MARK 9:2-9

2 Kings 2:1-12
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9
WOW!
February 26, 2006
Transfiguration

It starts off ordinary enough.
Jesus and his three closest friends – Peter, James, and John – go up on a high mountain. Nothing unusual. Jesus often went off from the crowds to pray and rest – and at times He would take some of the disciples with Him.
All very ordinary.

But from here on, ordinary ends.

No sooner do they arrive than Jesus is suddenly “transfigured.”
He “glowed.”
As the text has it, “His clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.”
Not only out of the ordinary, but absolutely out of this world – which, of course, is precisely what the story wants to convey.

And if that is not out-of-the ordinary enough, two men who were so important in the faith tradition of Peter – James – and John – two of faith’s most honored heroes — suddenly appear by Jesus’ side. Moses, the great law-giver, and Elijah, the prophet par excellence – as if to suggest that the entire tradition of the Law and the Prophets was paying respect to Jesus — in whom both were brought together.

This is both literally and figuratively a “mountain-top experience.”
No wonder Peter, James, and John are terrified.
But, of course, a little terror never stopped Peter from running his mouth – so — for lack of any other ideas, he suggests erecting three shrines to commemorate the event!

Wow!

A big enough deal so far.
But that is not all – for after this vision a cloud overshadows the mountain.
It must have looked like a deep fog suddenly came over the mountain.
Thinking about a foggy day or a time you have been to the mountains and a cloud has enveloped the mountain or a time when you were flying and the plane flew into a cloud can help you envision what this must have been like for Peter – James – and John.
The damp air closes in and all the world slips away into a grayness.
Then the voice of God echoes around them saying:
“This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”

Glowing face and clothes
Visits from famous figures of the past
Hovering clouds and heavenly voices …

Wow!

It was so extraordinary – so extra ordinary that when it was all over, and Jesus and Peter and James and John were headed back down the mountain, Jesus told them to “tell no one about what they had seen.”
That made sense.
Who would have believed it anyway?
But the three of them believed it. They had been there, and those moments on that mountain would forever mark their lives and change the way they looked at everything.

Wow

Certain “WOW” moments in our lives have a way of doing that.
They have a way of marking our lives and changing the way we look at everything.

I came across a story of a 33-year-old truck driver by the name of Larry Walters who was sitting in his lawn chair in his backyard one day wishing he could fly – and figured out a way to do so!
Wow!
For as long as he could remember he had wanted to fly but he had never had the time nor money nor opportunity to be a pilot. Hang gliding was out because there was no good place for gliding near his home. So he spent a lot of summer afternoons sitting in his backyard in his ordinary old lawn chair – hoping – wishing – and dreaming.
Then—one day – he devised a scheme. He was going to fly!
He somehow came up with 45 helium-filled surplus weather balloons — and attached them to his chair.
He put a CB radio in his lap, tied a paper bag full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to his leg, and slung a BB-gun over his shoulder to pop the balloons when he wanted to come down. He lifted off in his lawn chair expecting to climb a couple of hundred feet over his neighborhood. But instead he shot up 11,000 feet right through the approach corridor to the Los Angeles International Airport. When he finally decided to come down, he was somewhat of a celebrity.
When asked by the press why he did it, Larry answered: “Well, you can’t just sit there.”
When asked if he was scared, he answered, “Yes…wonderfully so.”

Wow!

Larry Walters will never be the same again after his trip to the mountain in his lawn chair. He has seen things and felt things that will shape the way he lives the rest of his life.

I am sure it was the same with Peter, James and John.
Up on that mountain they had been given nothing less than a glimpse into the future. They saw past the suffering and death of Jesus which Jesus had predicted a few days before — past their doubts — past their fears. For one brief shining moment God had cracked the door to the end of time and they had seen how history would be worked out — their own history and the history of the whole world. And they would never be the same again, having taken that ride.

Wow!

Now — if you had a chance to see how everything was going to turn out in the end, would it affect how you viewed the present?
Of course it would.

I read an article by a hospice chaplain that testified to this.
The chaplain had been at the bedside of many persons who had Near Death Experiences – and reported that most of those who have had Near Death Experiences are not afraid when their death actually occurs.
He relates one particular time a patient’s heart stopped – but aggressive intervention brought his heartbeat back. The chaplain was not there when this happened – but when the chaplain went to see the patient the next day the patient broke into a big grin.
“I’ve seen the light” the patient told the chaplain – then gave a story that coincided with most of the Near Death Experiences the chaplain had heard from others – a bright light – overwhelming sense of peace — and other details that were similar to the Near Death Experiences of others.
This patient had – at one time – directed his doctors to try all means to resuscitate him if his heart stopped. He was terrified of dieing. But after this experience the patient insisted the doctor issue a “Do Not Resuscitate” Order – and make sure it was followed. The patient had to twist the doctor’s arm to get this No Code – but was at peace with the decision. The patient was convinced by the Near Death Experience that death was not something to be avoided.

Wow!

But – you know — not everyone has the kind of WOW experience that can change your perspective and change your life.

You probably remember the TV show “Murphy Brown” that used to come on Monday nights. I don’t remember the real reason for the question – but in one episode the characters were discussing their thoughts or feelings about God. There were different responses from different characters – one was an agnostic — one was a Baptist, and so on. But for me the response of the character Jim stands out. He said he went to church every Sunday with his wife – then commented something on the order of:

“I haven’t had any experience of God. I go to Church because it is obvious to me that the people who attend are experiencing God, and I am hoping that one day I will too.”

Does that sound familiar?
I wonder how many real-life “Jims” there are here today waiting…waiting.
Probably a majority of us!

In fact, I would dare say that most people fit into Jim’s category!

Why?

Why do most people have to wait for their WOW experience?

Well the WOW experience for Peter – James – and John occurred on the mountaintop.
Most of us spend most of our lives in the valley – not on the mountaintop.
Things are different between the two.
If you read ahead a bit in Mark’s gospel, the contrasts are stark.

(Read Mark 9:14-24)

On the mountain, there is an encounter almighty God – in the valley, there are times we – like the disciples — encounter with the demonic.
On the mountain, there is an encounter with faith’s heritage – in the valley, there are times we – like the disciples — encounter those who consider questions of faith as occasions for battle.
On the mountain, God’s calming voice is heard – in the valley, there are times we – like the disciples – hear human argument.
On the mountain, there is a mood for worship — in the valley, there are many times we – like the disciples — are spoiling for a fight.
On the mountain, the glory of God is revealed; in the valley, there are many times we – like the disciples – deal with the power of sin and unbelief .
Maybe your prayer is:

“O Lord, carry me away to the mountain,”

YES, Lord!

But then we remember the place of our ministry is with those who need our help down in the valley.

That being the case, how can we arrange for having those WOW moments — those energizing, even life-changing, mountaintop experiences during the course of our journey – that will strengthen us – – give us a glimpse of the holy – and even let us know that all our work is blessed by God ?

The easy answer is that we cannot!
Sorry.
We have to wait…just like Jim in the “Murphy Brown” episode.

But — if you remember, Peter, James, and John were there with Jesus because they had been invited – there were nine others who were not. I suspect the reason that they were invited while the others were not has something to with the fact that they were ready – while the others were not.

A friend of mine has noted that, when his children were small, he and his wife discovered that there were some words that they could not say at the dinner table. Not that these words were inappropriate or not nice or did not make for good conversation – but the truth was they could not be said because as soon as words like “cookies, candy, or cake,” were said – their children did not want to eat supper any more. My friend observed that the kids knew what “cookies, candy and cake” meant — but did not seem to understand the word “later.” They wanted the dessert right then! Forget the main course! If they were allowed to eat the sweet stuff—my friend observed that they would have no interest in the nutritious stuff – and may have never had a healthy diet.

A mountaintop experience – a WOW experience — is like dessert.
If that is the extent of our spiritual diet, we will be poorly fed.
Our faith will be unhealthy.
We need some preparation before we can truly appreciate the WOW of the mountaintop.

Do you want to be ready for an invitation to the mountaintop?
Let me make a few suggestions.

First, make yourself available.
Peter, James, and John were invited up the slope because they were already in the company of Jesus.
This means that – if we are to have a WOW experience – a mountaintop experience of Jesus – we have to be active in the company of those who follow Jesus – which means being active in the Church. Those who, for whatever reason, choose to absent themselves from the fellowship of the Church will not be ready to respond to the invitation to the top of the mountain where the WOW experience awaits.
So – make yourself available.

Second, learn all you can about your faith tradition.
Sunday School, Bible Studies, personal devotions.
All the surveys indicate that biblical literacy is at a low ebb these days, and going down!
Sad.
The Gospel passage does not tell us how Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah, but they did, and they knew how incredibly important these men were. Had they never heard of them, the moment on the mountain would not have been nearly so special.
So – learn all you can about your faith tradition.

Third, listen to Jesus.
There are only a few times in the gospels that God – or the Voice — speaks – Jesus’ baptism is one such time – another is here at the Transfiguration. When God speaks – He does not mince words.
“This is my son, the Beloved; Listen to Him.”
Listen to Him.
We hear Him as we worship.
Listen to Him.
We hear Him as we study scripture.
Listen to Him. We hear him in the voice of other Christians.
Listen to Him.
It is so easy to listen to other voices to the point of drowning Jesus out.
Listen to Him.
So — listen to Jesus.

Fourth, remember where your work is.
It is in the valley.
The church is the only institution I know of that exists primarily for the sake of those outside it. If we listen to Jesus, we hear him say again, “GO…make disciples.”
So – remember where your work is.

One final suggestion.
If you want to be truly prepared for Christ’s invitation to the mountaintop – to a WOW experience — you need an attitude of joyous expectancy.
When you come to this holy place from week to week, prayerfully begin your trip through the doors ready to have an experience with God.
Don’t come ready to not run into someone you would rather not see –
Don’t come ready to not sing a hymn you don’t know and would rather not learn –
Don’t come ready to mumble through a prayer or a creed without giving it much thought –
Don’t come ready to “suffer through a sermon” that you will not understand or be able to relate to.
No.
Instead – come ready for an experience with God – an experience with Jesus.. an experience that may come in a person – or in a song – or in a prayer – or in a creed – or – maybe – just maybe – even in a sermon.
The older I get the more I realize that attitude is everything!
If the attitude is right, then the invitation for a WOW experience – a mountaintop experience — can come and be received with the joy it deserves.

Five suggestions in preparation for a trip to the mountaintop – five suggestions for preparation for a WOW experience –
make yourself available –
learn all you can about your faith tradition –
listen to Jesus –
remember where your work is –
and finally, attitude.

These might help us be ready when the mountaintop experience – the WOW experience – presents itself!

Amen

MARK 2:1-12

Mark 2:1-12
Faith – Filled Friends
February 19, 2006

The story in our Gospel lesson has always been one of my favorites – but for different reasons at different times in my life.
It was one of my favorites as a child.
The thought of four men chopping a hole in the roof to lower their friend into the house made for an exciting story for me.
It sounded like great fun — standing on the roof and going Chop, Chop, Chop.
Now – the story is a favorite for me because it is –- I believe – a picture of what the Church should – and can be.
Here we have friends helping someone find Jesus – and helping him find healing in both body and spirit when he finds Jesus.
Isn’t that what the Church is all about?

The Biblical story, of course, has a group of people bringing their paralyzed friend to see Jesus. When they got to the house where Jesus was — probably Jesus’ house or Simon’s house — they found a crowd blocking their way. They couldn’t figure out how to get their friend to Jesus, who was in the house.
But they decided to get this job done.
The stakes were too high to let the crowd stop them.
Their paralyzed friend couldn’t hold a job — couldn’t take care of himself — couldn’t go for a walk — couldn’t do anything. His friends knew that Jesus had helped other people, so they thought that he might help their friend. So — when they couldn’t get to Jesus through the crowd, they carried their friend to the roof.

Hearing the story as a child I couldn’t figure out how they did that.
Did they attach ropes to the stretcher and haul him up?
Did a strong man carry him up a ladder?
I decided long ago not to worry about how they did it. It’s one of my questions on a long list of questions I’ll have to wait until I get to heaven to get answers to!
However they did it, they got him to the roof. Then they chopped a large hole in the roof so that they could lower their friend into the house — into Jesus’ presence.

Now –- houses had flat roofs in those days – and the roofs were composed of mud and thatch layered over beams that stretched from wall to wall.
Can’t you imagine what a mess these men made cutting their way through the mud and thatch?
Then they had to cut some of the beams.
I always felt sorry for the homeowner.
I always wondered if he was able to repair the roof so that it didn’t leak.
One more question to add to my list of questions I’ll ask when I get to heaven!

But the paralytic’s life was more important than a roof.
His friends chopped the hole and lowered the man into Jesus’ presence.
That must have impressed the crowd.
It impresses me.
It especially impressed me when I was a little boy hearing this story in Sunday school.

When the man came into Jesus’ presence, Mark tells us that Jesus “saw their faith” and said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now – that may not be the first thing you might expect Jesus to say.
You might expect Jesus to first say something like “Get up and walk” – when the paralytic is lowered through the roof into His presence.
But — He says “your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus was probably using this opportunity to demonstrate His Godly authority — authority not only to heal but also to forgive sins.

But let’s look at what Mark tells us here.
Mark records that:

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic:
“Son, your sins are forgiven.”

The first step in this man’s healing was his friends bringing him to Jesus – going to the trouble of bringing him to the house — taking him to the roof when they needed to – making a hole in the roof to lower him through — and lowering him through the hole in the roof.
All those things that it took to get their friend to Jesus.
The second step in this man’s healing was when Jesus saw their faith –
not HIS faith, but THEIR faith — plural.
It was the faith of the man’s friends as well as his own faith that impressed Jesus.

It was only after the friends brought the man to Jesus –
only after the friends took the man on top of the house – dug the hole through the roof — and lowered him down through the roof –
only after these things that Jesus said,

“Stand up, take your mat and go to your home”

Then – and only then – that Mark says:

The man stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’ ”

I’m sure that was true!

This man’s life was completely changed.
He was redeemed from his sins – and also his paralysis!
He was made whole!
And that happened, not just because of his faith, but also because of the faith of his friends.

This man’s life was restored to him because of the faith of his friends.
It was THEIR faith working alongside HIS faith that made the difference.

I believe it still happens that way today.

Jesus doesn’t call us to faith in isolation from other Christians.
Jesus calls us to faith along with other Christians.
And it is our faith ALONGSIDE the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters that reshapes broken lives — that makes us whole.

And that is what the Church is all about.

That’s why this passage is one of my favorites at this point in my life.
It gives us a picture of what the Church is all about – and what the Church should be.

Let me repeat this point –- because it is important.

Jesus doesn’t call us to faith in isolation from other Christians.
Jesus calls us to faith along with other Christians.
And it is our faith ALONGSIDE the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters that reshapes broken lives — that makes us whole.

And that is what the Church is all about.
That’s why we come together to worship.
That’s why we gather for times of study – fellowship – and service to others.

Again –
Jesus doesn’t call us to faith in isolation from other Christians.
Jesus calls us to faith along with other Christians.
And it is our faith ALONGSIDE the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters that reshapes broken lives — that makes us whole

That’s why it isn’t good enough to sit at home and watch a worship service on television. When there’s ice or snow and we have to cancel worship services – or when you are sick — or if you are home bound sitting at home and watching a worship service on television might suffice – but sitting at home and watching a worship service on TV will never replace worshipping together.
The Christian life isn’t a spectator sport. We need to join with other Christians to worship — to learn — to praise — to serve — to show our love for Christ. When we gather together with other Christians, God gives us a blessing. When we gather together with other Christians, their faith blesses us and our faith blesses them.

Now –the fact that God chooses to bless us not only through our faith but also through the faith of Christian brothers and sisters shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Parents know how important it is for their children to have friends who will lift them up instead of pull them down. It isn’t elitist to encourage children to make friends with children of good character. The character of those around us has an effect on our character.

In much the same way, the faith of those around us has an effect on our faith.

The man who was paralyzed was blessed by his own faith, but he was also blessed by the faith of his friends:
— The faith of friends who were determined to bring him into Jesus’ presence.
— The faith of friends who would not be deterred by the crowds.
— The faith of friends who chopped a hole and lowered the man into Jesus’ presence.

Mark tells us that Jesus saw THEIR faith– not just HIS faith – but THEIR faith — and THEIR faith opened the door to HIS blessing.

I am sure you all can remember people whose faith has been a blessing to you – and who have made in difference in your faith and your life.

I have been blessed to live among Christians all my life, and THEIR faith has made a difference in MY faith – and MY life.

First and foremost I was blessed by the faith of my Mom and Dad.
They were both very active our Church, and my sisters and I were raised to be in Church –- and to take an active part in the life of the Church. They both taught Sunday School and made sure we were there. Dad was on the Session of the Church for years – and served as Clerk of the Session for years. He also was a lay speaker and spoke at many smaller churches in our area. I’m sure part of the reason I love the fellowship and love we share here at Wentworth is due to the fact that I enjoyed as a child going with Dad to some of the smaller churches in our area and enjoying the warmth of fellowship they had. I’m also sure that God used Dad’s commitment to being an active part of the governing bodies of the denomination to instill a sense of the importance of being involved in the life of the church in me.
So – my parent’s faith shaped my faith.
THEIR faith has made a difference in MY faith – and MY life.
There are so many others whose faith has shaped my faith – and shaped my life.

I am sure you all can remember people whose faith has been a blessing to you – and who have made in difference in your faith and your life.
Maybe your parents – maybe your grandparents – maybe teachers – maybe friends – maybe your spouse – people who have touched your life and made a difference in your life.

This is what the Church should be!
A community of Christians gathered to share with each other – bless each other – share God’s love with each other – touch each other with our faith – and make a difference in each other’s lives.

The man who was paralyzed was blessed by his own faith, but he was also blessed by the faith of his friends:
— The faith of friends who were determined to bring him into Jesus’ presence.
— The faith of friends who would not be deterred by the crowds.
— The faith of friends who chopped a hole and lowered the man into Jesus’ presence

And that is what the Church is all about.

That’s why we come together to worship.
That’s why we gather for times of study – fellowship – and service to others.
Jesus doesn’t call us to faith in isolation from other Christians.
Jesus calls us to faith along with other Christians.
And it is our faith ALONGSIDE the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters that reshapes broken lives — that makes us whole.

In her book, The Art of Life, Edith Schaeffer talks about her life as a little girl. Her mother would say, “Edith, I know just who you’ve been playing with today.” Her mother meant that Edith would pick up the friend’s mannerisms and gestures — even the friend’s accent. Her mother could watch and listen and then tell Edith exactly who she had been playing with that day. Edith says:

“Children often copy other children quite unconsciously.
So do adults.
We are affected by the people we spend time with,
in one way or another.”

It seems to me that there are a couple of things that we can learn from this.

One is that we can receive a blessing or not from the faith or lack of faith of our friends.
We can be blessed by their faith– by their upright character — by their moral integrity – or we can be “pulled down” by their lack of faith – their questionable character – their lack of integrity.
We can be blessed as their faith causes us to grow in faith — as their influence pulls us in the right direction – or “pulled down” as their lack of faith leads us in the wrong directions.

What that means, of course, is that we need to choose our friends wisely — that we need to spend time with people whose influence will pull us up instead of down.

And the other thing is to realize that our faith can be a blessing to other people.
Our character and moral integrity can make a difference to those around us.
We can pull other people up or drive them down by the quality of our faith — by the quality of our lives.
We need to live so that we pull people up instead of driving them down.

The man who was paralyzed was blessed by his own faith, but he was also blessed by the faith of his friends:
— The faith of friends who were determined to bring him into Jesus’ presence.
— The faith of friends who would not be deterred by the crowds.
— The faith of friends who chopped a hole and lowered the man into Jesus’ presence

And that is what the Church is all about.

That’s why we come together to worship.
That’s why we gather for times of study – fellowship – and service to others.
Jesus doesn’t call us to faith in isolation from other Christians.
Jesus calls us to faith along with other Christians.
And it is our faith ALONGSIDE the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters that reshapes broken lives — that makes us whole.

Harry Emerson Fosdick was a preacher from an earlier day. On one occasion, he visited a European art gallery where a statue of Apollo was on display. Apollo was the Greek god of youth, and was supposed to embody physical perfection. The statue in that gallery was, indeed, the statue of a handsome physical specimen. Fosdick observed the statue, and then stood back to observe the crowd. He later commented that it was interesting to see the people’s reaction to the beautiful statue. He said that invariably, the people would gaze at the statue for a moment observe it’s wonderful and immaculate proportions of the body and superb stature — and then they would begin to straighten up.

We can surround ourselves with friends that “straighten us up” so to speak instead of “bringing us down.”
We can make sure that we are the type of people that others can look at and be “straightened up” instead of “brought down”.

When friends brought the paralyzed man to Jesus, he saw THEIR faith — not just HIS faith but THEIR faith — and he gave the man a blessing — a healing.

That’s what the Church is to be about. A place where we can come – and others can come – and be surrounded by the faith of others – and be blessed.

Let’s let God make this Church a blessing – so it can be a place where we can come – and others can come – and be surrounded by the faithful friends – and be blessed.

Let us surround ourselves with people of faith so that we might straighten up and stand a little taller because of their influence on our lives.
And then let us live lives of faith so that others who observe us will straighten up and stand a little taller because of our influence on their lives.

Amen

MARK 1:40-45

Mark 1:40-45
Choices
February 12, 2006

There may be times in your life when you may feel that you are “stuck” –
“stuck” with things that may happen to you –
“stuck” with how you may think you “have to” respond to things that happen to you – or “stuck” with how you may think you “have to” respond to people when they may do something to you that upsets you or hurts you.

Maybe something horrible happens to you – and you feel we have to respond to it by getting upset or angry.
Maybe something upsets you – and you may feel you have no choice but to get angry.
Maybe someone says something or does something that hurts you – and you feel you have no choice but to lash out at them – respond to them in a way that makes them hurt the same way you are.
Maybe something happens that makes others look down on you – and you feel you have no choice but to sulk and withdraw from the rest of the world and feel sorry for yourself.

Maybe you feel “stuck” a lot of times – “stuck” with the way you relate to things that happen to you or the people around you.
You may not like the way you respond to the things that happen to you or the people around you – but you feel you have no choice – you feel “stuck”.

Coretta Scott King – who died the week before last – had every right to feel “stuck”.
Born and raised in rural Alabama – she saw first hand how people treated blacks. Segregated from the whites – not allowed at the same schools – not allowed to take advantage of the same opportunities whites were allowed to take advantage of – she knew what it felt like to be looked down upon and be considered “less than” others.
She could have accepted that – like so many others did.
Or she could have hated it – but felt there was nothing she could have done about it – like so many others did.
Or she could have reacted with violence – like some others did.

She could have felt that she was “stuck” with these 3 options – accepting the fact she was thought of as “less than” others – hating it but feeling there was nothing she could do about it – or reacting to it with violence.

But – she chose to create another way to respond to the fact that she and her people were treated as “less than” others.
She read the writings of nonviolent resistance by people like Mohandas Gandhi – and dedicated her life to working for change – but in a peaceful way. When she met Martin Luther King, Jr. she taught him about how changes can be made for their people – and how it could be done through peaceful means. Together Martin and Coretta worked for change – and even after Martin was killed Coretta continued to work for equality for all people.

Instead of feeling “stuck” in the old ways of responding to how she and her people were treated – Coretta chose a new way – a different way – and changes came.

My Dad was “on the other side of the fence” from Martin and Coretta in many ways – but he, too, worked for change.

A white male in South Carolina – he could have looked down on all blacks – especially those like Martin and Coretta who were working for a change in the status quo.
In the early 1960’s Dad was a Municipal Court Judge in Rock Hill, SC. Some students at the local black college decided they would sit in at the lunch counter at the local Woolworth store. This of course was not the sit in in Greensboro, NC that gathered national attention – but was one like it.
The students were refused service – and arrested when they refused to leave.
Dad was the Judge that heard their case.
You have to understand that all a Judge can do is uphold the law – – not change it.
You also have to understand that the law in South Carolina at that time clearly stated that an owner of a business had the right to refuse service to anyone – for any reason — request anoyne to leave — for any reason — and have the people arrested for not leaving when asked to do so.
Dad had no choice at the time but to rule that Woolworth’s had the right to refuse service to the students — ask them to leave — and have them arrested when they did not leave.
That’s what the law said.
But then Dad got his friends in the state legislature to help him get the law changed.
Before long most of the “Jim Crow” laws in South Carolina were changed.

Dad could have let the prevailing opinions about black people stay in the laws. He could have let himself be “stuck” with laws he did not agree with. Instead, he chose to get them changed.

Maybe you feel “stuck” a lot of times – “stuck” with the way you relate to things that happen to you or the people around you.
You may not like the way you respond to the things that happen to you or the people around you – but you feel you have no choice – you feel “stuck”.

But people like Coretta Scott King and my Dad are proof that we have choices – can make choices – do not have to be “stuck” with the old ways of doing things or relating to people – but can indeed choose new ways to respond to things that happen in our lives and situations we find ourselves in – new ways to respond to other people – new ways to live our lives.

Our Gospel passage before us today is about choosing to respond to situations and people in a way that is different than what was the normal way.

The leper in the passage had every right to feel angry – angry at life – angry at others –- angry at his situation. He had the dreaded skin disease – leprosy – that for Jewish people was less of a disease than it was a form of ritual impurity. A leper was banished from towns – had to live in colonies – and could not associate with others. If they left the colony they had to yell “Unclean! Unclean!” to warn people not to come near them.

So – the leper indeed had every right to feel angry – angry at his situation – angry that he was not allowed to be with his family – angry that everyone avoided him.
But instead of letting himself get “stuck” in this way of responding to what had happened to him –- he chose to respond in a different way. He chose to seek healing from Jesus. Regardless of how others felt about him – regardless of how Jesus might have become upset at him for approaching him – he chose to seek healing. Others may have chosen to stay the way they were – he was going to seek a way out.

So he approached Jesus.

“If you will, you can make me clean” he begged Jesus.
He had seen Jesus heal others – and knew Jesus could heal him, also.

“If you will, you can make me clean”

He knew Jesus could heal him.
He also knew Jesus could condemn him for approaching him and remind him that the laws said he had to stay in the colony and not come into the public.

“If you will, you can make me clean”

The leper chose to go against the norm – to try not to be “stuck” in old patterns of responding to the fact that he had leprosy.
Jesus, too, had to make a decision.
Was he going to going to let himself get “stuck” in the old ways of relating to people with leprosy – or was he going to create a new way – a more loving way – a way that would show God’s love to this man asking for help?

“If you will, you can make me clean” Jesus heard the leper say.

And Jesus looked at him – and responded to him in a new way – a way that was different from the ways others had.
Jesus responded with love.
Jesus responded with caring.
Jesus responded with showing the leper the love of God.

“I will. Be clean.” Jesus responded.

The leper chose to not respond to his disease like other lepers did.
Jesus chose to not respond to the leper like other people did.
Coretta Scott King chose to not respond to racism as others did.
My Dad chose to not respond to the laws of South Carolina as others did.

Maybe you feel “stuck” a lot of times – “stuck” with the way you relate to things that happen to you or the people around you.
You may not like the way you respond to the things that happen to you or the people around you – but you feel you have no choice – you feel “stuck”.

Not true.

We are never “stuck” with one way to react to things in our lives – we are never “stuck” with one way to relate to people – but we have choices. We can choose how we are going to react to situations in our lives and to people.
We can choose to give up to situations that hurt us – maybe diseases or illnesses that make life hard for us – or we can choose not to give up – and find a way to let God bless us and give us new hope and new energy – and help us change our circumstances.
We can choose to accept things that happen to us – even if they are hurting us – or we can choose to make a change – and let God show us a new way to live.
We can choose to sulk when someone hurts us with actions or words – or we treat them with kindness and love – regardless of how they treat us.
We can choose to react with anger when someone hurts us with actions or words – or we can choose to treat them with kindness and love – regardless of how they treat us.

We can choose to react to situations in our lives like Coretta Scott King and the leper in our passage – choosing to let God work through us to create change – for us and for others.

We can choose to react to people in the same old ways that others do – or we can choose to react in a positive, loving way.
We can choose to look at those who are in need – sick – hungry – dieing – homeless – whatever their need might be – in the way some others do – with scorn and putting them down – or we can choose to reach out to them and work for a change in their situations.

We have choices.
We can choose how we are going to respond to situations in our lives and to people we see every day.

Victor Frankl was a German Jewish Psychologist who was put in a Concentration Camp in World War II. He survived – and after the war began teaching about his experiences and how he survived them.
He explained that he saw many people give up hope and die – many committed suicide before the Germans could kill them. They chose, he explained, to react to what was happening to them by giving up hope and giving up.
Others, however, chose to not let what was happening to them kill them – or kill their spirits.

“We can not change many of the things that happen to us” Frankl taught –
“but we can choose how we react to them.”

We can not change many of the things that happen to us
but we can choose how we react to them.

I can not change many of the things that happen to me
But I can choose how I will react to them.

We have choices.

Like Coretta Scott King.
Like my Dad.
Like the leper.
Like Jesus.
Like Frankl.

We do not have to be “stuck” with reacting to things that happen to us in the same way – but can find ways out of situations with God’s help and strength. We can choose to not let situations destroy our spirits – but can let God help us overcome them.
We do not have to be “stuck” with treating others in the same old ways – but can choose to find new ways – ways of love and support – ways of God.

Maybe you are finding yourself in a difficult – even uncomfortable – situation right now.
You can choose to bring it to God – and let God give you the strength you need to live in it – and maybe even change it.
Maybe others are doing things that hurt you – or saying things that are hurting you.
You can choose to take that pain to God – and instead of responding to them with anger you can show them love.

I have to remind myself of Victor Frankl’s statement time and again.

I can not change many of the things that happen to me
But I can choose how I will react to them.

This is on your bulletin cover for today.
Let’s read it together.

I can not change many of the things that happen to me
But I can choose how I will react to them.

You might want to take that home with you and keep it somewhere where you can see it when things don’t go as you would have to go.

We do indeed have choices of how we react to situations and people.
Let’s try to choose to react with God’s love – making a difference when we can – and showing love when we can’t.

We have choices.

Amen.

MARK 1:29-39

MARK 1:29-39FEBRUARY 5, 2006
“KEEP YOU EYE ON THE BALL”

This being Super Bowl Sunday, sports is on the minds of many people – maybe some of you.

Maybe some of you have stories you can tell of when you played sports.
Stories of accomplishments on the field.
Stories of times you won a game for the team.

My stories of when I played sports are not all that impressive.
I have never been that great of an athlete.
I have tried – but have usually not done so well.
Concentration was usually my problem – along with poor eye to hand coordination. I would swing at a ball long before it got to me – or long after it had reached the catcher’s mitt.
I remember one time I played on a baseball team. I played in the outfield where the coach thought there would be the least chance of my getting hurt – or hurting the team. I remember one game my team was getting beat badly – the pitcher having a rough time of it – and an inning seemed like an eternity. I finally got so bored I sat down in the field. Needless to say I did not play for that team very much any more!

Concentrating on the game is one thing one who plays team sports needs to do.
“Keep your eye on the ball” they say.
Concentration.
The ability to focus.

These are things needed of people who play sports.
These are things needed of people in everyday life, also.

We would think that Jesus would be able to concentrate and focus on the task at hand, also – but the Gospel passage before us this morning is a story that – at first glance – may look like Jesus was not able to focus or concentrate on the tasks at hand.

Jesus has healed many people – including Peter’s mother in law and many more – and many are wanting to see Him — but instead of reveling in His success He moves on.

I don’t know about you – but if I had the amount of success Jesus had – I would be tempted to stay in the place where I had experienced success – not move on to somewhere else where success is not guaranteed.
It defies human logic – goes against our way of thinking – to achieve great success and then move on instead of “cashing in” on it.

But instead of “cashing in” – so to speak — on His great success – instead of staying where He had gained a great amount of popularity in a very shore amount of time — Jesus moves on.

There’s an old saying that comes to mind when I consider what the disciples might have thought about Jesus as He healed crowds of people and then went elsewhere instead of sticking around to make something out of his newfound congregation.

“He doesn’t have the sense that God gave a goose.”

I don’t know where that saying came from, but it suggests that geese don’t have much sense — and that some people have even less.

That might be what the disciples thought.

Jesus came to Capernaum. He attended the synagogue and drove out a demon. He went to Simon’s house and healed Simon’s mother-in-law. The people flocked to him so that he might heal them. He healed lots of people, and the crowd couldn’t get enough of Him or what He was doing.
And then, just as he had them eating out of his hand – just when He was so popular He could have spent a lot of time there and had an extremely successful ministry — He went off to a deserted place to pray.

Of course, I would be the last person to criticize anyone for praying.
We might think that Jesus would not require prayer. But Jesus gave out spiritual energy all day every day, so he needed time for renewal — time alone with the Father — opportunity to recharge his spiritual batteries so that he could face the challenges that he encountered every time he entered a new town.

But His disciples lost patience with Jesus.
He was AWOL – so to speak – as far as they were concerned.
Absent – and they did not know where He was.
How dare He leave in the midst of such success?
Where did He go?
They began searching for him. In verse 36 the NRSV says that they “hunted” for him. A good translation of the original Greek. That word is katedioxen. That is the word that would be used to speak of hunting animals. It was as if the disciples had gone on a manhunt looking for Jesus — trying to figure out where he went — searching everywhere to find him.
They finally found him in a lonely place — all by himself — praying — seemingly oblivious to the crowds clamoring for his attention back in Capernaum.
This might have been when the disciples began to wonder if Jesus had the sense that God gave a goose.
This might have been when they had trouble believing that Jesus had gotten the people so stirred up and had then walked out on them.
It didn’t make sense. They had marveled at Jesus’ teachings –and everyone was in awe of His healing power — but the disciples silently wondered what Jesus was doing out here in the middle of nowhere when they thought he was needed back in Capernaum!

I can imagine how they felt.
Can’t you?

Jesus had raised people’s expectations — and then had disappeared.
With nobody else to turn to, I am sure that the people turned to the disciples. As far as we know there were only four of them at this point — Peter, Andrew, James, and John. But what could they do? They didn’t know how to handle these crowds. They didn’t know how to heal the sick. They had only recently begun to follow Jesus, and they certainly weren’t qualified to stand in for him. I’m sure that the disciples were feeling the pressure — that they were mystified and angry when Jesus disappeared — when He walked off and left them holding the bag.

When they found him, they said
“Everyone is searching for you.”

Maybe they really wanted to say:
“What’s the matter with you Jesus!
Everyone’s searching for you.
Come on!
Let’s get back to town!
Let’s take care of business!
This is not the time for prayer – it’s the time for action!
Come on!”

Maybe they also wanted to say:
“Furthermore, don’t do that again! Don’t leave us alone! Don’t get the crowds all stirred up and then disappear. It’s not fair! It’s not fair to them — and it’s certainly not fair to us!”

But – what did Jesus do?
Did He apologize and go back to town – back to where He had a great ministry started – back to where He was wildly popular?

No.

Jesus would have none of that.
Instead He answered:

“Let us go on to the neighboring towns,
so that I may proclaim the message there also;
for that is what I came out to do.”

The disciples were probably stunned by this.
They may have wanted to respond:
“But what about all these people who are searching for you, Jesus? They want to see you. Everyone wants to talk to you. There are people who need healing — and there is a young man who wants to be your disciple — there’s a rich man who wants to build you a synagogue. You don’t need to travel all over Galilee, Jesus. There are more opportunities right here in Capernaum than you can shake a stick at — opportunities to last a lifetime!”

Another old phrase comes to mind at this point:
“Let’s strike while the iron is hot!”
In other words:
“Let’s take advantage of this opportunity! Let’s not let this one slip through our fingers!”

But Jesus said:

“Let us go on to the neighboring towns,
so that I may proclaim the message there also;
for that is what I came out to do.”

“That is what I came out to do.”
“That is what I came out to do.”

One way to put it is that Jesus “had his eye on the ball.”
He was focused – – but not on the things that seemed important – but on the thing that was most important.
He did not let His immediate popularity – or the opinions of the disciples – keep Him from focusing on the most important thing.

He kept His eye on the ball, so to speak.

Keep your eye on the ball
Concentrate
Keep your eye on the ball.

A baseball player who keeps his eye on the ball is more apt to hit it – or catch it – than one who does not.
A basketball player who keeps his eye on the ball is more apt to get a rebound than one who glances away.
A tennis player who keeps their eye on the ball is more apt to hit it than one who gets distracted.
Have you ever tried to hit a golf ball when you suddenly take your eyes off it? You usually get more dirt than ball that way!
A football player who keeps his eye on the ball is more apt to catch it than one who becomes distracted. Some of the best players in the game have dropped passes because they took their eyes off the ball –- and some of the best players of the game have not reached the goal because they became distracted.
One of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history was a flop. A runner broke loose and was heading to the goal line – but as he neared it he slowed down to “show off” for the TV cameras – stuck the ball out to make a “pretty picture” – and one of the opposing players came up from behind him – hit the ball and jarred it loose – and recovered the fumble. Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory – because the runner did not keep his “eye on the ball” – did not focus on the task at hand.
If you watch the Super Bowl this afternoon, you might see a lot of examples of what happens when a player keeps his eyes on the ball – and what happens when they don’t!

Jesus – in a manner of speaking — had His eye on the ball.
He did not get bored with what He was supposed to be doing – as I did out there in the field playing baseball.
He did not lose His concentration on what was really important.
He stayed focused.
He “kept His eye on the ball” so to speak.

“That is what I came out to do,” He said.

What was it that he came to do?
He goes on to explain that He came to preach — to proclaim the message to the neighboring towns.
And what message was that?
The good news of God – of salvation – of God’s love that – through Him – had come into the world.

So – instead of not having the sense that God gave a goose –
Instead of not taking care of business –
Instead of not striking when the iron was hot –

Jesus was using plenty of sense –
Jesus was taking care of His business —
Jesus was keeping His eye on the ball – keeping His concentration on what God had called Him to do – and was not letting anyone divert His attention from what He knew was His task.

He “kept His eye on the ball”.
He stayed focused on what was the most important thing before Him.
He stayed focused on what God has sent Him to do – regardless of what others wanted Him to do.

He “kept His eye on the ball”.

There is a lesson here for us.

We, as Christ’s people, have a lot of things we need to be doing.

What is to be our first priority?
What is that thing we should not take our eyes off of?

Our relationship with God.

Jesus did not let anything distract Him from His relationship with God.
In the midst of great popularity Jesus pulled away to pray – to nurture His relationship with God. When He did this, He discovered what He was called to do — and did not let His popularity or the opinions of the disciples keep Him from this.

Keep your eye on the ball.
Stay focused.
Stay focused on your relationship with God – and this will make it clear to you what God would have You to be doing.

Keep your eye on the ball.
Stay focused.
Find time every day to pray – to be in conversation with God – and to let God be in conversation with you about what you can be doing for His glory in the world.

Keep your eye on the ball.
Stay focused.
This will help you understand what are the most important things God wants you to be doing.
It may not be what others may want you to do – it may not be what others feel is important – but it will be what God deems important and what God wants you to do.

Keep your eye on the ball.
Stay focused.
Don’t let things take your concentration away from this.
Don’t let things distract you from this.
Don’t take your “eye off the ball”!

A colleague tells of a funeral he conducted for a member of his congregation. This man was very successful – made a lot of money – and he shared most of what he made with others. He had given a lot of money to a local orphanage, helped pay for a lot of kids to go to college, and had supported the local mission that helped those in need. Many people wanted to know how he had been so successful – and how he had done so much for so many. At his funeral his wife made a comment that my colleague said gave the man’s secret –

She said that not a day went by that he had not prayed before he left the house for the day.

This – my colleague said – is what helped him stay focused on what God wanted him to do.

When the disciples found Jesus He said that He had to do what He had come to do – what God had in mind for Him to do.
He “kept His eyes on the ball” – He stayed focused on what God would have Him to be doing.

We can do that, also.

Keep your eye on the ball.

Amen.