice, and peace – can America be considered a great nation.

              America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon the depth of the faith of its people — the depth of its people’s commitment to give to God the things due to God.

            America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon our ability to confess our sins – humble ourselves – and pray for God to forgive us – and find new ways to live.

            America’s greatness, America’s virtue as a Christian nation, and America’s strength depends upon my ability and your ability to confess our sins – humble ourselves – and pray for God to forgive us – and find new ways to live.

 

            Yes – God, bless America.   

God, bless America with true blessings that come with working for Your will for justice and peace for all people. 

Yes – God, bless America.   

God, bless America with true blessings that come from our being humble before You – confessing our sins — and doing Your will.  

God, bless America.

            This will only happen when we as Americans confess our sins and begin again living in God’s ways.

            God, bless America.

            This will take prayer.

As God told Solomon:

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

Friends – for God to bless America – we have to pray.

You have to pray.

I have to pray.

We all have to pray.

We have to pray that we can turn back to God — and do what we can to bring our country back to God. 

God, bless America.

I ask each of you to commit yourself again to giving to God the things that are God’s — your love, your life, your thoughts, your words, your actions. 

            I ask each of you to commit yourself to doing what you can to ensure these liberties we talk so much about are experienced by all.

            I ask each of you to commit yourself again to repenting of your sins – and living in new ways.

This is what it will take for God to bless America.  

 

Indeed –

My country ‘tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty,

of thee I sing:

 

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring!

 

Amen.