Being There

§ May 19th, 2013 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

Grace and peace to you from God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who is in us and with us now and always. Let all of God’s people say, Amen.

“Little children, I am with you only a little longer.
You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you,
“Where I am going, you cannot come.”

We’ve all been there before.
So, what do we say?
What do we tell our little ones when we are the one that’s going away?
What were we told when we were the little one?

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is the one who will soon be going away.
As our reading picks up, Judas Iscariot,
the one who betrayed him to the leaders of the people,
has left Jesus and his fellow disciples in the upper room,
and gone out to see to it himself.
Later that evening, he will lead them out with clubs and swords to arrest him,
and well, the rest is history.

And of course, he knows it.
Jesus knows that soon, he will be taken away from them, and for a time,
They will be on their own.

So, what are Jesus’ parting words to his disciples?
What instructions does he leave them with?

“I give you a new commandment, he says, that you love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is urging his disciples to love one another,
Because In just a few hours, he will no longer be there to see to it himself.
He will no longer be there to love and care for them himself.

And I think I know a little something about the way Jesus is feeling
as he makes this heartfelt appeal to them.

In less than a month, I’ll be going away too, for a time,
three months to be precise.
In less than a month, I’ll be leaving the ones I love too,
the ones I’ve shared love and life and ministry with everyday now for almost six years,
Which is to say, in less than a month, I’ll be leaving all of you for a time.
And that’s not as easy as you might think.
And it isn’t easy for Jesus either.

Think about it.

Jesus is there for us all the time,
And especially there for us here, every week in word and sacrament.
And as we all know, that’s no small or insignificant thing.
It’s no small or insignificant thing that our Lord comes to us
whenever and wherever God’s people come together around word and sacrament.
It’s no small or insignificant thing that Christ is really present with us
in, with and under the bread and wine of the Eucharist,
and whenever or wherever two or more of us are gathered in his name.
But even so, it’s not the same as the incarnation.
Its’ not the same as his being there, being here with us in the flesh, is it?

Even God knows and recognizes this.
And it’s out of this knowledge, and this recognition,
that our Lord himself experienced while he was in the flesh,
that his instructions flow out to us today.

Even in it’s completeness as God’s real presence with us,
and the means by which his grace flows into us,
Gods’ word and sacrament only leaves us wanting more,
hungering and thirsting for more of him,
anticipating that great day when we will know him, no longer in part, but in full,
even as we have been fully known.
Anyone who has ever had a long distance relationship with someone they love
knows exactly what I’m talking about.
As it says in the song I sang for Randy and Peg a couple of weeks ago,
Entitled, The Impossible Dream,
there is a certain kind of exquisite bliss that comes in loving a person
“pure and chaste from afar,”
but ultimately, the effect it has on us is only to make more exquisite
that moment when the distance between us completely evaporates.
That’s the moment we experience as truly sublime, isn’t it?

So, with all this in mind,
how do we live out this new commandment to love one another as he has loved us?

Well, as you no doubt already know, there are many, many ways
for us to live out Christ’s love for one another.
And we do. WE do it all the time in ways both large and small.
IN fact, one might argue that there are no small ways to live it out.
But today, I want you to recognize the importance of being there for one another,
being there for one another in thought and in prayer, yes,
But also and more to the point today,
being there for one another in the flesh,
being there for one another like Jesus was there for Peter and the other disciples
before they came and took him away.
That’s the missing piece now, isn’t it?

Jesus can be and is there for us in many ways,
But he’s counting on us being there for one another in the flesh.
He’s counting on us to be his body, the body of Christ, for each other and for the world.
And when we do, he promises to be there too in us.

I know, it’s ironic that I would be sharing a message with you
about being there for each other
when I’m preparing not to be there for you for three months.
But part of the reason for that is that for the past six years, I have been there for you.
And the other part is, I want to continue to be there for you.
In fact, while I’m away, I’m going to spend a lot of time meditating and reflecting on
Ways in which I and we as a faith community,
can grow in our Christian love for one another.
when I return I want to help lead us all into deeper and, more loving ways
of being there for one another.

In the meantime, I’m asking you to continue to be there for one another while I’m gone,
Especially here in worship, and at all the other congregational meetings and activities
that are going to take place over the summer while I’m on sabbatical.
That’s one huge way that you can continue to love me and one another while I’m away.

Stay together by getting together right here every week,
and whenever your presence is requested.
It will mean a lot to me to know that you’re all still here being there for each other.
And more importantly, it will mean a lot to you who are still here.
Be there for one another.
Love one another as Christ has loved you.
Amen.

The Last Word

§ April 28th, 2013 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

The joke for this Easter Sunday is entitled, “The Last Word.”

A man’s pet canary dies, but he’s not sure if it really is dead.
So, by chance that it isn’t, he brings it to the vet.
The man lays it on the examination table, the vet takes a quick look at it and says,
“Yup, it’s dead.”
The man says, “But doctor, are you sure?”
The vet gives the man a look and then walks out of the room.
Moments later, he returns carrying an old Tom cat.
He places it on the table next to the bird, and the old Tom cat sniffs one side
and then walks around and sniffs the other.
Than he looks at the man and at the doctor and lies down.
Then the doctor takes the cat and disappears into the back room again.
A few moments later, he brings a dog out, a black Lab.
The dog stands up and puts his paws on the edge of the examination table,
sniffs at the air.
Then he gets down, walks around to the other side of the table and does the same thing.
Then the dog looks at the man and at the doctor ans shakes his head.
Then The doctor puts him back on the leash and leads him away into the back room.
When the doctor reappears, he looks at the man and says,
“Sir, “As I said before, your bird is dead. I’m sorry.”
Finally satisfied, the man says, “Yes, doctor, I guess you’re right.
Now, what do I owe you?”
The doctor looks at the slip of paper in his hand and says, “$2500.”
“You’re kidding, the man gasps, $2500 just to tell me my bird is dead?”
Well, the doctor replies, usually it’s only $25,
but that was before you insisted on the cat scan and the lab test.”

Speaking of having the last word,
to assist couples preparing for marriage, I offer them a series of conversation starters called, “Getting To Know You.”
It begins with a few questions about courtship, such as,
“How did the two of you meet?”
“What initially attracted you to each other?”
“What attracts you to each other now?”

Then, it offers some questions related to family of origin, such as,
“What, if any, affection was shown in your home?”
“Where the words” I forgive you” or, “I love you’ ever spoken?”
And, did you ever overhear your parents speaking them to each other?”

And then, a few questions with regard to household management such as,
How were household chores divided?
“How were important decisions made?
And then, we come to the question of the day.
ON those rare occasions when there wasn’t complete agreement,
Who in your house had the last word?

Invite folks to take a few moments to share their response to this question
with their next door neighbor.
ON those rare occasions when there wasn’t complete agreement,
Who in your house had the last word?

Bring folks back together.
I don’t know who had the last word at your house,
But what I hear is, it varied
depending on the area of family life in question.
If it was a routine decision involving the children,
mom typically had the last word.
Whereas, if it was a routine decision involving the car or the plumbing or the roof,
It was dad who typically had the last word.
And if it wasn’t a routine decision.
If it was a major decision, say a major decision involving family finances, then what?

Well, that’s why I always ask the question.

IF you’re seriously considering joining your life to someone else’s,
then maybe you have a vested interest in knowing who will have the last word,
And of even more interest to you would be to know what that last word is going to be.
Now wouldn’t that be something worth knowing before you say, I do?

And what about your work life, or your business life,
or any other significant part of your life?
What if you could know what the last word was going to be in those arenas too?
Would you be interested?

So, who’s got it?
Who has that last word over your life, And how are you with that?
Are you comfortable with it?
And if you’re not, why is that?
Isn’t it because you really don’t know what it is,
and you’re afraid of what it might be?

If you’re not completely comfortable with where you stand today,
Just imagine how Jesus must have felt
when he stood before the one who had the last word over his life.
Just imagine how Jesus felt standing before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate
and the angry crowd that kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Or maybe it wasn’t Pilate?
Maybe his wasn’t the last word to be feared.
Maybe it was the final word of death itself.
Wasn’t it death that really had the last word over his life?

And isn’t that what a lot of people today believe?
Isn’t that why they treasure the thought of having the last word over their lives now?
Isn’t that why they’re so desperate to get their hands on as much as they can,
So they can do as much as they can, as soon as they can?
Isn’t it because for them, this life is all there is, and the fact is,
it’s getting shorter with each tick of the clock?
Tick, tick, tick.

Whether they believe it or not, it seems to me that many people are living
as if death has the last word over their lives.
Isn’t that why they’re in such a hurry?
Isn’t that why they’re so anxious, so impatient, so angry,
and so stressed out all the time?
Isn’t it because they think this life is all there is?

But here’s the good news for us today.
None of that nonsense is really necessary, because death doesn’t have the last word.
It doesn’t have the last word for Jesus, for us or anyone else,
Or at least, it doesn’t have to.

Hear it again in the words of the Apostle Paul.
“If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.
For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being;
for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.”

For those who have found their way in Christ Jesus, death does not have the last word.
That’s the good news that we are all here today to proclaim, and celebrate, and rejoice in, and above all, to carry out of here,
Back out into that world where there are so many people living as if it did.
That’s the good news we have to show and tell them, isn’t it?
That now, because of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus,
we don’t have to live that way any more and neither do they.

When it comes to that last word, that last word over our earthly life,
we can relax and take it easy, because we know everything is going to be all right,
Because we not only know who it is that has that last word,
we already know what it’s going to be.
It is almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who has the last word over our lives,
and that last word is, “Resurrection.”

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Now, I’m going to come around full circle on this question
As to who it is that has the last word over your earthly life,
because as it turns out, it may not actually be God after all.
It may be you.

Let me explain.
God has shown us and told us everything we need to know.
God has said and done it all for us in Jesus Christ,
But the final choice is ours.
God has made himself known to us in Jesus Christ,
and God has shown us what his last word for us is,
But God has left us with the freedom to choose.
So, what’s it going to be?
Either we can choose to believe that death has the last word,
and allow that word to dominate our lives,
And don’t scoff at this, because this is exactly the choice that many people have made,
Or we can choose to believe the word of life that we have heard proclaimed here today, and allow that word to set our hearts and minds and spirits free
from all of that other crazy, anxious, desperate nonsense.
That’s the choice we have before us today and everyday.
Think about that when you wake up tomorrow.

The way you live today is your choice.
You have the last word.
SO, my message to you today is simply this, Choose the way of life.”
Choose to believe the good news of the resurrection and live, not just now but forever.
Believe, just believe. That’s all it takes.
Amen.

Imitating Jesus

§ March 17th, 2013 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

As the skit opens, Sebastian is standing on a podium imitating Paul
when Ludwig comes along.

Sebastian: Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have
in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and
now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.
Ludwig: Sebastian, what in the world is you doing?
Sebastian: O hi, Ludwig. What do you mean? Can’t you see? I’m imitating Paul.
Ludwig: The apostle Paul?
Sebastian: Yes! Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me! (TO Ludwig) How am I doing?
Ludwig: Actually, you make a very fine Paul, Sebastian.
Sebastian: (Excitedly) I do?
Ludwig: Yes, for a crab.
What do you mean, for a crab?
Ludwig: Well, Sebastian, you are a crab. And the apostle Paul, well, he was a man/
Sebastian: Aw shucks! I knew it. It’s the eyes, isn’t it. I mean, they’re too beady, right?
Ludwig: No, no, no, Sebastian: It’s not your eyes. Your eyes look just fine. Its’ something else.
Sebastian: Something else? Like what?
Ludwig: It’s the way you’re trying to imitate him?
Sebastian: Really? What’s wrong with the way I’m trying to imitate him? I’m giving it everything I’ve got. Stand firm, my beloved!
Ludwig: Ya, but you’re just imitating Paul’s words. The real apostle Paul was a man of action!
Sebastian: Really?
Ludwig: Ya. Paul didn’t just stand on a podium and preach about Jesus. He went out and tried to live like Jesus.
Sebastian: You mean, Paul tried to imitate Jesus?
Ludwig: Ya.
Sebastian: Then why am I wasting my time trying to imitate Paul? I should be trying to imitate Jesus. Wait right here. I’ll be right back.
Ludwig: (Covering his eyes) Oh no. I’m afraid to look.
(Sebastian exits and returns carrying a shepherd’s crook.)
Sebastian: Well, Ludwig, how do I look?
Ludwig: Do you want the truth, Sebastian?
Sebastian: Yeah, yeah. How do I look?
Ludwig: Well, (bleeting like a sheep) not baaad. Get it Sebastian? Not Baad!
Sebastian: Very funny, Ludwig, very funny.
THE END
Close with a prayer for God to help us to live like Jesus lived, to love like Jesus loved,
And… to laugh like Jesus laughed. Amen.
Ask the children if they ever imagined Jesus laughing.
Show them the portrait of Jesus laughing.

Expect The Expected

§ March 17th, 2013 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

IN the Introduction to This Sunday, it states,
“God often reveals his glory where and when it is least expected.”
A similar statement is also true.
God doesn’t always reveal his glory where or when some people most expect it.
Today’s Gospel Reading presents us with a case in point.

When Jesus arrives in his hometown, his reputation has preceded him.
They had heard from others what he had done at Capernaum.
Those things are not mentioned here in Luke’s Gospel,
But if we turn back to Mark chapter 2 and 3, we can read about them there.

First, he healed a paralytic who had been lowered down to him on a mat
through the roof of a house where he was teaching.
“Take up your mat and walk!” he had said to the man.
And to the astonishment of the Scribes and the Pharisees, and the great crowd
that had gathered in the house to hear him, he did.

Then, he entered the synagogue there and saw a man with a withered hand.
He called the man forward and said, “Stretch out your hand!”
And to the astonishment of all gathered in the synagogue that day, he did.

Mark’ sums up the things Jesus did in Capernaum by saying,
While he was there, he cured many, and all who had diseases pressed in on him
to touch him, that they too might be healed.”

So, when Jesus arrives in Nazareth, the people there are expecting miracles too.
There is an expectation that he will also do there in his hometown
the things that they have heard he did at Capernaum.
After all, Nazareth was his hometown.
They had known him since he was so high (gesturing with my hand).
They were his family, his neighbors, and his friends.
They had helped raise him.
But, he doesn’t.
Jesus doesn’t do what the hometown folks expect, not this time.
Instead, Jesus reminds them of a time or two when the glory of God
wasn’t revealed where it was most expected,
but where it was least expected,
not to any of the widows and lepers in Israel,
not to any of God’s chosen ones,
but to one pagan widow in Psidon and one pagan leper in Syria.

“God works in mysterious ways. His wonders to perform.”

Sometimes, the glory of God is revealed where and when
we would most expect it to be revealed,
And sometimes, where and when we would least expect it to be revealed.
It’s not always predictable, or as predictable as we would like it to be. Amen?
And so, sometimes, we find ourselves living in what we might call,
the gap of uncertainty.
We lift up our eyes to the hills and wonder, “From where will our help come?”
Or, we wonder if it will ever come at all.
Will it or won’t it? WE just don’t know.

For example:
A projected budget deficit of $23,000 staring us in the face?
A gaping leadership hole in the middle of our youth and family ministry?
An elephant in the midst of our plans for upgrades to our facilities
holding up a sign that says, “Who’s going to pay for all this?”

From where or when will our help come?
Sometimes, we just don’t know.

And it’s not just here at church.
Sometimes, we find ourselves in that gap at home, at school or at work. Amen?
And that’s not exactly where we want to be, is it?

So, what’s the good news for us today?
The good news is that there are some things we can expect.
There are some things that we can count on.
When it comes to the glory of God, There are some things of which
we can be absolutely certain.
The good news is that God doesn’t just reveal his glory at unexpected times
or in unexpected places.
But also in those places where and when we would expect it.
And this is good news for all of us, because we need them.
It is the bedrock of these expected things
that allows us to live in the gaps of uncertainty without losing our mind,
or worse, without losing our hope.

So, what are they?
What are the things that we can expect, that we can count on?

Paul points us in the right direction today, when he tells us,
“And now, faith, hope and love abide, these three.’
And the greatest of these is love.”

First and foremost, we can expect God’s love.
WE can count on God loving us no matter what,
no matter what we do or don’t do, no matter who we are or aren’t,
We can always be absolutely certain that God loves us.

But that’s not all.
We can also count on God’s grace, God’s mercy and loving kindness, God’s forgiveness., no matter what we have done or what we have left undone.

We can be sure that God hears all our prayers and answers them.
They may not always be answered the way we think they should be answered
Or the way we would like them to be answered,
But we can be sure God is listening.

Furthermore, we know that God is with us.
God is with us and will be with us every step of our faith journey.
Through all our highs and lows and everything in between,
We can be sure that God is there with us.

And if we can expect anything at all from God, we can expect God to be faithful.
God will be faithful and true to his word,
Even if we aren’t always faithful and true to ours.
When God makes a promise, God keeps it.
And for this reason, we need not have any doubts about our salvation.
WE can expect that one day, we too will see the glory of God.
Now we may see in a mirror dimly, but then we will see face to face.

And finally, when God’s help is what is needed, we can expect that too.
WE don’t know or can’t always predict where or when, or even how, our help will come,
But we can expect that it will, and for the same reason
that we can count on all these other things,
because God loves us.
God’s love is the bedrock underneath all of them.
All of the other things we know we can count on flow out of, or are expressions of,
God’s great and abiding love for us.
Which is why we can say with all certainty that our help will come.
God who loves us has given us his word,
“I will not leave you or forsake you.”

Like young Jeremiah, we can’t always see or imagine how the plans that God has for us
are going to work out
but God knows and asks us to trust that they will.
God asks us to narrow that gap of uncertainty that we sometimes find ourselves in
by stepping up into it with a little faith of our own.
After all, it’s there, in the gaps, in the periodic gaps of uncertainty,
that our faith is tested and grown,
that our faith has a chance to be all that it can be.

One of the certainties of life is that this life is not all there is.
This life and its uncertainties will come to an end, but love will not. Neither will faith nor hope.
These are certainties on which we can stand in the midst of all of life’s uncertainties.
WE can put our trust in the certainty of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Is It Loving?

§ March 4th, 2013 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

I want to begin today by taking you back to the Prayer OF The Day.
Let’s pray it again.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. Blessed Lord God,
C: you have caused the Holy Scriptures to be written for the nourishment of your people. Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, comforted by your promises, we may embrace and forever hold fast to the hope of eternal life, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The prayer lifts up the Holy Scriptures.
That’s the holy bible, isn’t it? The written word of God?
Isn’t that the subject of our prayer today?
And, grant that we may read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them.
That’s bible study, isn’t it?
Isn’t that the subject of our prayer today?
Haven’t we just asked God to help us get fired up for some serious bible study?

Well, it’s a great idea, and one well worth pursuing,
no question about that,
As the prayer suggest, there is indeed great spiritual treasure to be mined
in a careful, Spirit-led examination of the holy scriptures,
but who has the time for it?

While we’re certainly right in encouraging each other to read and study the bible,
Maybe for some of us, it’s just not realistic, at least not now,
not while we have so many other good and holy demands pressing in on our time,
like families to support and loving relationships to tend and nourish.

And maybe it’s not just the time.
Maybe it’s also the book itself.
Anyone who has ever tried to tackle reading the bible alone
knows what I’m talking about.
Given its ancient origins, context, language and style,
the bible isn’t an easy read.
It’s better read and studied in a small group.
But that too presents us with scheduling challenges,
And we’re right back where we started from.
So, what to do?
IF we don’t have the time, or can’t seem to make the time right now
To read and study the word of God,
how can we still use it as it so eloquently states in our church constitution,
as the source and norm of our daily faith and life?

Fortunately there is a way,
And that’s good news even for a guy like me who does have the time and the training
to devote to some serious bible study.
Because, there isn’t always time for that.
Life moves too fast.
So, I need something I can take with me,
And I Don’t mean a pocket version of the New Testament,
I need something in here (head) or in here (heart) that I can go to right now.
I need something I can access at the speed of life.
Because, life isn’t yesterday or tomorrow. It’s today, right now.
So, I need a word that’s there for me when I need it.
I don’t need a guide in a book on a shelf.
I need a guide that can travel with me.
I don’t need a word that I have to search for and download.
I need a word that lives in my default settings.

So, rather than a whole bible full of divine wisdom,
Give me one piece, one part, one verse that I can refer to on the fly.
Give me one verse that will guide or inspire me
when I’m trying to figure out what I should do.
Don’t give me Jesus in a book on a shelf.
Put Jesus in my head and in my heart.

One of the benefits of my disability is that I’ve had to develop my memory skills,
Not by choice, but by necessity.
OF course, I’ve had a lot of help with that.
God who called me into ministry also promised to give me whatever I needed
to do it, sight or no sight.
And so far, God has been true to his word.
But, I do not have the whole bible memorized.
I am not a walking bible encyclopedia, or close to it.
But over the years, I have done so much memorization and recitation
That now I do have parts or pieces that come to me at opportune times.
And that’s what I want to give you today.
I want to give you A part or piece of the bible that will come to you at an opportune time.

I have recommended a few in the past.
One was Philippians 4:4-7- which reminds us why we need not worry about anything.
Another one was Colossians 3:12-17 which tells us how to dress for spiritual success.
And last January, I recommended 2 Timothy 1:7
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but, of power, of love, and of a sound mind.”

But if you’re looking for one verse to help you when you’re standing at the corner
of here I am and what should I do,
Then this is the verse to mark, learn and inwardly digest.

A reading from Luke.
“Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.
‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’
He answered,
‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’
And Jesus said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’

That’s it.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Or if you like, and I do,
It may be reduced further to this one simple question:
“Is it loving?

As you stand at the corner of here I am and what should I do<
Ask yourself, “Is it loving?”
Is it loving to God?
Is it loving to my neighbor?
Is it loving to me?

Does it reflect a love for God?
Does it reflect a love for neighbor?
Does it reflect a love of self?
And not just any self,
Jesus isn’t talking about the selfish, me first self,
but the self we’ve been called to be,
the higher, holy, Christ-centered self,
the self we hope, and pray, and strive to live out of.
Does the option I’m considering reflect my love for that self?
Moreover, does the option I’m considering do justice to all three;
To God, to my neighbor, and to myself,
which of course, includes my family, my friends and loved ones?

OF course, this assumes that a person knows and understands love the way Jesus
knew and understood it.
And that, as they say, might be quite another kettle of fish.
And the subject for yet even more serious bible study.
But again, I can give you another quick reference that you can use on the fly.
IF you need a quick reminder of what real Christ-centered love looks like,
Then Look to the cross.
Look to the cross of Christ,
Because that’s what real Christ-centered love looks like.
But don’t stop there. Look also to the tomb.
Remember also that the cross that you’re looking at is empty now,
and so is the tomb where they laid him.

It’s the sight, the holy sight of the empty tomb, the Easter tomb,
that guides and inspires us to do the hard, painful work of loving
which real, Christ-centered love often requires of us.
It’s the empty tomb that reminds us that it’s in that work,
in the hard, painful, and sometimes, risky work
and vulnerability of real Christ-centered love,
that we find the risen life.

I’ve often heard it said that when a person is puzzling over
what they should do in a certain situation
the hardest thing to do, is usually the right thing to do,
Like the decision to go to the cross, for instance.
And more often than not, I’ve found that to be true.
I haven’t always done it.
I haven’t always had the faith or the courage to do it, the hardest thing,
But on those rare occasions when I have, I always felt like I was the one
who was being loved and blessed, and not the other way around.

If when it comes to the word of God, you can remember one verse and one verse only,
To be the source and norm of your daily faith and life,
I recommend you Remember the one that Jesus calls
the first and greatest of all the commandments.
And this one question,
Is it loving?
If it is, then go for it.
Amen.

Signs

§ March 4th, 2013 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

(Turning water to wine at the wedding at Cana is described as the first of Jesus’ signs. Through many such epiphanies, Jesus reveals that he brings God’s creative power
and joyful presence into the world.)

The characters in this story tell us some interesting and important things about people
and how they understand and live out their faith.
This evening, I’d like us to take a closer look at each one of them
To se if we can gain some new insight into how we understand and live out ours.

SO, lets’ take a trip back in time, almost 2000 years ago,
And see what’s happening at a certain wedding in Cana of Galilee.
And from what we can see, everyone seems to be having a good time.
There are plenty of guests,
so there is plenty of food, plenty of eating, plenty of laughter,
plenty of celebrating,
plenty of music, plenty of singing, plenty of dancing,
an of course, plenty of wine.
Wait! Did I say plenty of wine?

Character #1: Jesus’ mother
What can we learn from her behavior?
What do we observe?
She sees a problem and knows what to do about it. She takes action. Once she sees the problem, she quickly moves from the problem into the solution. She knows who to go to. She takes the problem to Jesus. She doesn’t respond to Jesus’ initial response, but trusts that he will take care of the problem. Maybe she’s not sure how he will do it, but she seems to be sure he will.

Character #2: The servants
They listen to Jesus and his mother. They do what Jesus tells them to do and when they do, the problem is solved. They know where the good wine came from, but they do not tell the chief steward. We do not know if they ever told anyone.

Character #3: The chief steward
He makes the surprise discovery. He is the first one to taste the water that has become wine. He doesn’t know where it came from. He calls the bridegroom over and speaks to him. He appears to be looking for an explanation. Where do you imagine he is emotionally? Is he mad, sad or glad? Why or why not?

Character #4: The Bridegroom
The chief steward calls him over. He hears about the good wine from the chief steward, but he doesn’t know anything about it. He has no idea what he is talking about. What if anything can we learn about our faith from this bridegroom? God is at work behind the scenes. God does things on our behalf that we may have no knowledge of or explanation for. And when that happens, sometimes, all a person can say is, Praise God!”

Character #5: The Disciples
They are there with Jesus. They watch and hear the whole thing unfold. They witness the miraculous sign and believe in Jesus. Could faith be that simple?

Character #6: Jesus
HE hears from his mother that the wine has given out. HE responds with a question of sorts. His response leaves hearers wondering if he is going to do anything to help or not? HE does help, but he does it without lifting a finger. HE gives two simple directions to the servants. God’s word is sufficient to save the day.

Might wrap up with the fact that this is just the first of his signs.
Perhaps, the first four words of the reading give us a clue to the last.
And those first four words are, “On the third day…”

Pickles And Possibilities

§ March 4th, 2013 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove.”

Last week, the wise men introduced us to another road,a different road
that we might travel as we journey forward into this brand new year,
a road on which we are driven not by the power of this world,
but by another power, a power that is not of this world.
This week, we begin our journey down that road with.., pickles and possibilities.
Observe.
((The pastor produces a cucumber.)
For those of you who may be unclear as to what it is that I am now holding up,
It is indeed what it appears to be, a cucumber, an ordinary, garden variety cucumber
purchased just down the street at the local Treasure Island not more than 24 hours ago,
a fine specimen, if I do say so myself.
Observe.
(The pastor sets the cucumber aside and now produces a pickle.
Taking in a whiff of garlic dill, he smacks his lips and says, “Yum.”)
Exhibit 2: A pickle.
And not just any pickle, but a garlic dill pickle
purchased at the same location and at the same time as his cousin, Mr. Cucumber.
Observe, Mr. cucumber and Mr. Pickle.
OF course, it could be Ms. Cucumber and Ms. Pickle,
because, to tell you the truth, I don’t know the first thing when it comes to determining
the gender of a cucumber, or of a pickle, for that matter.
So, for the purposes of this sermon illustration,I’ll stay with the misters, Mr. Cucumber and Mr. Pickle.

And here’s the point.
While Mr. Picle may have been, and most certainly was, a cucumber at one time,
A cucumber not unlike Mr. Cucumber here,
He isn’t a cucumber any more. He’s a pickle.
He still bears a strong resemblence to his former self.
He still has the same size, the same shape;
the same skin, the same flesh.
HE stil resembles his former cucumber self inside and out,
But by virtue of a powerful transformational process,
A process developed and engineered by the almighty and all loving pickler,
A process involving the ordinary earthly elements of water, salt, vinegar, garlic and a little dill,
A process that, for a cucumber, is regarded as nothing short of miraculous,
he’s not a cucumber any more, and he never will be again.
For once a cucumber becomes a pickle, there is no going back.
Let all of God’s pickles say, Amen.

And for those of us who love pickles, it is a grace-filled process indeed.

And so it is in our baptism.
IN the waters of Baptism, we are transformed to.
We are born children of a fallen humanity.
But by water and the Holy Spirit, we are reborn children of God.
We are given a second birth,
And with it, we become what the bible calls, “a new creation in Christ.”
We don’t know exactly what it is that happens, or how it happens,
But we do know that whatever it is that happens, it’s God’s doing.
And as such, it is most certainly grace-filled.

Let’s hear that bible reading right now.
A reading from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians.
For the love of Christ urges us on,
because we are convinced that one has died for all;
therefore all have died.
And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves,
but for him who died and was raised for them.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;
even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,
we know him no longer in that way.
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:
everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”

It is from this grace-filled place that Ada Moore Beckers stands on the threshhold of a brand new life,
And we more mature pickles stand on the threshhold of a brand new year,
A year filled with all kinds of possibilities.
Thanks to the almighty Pickler, we have
a road full of possibilities ahead of us
the power of his Spirit in us,
and the promise of his grace behind us.

Now, with all that in mind, I ask you, how can a pickle possibly go wrong?
Well, I’ll tell you.
I’ll tell you, not necessarily how a pickle migh tgo wrong,
Because with the power of God’s Spirit in him, and the promise of God’s grace behind him,
The average pickle really can’t go too far wrong.
But what they can do, is sell themselves short.

So, we pickles have to be on guard against that.
WE have to stay open to all the possibilities,
To whatever it is that God may have in mind for us down the road, whatever it is.
We should never sell ourselves short or sell God short when it comes to the plans that God may have for us.
Remember, we’re not cucumbers any more,
so we really shouldn’t think that way or dream that way any more.
WE need to think and dream like the pickles we are
And be on guard against anything short of that.

As Luke has told us, in the waters of baptism, God has opened heaven to us.
This is where we open ourselves to heaven,
And all the possibilities that lay ahead.
This is a call to understand who we are now,
or better,
whose we are now, and the road were on,
and open ourselves up to wherever it may lead us.
This is good news for a new creation with a brand new life ahead of her.
And this is good news for a bunch of pickles with a brand new year ahead of us.
Amen.

Another Road

§ March 4th, 2013 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

“And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they left for their own country by another road.”

Grace and peace to you from the Star of Wonder, the Star of Night,
and the Star with royal beauty bright.

As we observe the meeting between King Herod and the wise men,
And the king’s reaction to it,
We see that there is something going on here,
Something spiritual, and something political;
two worlds colliding;
the world of King Herod, and the world of the wise men;
The world of the powers that be, and the world of the one that is to come.
One comes as threat to the few, and one comes as hope for the many.

A new power, a new rule, is breaking into the world;
a rule to challenge the rule of this world,
a rule to challenge Herod’s rule;
And already we see evidence of that new rule breaking in in the will of the three wise men,
who choose not to return to Jerusalem as the king had directed,
but instead, choose to return to their own country by another road.

Another road.
And maybe that’s the message for us today?
Maybe we too are being called down another road?

Which begs the question, What road are we on?

There’s the one road, the one embodied by King Herod,
The road of deceit,
the road of cunning, clever manipulation, or so he thinks.
The road of threats and intimidation,
The road that is driven by power and greed,
The road that is driven by fear and insecurity.

And then, there’s another road.
The road illuminated by a star at its rising, and three wise men
who are willing to follow it to the ends of the earth,
the road illuminated by the prophet and his words of promise,
the road illuminated by Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, one of the least among the rulers of Judah,
the road illuminated by two young parents who heard the voice of God calling them down another road,
a different road.
The road illuminated by Joseph and Mary, who were still willing to go down that road,
even in the face of some mighty powerful social pressures to do otherwise.

So, which road are we on?
Are we on the road with Herod?
Are we on the road back to the king of this world,
or are we ready to go down another road?
Which king are we ready to listen to?
Whose voice, whose way will we follow?

That’s’ the question before us today, and this is a great time to ask it,
Because we have a brand new year ahead of us,
And two different roads stretching before us.

Perhaps our wise men and women who are on their way back to Washington after their holiday break
Ought to ask themselves this same question?
What road are they on?
And if it’s not the one illuminated by the light, perhaps it’s time for them to change the road they’re on. Amen?
And if the words to the most popular rock and roll song ever recorded are right,
It’s not too late.
I mean, “IF there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now.
It’s just a spring clean for the May Queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run,
There’s still time to change the road you’re on.”

Wouldn’t that be great,
Wouldn’t it be great if our wise men and women in Washington would choose to operate
under the same wisdom as the three wise men in our reading today.
Wouldn’t it be great if they would choose to return to the service of their country on another road,
Instead of the same old road they’ve been on?

And what about us?
What road will we be on when we leave here today?
Will we be returning on the road of this world, or will we be returning by another road?
Wouldn’t we like to return to our homes and our workplaces as wiser men and women too?

Today is the day for us to take a look at the road we’re on,
And to remember, it’s never too late to change.
Amen.

A Happy Epiphany

§ March 4th, 2013 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

As the skit opens, Ludwig is singing, “We Three Kings.”
Ludwig: “We three kings of orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. O, O, star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading still proceding, guide us to thy perfect light.”
( Sebastian approaches)
Ludwig: O look? There’s my friend Sebastian. Happy Epiphany, Sebastian!
Sebastian: O, hi, Ludwig. Happy what?
Ludwig: Happy Epiphany! Happy Epiphany, Sebastian!
Sebastian: Okay, Ludwig, I’m lost. Whats’ Epiphany, and why should I be happy about it?
Ludwig: You don’t know?
Sebastian: No, never heard of it But if it means more presents… You know, Ludwig, like Christmas… Well, that’s’; the sort of holiday a crabby guy like me can really get happy about.
Ludwig: As a matter of fact, it does mean more presents, Sebastian
Sebastian: Oh boy! More presents! Happy Epiphany, everybody!
Ludwig: But not for you!
Sebastian: Not for me?
Ludwig: No.
Sebastian: Well, so much for my happy Epiphany.
Ludwig: Cheer up, Sebastian. You can still have a happy Epiphany. Everybody can.
Sebastian: Without presents?
Ludwiggh: Yes, of course.
Sebastian: How?
Ludwig: By doing what the wise men did.
Sebastian: Wise men, huh. What did they do?
Ludwig: They protected the baby Jesus.
Sebastian: Really? From who?
Ludwig: From King Herod. You see, when King Herod heard that another king had been born, he got very jealous and wanted to take the poor baby’s life.
Sebastian: You mean, King Herod wanted to kill the baby Jesus? Why, that’s terrible!
Ludwig: Yes, and he tried to trick the wise men into telling him where the baby Jesus was, so he could do it, but the wise men were too smart for him.
Sebastian: They were wise men.
Ludwig: Exactly. So, when they followed the star to Bethlehem and found the baby Jesus, instead of going back and telling King Herod where he was, they left for their own country by another road.
Sebastian: So, King Herod couldn’t get him.
Ludwig: That’s right. That’s’ how the wise men protected the baby Jesus. And that’s’ how we can all have a happy Epiphany too, by being safe and watching out for one another.
Sebastian: Yeah, because not everyone has the kind of protection we have, right , Ludwig?
Ludwig: What do you mean, Sebastian?
Sebastian: I mean, not everyone has a hard shell like we do, Ludwig. So, people need to do what they can to protect themselves and each other, just like the wise men did.
Ludwig: That’s’ how we can all have a happy Epiphany.
Sebastian: And many, many more.
Ludwig: Well done, Sebastian. Well done.
THE END

Close with a prayer for God to watch over us as we seek to watch over one another.

A Light In The Darkness

§ December 26th, 2012 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)

Grace and peace to you, and to all the earth, on this silent and most holy night..

How are you feeling tonight?
Are you walking in the light or in the dark?

Given all the darkness that has descended on our world lately,
how are you feeling about all this tonight?
I mean, movie theaters, hair salons, shopping malls,
College campuses, high schools, and now, elementary schools…
And what next?
Where will the darkness descend upon us next?

How do you feel tonight?
If you’re feeling like you’re walking in the dark tonight,
Or if at least part of you feels that way,
Then you’re not alone.
For many, the deep darkness that descended on Sandy Hook has not yet lifted,
and for some, I fear it never will, at least not completely,
and I think we can all understand why.

Maybe you’re familiar with recording artist James Taylor,
And maybe you remember the song he wrote after he lost someone he dearly loved.

It’s called, “Fire And Rain.”
Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Susanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can’t remember who to send it to
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I’d see you again

Won’t you look down upon me, Jesus
You’ve got to help me make a stand
You’ve just got to see me through another day
My body’s aching and my time is at hand
And I won’t make it any other way
Sing with me.
Oh, I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I’d see you again

Are you walking in the light or in the dark tonight?
Sadly, there are a lot of people who are still walking in the dark tonight.
And maybe we all are.
Maybe given all the fire and rain that we’ve seen lately,
all the fire of senseless violence
and the rain of tears that inevitably follows it,
the world has become a darker place for all of us.

And maybe, in the midst of it all,
People of faith like you and I have been driven to question…
To question what it is that we really have in our faith to see us through all this darkness.
and maybe lately, the answer to that question has been sounding something like,
“Well, not very much.”

But here’s the Christmas word for us tonight.
We still hold the light that shines in the darkness.

Yes, the darkness of this world, of this night, is still what it is.
evil, human sin and brokenness are all still with us,
And they do not appear to be going anywhere any time soon.
But we still hold the light that shines through it all;
The light that came to us like a laser beam piercing the darkness
bringing hope and health and healing to all this weary world.

And tonight, it also occurs to me that now is not the time to cover it with a bushel basket.
Now is not the time for us to hide it or mute it.
Now is the time for us to let it shine.
Now is the time for us to let the whole world see what John declares,
“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it,”
and furthermore, it never will.’.

In these days of deep darkness, now is not the time for us to shrink back from our faith.
Now is the time for us to let it shine.

When the worst happens, when tragedy strikes, when darkness descends,
We don’t always have answers to give, or even words to say,
but Believing what we have believed,
knowing what we have known,
having seen what we have seen,
the light of our faith continues to shine into
even the darkest places and spaces in this world.

“Lord, make us a channel of thy peace,
That where there is hatred, we may bring love;
That where there is wrong, we may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
That where there is discord, we may bring harmony;
That where there is error, we may bring truth.
That where there is doubt, we may bring faith;
That where there is despair, we may bring hope;
That where there is darkness, we may bring light.”

Now is the time for Gods’ people to walk in the light.

A reading from Luke…
“Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid;
for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Christ is the light in our darkness.
And while this present darkness may threaten to overcome us,
with evil and human sin and brokenness of the worst kind,
it cannot and will not overcome him, he who is in us.

This is the good news for us and for all people.
This is the good news of Christmas.
This is the light that God’s people still hold up for all the world to see.
THE people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
Those who dwelled in deep darkness, on them, light has shined.
And his name is Jesus, Christ the Lord!

May Christ be our light on this silent and most holy night and always.
Have a blessed and merry Christmas.
Amen.